When [autotag]Graham Mertz[/autotag] transferred from Wisconsin to Florida, Gators fans were rightfully skeptical about a Big Ten quarterback who had thrown 26 interceptions to just 38 touchdowns.
But Mertz has done nothing but impress since taking over under center for the Orange and Blue. Through four games, he’s thrown four touchdowns, rushed for two more and leads the SEC in completion percentage (77.8%; 84 of 108)
Mertz is guilty of spamming short passes and screens, but that’s the offense Florida runs. He’s found Ricky Pearsall down the field a few times and has looked far more accurate than most expected from that distance. It’s hard not to be impressed with him at this point, and even he admits that he’s getting into “the flow.”
“I always talk about like getting in the flow,” Mertz said at the Monday press conference. “Every week, but it’s doing my job and getting the ball to our playmakers. When a team zones us out, taking what they give you. It’s easy to want to force the ball down the field into double coverage, but it’s not smart. For me, it just goes back to doing my job and doing it on a consistent basis.”
Of course, the toughest portion of Florida’s schedule looms as Mertz enters his flow.
Florida and Kentucky square off this weekend, and a five-week stretch against Georgia, Arkansas, LSU, Missouri and Florida State, in that order, will test the Gators. The running game will ultimately decide whether Florida wins or loses, but Mertz’s success opens the door for Trevor Etienne and Montrell Johnson Jr.
Mertz is on pace for a career year, and he could end up a draft guy if stays on track. He might not be the flashiest quarterback in the SEC, but there’s no debating that he’s been one of the best early on.
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