Spring Practice: An Evaluation of the Defense

[IHateUGAlyDawgs]

Florida’s 2007 defense was much maligned and for good reasons. In critical games when the Gators needed stops, they didn’t deliver. It has been a focus this spring on getting the defense closer to the standards set in years one and two of the Urban Meyer era at UF. Today, Gator Country takes a look at the defense and how it has improved this spring.

With a couple of new defensive coaches added to the staff, this has been a spring for transition as well as improvement. Former Iowa State head coach Dan McCarney is handling the defensive line now and former Michican secondary coach Vance Bedford has the corners. It just so happens that those are the positions that needed the greatest improvement. Here is what we think they have accomplished so far and how we would like to see them finish.

DEFENSIVE LINE:

What I Like So Far: The ends have made plays all spring. Whether it is rushing the passer, blocking passes, or stopping the run inside or outside of the tackle box and at or behind the line of scrimmage, the ends have done their part as a group.

Carlos Dunlap is a freak of nature with his size and speed he needs to be on the field whenever he isn’t gassed. Justin Trattou has great instincts for the game and plays at a high level every single play. He is also a great physical specimen at end, but has the ability to play inside very well. Jermaine Cunningham is a great run stuffing end, especially from the weak side. Matt Patchan has come out of nowhere to make a name for himself on defense in the last four practices. He is extremely quick and impressively strong for his build. He also comes with a high motor…I have seen Duke Lemmens make plays. He is another hustle guy. Jaye Howard is very quick to the quarterback most of the time.

The tackles have all shown signs of being able to make a difference. Right now Lawrence Marsh has to be considered the most dependable on the inside and is a guy that can make plays and has shown some fire inside. Troy Epps is probably second followed very closely by John Brown. Both haven’t done it consistently enough but have shown the ability to push the pocket and stuff the run. Terron Sanders has made a late spring push to get playing time. He has the ideal size and strength wanted on the inside. Torrey Davis is probably the biggest playmaker in the bunch, but his regular absences from practice doesn’t allow him a great report.

I like the idea of getting the best four linemen on the field, and right now, I believe that the top three linemen are Cunningham, Dunlap, and Trattou. The staff is starting to find ways to get these guys on the field together, even if it means moving one of them to a defensive tackle position for a bit.

What I’d Like to See Fixed: There is no consistency at defensive tackle from any of the group. This has to change and it should. I think John Brown is taking big steps forward, and I see it from him, but in my mind he isn’t really a playmaking defensive tackle but more of a plugger, run-stuffer type. Lawrence Marsh is getting more consistent, and he can really be a difference in there if he maintains. Torrey Davis needs to get himself straight away from the football field, and then he will have the time and get the training enough to be a difference on the football field. Davis has great quickness and ideal size inside but he doesn’t use it every down like he should. If Terron Sanders makes another leap forward like he did last week, we may see more of what we want from one of these big guys.

I’d like to see Cunningham be more productive in his time on the practice field. We don’t call out his name enough in the reports and he should be both a leader by example and vocally. Lemmens needs to get a little bigger so he won’t collapse at the hands of offensive tackles. Howard needs to work on his change of direction and breaking down when tackling a ball carrier.

LINEBACKERS:

What I Like So Far: Brandon Spikes has assumed the leadership of the defense and he is a great representative. There is no better tackler on the team and a guy that has impressive range for his size. Lorenzo Edwards is all over the place and may need to make a position change away from Spikes back up so that he can see the field. Edwards is fast and intelligent. He really flows to the ball really well and sifts through traffic as well as anyone. Jerimy Finch is just one of those guys that seems to always be around the ball. If I am a linebacker coach, that is who I want on the field. He is a pretty sure tackler and is fast and not afraid to mix it up. Brandon Hicks has played great this spring and is impressive in pass coverage at the SAM. Dustin Doe is another guy that always seems to be where the ball is. He has really improved in his pass defense and has made numerous pass break ups this spring. Brendan Beal, A.J. Jones, Ryan Stamper, and John Jones are all getting incompletes so far for lack of participation in spring drills although some of that is due to lack of snaps. The Fall looks great with strong depth in Spikes, Doe, A.J. Jones, Hicks, Edwards, Finch, and Stamper all playing well at some point ion the last two years.

What I’d Like to See Fixed: The first shot goes to the staff as I think Edwards and Finch need to be on the field a lot more. Right now I think they are two of the top three backers. Hicks gaining ten more pounds of muscle will help him when he gets matched up with tight ends and allow him to win that battle more often. Doe needs to tackle more consistently. He would be in my top three if he did. Finch will probably also need to gain a few pounds to play consistently at the position.

SAFETIES:

What I Like So Far: The safeties were virtually non-existent early in spring drills. About practice six or so, they just started making play. Oddly enough it happened when starter Major Wright went down with the flu. Suddenly sophomore Ahmad Black decided he was going to make some noise and did so in a big way. Then Jamar Hornsby got into the act. Both Black and Hornsby have made more plays in the last two weeks than anyone else at the position. Suddenly there is a fight for both positions, and that is a good thing. Wright has looked good in his return, making deep break ups of some passes. Hornsby has shown toughness, speed, and play making ability as of late. Black has done the same, and may bee second only to Wright in someone back there that likes to punish the ball carrier. John Curtis, Dorian Munroe, and Bryan Thomas all have excellent physical gifts for the position.

What I’d Like to See Fixed: The safety position is so important and a player with instincts is necessary at both spots. The Gators are going to incorporate a dual safety mode this year meaning both safeties will have to be able to play strong or free safety when they are called upon to do so. We know Wright has instincts, he seems to have improved his speed and needs to do a little more of that, otherwise he s a good to great one. I haven’t seen the instincts from Munroe yet, despite the staff saying he is one of the 11 best players on defense. The bottom line is they need to get a second play maker on the field, whoever that is.

CORNERBACKS:

What I Like So Far: Cornerback is the most improved position on the field in my opinion. Honestly, all seven scholarship corners have played better than any of them did last spring. Joe Haden seems to have taken on a leader role by example and he came out from day one playing lights out. Wondy Pierre-Louis started medium and then heated up and has played the best of any corner over the last two weeks. Haden and Wondy should be a really good starting duo next year. Jacques Rickerson is the smallest of the group but has shown the ability to really cover on deep routes and also blitz the quarterback. Markihe Anderson has been steady and productive and is just under the starting two at this time. Moses Jenkins, Jeremy Brown, and Janoris Jenkins have all shown aggressive play and been consistent in breaking up passes to covered receivers.

What I’d Like to See Fixed: A few have the tendency to get beat on deep balls, but honestly they play so aggressively now, that is going to happen. I can live with the occasional deep pass if they are in the player’s faces knocking them off course from their routes, breaking up passes, and making interceptions. We have seen more of the latter group than the long ball connections this spring.

We will look back at special teams and all of the offense and defense, after the spring is completed.