College Football Preview: 5 Keys to a Successful Florida Defense in 2011

Last year, the Florida Gators defense was a big disappointment. They gave up over 200 yards rushing to Marcus Lattimore in essentially the one-game playoff for a berth in the SEC Championship.

Not to mention, they were unable to stop the run for much of the season, not just against South Carolina.

If the Gators want to have success this season and return to the SEC Championship game, the defense will have to be much improved and make the necessary stops in clutch situations.

Here are the five keys to the Florida Gators defense having a successful season in 2011.

1. The "Big 3" Freshmen Finally Live Up to the Hype

The three standout defensive line recruits in 2010 were Ronald Powell, Sharrif Floyd and Dominique Easley.

They came into Gainesville and expected to make an immediate impact even in their freshman season.

Unfortunately, we did not see too much of these three freshmen. Powell and Floyd made appearances throughout the year, but nothing too substantial.

Powell had to switch from defensive end to linebacker in order to fill a need on defense. Floyd showed flashes of his ability, which finally earned him a start in the Outback Bowl.

Easley was rumored to have considered transferring out of Florida after several disciplinary issues between him and Urban Meyer. He remained in Gainesville, but ended up missing the end of the season due to injury.

The self-proclaimed "Big 3" will have to step up in their expanded roles this next season if they expect to win games in 2011.

The switch to a 3-4 defense will give them a better opportunity to show off their speed and quickness in the multiple blitz packages.

Any one of these three players have the talent to be the breakout star in the SEC this season.

2. Matt Elam Smoothly Replaces Ahmad Black

Perhaps the biggest fan favorite over the last few seasons, with the exception of Tim Tebow, has been safety Ahmad Black.

Black has now departed for the NFL, and in steps sophomore safety Matt Elam.

Elam was another highly touted recruit from the 2010 class and Elam has made significant strides during the offseason to prove he is ready for a starting role in 2011.

A big advantage for Elam over other strong safety options was that he saw significant playing time during his freshman season, mainly as a nickel cornerback. Nevertheless, Elam showed excellent ability to blitz the quarterback and also came up with some crucial pass-defending plays as well.

In 13 games last season, Elam recorded 22 tackles as a second-string defensive player. So, it is clear that Elam will be a very aggressive player and will be looking to make the tackle on many of the plays.

And hopefully, Elam was able to learn from Black, an All-SEC safety, during their time together. 

If Elam can provide the same, consistent play like Black did in 2010, then the Gators will have a strong defense in 2011.

3. Improved Tackling by Front Seven

One big struggle for the Florida Gators last season was inconsistent tackling, especially by the defensive line and linebackers.

Jelani Jenkins and Ahmad Black were the only two players who seemed to consistently take down the opposing player when needed.

In fact, Black was the team's leading tackler with 102 tackles. But usually, if a team's leading tackler is a safety, that means the running back is getting way too far in the Florida defensive zone, much too often.

With Will Muschamp and his defensive prowess now taking over the team, I believe the defense will reflect their coach's passion on the field.

The running game hurt the Gators too many times and they had too many missed tackles that turned short gains into substantial runs.

If the Gators want to succeed in 2011, they will have to be much more polished up front and keep the team from getting seven or eight yards deep in their defensive area before finally making contact with the runner.

4. Getting Pressure on the Quarterback

While the Florida Gators defense does not have much experience as a unit, they do have an outstanding group of athletes on the defensive line.

They boast top-rated 2010 recruits Ronald Powell, Dominique Easley and Sharrif Floyd. All three expect to have an expanded role in the defense and all three have the talent to be game-changers in the SEC, even as sophomores.

The line also will have experience in the middle with senior Jaye Howard and redshirt junior Omar Hunter. Howard will have to play very well in 2011 and step up as a leader on the defense. He has the most starting experience of anyone on the defensive unit, so he needs to lead by example and be the dominating defensive tackle he is capable of being.

Not to mention, the Gators have a young, but promising linebacking corps led by Jelani Jenkins and Jon Bostic. The 3-4 defense will often put Powell on the edge, so he can use his athleticism to blitz the quarterback often.

And getting pressure on the quarterback will be huge for the Gators defense in 2011. If you have noticed one area where the SEC excels at, it is the defensive line.

Auburn had Nick Fairley. Alabama had Marcel Dareus and Terrance Cody. Florida had Carlos Dunlap and Jermaine Cunningham.

A strong defensive line and the ability to get a lot of pressure on the quarterback will most likely bring you success in the SEC.

And the Gators have the talent at those key positions to create havoc on the opposing quarterback.

5. Jelani Jenkins Becomes a Defensive Leader

One of the best returning players for the Florida Gators defense is linebacker Jelani Jenkins. 

After being redshirted his freshman season, Jenkins exploded onto the scene in just his first season of play.

Jenkins had the team's second-highest tackling total of 76, which ranked him first among SEC freshmen.

In a year that Gator fans did not have much to cheer about, Jenkins was one of the high points.

And entering into this season, Jenkins will have a year of starting experience under his belt, which will allow him to take more of a leadership role on this young defense.

And no position is more vital to a defense than linebacker.  Jenkins will have a big responsibility anchoring the linebacker corps this season. 

But he is one of the top linebackers in the SEC and should have no problem repeating his success from the past season.

Look for Jenkins to be the top defender on this year's squad.