Gators observations from the Las Vegas Bowl, where Florida was decimated and dominated

The Gators are leaving Las Vegas with a mandate to rebuild and never a lot else. Decimated and dominated, they absorbed a 30-3 loss to No. 14 Oregon State on Saturday, the most effective facet of which was that it ended with 4 days remaining earlier than the early signing interval. Florida coaches are primed to land a top-10 recruiting class — whereas searching for assist from many corners of the switch portal — as they flip over a roster that produced this system’s first consecutive dropping seasons since 1978-79.

Extra observations from the Las Vegas Bowl drubbing at Allegiant Stadium:

1. The streak lives

Florida was flirting with a shutout, solely 37 seconds away from ending its NCAA document of scoring in 435 video games, which dates again to 1988. Adam Mihalek’s 40-yard area aim on the Gators’ remaining collection grew to become the final word comfort prize, akin to successful $20 on the airport slots after per week of going bankrupt on blackjack. Congratulations on a brand new mark of 436 video games.

Napier isn’t wired to chase stats or protect streaks, and he possible would have tried a cross into the tip zone underneath semi-manageable circumstances. Attempting a fourth-and-23 play would’ve invited yet another alternative for Oregon State’s blitzers to blast quarterback Jack Miller, who stood in for the opted-out Anthony Richardson.

2. Miller stays tough to evaluate

The workers was inspired by what Miller confirmed behind the scenes throughout spring follow and preseason camp. The general public, nonetheless, has solely witnessed him failing to guide a landing drive within the Orange and Blue spring recreation and once more on the bowl. Although Miller was encumbered by personnel points on each events, he clearly hasn’t made a lot of a case to be the 2023 starter.

He completed 13 of twenty-two for 180 yards towards Oregon State, narrowly avoiding a first-pass interception that bounced off the palms of cornerback Ryan Cooper. Displaying the rust you’d anticipate following thumb surgical procedure and a two-month restoration course of, Miller overthrew Caleb Douglas on a deep cross and threw behind Ricky Pearsall on a slant the receiver pulled in nonetheless.

“I believe Jack confirmed some toughness and grit at this time,” Napier mentioned. “He hadn’t been taking any No. 2 reps for a very long time.”

As we touched upon final week, the caliber quarterback Florida pursues within the portal will convey how a lot the workers trusts Miller. At this juncture, the Gators are involved with some top-line starters, as they need to be.

3. Dry possessions on the perimeter

Florida reached the Oregon State 31 within the first quarter, solely to commit two false-start penalties earlier than Mihalek missed extensive left from 52 yards.

The Gators moved to the OSU 36 on their subsequent collection, the place Napier went for it on fourth-and-8. Blitzing defensive again Jaydon Grant spoiled the play by flushing Miller deep out of the pocket. Although Ja’Quavion Fraziars got here open for a second on the beneath crossing route, Miller encountered an excessive amount of strain to see him till it was too late.

Whereas Florida entered the sport batting .500 on fourth downs, changing 15 of 30, it went 0-for-2 within the bowl.

The redshirt freshman is a undertaking who could sometime evolve into a high quality lineman. Saturday’s efficiency revealed he isn’t prepared but.

He entered the bowl having performed 37 offensive snaps, all through the blowout wins over Japanese Washington and South Carolina. With O’Cyrus Torrence opting out and backup Richie Leonard injured, Waites grew to become the contingency plan at proper guard.

Within the first quarter, he dedicated a false begin on third-and-5. Within the remaining eight minutes, he whiffed on a forth-and-2 block on the Beavers’ 20, permitting James Rawls to drop Montrell Johnson for a 3-yard loss.

Florida’s working recreation produced a season-worst 39 yards on 33 carries, a precipitous drop-off from its common of 5.84 yards per carry that got here in ranked No. 2 nationally.

5. Pearsall is on the clock

A 33-catch season didn’t match his expectations — contemplating he caught 48 final 12 months at Arizona State — however Pearsall led Gators receivers with 661 yards and 5 touchdowns. Having performed greater than 1,000 snaps prior to now two years, he has loads of movie for NFL scouts to judge. Now he should weigh the alternatives of returning to Florida towards a possible mid- to late-round draft grade.

“There’s a whole lot of points that go into it, however I’m nonetheless excited about it and being affected person with it,” Pearsall mentioned after catching 4 passes for 65 yards Saturday. “I like being right here and that’s a very vital facet for me and my choice. I like Coach and all my teammates.”

6. False-start penalties flummox Napier

The Gators dedicated six false-start penalties, together with two by middle Kingsley Eguakun. With attendance introduced at lower than 30,000, it wasn’t a product of crowd noise.

“Process penalties are issues that I believe frustrate coaches, and positively I don’t know if we’ve got had that many the whole season, a lot much less one recreation,” Napier mentioned. “That’s one thing we have to take a more in-depth take a look at and see what we are able to do to assist the gamers.”

7. Particular groups breakdowns

Jeremy Crawshaw netted 59 yards on a punt that was downed on the 2. Crawshaw additionally rugby-kicked a ball off his personal blocking again Dante Zanders, ensuing within the Beavers taking possession on the Gators’ 7-yard line.

Florida blocked a area aim on the finish of the half to maintain the deficit at 10-0. However Florida was caught flat-footed within the third quarter when the Beavers faked a punt on fourth-and-2 close to midfield. Jack Colletto ran for 11 yards and Oregon State finally scored to go up 17-0.

“We had been in a little bit bit extra conservative name, however we must always’ve left ‘punt secure’ on the market,” Napier mentioned. “That’s my fault.”

The postseason roster attrition creates trickle-down issues for particular groups, however Florida wasn’t as much as par in a number of aspects all season.

8. Lacking stars on either side

Although Florida’s roster was thinned out by NFL Draft opt-outs and a batch of gamers hitting the switch portal, Oregon State was missing a number of key gamers additionally.

High receiver Tre’Shaun Harrison, who made 52 catches for 604 yards and 4 touchdowns within the common season, was held out of the sport with an harm.

Pac-12 offensive freshman of the 12 months Damien Martinez, coming off a string of six 100-yard dashing performances, left with a first-quarter shoulder harm after solely three carries. Deshaun Fenwick responded with 107 yards on 21 carries.

9. Napier is in trust-me mode about Yr 1 progress

Florida was by no means going to compete for an SEC championship. That doesn’t make a 6-7 end marked by a three-game dropping skid any extra acceptable.

For now, we’re purported to belief that Napier made strides in repairing the tradition, contemplating headway wasn’t evident on the sphere.

“You’re all the time engaged on tradition, however I believe we made a ton of progress,” he mentioned. “What I noticed in that locker room in comparison with what we noticed after we first received here’s a utterly totally different ball membership.”

(High picture of Jack Miller being sacked by Oregon State’s Andrew Chatfield Jr.: Jeff Speer / Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photos)