Day 4: In-depth Defense Practice Report

[IHateUGAlyDawgs]

Monday's practice concluded with a two-minute drill that showed the first and second team defense prevailing.
Defensive line:

SDE- Justin Trattou, Carlos Dunlap, Jaye Howard
DT- Troy Epps, Terron Sanders,
DT- Lawrence Marsh, John Brown,
WDE- Jermaine Cunningham, Duke Lemmens, Earl Okine

What I liked: There weren’t too many positives for me on the defensive line Monday. The group seemed to get dominated all afternoon, even leading Coach Meyer to say after practice that the defensive line is nowhere near where he wants them. The effort got better near the end of practice, and plays were finally made. Troy Epps made a couple plays in the backfield on the goal line to keep the running backs from the end zone. A goal line option from Tim Tebow to Kestahn Moore bounced off Moore’s hands, and was recovered by Jermaine Cunningham, who would have blown the play up even if the pitch was caught. Defensive line coach Dan McCarney is trying to teach the linemen to keep their bodies squared up to the offensive linemen. John Brown had a good day of practice, flying into the backfield a few times. The defense still used a three man front, keeping Carlos Dunlap and Jermaine Cunningham at end, with Justin Trattou moving inside to nose guard.

What I didn’t like: The defense got pretty much dominated by the offensive line in the running drills. The ball continued to be run through gaping holes in the middle of the line. Epps and Sanders were both called soft by McCarney. He reminded Epps that ‘we can’t play in the SEC with a soft nose guard.’ Lawrence Marsh jumped offside for the second straight day during the 11-on-11 scrimmages. I didn’t see Torrey Davis out at practice today. They’re going to need to get better as a group for this defense to be better than it was last year.
Linebackers-

SLB- Brandon Hicks, Chris Pintado
MLB- Brandon Spikes, Lorenzo Edwards, Brendan Beal
WLB- Dustin Doe, Jerimy Finch

What I liked: Obviously a few things stand out about Monday’s depth chart. I didn’t see Ryan Stamper or AJ Jones on the field for any significant time Monday. Brandon Hicks and Jerimy Finch took the opportunity and stepped up. Finch started out with the safeties at the very beginning of practice, and moved in with the linebackers for the rest of the day. He made an impressive tackle on a hand off to running back Emmanuel Moody on the four yard line, hit Moody and kept him out of the end zone. Hicks showed off his athleticism on a couple plays where he chased Tebow out of the pocket and out of bounds. He didn’t have many mental errors than I saw Monday, which was refreshing after seeing him out of position on a few plays so far this spring and hearing from the coaches about it. The linebackers continued to impress in pass coverage, and having a former safety like Finch in there helps out with that.

What I didn’t like: There weren’t many drills focused at the linebackers today, and they looked pretty solid for the most part. I don’t like Jones and Stamper not participating for whatever reason, because the deep group of linebackers we knew seems depleted with two of their key contributors not participating.
Secondary-

CB- Joe Haden, Jacques Rickerson, Janoris Jenkins
CB- Wondy Pierre-Louis, Markihe Anderson, Moses Jenkins, Jeremy Brown
S- Major Wright, Jamar Hornsby, Ahmad Black
S- Dorian Munroe, John Curtis, Bryan Thomas

What I liked: This group was the most impressive of the three in my eyes. The biggest improvement to me came on the hitch routes by receivers. Granted Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy didn’t practice, but the receivers behind them are still good. The button hook routes were actually defended well by the Florida cornerbacks, something we haven’t seen in a few years. With zero pressure coming from the defensive line Monday, they really had no choice but to step up. Markihe Anderson led the defense with two interceptions, one of which would have been returned for a touchdown. Joe Haden led the first team defense to a stop by picking off Tim Tebow in the end zone. Jacques Rickerson looked like the player we saw during the Florida State game in the fall. He had an interception, and followed it up by making a good play on the ball, just dropping his second interception in two plays. Ahmad Black continued to impress from the safety position, and actually took some reps with the first team defense as the one high safety and Dorian Munroe went to the line of scrimmage. Black made a big hit on Cade Holliday during the second team’s two minute drill, and played well in coverage during the drill.

What I didn’t like: I watch a guy like Jamar Hornsby and just can’t figure out why he can’t get on the field. He blows people up in tackling drills, flies to the football and looks like a specimen. I assume it is knowledge of his responsibilities on the field, but I just can’t figure it out.
Player of the Day:

I haven’t picked Joe Haden yet so far, and something just isn’t right about that. He’s had a great spring so far, and the improvement in his game is evident. The interception of Tebow to secure a win for the defense came at a huge moment in practice. Thinking of what Coach Bedford is going to do with this guy in the next few years is exciting.

[TheTodd]

Not sure I can sit through another season with a crappy D line.