This is the first installment of a weekly article that will delve into one significant problem that the Florida Gator football team is either going to face in their upcoming game or a disturbing look at mishaps from the week before. The focus of this inaugural SWAMP ALERT entry concerns the play of the Gator defense so far this season. There is no doubt that the 2006 version of the Florida Gator defense was the crutch that Chris Leak and a habitually sporadic offense leaned on, but thanks to the NFL Draft and graduation, the Gators lost 9 defensive starters from last year’s lineup; including All-American safety Reggie Nelson and a whole host of other three or four year starters. Needless to say, some serious defensive reconstruction needed to take place over the off-season through recruiting and personnel changes. Urban Meyer’s staff put together their second consecutive top recruiting class in 2006 and brought in numerous defensive five-star athletes from around the southeast, but how soon can Gator fans expect these young and talented athletes to gel as a unit? How soon will we see the likes of Torrey Davis, Carlos Dunlap, and Jermaine Cunningham chasing down quarterbacks in the SEC? When will true freshmen Joe Haden and Major Wright be able to solidify a weak Florida secondary? These questions will undoubtedly be answered throughout the course of this season, but don’t expect to see a defense that even appears to resemble the same one we saw back in January in the National Championship Game flying around the field tackling Buckeyes like there’s no tomorrow. Co-defensive coordinators, Charlie Strong and Greg Mattison, will have their hands full this season with a much different task than the one that faced them last season. The 2007 Florida Gator defense may eventually be even more ferocious than the recently departed unit, but not until next season at the earliest. Returning defensive starts Tony Joiner and Derrick Harvey will be in charge of overcoming the youth and inexperience that surrounds them on every snap.
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about 1 year ago
Great analysis, Ben. I look forward to your weekly installments about the Gators who broke the spirit of my Ohio State fandom not once, but twice in a matter of months.
As far as the defense goes, I would worry a little about a D that gave up 31 to Troy. But I agree with you that while the D is young, it certainly has the potential talent (as well as proven talent in Jackson, Joiner, and Harvey) to be one of the best defenses in the SEC.
But for now, your best defense is your offense, which is absurdly good.
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