The bye week is upon us for these Florida Gators and the most important thing for fans is that it means it’s the week before the Florida – Georgia game. The two teams meet again on the banks of the St. John’s River and it is back to being an important contest in terms of the SEC race again. Every game moving forward is big for both, one slip up and there is no chance. For both teams this is basically a playoff game and the Gators are treating it that way.

The players that are getting reps for Florida are getting rest for most of this week. They are taking a backseat to the younger, less experienced guys so that they can use the time to heal their bodies and the young guys can grow in their knowledge of the offensive and defensive systems. They also get to sleep in a bit every day giving their bodies a little more rest.

The break has come at a good time. The team has been on a tough span of four games that included three road games and a high drama and intense contest at home against a top ranked LSU team. Junior linebacker Rayshad Jackson said that led to a bit of a rough start to the game against Vanderbilt.

“We didn’t have a good two weeks, that’s why it was a close game,” Jackson said this week after practice. “But this week coming in (we know) that next week we can be a better team.”

When asked if he thought that the game with Georgia was basically a playoff game, Jackson responded with a simple, “yes”.

He also said that while the players know that, they have to continue on with their normal approach to games and worry about what they can do.

“I don’t really think about it,” Jackson said. “We just go out there and play our game, and if we play to our standard we’ll beat them.”

“It’s a big game for everybody. Every game is a big game. It’s a big game. The next game’s a big game.”

The only thing in Jackson’s memory banks about last year’s contest with Georgia is the quick start for the Bulldogs, something they have to avoid,

“It was depressing,” Jackson said. “They came out and scored 21 so quick. It was all I remember. I was depressed.”

“It came so quick on us. We didn’t know how to go respond to it last year.”

The defense was hit by a few big plays at Vanderbilt, something that is much more likely to happen against a team like Georgia. He noted that mental errors like missed run fits and mental errors were to blame.

“We got to eliminate the explosive plays and we’ll be all right from there,” he said.

“If we do give up a big play we just think about drawing a line in the sand and don’t let (anything) get across the end zone. That’s how we think about it.”

The team started watching film on Georgia on Wednesday of this week. Jackson thinks they are a pretty complete offense for them to try and handle.

“They’re a powerhouse team,” he said. “Of course they can run the ball. They got good passing. That’s it.”

And the work continues for what is the next playoff game for these Gators.