Day 11: In-depthDefense Report
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 9:46 am
The Florida defense looked impressive early during today's scrimmage. They continued to look pretty good until the last forty-five minutes or so, when the offense made an attempt to come from way behind. However, it was too little, too late and the Gators defense prevailed.
Defensive Line: 1st unit- DE Jermaine Cunningham, DT Carlos Dunlap, DT Lawrence Marsh, and DE Justin Trattou.
2nd unit: DE Jaye Howard/Matt Patchan, DT Troy Epps/John Brown, DT Torrey Davis, and DE Duke Lemmens.
What I liked: The versatility and improved play of three young defensive linemen left a lasting impression on me today- Carlos Dunlap, Matt Patchan, and Jaye Howard. Dunlap started things off early by knocking down Tim Tebow after the Heisman Trophy winner launched a deep pass to Deonte Thompson down the left sideline. It was very interesting watching Dunlap slide back to the middle linebacker position before the snap on a play in the red zone. Tebow threw the ball just over the outstretched hands of Dunlap to Thompson, who was crushed by safeties Major Wright and Ahmad Black. Dunlap also lined up at defensive end for a few plays. While at tackle, he and Cunningham pounded tight end Aaron Hernandez and Dunlap held him down for a couple of seconds longer, irritating Hernandez. The pair had some words for each other. Later, he mixed it up with offensive guard Maurkice Pouncey after a play. Dunlap was really playing with Pouncey and even went with a little Ali impressions, but Pouncey was pretty hot. It was so funny to receiver Louis Murphy that he fell down laughing and fellow receiver Percy Harvin was holding his stomach he was laughing so hard.
Dunlap is also the beneficiary of the improved interior defensive line play. There were two plays where the interior line led by John Brown and Terron Sanders forced the ballcarrier outside into the waiting arms of Dunlap who either made the tackle or assisted on the stop. Perhaps his most athletic play came when two interior defensive linemen forced Moody outside. The back stepped inside and back outside trying to juke Dunlap. But, the big d-lineman made a hop-step back along the outside of the line of scrimmage and wrapped Moody up for a loss.
Patchan was all over the place too. They lined him up and end for the most part, but we saw him on the nose during a few obvious passing situations. He also found himself at tackle a couple of other plays. Patchan has an explosive first step and made a couple of offensive linemen look bad. He came free on one play up the middle and missed as the ballcarrier ran outside of his reach. However, the ballcarrier had to cut back and Patchan was able to get in on the stop. He got a couple of pressures on the quarterback as well. One time he and Cunningham were able to crash from their end positions and get Tebow. Patchan also teamed up with fellow freshman Earl Okine to stuff running back Emmanuel Moody with a nice hit.
Howard sacked quarterback Cam Newton after badly beating tackle Kyle Newell. On the following play, Howard popped running back Mon Williams, who was beginning to have a monster day. It was a one on one meeting at the line of scrimmage and Howard won the battle.
Cunningham got great pressure on Tebow and forced the quarterback to hurried throw the football. He did so, right into the arms of Wondy Pierre-Louis who was covering Brandon James. I also witnessed a great play by Lawrence Marsh, who fought off a block by Maurkice Pouncey and worked a step to his left before diving at James who was running over left tackle. He picked up maybe a half-yard on the play because of Marsh’s effort. Marsh also blew up an option to the left side.
What I didn’t like: The offense was able to move the ball downfield and score a couple of times later in the scrimmage session, souring what began as a sterling performance from the first whistle. At one point, Coach Meyer said that the defense was up 56-12 in their point system. You can’t point the finger at any one, two, or three guys though. It just seemed as if the defense lost some of its edge. I also wasn’t as pleased with the push from the middle of the defensive front. It’s definitely improved since the start of drills, but it isn’t consistent. Patchan doesn’t seem to utilize that tremendous first step as often as you’d like. Understandably, he is just a freshman though.
Linebackers: 1st unit- OLB Dustin Doe, MLB Brandon Spikes, and OLB Brandon Hicks.
2nd unit- OLB Jerimy Finch, MLB Lorenzo Edwards, OLB Chris Pintado
Injured: Beal and Stamper
What I liked: There were plenty of plays made by Brandon Spikes, who was everywhere as usual. Spikes had a spectacular day. He was one of the only players to get Rainey in the backfield. He shot the tackle/guard gap one other time and got pressure on Tebow. I also thought that Finch had a nice day too. He jumped the gap behind the defensive end and made a really nice unassisted stop on Moody. Finch actually wrapped Mon Williams up at the line of scrimmage with an ankle tackle. Coach Dan McCarney came in yelling at the defensive line telling them they were playing “too soft”. Doe was in a few plays, including a wonderful ankle grab on Chris Rainey, who had open space in front of him and would have certainly turned a one yard pickup into a huge gainer. He also had a monster hit on tight end Cornelius Ingram.
What I didn’t like: There didn’t seem to be enough plays at the end of scrimmage session made by the linebackers. There were a few missed tackles early in the scrimmage that thankfully several other defenders were on the scene to secure. I didn’t think that Doe was as active as I’d seen him in other practice sessions either. Doe also got crushed with a couple of blocks, one by Hernandez who freed the back to run in space. Guys like Finch, Hicks, and Edwards are stepping up though.
Secondary: 1st unit- CB Joe Haden, CB Wondy Pierre-Louis/Jacques Rickerson, SS Major Wright, FS Ahmad Black/Dorian Munroe.
2nd unit- CB Janoris Jenkins, CB Jeremy Brown, SS Jamar Hornsby, and FS Bryan Thomas.
What I liked: Ahmad Black continues to establish himself as a reliable factor at safety. He has a nose for the football and really punishes people. Black contained a run wide to the left made by James that allowed Spikes the opportunity to step up and make the tackle. As I stated earlier, he teamed with Major Wright to crush Thompson on a catch. He knocked the helmet off Hernandez on a short pass play. It appeared as if Hernandez bruised or cut the bridge of his nose on the play.
Munroe also made several big plays. He had a certain interception that went through his hands when coming up to cover Thompson. Munroe received a lot of praise from coach Chuck Heater on that play. Wondy’s highlight was when he picked off a pass intended for James after the pressure from Cunningham.
Janoris Jenkins and Jeremy Brown are really picking things up now. They still have a long way to go, but it’s good to see them doing a few more things the right way.
What I didn’t like: The corners and safeties allowed Deonte Thompson to get behind them. Major Wright was in on two of those plays. The corners on two of those plays were Joe Haden and Wondy Pierre-Louis.
Defensive Line: 1st unit- DE Jermaine Cunningham, DT Carlos Dunlap, DT Lawrence Marsh, and DE Justin Trattou.
2nd unit: DE Jaye Howard/Matt Patchan, DT Troy Epps/John Brown, DT Torrey Davis, and DE Duke Lemmens.
What I liked: The versatility and improved play of three young defensive linemen left a lasting impression on me today- Carlos Dunlap, Matt Patchan, and Jaye Howard. Dunlap started things off early by knocking down Tim Tebow after the Heisman Trophy winner launched a deep pass to Deonte Thompson down the left sideline. It was very interesting watching Dunlap slide back to the middle linebacker position before the snap on a play in the red zone. Tebow threw the ball just over the outstretched hands of Dunlap to Thompson, who was crushed by safeties Major Wright and Ahmad Black. Dunlap also lined up at defensive end for a few plays. While at tackle, he and Cunningham pounded tight end Aaron Hernandez and Dunlap held him down for a couple of seconds longer, irritating Hernandez. The pair had some words for each other. Later, he mixed it up with offensive guard Maurkice Pouncey after a play. Dunlap was really playing with Pouncey and even went with a little Ali impressions, but Pouncey was pretty hot. It was so funny to receiver Louis Murphy that he fell down laughing and fellow receiver Percy Harvin was holding his stomach he was laughing so hard.
Dunlap is also the beneficiary of the improved interior defensive line play. There were two plays where the interior line led by John Brown and Terron Sanders forced the ballcarrier outside into the waiting arms of Dunlap who either made the tackle or assisted on the stop. Perhaps his most athletic play came when two interior defensive linemen forced Moody outside. The back stepped inside and back outside trying to juke Dunlap. But, the big d-lineman made a hop-step back along the outside of the line of scrimmage and wrapped Moody up for a loss.
Patchan was all over the place too. They lined him up and end for the most part, but we saw him on the nose during a few obvious passing situations. He also found himself at tackle a couple of other plays. Patchan has an explosive first step and made a couple of offensive linemen look bad. He came free on one play up the middle and missed as the ballcarrier ran outside of his reach. However, the ballcarrier had to cut back and Patchan was able to get in on the stop. He got a couple of pressures on the quarterback as well. One time he and Cunningham were able to crash from their end positions and get Tebow. Patchan also teamed up with fellow freshman Earl Okine to stuff running back Emmanuel Moody with a nice hit.
Howard sacked quarterback Cam Newton after badly beating tackle Kyle Newell. On the following play, Howard popped running back Mon Williams, who was beginning to have a monster day. It was a one on one meeting at the line of scrimmage and Howard won the battle.
Cunningham got great pressure on Tebow and forced the quarterback to hurried throw the football. He did so, right into the arms of Wondy Pierre-Louis who was covering Brandon James. I also witnessed a great play by Lawrence Marsh, who fought off a block by Maurkice Pouncey and worked a step to his left before diving at James who was running over left tackle. He picked up maybe a half-yard on the play because of Marsh’s effort. Marsh also blew up an option to the left side.
What I didn’t like: The offense was able to move the ball downfield and score a couple of times later in the scrimmage session, souring what began as a sterling performance from the first whistle. At one point, Coach Meyer said that the defense was up 56-12 in their point system. You can’t point the finger at any one, two, or three guys though. It just seemed as if the defense lost some of its edge. I also wasn’t as pleased with the push from the middle of the defensive front. It’s definitely improved since the start of drills, but it isn’t consistent. Patchan doesn’t seem to utilize that tremendous first step as often as you’d like. Understandably, he is just a freshman though.
Linebackers: 1st unit- OLB Dustin Doe, MLB Brandon Spikes, and OLB Brandon Hicks.
2nd unit- OLB Jerimy Finch, MLB Lorenzo Edwards, OLB Chris Pintado
Injured: Beal and Stamper
What I liked: There were plenty of plays made by Brandon Spikes, who was everywhere as usual. Spikes had a spectacular day. He was one of the only players to get Rainey in the backfield. He shot the tackle/guard gap one other time and got pressure on Tebow. I also thought that Finch had a nice day too. He jumped the gap behind the defensive end and made a really nice unassisted stop on Moody. Finch actually wrapped Mon Williams up at the line of scrimmage with an ankle tackle. Coach Dan McCarney came in yelling at the defensive line telling them they were playing “too soft”. Doe was in a few plays, including a wonderful ankle grab on Chris Rainey, who had open space in front of him and would have certainly turned a one yard pickup into a huge gainer. He also had a monster hit on tight end Cornelius Ingram.
What I didn’t like: There didn’t seem to be enough plays at the end of scrimmage session made by the linebackers. There were a few missed tackles early in the scrimmage that thankfully several other defenders were on the scene to secure. I didn’t think that Doe was as active as I’d seen him in other practice sessions either. Doe also got crushed with a couple of blocks, one by Hernandez who freed the back to run in space. Guys like Finch, Hicks, and Edwards are stepping up though.
Secondary: 1st unit- CB Joe Haden, CB Wondy Pierre-Louis/Jacques Rickerson, SS Major Wright, FS Ahmad Black/Dorian Munroe.
2nd unit- CB Janoris Jenkins, CB Jeremy Brown, SS Jamar Hornsby, and FS Bryan Thomas.
What I liked: Ahmad Black continues to establish himself as a reliable factor at safety. He has a nose for the football and really punishes people. Black contained a run wide to the left made by James that allowed Spikes the opportunity to step up and make the tackle. As I stated earlier, he teamed with Major Wright to crush Thompson on a catch. He knocked the helmet off Hernandez on a short pass play. It appeared as if Hernandez bruised or cut the bridge of his nose on the play.
Munroe also made several big plays. He had a certain interception that went through his hands when coming up to cover Thompson. Munroe received a lot of praise from coach Chuck Heater on that play. Wondy’s highlight was when he picked off a pass intended for James after the pressure from Cunningham.
Janoris Jenkins and Jeremy Brown are really picking things up now. They still have a long way to go, but it’s good to see them doing a few more things the right way.
What I didn’t like: The corners and safeties allowed Deonte Thompson to get behind them. Major Wright was in on two of those plays. The corners on two of those plays were Joe Haden and Wondy Pierre-Louis.