The Florida Gators have lost five straight games to the Georgia Bulldogs, but Florida is hoping to start a new streak when the two rivals meet on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 3:30 p.m. ET in Atlanta, Georgia. Florida has had an up-and-down season with the Gators having high highs and low lows.
Florida's high points in the season came in the form of ranked wins over Ole Miss and Texas, who are two of the best teams in the SEC. In between those two wins, the Gators lost in embarrassing fashion to Missouri and fell to South Carolina by double digits.
First-year Florida coach Jon Sumrall hopes that the Gators can pull off another upset against Georgia. Sumrall says the Gators have to play their best to have a change against Georgia.
"We have a new challenge
this week in Georgia," Sumrall said. "They’re really good. They’re a team that you turn the tape on, you don’t see weakness. Usually, as a coach, you’re trying to figure out what our team’s strengths and weaknesses (are) — I see a lot of strengths; I don’t see weakness."
On the Kirby Smart era, playing UGA
"I think it’s Year 11 for Kirby there," Sumrall said. "You can tell they have layered development. Like they’ve recruited great players. They’ve done that year in, year out for the entire time he’s been there, and then I think they’re developed and they’re calloused and they’re strong and they’re physical, and you can tell that has been layered. Like, it’s been built over time.
"And so a really impressive outfit that we’re playing that I have a lot of respect for, and it’s a big-time game, as we all know. So we have to play our best to have a shot in this one."
On Georgia's physicality
"I think that’s kind of what I open with about Georgia a little bit with maybe taking it head on is they have built up years and years of what I consider," Sumrall said. "I have a lot of respect for their weight room work, their physicality, how they prepare, how they practice, how they play. It shows up. It bleeds through the tape when you turn on the tape."They play the game the way it’s supposed to be played, and they’ve done that for a pretty long time now. And so our guys have to understand that we’re fully in an attempt to try to do some things they’ve done here. That’s what we’re working towards in a lot of ways. I think our guys have to understand that’s the nature of this game, and there’s a lot of things that they do that they built into their program over time that I have a tremendous amount of respect for."
On Georgia's roster building
"I look at them and I think that’s one thing they’ve done a really nice job of: recruit high-level high school players, develop those players," Sumrall said. "Where you may have a roster deficiency, go get a great player like Isiah Canion. He’s been out a couple games. But he’s a great player. They didn’t go out and just get like... Georgia the way they’ve done it and the way they’ve got it built now, they don’t go out and just go to the portal to get a third-string guy."
On Gunner Stockton
"The character of a football team is embodied in the quarterback," Sumrall said. "This quarterback is a tough, competitive winner. It’s in his DNA. And so I think the football team they have reflects him."
On the rest of UGA's offense
"Offensive line is really, really solid," Sumrall said. "Multiple players at tight end that are a handful. The running back room is the deepest I feel like I’ve seen in a long time. And then receivers, I mentioned (Isaiah) Canion’s been out, the freshman kid they got playing slot is really good. The receivers, they got a lot of guys that can make you pay."
"They are just, like I said earlier, I don’t see a weakness. I see a lot of really good players. These guys are sound, they are talented, they do good things. I think (offensive coordinator Mike) Bobo does a great job with how he sets plays up and calls the game."
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This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: What Florida coach Jon Sumrall said about Georgia football
