Harrison Moore says only the Gators can stop Florida's offense

Harrison Moore did not attempt to soften Florida’s feelings about an offense that has nearly ground to a halt.

“Everybody’s pissed,” the veteran guard said after the Gators managed two touchdowns across consecutive losses to Georgia and Oklahoma. Moore believes Florida’s problems remain largely self-inflicted and that the offensive line must take responsibility for helping its young quarterbacks and restoring the running game.

Moore also discussed Duke Clark’s return, Aaron Philo’s response to being benched, the challenge Kentucky presents and why Florida’s final three games could shape the program’s future.

Here’s everything Moore had to say.

How frustrated is Florida’s offense?

Everybody’s pissed.

During the first few weeks, we saw how explosive we could be. The sky was the limit. Then, we struggled during the past five or six games and haven’t played like our true selves.

The biggest emphasis during practice is returning to that. We have to ensure all 11 guys do their jobs on every play, remain detail-oriented and strain.

We have only so many days remaining in the season. We need to come together and give everything we have to make the most of them.

What stands out about Kentucky’s defense?

They’re really good, well-coached and play hard. On top of that, they have good players. That’s a strong combination.

But, like I said after Saturday’s game, I truly believe the only people who can stop the Gators are the Gators. Much of what has held us back has been self-inflicted.

If we play the way we’re supposed to play, good things will happen Saturday.

Have you experienced an offensive slump like this before?

I don’t think we’ve experienced a rut as significant as this one, although we’ve obviously had bad offensive games.

During my freshman year at Georgia Tech, we dealt with quarterback injuries. It was similar to our current situation, with two guys moving back and forth.

Quarterback is already a difficult job. In my opinion, it’s the hardest position in football and maybe all sports. They have a lot on their plates, so the other 10 players have to help them.

If some of us mess up, it makes the quarterbacks look worse. Then, the media attacks them and everybody says it’s their fault when, in my opinion, it usually isn’t.

The offensive line especially has to do a better job getting all five guys onto the same page and protecting the quarterback.

Does rotating quarterbacks affect the offensive line?

From my standpoint, they’re the same. Both are commanding leaders of the offense and communicate well with the offensive line.

But the offensive line has to help them more than they need to help us. We have to give them time in the pocket so they aren’t moving around.

We have to block well enough to run the football, which opens the passing game, and protect during the passing game to open the run. Everything connects in football, and it starts with the offensive line.

It doesn’t matter how well everybody else plays. If the offensive line plays poorly, the team will play poorly. It starts with us.

How did Caden Jones handle replacing the injured Emeka Ugorji?

Caden had some ups and downs throughout the game. The penalties obviously weren’t what he wanted, but he did a good job overcoming them, returning to the game and making the most of the opportunity.

During camp and spring practice, a bunch of guys rotated. He’s as accustomed to playing beside TJ Shanahan Jr. as TJ is to playing beside Emeka.

They have all played next to each other for a long time, so I don’t think there was a drop-off in chemistry. It was about executing on the field.

What can Florida accomplish during its final three games?

The biggest thing is regaining our confidence.

If the season ended today, I think we would all hang our heads for the next nine months and say, “I wish...” But the good thing is the season doesn’t end today.

We have three more opportunities and hopefully a fourth one later. What we do with those games will determine what happens during the next year and the years that follow.

This is Sumrall’s first year as head coach. I fully believe in him and everything he stands for. I think he will do many good things for this program and return it to where the players and fans want it to be.

There have obviously been first-year struggles, but the season isn’t over. We still have a lot of time to make the most of this opportunity.

That was the message Sunday. We had around 20 days until the regular season ended, and the team will never be the same. Seniors will graduate, freshmen will arrive and the transfer portal is a major factor.

This is the last time this group will ever be together. We have to make the most of the opportunity, come together, put our noses to the grindstone and give everything we have during these final three games.

How has Philo responded to being benched?

Both quarterbacks are doing a good job of accepting that whatever happens, happens.

Aaron obviously wasn’t happy with how it unfolded, but he did a good job returning to work. It’s, “So what? Now what? It is what it is. All I can do is keep working and improving.”

Both guys have done a good job continuing to push forward, looking toward what comes next and not what is behind them.

If you keep looking backward, bad things will happen.

What does Clark bring to Florida’s offense?

He’s very explosive.

You saw it against Auburn and especially Ole Miss before he was injured. That dude can fly. He’s fast as all get-out.

He helps the offensive line by hitting the hole quickly, which makes my job easier. I love when he’s in the backfield.

Can Florida build upon the touchdown drive against Oklahoma?

That’s definitely a point of emphasis, especially with the quarterbacks rotating and nobody knowing who will start Saturday.

I have complete confidence in both of them, but we need to help those guys and give them an opportunity to play to the best of their abilities. That starts with the running game, and everybody in the room understands it.

We have to keep pushing forward. This is another week to execute to the best of our abilities, and I have a lot of confidence in our guys.

The past couple of weeks have been shaky, but we’ve been close on many plays, especially against Texas and Georgia. On a couple of runs, we were one player away from breaking one for 60 yards.

The important thing is all five offensive linemen doing their jobs on every play. It isn’t only one or two guys making mistakes. All five of us are mixing and matching. We all need to play better and give our running backs an opportunity to perform.

Should running the football define Florida’s offense?

I’m obviously biased as an offensive lineman. I love running the football and wish we could do it every play, but we aren’t running the triple option, and it isn’t the 1960s. We have to throw the ball.

Still, I want and firmly believe the identity of this offense is running the football. We have explosive backs and, in my opinion, an offensive line capable of doing it.

We’ve been spotty, but we ran for more than 300 yards against a really good Ole Miss defense. We played well against Texas and pretty damn well against Auburn.

We have the capability and know that. Now, we have to execute it.

We’ve shown it before. Although we haven’t recently put that product onto the field, I know it’s there and believe we can do it. The biggest thing is doing it Saturdays.

How would you characterize the defenses Florida recently faced?

Georgia and Oklahoma have two of the best defenses in the league and country. They were two really difficult groups.

But that’s the reality of playing in the SEC. You face the best players in college football.

Coach Trautwein read us a mock draft, and I think we had faced six or seven projected first-round picks. Those guys are obviously legitimate, but that isn’t an excuse.

As I said earlier, the only people who can stop the Gators are the Gators. We’re playing good teams with good players who will make plays. That’s football.

But if we execute fully, I don’t think anybody can stop us.

Do you have experience playing in cold weather?

During my junior year of high school, we played a third-round playoff game in West Texas. It was around 40 degrees, sleeting sideways and windy as hell.

Growing up in Texas, I wasn’t accustomed to the cold, so that was difficult. But both teams play in the same conditions. It will be as cold for Kentucky as it is for us.

I’m not worried about it. I lived in Atlanta. It obviously isn’t that cold, but there are days when it reaches 15 degrees, and we’re running outside.

I wouldn’t say I’m accustomed to it, but I don’t think the cold will be a significant factor. It is what it is, and there’s nothing we can do about it.

I try to control what I can control. The weather is outside my control, so I’m not worried about it.

That high school game was in Odessa against a team from El Paso. It wasn’t Odessa Permian, although I had played the “Friday Night Lights” team the year before.

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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Harrison Moore says only the Gators can stop Florida's offense