GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- With an offense that is struggling, Florida coach Jim McElwain is looking for answers. He won't have a chance to fully dissect what has gone wrong with his offense until the offseason, but he's got some early ideas on why it's misfiring.

The team has been pretty good operating on a script to open games: Florida's opening drive on offense over the last three games has averaged nearly eight plays for 52 yards. Twice the Gators have marched into the red zone easily.

After that, though, the offense has really stalled.

"We’ve got to do a better job of maintaining the art of deception, and we’ve got to continue to do that throughout and not become so predictable, in some cases, when we retake the field say after play 18 or 19," McElwain said. "So that’s something that we’re working and something we’ll do this week, as well."

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To date, the second-year head coach hasn't been overly critical of the play-calling, handled by offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier. But there was certainly a change in tone from him on Monday.

The Gators need to change something or they can continue to expect the same (lack of) results.

"There is going to be a lot of that (evaluation) in the offseason and yet we are in season and not a lot of teams are right now," McElwain said. "So we got to focus on giving our guys a chance this week. We've got to get the ball in a playmaker's hands in space and a lot of them will be able to make plays. That's got to be a focus this week."

He outlined his vision for making that happen. There are three players in the passing game he wants to get more involved, starting with leading receiver Antonio Callaway. Callaway has only touched the ball more than five times on offense twice all year, with one being in the season opener.

"I think one of the things we've got to do is make sure somewhere in there he’s in that eight to 12, with that maybe even more with the addition of the punt returns," the Florida coach said. "I think those are all touches we try to get him. Brandon Powell’s got to touch it in space. And Tyrie (Cleveland) has got to. This 'get-it-to' list, we’ve got to increase that."

Against Alabama, Florida will need just about every wrinkle it can think of. There's nothing to hold back for at this point, so even taking advantage of quarterback Austin Appleby's mobility could be in the cards.

"It is kind of an element of surprise we’re going to have to use this week, more from a wildcat standpoint as well, with him being that kind of guy," McElwain said. "There again, to create different shifts, formations, motions, to try to get a guy be out of his gap."

Mix it all together with less predictable play-calling and maybe Florida can manufacture some offense against a team that hasn't allowed much all year long.

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Contact Thomas Goldkamp by 247Sports' personal messaging system or on Twitter at @ThomasGoldkamp.