Florida Gators Defense is Growing up Quickly (Uh-Oh!)

After arguably one of the worst seasons, as far as defense goes, the young Gator defense can't use inexperience as an excuse anymore.

At the start of 2007 practice, Head Coach Urban Meyer and Defensive Coordinator Charlie Strong knew they had some pretty big shoes to fill.  Losing nine starters from a dominating National Championship defense, the Florida staff knew they had some work to do.

Losing four of the five defensive line rotation, losing both corners, losing an All-American Safety, and losing all three starting linebackers had the Gator coaches experiencing a little bit of anxiety.

Opening the 2007 campaign, three true freshmen, five true sophomores and one redshirt sophomore were named starters to the Florida defense.  All of these players were making their debut as defensive starters.

We all know what the outcome was at the end of the season. 

A Florida defense hasn't given up those kind of numbers through the air since the 1970s. 

When you have no pass rush or not one experienced cornerback, what else can you expect? 

Since spring practice, Urban Meyer has seen his young defense grow up to be more mature football players. 

The corners, Joe Haden and Wondy Pierre-Louis, actually look like they know what they're doing.  Last year, they had to learn the steps and were constantly thinking about not "screwing up."  But now they have the steps down, and they know what to expect this year.  

According to Pierre-Louis, who is now a junior, they are going to try to make plays and not just go through the motions like last year.  Sophomore Joe Haden is also confident about the upcoming season. 

Being placed on the freshman all-SEC team in 2007, Haden suddenly looks like an experienced corner.   

Haden came out of high school as a quarterback and started as a cornerback his first year as a college player.  If you've never played football, you don't know how hard it is for a player to switch schemes, or in Haden's case, switch positions. 

Haden received some high recognition from Coach Meyer this August.  Meyer said Haden is now playing like an SEC corner. 

When Meyer praises you, that's when you know you've done your job.

The Gators have two solid corners, and new cornerbacks coach Vance Bedford is awfully excited to see them play. 

True freshman Janoris Jenkins and true freshman Jeremy Brown are competing against Markihe Anderson and Jacques Rickerson for playing time at the cornerback position.

Safety is probably the one position that Coach Meyer is still skeptical about. 

With only two scholarship safeties on the roster, some changes had to be made by the Florida coaching staff. 

Ahmad Black has now been moved from corner to strong safety.  Wide Receiver Justin Williams has also made the transition to safety.

It looks like the free safety position has been locked up by sophomore Major Wright.

Wright, who started last year as a true freshman, showed the capability he has deep in the secondary.  If Wright stays healthy, the free safety position should be in good shape.

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