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Jim McElwain says Florida roster ‘really insufficent’

By Nathaniel Reeves

Nov 1, 2014; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Florida Gators helmet against the Georgia Bulldogs during the second half at EverBank Field. Florida Gators defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 38-20. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2014; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Florida Gators helmet against the Georgia Bulldogs during the second half at EverBank Field. Florida Gators defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 38-20. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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The new Florida Gators head coach says Will Muschamp didn’t exactly leave him with a stacked cupboard.

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A first-year head coaching job at a storied SEC football program is always a challenge no matter the circumstances. But new Florida head coach Jim McElwain believes he may be walking into a particularly difficult situation.

In an interview with Thomas Goldkamp of 247 Sports, McElwain says previous coach Will Muschamp left him with plenty of holes in the roster.

"“You’ve got to play the hand you’re dealt. And right now, quite honestly, the hand we were dealt is really insufficient at some of the areas.It’s hard. Like I said, it hurts the whole team. Just like the short numbers are on linebackers as well. We’re awful short there as well, and yet it’s something we know. There’s nothing we can do about it.”"

In spring practice, Florida has been forced to use three walk-ons on the offensive line due to a lack of scholarship players and three key departures during the offseason. The Gators will also have to replace two starting linebackers and a talented running back in Matt Jones.

Looking at Florida’s records under Muschamp, it’s not hard to see why the current roster may have some holes due to his recruiting efforts. Muschamp peaked at 11-2 in 2012 (including a loss to a less talented Louisville team in the Sugar Bowl) with a lot of Urban Meyer’s players before sliding to 4-8 and 7-5 in 2013 and 2014, respectively.

“Insufficient” and “offense” went hand and hand at Florida during the Muschamp era, so it’s expected that the Gators would be a little shorthanded there. But the Gators have consistently churned out NFL-caliber talent on the defensive side of the ball, causing a shortage of depth.

McElwain’s comments may be concerning to many in Gainesville, but Florida has some natural advantages that will help accelerate a rebuild. If McElwain is the right man for the job-and nothing in his coaching history suggests he shouldn’t be- the Gators should be competing in the weaker SEC east in a matter of a year or two.

Any first year head coach at a major program faces an extended rebuilding job, so Florida wasn’t expected to contend much this season anyway. It’s been no secret for months that the Gators would have a shortage on the offensive line, and no team is winning games against LSU, Georgia, Florida State or Ole Miss with a deficiency at that position.

However, Florida has a manageable schedule outside of those four games and should have enough to avoid a complete disaster. The Gators are stacked with talent on defense apart from linebacker, anchored by an All-American cornerback in Vernon Hargreaves III, which will keep Florida competitive while McElwain works on the other side of the ball.

Even with Florida State as a formidable opponent, the Sunshine State is stacked with enough talent to accelerate a rebuild. McElwain has run excellent offenses at Alabama and, more impressively, Colorado State, so he should be able to get the Gators up to snuff on that side of the ball soon enough with the built-in recruiting advantages.

McElwain has a point to a certain extent with his comments, but the situation in Gainesville is not as dire as they might make it seem.

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