Florida suffered its first SEC loss this season, dropping a tough 17-6 decision to LSU in Baton Rouge, La., on Saturday afternoon. Here are three things we learned about the Gators from the game:
The SEC's best run defense can be run on: LSU sophomore Jeremy Hill averaged 6.4 yards per carry and finished with 121 yards on 19 attempts. As a team, the Tigers averaged 4.5 yards per carry and finished with 175 rushing yards against a Florida defense that had allowed only one team above 100 yards (Arkansas, which ran for 111). Nobody before LSU averaged more than 3.8 yards a carry against the Gators. Florida's front seven couldn't get off blocks enough times, and it showed.
Offense still has work to do: Will Muschamp said as much after the game -- the Gators have to do better up front. Quarterback Tyler Murphy had a lot of pressure in his face throughout the day, and he handled it pretty well, but he was hurried more than Florida would like. In the running game, the Gators had problems getting much going, finishing with just 111 rushing yards on 40 carries (2.8 yards per carry). The Gators finished with 240 offensive yards total and didn't have many explosive plays to get the offense rolling.
Florida might have a new kicker: It wasn't Austin Hardin taking field goal attempts on Saturday, it was Francisco Velez instead. The junior was 2-for-2 on field goal attempts and connected on a 44-yarder. His field goals accounted for the Gators' only points in the game. Muschamp said kicker is an "open competition" and that Velez kicked the best in the last week of practice and is their kicker right now.
