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Tennessee football: Getting to know Florida from a Gators expert

By Caleb Calhoun

Sep 17, 2022; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier talks with Florida Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson (15) works out prior to the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2022; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier talks with Florida Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson (15) works out prior to the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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KNOXVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 12: A general view of the goalpost before a game between the UCLA Bruins and the Tennessee Volunteers on September 12, 2009 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. UCLA beat Tennessee 19-15. (Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
KNOXVILLE, TN – SEPTEMBER 12: A general view of the goalpost before a game between the UCLA Bruins and the Tennessee Volunteers on September 12, 2009 at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. UCLA beat Tennessee 19-15. (Photo by Joe Murphy/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

Give a prediction. Who wins, and what’s the score?

The Gators have problems, but we are still optimists at heart over at Hail Florida Hail. Florida shut down Tennessee last year with Todd Grantham as defensive coordinator, and he couldn’t stop anyone. Part of the reason is this matchup is stylistically a good matchup for the Gators’ defense.

Related Story. Five Gators to watch for against Vols. light

Tennessee football runs a high up-tempo offense, but at the core of it, Hooker makes one read and then either tries to run or takes a sack. Florida’s core weakness on defense is at linebacker.  The offense the Vold  run doesn’t put as much stress on the linebackers compared to Utah or Kentucky’s offense (or frankly USF’s) and will invite the Gators to play Nickel and Dime.

Also, depending on the health of WR Cedric Tillman, I think most Florida fans feel confident in our cornerback’s ability to stay with your wide receivers.

If you want to throw a curveball and attack a weakness for Florida, target your tight ends more than you have been (right now you have six catches from tight ends). Use two tight-end sets (which I haven’t seen you guys use much of) and run the ball down Florida’s throat.

On the flip side, it’s all about Richardson’s mental state. If we get the same confident Richardson that was doing pump-fake 360s and had The Swamp in the palm of his hand against Utah, the Gators should be just fine. He doesn’t have to be Superman, he just needs to hit 10-15 yard routes to Pearsall and Henderson with enough consistency to soften up the Vols.

Next. Tennessee-Florida: 10 keys to the game. dark

If Richardson has another breakdown, the Gators have a solid run game. They may need to lean on it out of necessity to give the defense time to rest from the Vols’ up-tempo offense. We have faith over at Hail Florida Hail: Gators 21 Vols 17.

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