Gainesville Sun writer Robbie Andreu has a piece today that opens with these lines: “There is no secret, no mystery anymore. It’s become common knowledge that there’s a way to knock the fun right out of the Fun ‘n’ Gun. Stop the run, of course.”
Well, yes and no. There have been, as far I have seen, two ways to stop UF’s offense. Stopping the run is a good way but no guarantee, and the Auburn game proves how difficult it is to rely on that strategy since UF probably could have won the game using only the pass. Heck, they almost did.
The more effective way is to cram the line with as many defenders as you can manage, giving both the QB and/or running backs less time to make decisions. Nebraska did this best in the national title game, but it can be done by a team with a good front four and two excellent cornerbacks. Like, say, Miami.
There are risks to it, but those are probably better than sitting back and daring UF to beat you in the air. With as well as Grossman has been throwing this year, they’re capable of it.