After enduring their first losing season since 1979, the Florida Gators had to make some changes. It wasn't head coach Will Muschamp being fired, as he got the dreaded vote of confidence from athletic director Jeremy Foley.The Gators ended up firing offensive coordinator Brent Pease and offensive line coach Tim Davis, the Associated Press reports.
The Gators ended the season dead-last in points and yards in the SEC, and they failed to score more than 20 points during seven straight losses to end the year. The team allowed 56 sacks under Davis.
During a season-ending 37-7 loss to Florida State, the Gators managed just three first downs during the first half and did not score until the fourth quarter, as the Seminoles wore down Florida’s defense and pulled away for an easy win.
This is definitely a far cry from the high-powered teams of Gators past.
Florida’s offensive woes led athletic director Jeremy Foley to address them prior to Saturday’s FSU game.
“I don't think it's any secret,” Foley said. “We've got to fix that side of the ball. I’m not being disrespectful to anybody, but you look at some of the games we've lost, we haven't scored many points. This year or last year or what have you, that has to get fixed.
“That's going to be Will's responsibility. I'll help him, support him, advise him, whatever have you. I will tell you if you ask him today, it's his biggest concern.”
The Gators spent most of the season without their first-string quarterback Jeff Driskel, running back Matt Jones, wie receiver Andre Debose and three offensive tackles (Chaz Green, Tyler Moore and D.J. Humphries). Second-team quarterback Tyler Murphy was also lost for the season with a sprained shoulder, leaving the team with third-stringer Skyler Mornhinweg.
Last week, Pease, who is under contract through the 2015 season, told the Miami Herald that he felt he deserved another chance based on the circumstances. He also sounded resigned to his fate.
Where Muschamp decides to go next for an offensive coordinator is anyone's guess, but he'll need someone that's going to devise a scheme to put points on the board and help win some games.
