Florida offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner has plenty of history with Georgia, but he is not interested in living in it.

Faulkner returns to Atlanta this week with memories of Georgia Tech’s eight-overtime loss to the Bulldogs still fresh, but he said the focus now is on a new team, a new opportunity and a new challenge. He also acknowledged the irony of facing Georgia again in Atlanta after spending years on both sides of the rivalry.

However, Faulkner’s attention remains on Florida’s offense and the growth it showed in the win at Texas. He praised Tramell Jones Jr.’s poise, highlighted the fourth-down completion to Dallas Wilson as one of the game’s defining plays and stressed that Florida must stay efficient, protect the football and finish drives against Georgia.

Here’s everything Faulkner had to say ahead of Florida’s matchup with Georgia.

On returning to Atlanta after the eight-overtime game

That one will always stick with you. But on to a new team, new jersey, new opportunity, new challenge. You can’t live in the past, right? That was a great football game played between two great teams that night and didn’t come out on top.

But you’ve got to move on. Like I said, on to a new chapter at a new place, and I couldn’t be more excited about this opportunity.

On Florida-Georgia being played in Atlanta

I think it’s ironic that it’s in Atlanta, kind of the way that it is, probably more for me than anything. I think it’s special over in Jacksonville. Obviously, it’s been there for a long time and got a lot of history.

But we don’t get to pick where we play. Wherever they put us, we’re going to go play the game.

On cleaning up procedural penalties

It’s been a point of emphasis since day one. We’ve still got to get better at it. We’ve got to clean it up. We’ve got to understand that defenses are going to shift and they’re going to move and they’re going to make calls, and we’ve got to sit in there and do a better job.

It is frustrating because you feel like that can cost you points. This league gets tough to move the ball as is, and when you put yourself in first-and-15 or you’re fourth-and-one and you’ve got to go fourth-and-six and punt it, I feel like those were really two drive killers in that game.

One, I think we ended up still kicking the field goal. The other one, we had to punt. It’s not a turnover in the stats, but you could look at it like a turnover, especially in a crucial situation because we’re probably going to get the first down right there and extend the drive. We’re on the plus side of the field.

They’re frustrating. We’ve got to get better at it and clean that stuff up if we want to get to where we want to go.

On Jones’ fourth-down throw to Dallas Wilson

That was probably the biggest play in the game, without a doubt. When you look back, they’re all big, but that was crucial because I think we were — I guess it would’ve been third-and-seven or fourth-and-seven.

Then we had the false start also on that drive, and you’re kind of right there in no-man’s land, whether you’re going to go for it or kick the field goal. Actually, I was expecting us to kick the field goal, and Coach clicked over and said go for it. I made a quick call.

We said, make this throw right here to Dallas regardless of the circumstances. He let it throw. Elite catch. Super poised. It was really good.

The one thing that he showed in that game was his poise, and that comes in preparation, the way you go about handling your business on a day-in, day-out basis. That was probably the most impressive thing about the whole game.

On whether Florida simplified things for Jones

We didn’t try to hold anything back. Bottom line is, we stayed on schedule a lot more than we have in the last couple weeks. He executed the offense.

We were down a couple guys. We’ve got some guys banged up, not as explosive as we would like to be. That’s a big part of college football, but it’s a testament to the guys, a testament to him, a testament to everybody.

We had to go grind one out, per se. It’s kind of something that we had hit on a couple weeks before in other games, that sometimes we’ve got to be able to win those games 27-20, 27-24. Hopefully that’s growth in the right direction.

Go on the road right there and five yards, six yards, four yards, eight yards. Just a dirty win. That’s a testament to the players.

On what he told Jones before the fourth-down throw

It wasn’t exactly that. We’ll keep exactly what it was because it happened quick. But once it happened, really there were two options there.

Elite pass-rush team. They’ve got an elite pass rusher, so we wanted to be able to try to put the ball in play and see what can happen.

Really, he made as good a throw as you’re ever going to see. It was really a great catch, too, because that’s a tough angle. Then it all starts up front. Had plenty of time to make the throw, and it kind of got us going.

We knew it was never overwhelming before that, but that just kind of settled it all in in that game.

On Jones’ running ability

Anytime you can extend plays, that’s crucial. Off-schedule plays, which that third down was, you saw a little burst out of him there.

The other runs, I’d say they’re not really necessarily designed quarterback runs, but they end up being reads where he can either pull it. One of them was a pass with a draw tied to it and he decided to keep it. One was we read the three-technique and he did a great job and got vertical. I think it was the turf monster.

So it was all really good for us. The week before we had some as well. They just didn’t show up in the stats probably because of the minus plays that we had.

It’s always an advantage when the quarterback can get a few yards. We’re not going to live in that world. That’s not who we are. But it definitely helps us.

On how Florida coached Jones through early misses

Everything’s about the preparation and everything that he’s done since he’s been here. I’ve seen him make those throws. That’s part of it.

First start on the road. Hostile environment. Noon kick. Young quarterback. All those things.

You’re never going to get me down on a guy that I’ve seen put the work in, seen make the throws. If I hadn’t seen those things, then yeah, I’d be a little nervous.

But he did a great job. He was composed, had a great week of practice. It goes back to a testament to who he is and the kind of player he is.

On his former Georgia coaching mentor

We text usually after every game. Shoot, man, I can’t thank him enough for what he’s done for my career and the influence that he’s had on me, not just as a coach, but as a man.

The three years that we spent together were probably the three most valuable years of my life from a coaching standpoint. Not just him, other guys there as well, but he’s awesome. I love seeing him have success.

No one works harder at it to do it right for the players than he does. He’s fun to watch. He’s innovative. He’s got a great attitude. You love his interviews. People send them to me all the time. So definitely pulling for him.

On the challenge of facing Kirby Smart’s defense

There are always challenges with his defenses. Give them their credit. Probably one of the best coaching jobs over the last several years, as you see across the country.

They’ve got good players. They do a great job developing their players. If you look on their roster, I think in the two-deep there were four transfers. The rest of them are high school guys, if I’m not mistaken.

Only one guy that’s starting, Khalil Barnes, is a transfer, who’s actually a local kid that they recruited for a long time and knew a lot about. That’s just a testament to their program and the way they go about developing their team.

Their kids have been in their system for several years and all the different reps, they’ve seen it all. They put them through all that stuff. Those are the things that are challenging. Obviously, they play really, really hard. They’re a good football team.

On sustaining drives against Georgia

Their defense is good. We were able to have some success in the past with the quarterback, the way he could run the football. Obviously, we’re built a little bit different here.

When you play them, the one thing you’ve got to do is you’ve got to be efficient in all facets of the game because they’re going to be efficient. That’s what they strive to be. I’m sure their offense is really efficient, so you’ve got to match that.

It’s not necessarily about how many plays when you play them. It’s staying on schedule, staying ahead of the chains, and you’ve got to score touchdowns in the red zone to have a chance to beat them.

You’ve got to protect the football. They do as good a job as anybody in the country of trying to strip it out, knock it out, and we’ve got to go in this environment and protect it. Like I said, stay ahead of the chains and score touchdowns in the red zone.

On the expected return of Vernell Brown III

We know what he means to this offense. He’s an explosive player. He can take five-yard catches and turn them into 15-, 20-yard gains.

It’s a huge part of what we want to do, getting him the ball, getting him involved in the game. Hopefully, he’s able to get out there and play some for us and add a whole other element to what we’ve maybe been missing.

On Eric Singleton Jr.’s recovery

There are definitely glimpses. I give the kid credit. It’s tough to come back from a high ankle sprain and really be the same.

You see him still fighting through it. Every time he kind of gets tackled or rolled up, it does bother him. There were several in that game last week where he’s down the field, where you see the speed, the elite trait that he has that not many people have.

That’s been really good. He’s always been extremely competitive, but he’s definitely improving, getting back close to the Eric that I’m familiar with. The bye week really helped him.

On what he remembers about a young Kirby Smart

Fire, passion, energy. Relentless in everything that he does. One of the most competitive human beings that I’ve ever been around, and that hasn’t changed since I met him 25 years ago.

That’s still there. Just a little older and grayer.

On whether Smart’s success surprises him

It starts with how competitive he is, wanting to win, understanding the process. He had a great mentor, obviously, in Coach Saban, going over there and spending, I think it was, nine seasons.

He’s been a part of winning. He knows what winning looks like. There’s no surprise at this point after being around him for three years, what he’s done.

On Florida’s quarterback decision

Collaborative, definitely. We go by what we see on film, how we’re going to do it, practice, what goes on in practice, where we’re at, who’s available, who’s not available. A lot of different things.

The good thing is I feel very, very confident in both guys’ abilities. We’re very lucky. We’ve got two young quarterbacks that I think are really good football players, and their best football is ahead of them, both of them.

That’s important for success and sustainability of a program. Really excited where we’re at. We want to get better every day. That’s what we strive to do.

Both those guys, and I’ve said it since I got here, they’ve got a lot of the same traits. They’re both good leaders. They carry themselves the right way. The best thing about both of them is that they’re team-first. That’s why they’re both going to be very successful.

On balancing a quarterback’s competitiveness with injury concerns

All games are big games. Growing up there, maybe there’s something to it, but it’s about execution. Don’t make it bigger than it is.

You’ve been playing the game for a long time. Since you’re little, it’s still the same game. Don’t forget it’s a game. Ignore all the noise around you.

That’s what you’ve got to tell all quarterbacks these days, regardless of what people say. Whatever it is, you’ve just got to go play. Relax. Go out there. Cut it loose.

Again, it’s about the Florida Gators. It’s not about one guy.

On whether Aaron Philo had a chance to play against Texas

Late in the week. Early in the week, no. Late in the week, real late in the week, you thought there was a chance.

But it’s a different injury for that spot. I actually dealt with it with my son a year ago, so I know exactly what he went through.

On what Florida is looking for from its quarterbacks this week

Execution. Staying ahead of the chains all week in practice.

Obviously, we’ve got a big sample size of one — I say big, six games — and we’ve got a sample size of Tramell at one.

We’ll do what’s best for Florida and give ourselves a chance to go win the game. The best thing about it is we’ve got two guys, and we’ve had two guys. We felt that way all along and that hasn’t changed.

On Jadan Baugh’s workload at Texas

It says a lot about him. It says a lot about the offensive line, tight ends, all the guys, because it’s not just him.

They had to be physical against heavy boxes and loaded boxes and all those different things that go with it. To carry it 25 times on the road, it’s not easy for anybody.

I’ve said it before, 25 is a lot of carries. When you go back-to-back-to-back, the best thing about it is going into the game, we knew we had a bye week on the back end.

Really, not just him, but we challenged all the guys. We’re all in. Your bodies are hurt. You’re tired. That was the message the whole week.

Whatever it takes. It may take five yards, six yards. Grind this thing out and find a way to win. We were able to go do that.

On Baugh bouncing back from adversity

It says a lot about him, his character, his love for the team and love for Florida. That’s the best thing about the group that we’re coaching right now. They’re all in for each other and whatever it takes for that unit.

That’s something that we’re going to continue to build and hopefully recruit to: unselfish guys.

Yeah, he had 25 carries, but that’s very unselfish of him because that’s hard to do. That’s tough to go with the banging in this league.

His willingness to go do that each and every week — if it was up to him, he’d get 25 every single week. But like I said, that’s tough.

On Florida’s other running backs

Both those guys are ready. They had some carries in that game. London’s an explosive player. Evan can make some runs as well.

If we need them to carry it a bunch, they’ll be ready to carry it a bunch. We’re really excited about both those guys and their development.

On the polecat formation

It’s something I’ve run in the past. You just kind of carry it a lot of times to really keep the guys engaged at practice, maybe get a guy a touch here and there.

There’s a time for it. We felt like that was the right time.

On Lacota Dippre emerging as an offensive contributor

He’s another one that fits all the traits that you want in an individual. Not a highly recruited guy. Was a defensive end. Tough, gritty football player.

He’s gotten better and better every week. Coach McKissic has done an unbelievable job with his development as a total player. He’s physical, and now he’s just giving us more confidence to play more in the passing game.

Really, quite honestly, it’s getting hard to take him out because he plays so good.

Like every other position, you’ve got to continue to develop at practice. You’ve got to put it on tape at practice. When you get in, I think it was the South Carolina game, you’ve got to put it on tape.

You’ve got to be really good in those opportunities, whether it’s two plays, 10 plays, six plays. Show us that you can play in those situations and you’ll continue to get more.

So he’s getting better. He’s got to continue to get better.