GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- In his two seasons as Florida's offensive coordinator, Brent Pease has had to navigate some tricky roads.
As soon as he arrived from Boise State in January 2012, Pease had to determine which quarterback would lead his offense: Jeff Driskel or Jacoby Brissett. Driskel won the job and Florida finished 11-2.
While Pease's offense showed an improvement over Charlie Weis' from the previous season -- Florida averaged 334.4 yards per game compared to 328.7 in 2011 -- it still lacked a bevy of playmakers and featured a young quarterback heading into this season.
The Gators have struggled mightily in Pease's second year, much of it related to issues out of his control.
Brissett transferred at the end of last season, Driskel went down with a season-ending leg injury nine quarters into this season, and his replacement, Tyler Murphy, has been hampered by an injured shoulder and missed the last two games, forcing Florida to start redshirt freshman Skyler Mornhinweg.
The offensive line has been decimated by injuries and running back Matt Jones went down midseason with a knee injury.
Add all those factors up, and the 4-7 Gators rank 111th in the country (327.9 ypg) in total offense heading into Saturday’s regular-season finale against Florida State. Fans are upset. Players are frustrated. And head coach Will Muschamp said Monday that "we need to be more productive on the offensive side of the ball."
With that backdrop in place, the 49-year-old Pease faced more thorny subjects Tuesday when reporters in a small conference room at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium peppered him with several pointed questions about his future.
To his credit, Pease faced the heat the way he teaches his quarterbacks to.
"Sometimes in a year like this, when you’re in this kind of situation, you've got to do the best you can and continue to grow and get better and understand what you can't do," Pease said. "The thing you never want to do is look into a finger-pointing situation, and I don't look at it that way.
"I still always look at it as 'we're a staff, we're a team.' If it's coming my way, then it's coming my way. You’ve just got to kind of take the blows."
The Gators will finish with a losing record for the first time since 1979 and miss a bowl game for the first time since 1990. Those are not the kind of records Florida envisioned when the season started and the Gators were ranked 10th in the country.
However, six consecutive losses -- including a 26-20 loss to FCS-opponent Georgia Southern last week -- have fueled more criticism toward UF’s offensive woes.
Pease acknowledged Tuesday that the offense has not consistently performed as well as he would have liked.
“Our defense has held us up in games ever since I’ve been here,’’ Pease said. “We’ve got to find that time where we move along and move ahead and get the points we need to win.”
Pease was optimistic the Gators could drive for the game-winning score in Saturday’s loss to Georgia Southern. However, the game ended when Mornhinweg’s pass on fourth-and-3 from the Eagles’ 17-yard line fell incomplete.
Shortly after Pease answered some difficult questions Tuesday, defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin and players offered their support.
“I think he did what he could do as the offensive coordinator,’’ senior offensive lineman Jon Halapio said. “I love the guy. Personally, I hope he stays.”
While the coaching staff’s future has been a hot topic this week, Muschamp said this Monday: “I'm not ready to make any statement on that at this point. We're still playing out the season and those guys are going to coach their butts off. I'll make that decision when I think it’s right.”
Durkin, in his first season as defensive coordinator, is trying to find ways to slow down Florida State’s offense on Saturday. The No. 2-ranked Seminoles (11-0) are led by dynamic quarterback Jameis Winston, the most exciting player in the Florida-Florida State rivalry since former UF quarterback Tim Tebow.
He said Pease should not take any more heat than anyone else for Florida’s losing season.
“I think our staff, everyone -- coaches, players, everyone alike in that locker room -- we’re all in a tough situation right now,’’ Durkin said. “I think Brent, just like everyone else -- we’re trying to teach our guys to respond well when you’re in a tough moment. Tough people do that, and Brent’s a tough guy.
“We’re all in this together. It’s not just him or any one person on the staff. It’s everyone. We’ve gotta coach better, we’ve gotta play better, we’ve gotta do a lot of things better, and we will.”
That is the message inside the locker room. Outside, fair or unfair, Pease is a favorite target.
The veteran coach is no stranger to the business of coaching or mood swings of fans. He turned 49 on Oct. 8 and has not tasted victory since his birthday. Florida’s last win came three days earlier over Arkansas.
As belated birthday gifts go, a win over the Seminoles would be a memorable one.
“I know you’ve got to win and have success,’’ Pease said. “If it’s not meant to be … I came into this with friends, and I’m walking out of it with friends.”
Win or lose Saturday, Pease showed Tuesday he can stand in the pocket and take a hit.
