Would you believe that the Gators’ starting QB will make his first career road start in November?
In a season filled with emotional twists and turns, though, such a fact becomes the norm. The question that we’re all waiting to be answered, of course, is whether or not he can win that first road start.
Luke Del Rio experienced his first ever win over Georgia, but did not have the best game in the stat book or on film. He started off the game by throwing late over the middle, across his body- both of which are no-no’s- and Dominick Sanders picked it off. And though he didn’t turn it over again for the duration of the game, Del Rio just wasn’t quite as sharp as he was early in the year, before the sprained knee he suffered. He didn’t go through his progressions, wasn’t particularly accurate and held onto the ball too long at times.
To his credit, he did make the big plays when he needed to, including a short pass to C’yontai Lewis that Lewis’s athleticism turned into a touchdown. And he did avoid the big mistakes after the early interception. But still, Del Rio’s play was not good enough to win Florida the games they’ll need to win if they want to compete for a championship. You could understand that against Missouri in his first game back, but he then had two weeks to prepare and get ready for Georgia, with only a slightly better showing.
I love Del Rio personally. I think he’s a great vocal leader with a good head on his shoulders and a fantastic attitude about everything. But it’s a simple fact that he’s got to play better than he did against Georgia. And I know he’s capable of doing so.
The thing with Del Rio is that there isn’t really any secret to his success. He’s just got to do all the little things well. Hit the check down option. Throw the ball away when it’s not there. Know when to take a shot and try your luck and when not to. Those were the things that he did so well in summer camp and then in the first couple games of the season before he went down. Those were the things that made him such an ideal fit for a Jim McElwain/Doug Nussmeier offense, beyond just being familiar with it. Those were the things that made me think he could lead Florida to a championship.
And granted, he still can. It’s just going to get harder to do so with each passing week.
Getting an Arkansas team in Fayetteville in November is like stepping on a rattlesnake and then being forced to fight a whole nest of them. The Hogs play their best football in November under Bret Bielema, particularly at home. And weird things happen late in games against them in November, the kind of things that you just can’t really predict with a straight face. Plus, the Razorbacks are likely to be hopping mad after being curb stomped 56-3 by Auburn, and they’ve had two weeks to stew and let that roll around in their heads.
Of course, the Hogs could also implode after taking such a beating. The Razorbacks have given up 135 points in their last three games; by comparison, Florida has given up 82 points the entire season. Their defense is particularly weak against the run, giving up an incredible 543 yards to Auburn on the ground. And with the way Florida is running the ball with Jordan Scarlett and LaMical Perine, the need to throw the ball is diminished anyway.
Still, there’s going to come a time against the Razorbacks where Del Rio will have to make a play with his arm to possibly win the football game. It may not be the most difficult of plays to make, but he’ll have to seize the opportunity and make it.
And if he does make that play and win his first ever road start, the Gators will return home with an opportunity to clinch the SEC East against the man who recruited a large part of this current team- on their Senior Day, no less.
How’s that for an emotional twist and turn?
