Florida QB Aaron Philo Given Rough QB Grade After Loss to Missouri

The Florida Gators were run off the field this past week, dropping their first game of the season to the Missouri Tigers.

Florida lost the game 45-17, with the offense not being able to do too much against a stout Missouri defense. It was a tough game all around for the Gators, giving them a taste of reality during the regular season.

But it's how this Gators team will respond that will determine how far this team can go. Florida understands that one loss won't decide the entire season for them, and this will be a learning expereince.

For the Gators, quarterback Aaron Philo is going to have to play much better as the season goes along. Philo had looked good in previous weeks, but against the Tigers, he just didn't have the same firepower.

The signal-caller finished the game throwing for 197 and one touchdown, but this won't get the job done. Philo has to push the ball down the field a little more, opening up the entire passing game.

For his performance, Philo was given a low grade by college football analyst Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report. The Gators quarterback was given a letter grade of "C" for his outing, with Reuter ranking him as the No. 14 signal-caller in the sport.

One area that should help Philo moving forward is getting the running game going again. Star running back Jadan Baugh was bottled up against Missouri, and it forced Philo to have to make plays, which he ultimately couldn't.

Baugh is one of the more explosive players in college football, and he is an invaluable asset to this Florida team this season. So, if the Gators can generate more from the running game, it would take less pressure off Philo, giving him more of a chance to succeed in the long run.

Of course, as the quarterback, Philo will be counted on to make some big throws during games, especially in a tight conference like the SEC. But having a running game can open up passing lanes, making Philo's life much easier.

Florida will be getting ready for an upcoming matchup against the South Carolina Gamecocks at home, giving Philo another chance to show what he can do. If he can put together a bounce-back effort, the Gators should be able to come away with another win this season.

Kickoff for the game will take place this weekend at 9:45 a.m. PT/12:45 p.m. ET.