The Road Before McElwain

The Florida Gators used to be the edgiest and most irreverent offensive program in the SEC. For two decades, Florida introduced new offenses to the SEC. In the 1990s it was the Fun ‘N’ Gun. Footballs were flying everywhere. Spurrier was dialing up plays that made defensive coordinators go crazy, and he introduced the concept of routinely taking shots into the end zone from the 30 and 35 yard line instead of waiting to get into the red zone. It was easier to throw the ball while the receivers still had yardage to run high low routes, corner routes, and post routes. It seems like a simple concept, but Spurrier is the one who capitalized on it.

Then there was Urban Meyer, who brought his spread rushing attack to Gainesville. As you can see from this past college football season, it is still a great scheme – just ask Alabama. Meyer is able to find quarterbacks that can read not only coverages, but also defensive line schemes.

Then in 2011, Will Muschamp took over the Florida program. I am still truly baffled how a football coach in one of the best recruiting areas in the country, with a program that has such a rich offensive history, could produce one of the worst offensive teams in the country. Over his four years in Gainesville, Muschamp’s offense never ranked above 96^th in the nation in scoring offense. Florida’s offense was a shambles. So the solution to the problem was to bring in Jim McElwain, former Alabama offensive coordinator.

McElwain has a very easy and a very hard job ahead of him this season. It is going to be hard because with this offensive line, the Gators’ offense could be one of the worst in the SEC, yet again. The offensive line returns one starter and was hampered by injuries throughout the spring. The quarterback position, while not untalented, is still very inexperienced. And even with all those talented position players on the outside, if the quarterback cannot get the ball to them, either because of poor decision making or because he is under pressure, it really does not matter how talented the receiving corps is.

But, it will also be an easy job because all McElwain has to do is create an offense noticeably better than 96^th in the nation. Muschamp never really cared enough about the offense to really invest the time needed to fix its problems. The offense is McElwain’s baby, and you would have to think that just by overseeing the play calling, the offense will improve. I don’t even mean good, I just mean 75^th overall, for example.

So while McElwain’s job is going to be tough because he inherits such a bad offensive football team, it is also going to be easy because the expectations are literally, “Don’t be the worst offense in college football.” If McElwain can get some production from his offensive line in the run game, Florida will make it to a bowl game and maybe even be a dark horse for the SEC East title. But if this offense doesn’t improve in year one, the defense can only do so much.