YOUNG GUNS!
“He played really, really well,” Burton said following the loss in Baton Rouge. “Especially for the environment and the situation he was put in. We all have his back, and he’s going to get better from here on out.” Driskel’s play has also earned him the respect of his teammates despite the overall lack of success the offense has had when he’s in. He offers Florida a slightly different dimension than Brissett, too. While Brissett prefers to scramble in the pocket to buy more time to throw, Driskel will pull the ball down and run when he gets a lane. He had a key 31-yard scramble against Alabama on a big third-down play, and he’s shown the ability to get loose and make plays with his feet throughout his freshman season.
Jeff Driskel saw action during the Gators’ win at Kentucky. Photo by Tim Casey
“I watched him play on his basketball team and watched his presence and his command when he was playing basketball,” Weis said. “It’s so much easier when you actually can watch a guy physically doing it. That’s something that’s different, presence is something you can’t really watch on tape.” Despite his struggles as a freshman starter, Brissett has shown increased poise in the pocket with each game. He has a knack for avoiding pass rushers in the backfield to buy more time to make throws downfield.
He’s also got a rocket arm, which he’s flashed at times, including on his first college touchdown pass, a 65-yard bomb down the left sideline to Right: John Brantley Andre Debose at LSU.
suffered a leg injury after getting sacked by Courtney Upshaw during the Gators’ 38–10 loss to Alabama on Oct. 1. Photo by Andy Gregory 34 GATOR COUNTRY | NOV/2011
Even though Florida ultimately lost that game, Brissett’s play was enough to catch the eye of teammate Trey Burton, who was a quarterback in high school.
“He keeps a lot of plays alive a lot longer,” wide receiver Andre Debose said. “He has a strong arm and when things are going bad he always can get away with his legs.” Though he hasn’t played much, the experience Driskel has gotten has already helped shape him into a better football player. Like Brissett, the experience he is gaining as a true freshman will be very important for the Gators down the road. Driskel played against much weaker competition than Brissett in high school, but he’s learned quickly as he has faced some stout SEC defenses. “His whole attitude has changed since the time he’s been here and to this point,” Debose said. “He’s a whole different person. He let us know that he doesn’t consider himself as a freshman.”
“I think that he runs our team well,” Weis said. “The team’s not afraid when he’s in there. He can make every throw. Just gaining experience, that’s what he’s doing. Every time he’s out there it’s a good thing, regardless what happens because he’s gaining experience.” Sure, Florida fans would like that experience to come while the team is winning. But the reality of the situation is it’s tough to start a freshman quarterback and find success in the SEC. Florida has played two freshmen quarterbacks this season. That may not pay dividends this season, but it certainly will when the Gators need one of them to take over as the full-time starter next year. “I like both of these guys,” Weis said. “I don’t like one of them a lot, I like both of them a lot. They both have attributes to be a very good quarterback.” Right now, it’s all about getting better and making the best of a bad situation. While John Brantley’s injury may have derailed Florida’s 2011 season, it might just jump-start the 2012 season for Florida. Moving forward, Driskel and Brissett are the future. As long as they continue to improve, the Gators will be in good hands going forward.
“The more reps and the more turns those young [quarterbacks] get, they’re going to be really good football players,” Muschamp said. “I’m excited about both of them.”
Florida’s offensive coordinator also has a lot of faith in the true freshman’s ability to run the offense, even if it doesn’t look pretty during his first season. Weis sees signs that Driskel can be a productive quarterback in his offense down the road. FACT: Medical assistance was often quite basic in the games of the 1940s.