In all fairness, if Cope catches that ball, we have a first down and get out of the shadow of our own end zone.
When you have 9 yards to go on 3rd, you pass. You can't win by refusing to take risks. The only real risk is an interception and a sack, but we are already on the 7, so a sack would not have hurt us that bad.
The Florida kicker has had more to do with it. Not sure I would want us to be too creative right now on third and long deep in our own territory. Come on DEFENSE...!!!