defense : no sweat
Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:04 am
Tennessee did not make it a secret. The Volunteers planned to come into Saturday's SEC opener and run it down Florida's throat. But it was not the Gators' defense that choked.
The defensive line played better. Holes were filled quicker. Tennessee did not have a run go for more than two yards until its fourth possession. By that time, sophomore return specialist Brandon James returned a punt 83 yards for a touchdown, sophomore cornerback Markihe Anderson intercepted a pass and Florida's defense was gaining confidence. Florida cruised, 59-20.
"They came out and played well against the run," coach Urban Meyer said Sunday. "Tennessee had a very clear plan. I think they made it public. Someone said they want to run the ball against us. I don't blame them. I'd do the same thing. I was watching how our defense can hang in there. I don't want to say shocked, but I was. Awful impressed how they played against the run."
The Volunteers finished with 37 rushing yards on 21 attempts. In the first half, Tennessee ran 19 more plays than Florida but still found itself trailing, 28-13, at the break. The Gators' quick strike offense had much to do with that. Florida ran 24 plays for 219 yards before halftime. Tennessee had 43 for 211.
"The best thing we have going is it's a street fight for the ball," Meyer said. "You don't come to Florida to stand on the sideline and watch other guys play. At a place like Florida, Tuesday and Wednesday you're fighting for touches. We're experiencing that. We're seeing that and that's the way it should be. That's when we determine who's going to play in the game."
Sophomore quarterback Tim Tebow completed 14 of 19 passes for 299 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for 61 yards and two scores on 18 attempts.
Sophomore wide receiver Percy Harvin caught four passes for 120 yards and had a game-high 75 rushing yards on nine carries. He scored on a dazzling 19-yard end around early in the fourth quarter to put Florida ahead, 42-20.
About three minutes later, Tebow scored on a 5-yard run. Meyer said he was pleased with the offensive line, especially after freshman Maurkice Pouncey left with an injury and redshirt freshman Maurice Hurt picked up the slack.
"Early in the game, I was very concerned," Meyer said. "We were getting pushed around by a very good defensive line but we held our own and in pass protection we held our own."
Injury Update: Freshman Jerimy Finch will miss the remainder of this season with a broken bone in his lower leg. Updates on Pouncey and Anderson will be given at Monday's news conference. Wide receiver Andre Caldwell will not play next week against Ole Miss.
Meyer on the secondary's improvement: "Joe Haden, I wanted to say he was perfect 9 for 9 on making plays. Wondy (Pierre-Louis) is getting a lot better. Major Wright seems to be around the football. I know Joe Haden and you've seen that in practice the last three weeks. He's turned into a very good football player."
Meyer on the post-game locker room: "We're growing up. There's nothing like experience. There's nothing like game experience. I give credit to the (Tony) Joiners of the world, (Tim) Tebows of the world and Brandon Spikes is growing into a leader. There weren't a lot of confused looks Saturday."
Meyer on upcoming road game at Ole Miss: "One of the things I appreciated with our scheduling this year, so much with athletes and team is that routine. We have a very set routine and it's going to be all new for these young players. That's a major concern."
The defensive line played better. Holes were filled quicker. Tennessee did not have a run go for more than two yards until its fourth possession. By that time, sophomore return specialist Brandon James returned a punt 83 yards for a touchdown, sophomore cornerback Markihe Anderson intercepted a pass and Florida's defense was gaining confidence. Florida cruised, 59-20.
"They came out and played well against the run," coach Urban Meyer said Sunday. "Tennessee had a very clear plan. I think they made it public. Someone said they want to run the ball against us. I don't blame them. I'd do the same thing. I was watching how our defense can hang in there. I don't want to say shocked, but I was. Awful impressed how they played against the run."
The Volunteers finished with 37 rushing yards on 21 attempts. In the first half, Tennessee ran 19 more plays than Florida but still found itself trailing, 28-13, at the break. The Gators' quick strike offense had much to do with that. Florida ran 24 plays for 219 yards before halftime. Tennessee had 43 for 211.
"The best thing we have going is it's a street fight for the ball," Meyer said. "You don't come to Florida to stand on the sideline and watch other guys play. At a place like Florida, Tuesday and Wednesday you're fighting for touches. We're experiencing that. We're seeing that and that's the way it should be. That's when we determine who's going to play in the game."
Sophomore quarterback Tim Tebow completed 14 of 19 passes for 299 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for 61 yards and two scores on 18 attempts.
Sophomore wide receiver Percy Harvin caught four passes for 120 yards and had a game-high 75 rushing yards on nine carries. He scored on a dazzling 19-yard end around early in the fourth quarter to put Florida ahead, 42-20.
About three minutes later, Tebow scored on a 5-yard run. Meyer said he was pleased with the offensive line, especially after freshman Maurkice Pouncey left with an injury and redshirt freshman Maurice Hurt picked up the slack.
"Early in the game, I was very concerned," Meyer said. "We were getting pushed around by a very good defensive line but we held our own and in pass protection we held our own."
Injury Update: Freshman Jerimy Finch will miss the remainder of this season with a broken bone in his lower leg. Updates on Pouncey and Anderson will be given at Monday's news conference. Wide receiver Andre Caldwell will not play next week against Ole Miss.
Meyer on the secondary's improvement: "Joe Haden, I wanted to say he was perfect 9 for 9 on making plays. Wondy (Pierre-Louis) is getting a lot better. Major Wright seems to be around the football. I know Joe Haden and you've seen that in practice the last three weeks. He's turned into a very good football player."
Meyer on the post-game locker room: "We're growing up. There's nothing like experience. There's nothing like game experience. I give credit to the (Tony) Joiners of the world, (Tim) Tebows of the world and Brandon Spikes is growing into a leader. There weren't a lot of confused looks Saturday."
Meyer on upcoming road game at Ole Miss: "One of the things I appreciated with our scheduling this year, so much with athletes and team is that routine. We have a very set routine and it's going to be all new for these young players. That's a major concern."