GAINESVILLE -- Florida coach Urban Meyer and his offensive coaching staff watched every red-zone play of the season on Sunday night and they came to this conclusion: "We're finding out it's not play call."
On Monday, Meyer indicated that he has changed plays or allowed for change during the course of a game, which, in his opinion, has affected the Gators production in the red zone. In conference play, Florida is 7 of 26 in converting red-zone opportunities into touchdowns. The trend climaxed on Saturday in Starkville, Miss., when UF scored one touchdown in the red zone on six chances.
"We have to hold to the plan," Meyer said. "Sometimes we're making a call that's not on the call sheet and that's my fault. We're going to stick to the call sheet."
Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, normally reliable in short-yardage situations, was stuffed at the goal line on consecutive plays in the first half. Tebow later tossed an interception that was returned for a touchdown. After the game, Meyer said he was asking Tebow to do too much. Meyer said that he and his offensive coaches have designed a few new plays for the red zone and will be begin practicing them on Tuesday. Florida usually waits until Wednesday to practice its red-zone offense.
"We're going to do a better job on the call sheet, not just do it on Wednesday but do it earlier than that," Meyer said. "Last night we already have some (plays) on paper that we're going to start working."
More offense out of the I-formation could be an option. According to Meyer, using running back Emmanuel Moody in goal-line situations could also be considered. Moody, who leads the team in yards per carry, has not been used in the red zone this season. Meyer said on Monday that there was no reason why Moody had not been used in the red zone other than Florida's reliance on Tebow, which has become predictable.
"We're playing a lot of teams that are pinching the fronts," Tim Tebow said. "They game-planned us well with that especially (Dan) Mullen. He did a good job in game planning our fronts and the [quarterback] runs with some of the inside goal line stuff."
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