UT running game

[TheTodd]

The key for the Florida defense Saturday afternoon is the same as it has been this decade for Tennessee: If the Gators stop the Volunteers rushing attack, they have a good chance of winning.

“After watching both games they’ve played, they run the ball a lot,” Florida senior linebacker Ryan Stamper said. “I don’t think I’ve seen a team run the ball this much, especially in the UCLA game. All they did was run the ball. We’re thinking they’re going to come in and try to run the ball, shove it down our throats.”

The challenge presented to the Florida defense is something they love. It’s a game that will be decided by which team is tougher. The battles in the trenches are always as good between these two schools as any in the country, and that adds another level of excitement for the Florida defense.

“We pretty much love it,” Stamper said. “If you balance it up, run and pass, you have a better shot at winning. But when they run the ball like that, if we just stop the run, I think we have a shot.”

The added benefit to the Gators this season is a secondary that is among the best in the country. The defensive line and linebackers are able to focus on staying in their gaps to stop the Tennessee running game, because they have complete trust that their defensive secondary will get the job done when Tennessee quarterback Jonathan Crompton throws.

“I’m definitely comfortable focusing on the run,” Stamper said. “That’s pretty much what we’re focusing on because our secondary takes care of business. If we stop the run, I think we’ll be okay this week.”

The Gator defense is familiar with the running game Tennessee will try on Saturday. They’ve seen starting running back Montario Hardesty in action since the 2006 game in Knoxville, so they know what he brings to the table. This is also the first season where Hardesty has been listed as fully healthy. He has 44 carries for 257 yards and two touchdowns this season.

“They’ve got some really explosive backs, especially their starter, No. 2 (Hardesty),” Stamper said. “He runs real hard. We’re just preparing for him, and tackling, we’ve got to wrap up.”

The Volunteers’ backup running back is someone the Gators haven’t seen yet. Bryce Brown was one of the top high school players in the country last season. In his first two games, Brown has carried the ball 22 times for 142 yards and one touchdown.

“He’s a pretty good backup runner to come in and give (Hardesty) a breather,” Stamper said. “He comes in and keeps the tempo going, so it’s not a slack off when Hardesty is out of the game. They’ve got two good backs that we’re preparing for.”

The Tennessee offense has tried to use a high number of quality running backs to their advantage this season. Behind Hardesty and Brown, they also have Taurean Poole and David Oku, who have combined for 13 carries on the year.

“It’s just about being conditioned,” Stamper said. “They both run the same. They run hard and have good cuts. They read the holes really well. We’ve got to stop the run and be gap sound.”

With the Tennessee offensive game plan well known, now the Volunteers have to execute it. When over 92,000 screaming Florida fans fill up The Swamp on Saturday afternoon, the chore of moving the ball will become more difficult for Tennessee.

“It’s going to be real tough,” Stamper said. “Our fans do a real good job of making noise and getting the team hyped. I know it’s going to be a hyped game.”

Even though the Tennessee offense sputtered last week, mostly because of inconsistent quarterback play from Crompton, the Gators haven’t lost any amount of focus. The opposing team could come in with zero wins on the season and intensity would still be high because of what the rivalry means to both sides.

“Even though they lost last week, it’s Florida-Tennessee,” Stamper said. “They’re going to be up for this game just like we are. We’re not looking at the loss. We’re looking at having to beat Tennessee because it’s a rivalry game, and they have athletes just like we have.”

Crompton’s struggles last week are being overlooked by the Florida defense. They are preparing just as if Peyton Manning were coming back to suit up for the Volunteers, even though that is clearly not the case. Crompton went 13-of-26 passing for 93 yards, zero touchdowns and three interceptions.

“We see their quarterback, but we don’t really look at how he played last week because it’s a rivalry game,” Stamper said. “You turn it up this week and play a great game.”

The feeling of game week is finally starting to sink in for Stamper and the rest of the Florida defense. They felt it as soon as they walked on campus this week, from the excitement of the student body to the conversations with their families. The Florida defense knows what is at stake this Saturday.

“You can tell just by the campus and students on campus talking to us about the game,” Stamper said. “It’s going to be a real good environment, probably one of the best Florida has had here in a long time.”

The Florida defense hopes for just that – a crowd so deafening they serve as the team’s 12th man

[MinGator]

Thanks Todd.

The comments seem focused on the task. I hope they are taking this game as seriously as the say. This would be a bad game to lose focus, given all the talk of 29 point spreads and Herbie saying the Vols have no chance to win etc.