GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Jeff Driskel was ready Monday when he stepped to the media podium.
"It's a new week," the Florida quarterback said with a grin. "Thank goodness, it's a new week."
And thank goodness it's a week that includes a game after Gators everywhere -- in the coaches' offices and well beyond -- spent the previous one dissecting UF's 42-21 loss at Alabama that was marred by across-the-board breakdowns on both sides of the ball.
Up next for UF (2-1, 1-1) is Saturday's high-noon road showdown at Tennessee. The Volunteers (2-2, 0-1) gave 13th-ranked Georgia quite the fight Saturday before falling 35-32 at Athens and are looking to halt a nine-game losing skid in the series that has been a huge source of frustration for the Vols since the 2005 season.
While on the topic of frustration, the Gators spent their off week focusing on the array of mistakes that limited their offense to just 200 yards (93 passing) and allowed the Crimson Tide, who have since jumped from No. 3 to No. 1 in the USA Today Coaches poll, to roll up 645, the most ever surrendered by a UF defense.
The loss, however, has not deterred the Gators from pressing on with hopes of a big season.
"All the goals are still there," Coach Will Muschamp said. "We've got a lot of football to play. Everything's out in front of us, [so] let's go get it."
Helping lead the charge will be Driskel, the fourth-year junior who is coming off one of the worst outings of his career. He completed just nine of 28 throws against the Tide, prompting screams in the social media and talk-radio worlds for the Gators to give true freshman quarterback Treon Harris a look.
Yes, Harris' name came up Monday.
Muschamp said each offensive game plan to date has included situational packages for Harris, who threw two passes in mop-up duty in UF's 65-0 blowout of Eastern Michigan, going 2-for-2 for 148 yards and touchdowns of 77 and 71 yards. Such situations did not arise for Harris, the former Miami Booker T. Washington standout, in the ensuing games against Kentucky and Alabama.
"Treon continues to improve. He's going to be a really good player," Muschamp said. "I've got all the confidence in the world in him and his abilities and what he presents to our football team. When that opportunity presents itself, he'll have an opportunity."
In the interim, the Gators are focused on fixing the offense with Driskel, who has struggled with his accuracy -- especially on the deep ball. He has completed just two of 23 pass attempts beyond 15 yards and does not rate among the Southeastern Conference's top 10 quarterbacks in pass efficiency.
UF fans have let their displeasure with his performance be known.
Driskel has heard them.
"I've never been one where that stuff gets to me, whether [it's] people saying you're the best or people saying you're the worst, so you've just got to be even-keeled and keep moving forward," he said. "But there's a lot out there, so you can't really shield yourself from all of it. I'm grown. I can handle it."
Muschamp was asked about the rain of criticism heaped on his quarterback.
"Part of the deal. Be careful what you ask for when you want to be the quarterback at Florida. ... He understands that," he said. "I don't know if physically or mentally there's any tougher kid that I've been around. He takes the heat and understands that comes with the territory. [He's] about all the right things, and I think will continue to move forward this season and he'll make the Gator Nation proud he's their quarterback. I know the majority are. That's the frustrating part, that you've got to listen to the negativity of a small few. But that's part of it."
The UF offense is expected to get a boost this week with the return of offensive tackle D.J. Humphries, who missed the last two games with an ankle sprain. Should Humphries' practice week go well, he figures to be plugged back in on the left side, with Chaz Green moving back to right tackle.
On the other side of the ball, defensive tackle Leon Orr (knee) will miss the UT game and inside linebacker Michael Taylor (knee) is questionable. The Tennessee offense ranks next-to-last in the SEC (378.0 yards per game), but cranked out 401 yards in the loss at Georgia, with quarterback Justin Worley hitting 23 of 35 passes for 264 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Those passing numbers resonate, considering Alabama's Blake Sims lit up the Gators for 445 yards and four touchdowns, prompting Muschamp and his defensive staff to consider changes in the secondary. Some possibilities are junior Brian Poole replacing junior Marcus Maye at the nickel spot, a closer look at true freshman Duke Dawson at safety, and either true freshmen Jalen Tabor or Quincy Wilson at the cornerback spot opposite Vernon Hargreaves III.
"We're still working through that right now," Muschamp said. "We'll make those decisions probably the latter part of the week, probably Thursday and Friday."
Florida fans will have to wait until Saturday to see the results.
In the interim, they'll have plenty of suggestions via the air waves and Twitter.
"People are passionate about the Gators," Driskel said. "I don't think there's any panic in this building. Obviously, we'd like to play better, but we didn't. At the end of the day, it's an SEC game and it's a big deal, but we have a lot more of those and our goals are still attainable. Fans have the right to [overreact], but we're not panicking here."
