DL must step up its level of play
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 1:31 pm
In 2007, Florida’s defensive line was the Achilles heel of a defense that had its share of struggles. A lack of experience and immaturity combined with some critical injuries contributed to a roller coaster ride for the men in the defensive trenches. The Gators are hoping that the experience gained last year will pay off heavily for a position that lost only first round draft pick Derrick Harvey at end and journeyman tackle Clint McMillan from last year’s unit. When the Gators begin spring practice on Wednesday, this will be one position that will be looked upon to step up its level of play significantly.
In the middle of the line the numbers are great at defensive tackle even without though the two most experienced players (senior Javier Estopinan and junior Brandon Antwine) won’t participate because of injuries. Estopinan should be available in the fall, but it’s wait and see with Antwine, who is coming back from a back injury. Still, that leaves six scholarship tackles available to practice this spring and one true freshman in Omar Hunter coming in June, which should make some invaluable battles.
Here is what we what we should see this spring…
TROY EPPS (JR); Just transferred in from junior college and will make his Gator debut this spring.
With Estopinan and Antwine out for the spring, Epps is actually the only upperclassman on the interior of the defensive line. The staff has been raving about him in the weight room since his arrival and he is supposed to be over 285 pounds at the moment. He plays quick and agile for his size and if he can keep that up at his current weight, he could play a lot here. They brought him in for the physically mature factor and expect him to play. He needs to show that this spring and become a leader while he is at it.
TORREY DAVIS (SO); Career Stats: Played in 11 games and had eight tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble in his freshman campaign.
Davis will be somewhat limited this spring so he can get his academic house in order. He is eligible right now and the coaching staff wants him to stay that way. He got off to a rough start as a freshman and didn’t play much early on. As his attitude and training got better, his playing time increased and he was able to perform. Davis needs to take advantage of the situations when they arise for him on the field. He is also a guy that could play either tackle position with his size and physical ability and he needs to make himself flexible to do that.
LAWRENCE MARSH (R-SO); Career Stats: played in eight games and totaled five tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss and a half of a sack.
Now entering his third year in the program, Marsh has grown into an inside player and he belongs there. Marsh really could be a leader on defense both vocally and on the field. He has new dedication and we need to see him play a little quicker and smarter inside to stay on the field. He is also a guy that could play both tackle positions and needs to learn both to help out the team.
TERRON SANDERS (R-SO); Career Stats: played in six games in 2007 and missed the last five games due to a high ankle sprain. Had four tackles and a tackle for loss in limited action on the year.
Sanders is also entering his third year and has opportunity to make a statement this spring. Along with John Brown, he is one of the two pure nose tackles on the team and so his importance should not be downplayed. Sanders had a nasty injury from the Georgia game that caused him to miss the rest of the season. He needs to show quick improvement both in his tenacity and his quickness. He has the tools to play at this level. It is time to show it on a consistent basis.
JUSTIN TRATTOU(SO); Career Stats: Played in 11 games as a true freshman in 2007 and got his only start in the Capital One Bowl. He had 20 total tackles on the year with 6.5 tackles for loss, 3,5 sacks, an interception, and a deflected pass.
Trattou was a true gem last year as a true freshman. He is high motor all the time and that is something the staff loves about him. His motor and speed should allow him to play a little strong side end at times, but his size is dictating that he should play the three-technique tackle. He had a great true freshman season and we expect to see more out of hum this spring. I expect him to start from day one this season.
JOHN BROWN (R-FR); Did not play as a freshman and red-shirted.
Brown will be someone we really watch this spring. Last season some teams were able to gash the middle at will and the staff is hoping that Brown will be a cure of sorts for that. He will certainly be tested by the offensive line that he faces every day and hopefully he will have some guys at the same position that will make it tough for him to be the only one. Brown is quick but not fast, but should be a really good one before he is done. We just need to see parts of that this spring.
What needs to happen ...
The Gators need to solidify a rotation among the six guys they have available in the spring. Brown and Sanders are the only true nose tackles so a Davis or Marsh need to make a dent in that group. The staff should be able to form a solid two deep from the group.
STRONG SIDE DE
CARLOS DUNLAP (SO); Career Stats: Played in all 13 games as a true freshman in 2007 and had seven tackles, a sack, and a pass defensed on the season.
The loss of an All-American defensive end should benefit Dunlap the most of any of the returning players up front. He has more experience and ability than almost all the other guys available at the position. Dunlap is a freak with his size and speed off the snap. He needs to play stronger and show that strength against some big offensive linemen this spring.
JAYE HOWARD (R-FR); Red-shirted in 2007 and did not play.
Howard came in expecting to play and didn’t, but instead of getting upset about it, he turned it into motivation and the staff is very high on his work ethic. Howard has the tools to be a good one and will work hard to get himself on the field. We just want to see him make some plays and play hard this spring. The competition he brings to the table will make everyone else better also.
EARL OKINE (FR); A true freshman, he’s on campus for his first semester as an early enrollee.
If there was guy that was built to play as a true freshman at defensive end it is Earl Okine. He looks like Bobby McCray did when McCray left as a senior a few years back. He is tall and angular with long arms and plenty of strength. He was a one-man gang in high school so he routinely had to handle double teams and people running away from him. That shouldn’t happen as much, so we shall see how it works out for him in spring. We just want to see him avoid getting buried early in spring as most freshmen do. Come out strong and keep firing.
What needs to happen ...
A starter at the strong side end needs to be established before the end of spring, hopefully by somewhere in the middle. In my opinion it should be Dunlap, but Trattou could figure into this position if two other tackles make waves. Still, it shouldn’t end with Dunlap. Okine and Howard should get themselves in position to get on the field and it will likely happen.
WEAK SIDE DE
JERMAINE CUNNINGHAM (JR); Career Stats: Has seen action in 20 games and started all 13 games of his true sophomore season in 2007. Had only two tackles as a freshman but as a sophomore in 2007 he totaled 64 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, three passes defended, and one interception.
Cunningham is the starter and there should be no change here. He had a great sophomore year and looks to improve although with Harvey gone, teams will be looking to stop Cunningham and switching their defenses up a little bit. Cunningham needs to continue getting stronger and just stay healthy. He also needs to be a true leader on the line and that means off the field too.
DUKE LEMMENS (SO); Career Stats: Played in 11 games with no starts in 2007 as a true freshman. He totaled six tackles on the season in limited time on the field.
Lemmens is another high motor guy, but his size limited what he could do as a true freshman where he played around 235 pounds. More than anything he needs to gain some muscle mass and then he can use his relentless motor to create havoc. He plays the game a lot like Cunningham and came in actually a tad heavier than Cunningham as a freshman. This spring, added weight should allow him to go hard every play and fend off the reaches of some of the offensive tackles.
What needs to happen ....
Under a new coach (defensive line coach Dan McCarney) Cunningham needs to establish himself. If he can improve a bit on last season, he may put himself in line to be the next junior defensive end at Florida to go to the NFL’s first round. He isn’t there yet, but what a recruiting tool it would be to have three juniors in a row establish that feat and then have a young Dunlap scratching and clawing to be the fourth.
The pass rush needs to come hard from the weak side and it is also a position that has to drop back into coverage from time to time. Cunningham is great at both and Lemmens should be suited to do both. I can see Okine and even Dunlap getting some time on the weak side as well and I look for that to happen this spring. Those last three names are key in making this a single position of team strength.
In the middle of the line the numbers are great at defensive tackle even without though the two most experienced players (senior Javier Estopinan and junior Brandon Antwine) won’t participate because of injuries. Estopinan should be available in the fall, but it’s wait and see with Antwine, who is coming back from a back injury. Still, that leaves six scholarship tackles available to practice this spring and one true freshman in Omar Hunter coming in June, which should make some invaluable battles.
Here is what we what we should see this spring…
TROY EPPS (JR); Just transferred in from junior college and will make his Gator debut this spring.
With Estopinan and Antwine out for the spring, Epps is actually the only upperclassman on the interior of the defensive line. The staff has been raving about him in the weight room since his arrival and he is supposed to be over 285 pounds at the moment. He plays quick and agile for his size and if he can keep that up at his current weight, he could play a lot here. They brought him in for the physically mature factor and expect him to play. He needs to show that this spring and become a leader while he is at it.
TORREY DAVIS (SO); Career Stats: Played in 11 games and had eight tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble in his freshman campaign.
Davis will be somewhat limited this spring so he can get his academic house in order. He is eligible right now and the coaching staff wants him to stay that way. He got off to a rough start as a freshman and didn’t play much early on. As his attitude and training got better, his playing time increased and he was able to perform. Davis needs to take advantage of the situations when they arise for him on the field. He is also a guy that could play either tackle position with his size and physical ability and he needs to make himself flexible to do that.
LAWRENCE MARSH (R-SO); Career Stats: played in eight games and totaled five tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss and a half of a sack.
Now entering his third year in the program, Marsh has grown into an inside player and he belongs there. Marsh really could be a leader on defense both vocally and on the field. He has new dedication and we need to see him play a little quicker and smarter inside to stay on the field. He is also a guy that could play both tackle positions and needs to learn both to help out the team.
TERRON SANDERS (R-SO); Career Stats: played in six games in 2007 and missed the last five games due to a high ankle sprain. Had four tackles and a tackle for loss in limited action on the year.
Sanders is also entering his third year and has opportunity to make a statement this spring. Along with John Brown, he is one of the two pure nose tackles on the team and so his importance should not be downplayed. Sanders had a nasty injury from the Georgia game that caused him to miss the rest of the season. He needs to show quick improvement both in his tenacity and his quickness. He has the tools to play at this level. It is time to show it on a consistent basis.
JUSTIN TRATTOU(SO); Career Stats: Played in 11 games as a true freshman in 2007 and got his only start in the Capital One Bowl. He had 20 total tackles on the year with 6.5 tackles for loss, 3,5 sacks, an interception, and a deflected pass.
Trattou was a true gem last year as a true freshman. He is high motor all the time and that is something the staff loves about him. His motor and speed should allow him to play a little strong side end at times, but his size is dictating that he should play the three-technique tackle. He had a great true freshman season and we expect to see more out of hum this spring. I expect him to start from day one this season.
JOHN BROWN (R-FR); Did not play as a freshman and red-shirted.
Brown will be someone we really watch this spring. Last season some teams were able to gash the middle at will and the staff is hoping that Brown will be a cure of sorts for that. He will certainly be tested by the offensive line that he faces every day and hopefully he will have some guys at the same position that will make it tough for him to be the only one. Brown is quick but not fast, but should be a really good one before he is done. We just need to see parts of that this spring.
What needs to happen ...
The Gators need to solidify a rotation among the six guys they have available in the spring. Brown and Sanders are the only true nose tackles so a Davis or Marsh need to make a dent in that group. The staff should be able to form a solid two deep from the group.
STRONG SIDE DE
CARLOS DUNLAP (SO); Career Stats: Played in all 13 games as a true freshman in 2007 and had seven tackles, a sack, and a pass defensed on the season.
The loss of an All-American defensive end should benefit Dunlap the most of any of the returning players up front. He has more experience and ability than almost all the other guys available at the position. Dunlap is a freak with his size and speed off the snap. He needs to play stronger and show that strength against some big offensive linemen this spring.
JAYE HOWARD (R-FR); Red-shirted in 2007 and did not play.
Howard came in expecting to play and didn’t, but instead of getting upset about it, he turned it into motivation and the staff is very high on his work ethic. Howard has the tools to be a good one and will work hard to get himself on the field. We just want to see him make some plays and play hard this spring. The competition he brings to the table will make everyone else better also.
EARL OKINE (FR); A true freshman, he’s on campus for his first semester as an early enrollee.
If there was guy that was built to play as a true freshman at defensive end it is Earl Okine. He looks like Bobby McCray did when McCray left as a senior a few years back. He is tall and angular with long arms and plenty of strength. He was a one-man gang in high school so he routinely had to handle double teams and people running away from him. That shouldn’t happen as much, so we shall see how it works out for him in spring. We just want to see him avoid getting buried early in spring as most freshmen do. Come out strong and keep firing.
What needs to happen ...
A starter at the strong side end needs to be established before the end of spring, hopefully by somewhere in the middle. In my opinion it should be Dunlap, but Trattou could figure into this position if two other tackles make waves. Still, it shouldn’t end with Dunlap. Okine and Howard should get themselves in position to get on the field and it will likely happen.
WEAK SIDE DE
JERMAINE CUNNINGHAM (JR); Career Stats: Has seen action in 20 games and started all 13 games of his true sophomore season in 2007. Had only two tackles as a freshman but as a sophomore in 2007 he totaled 64 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, three passes defended, and one interception.
Cunningham is the starter and there should be no change here. He had a great sophomore year and looks to improve although with Harvey gone, teams will be looking to stop Cunningham and switching their defenses up a little bit. Cunningham needs to continue getting stronger and just stay healthy. He also needs to be a true leader on the line and that means off the field too.
DUKE LEMMENS (SO); Career Stats: Played in 11 games with no starts in 2007 as a true freshman. He totaled six tackles on the season in limited time on the field.
Lemmens is another high motor guy, but his size limited what he could do as a true freshman where he played around 235 pounds. More than anything he needs to gain some muscle mass and then he can use his relentless motor to create havoc. He plays the game a lot like Cunningham and came in actually a tad heavier than Cunningham as a freshman. This spring, added weight should allow him to go hard every play and fend off the reaches of some of the offensive tackles.
What needs to happen ....
Under a new coach (defensive line coach Dan McCarney) Cunningham needs to establish himself. If he can improve a bit on last season, he may put himself in line to be the next junior defensive end at Florida to go to the NFL’s first round. He isn’t there yet, but what a recruiting tool it would be to have three juniors in a row establish that feat and then have a young Dunlap scratching and clawing to be the fourth.
The pass rush needs to come hard from the weak side and it is also a position that has to drop back into coverage from time to time. Cunningham is great at both and Lemmens should be suited to do both. I can see Okine and even Dunlap getting some time on the weak side as well and I look for that to happen this spring. Those last three names are key in making this a single position of team strength.