So.... the Gators defense.....

[KnoxRealtorVOL]

I'm really struggling with this whole "best defense in the country" talk.

They have yet to play a team with a pulse.

As bad as our O-line is playing, I can't imagine any of them would give up playing time to a single O-lineman Florida has faced so far.

Tons of overhyping going on this year, but the Florida defense may be the most overhyped.

So my question is..... what makes this Florida defense so much better than last year's defense that we shredded? Was it the loss of two first round picks? Someone help me out here.

 

[McDad]

UF defense been going to see Will Grier's nutritionist.

 

[VolinDalton]

See the thread I just posted...

Mods should merge.

TL;DR

They have played middleschool teams...

 

[dduncan4163]

I think their D is as good as last year but not better. They have played awful teams to this point. I still think Bama and LSU and possibly Auburn have better D's than Florida imo

That's not a knock on Florida they do have a great D but they've played nothing but cream puffs to this point.

 

[dduncan4163]

UF defense been going to see Will Grier's nutritionist.

I heard their Juice Bar is 1980s WWF quality

 

[GetEmVols]

We scored nearly 30 on this defense last year with the same players, so I like our chances to get at least 20. I just watched highlights of the game last year and they destroyed our offensive line, but we have too much speed in our backs and QB.

 

[joevol33]

I heard their Juice Bar is is 1980s WWF quality

Haha

 

[RowdyRetile]

Two new players have made a huge difference. LB Alex Anzalone has been more than expected, and expectations were off the charts to begin with. Last year's starting MLB was Antonio Morrison, who was a solid player, but Anzalone is two steps faster than Morrison and is way bigger. Morrison was a good run stuffer, but he could not cover anyone is passing situations, and was susceptible to missing tackles on good open field runners, look no further than Dobbs last year. On two or three of Dobbs' long runs, including the 62-yarder, he totally juked Morrison out of his cleats or just ran right by him. Anzalone hasn't missed a single tackle that I can recall and constantly runs down players who should be faster (RB's, TE's and WR's). I'm anxious to see him against Dobbs/Hurd.

DE Jabari Zuniga, a redshirt Freshman, has been a beast at DE. He doesn't even start, but he has provided much better than expected depth at DE behind Cox and Sherritt. He leads the team with 4 sacks and has been an absolute beast around the edge.

Also, and most importantly, the defense has continuity this year, a second full year in Collins' system, and everyone clearly knows the defense and knows their assignments. Remember, when UF-UT met last year, it was the 4th game in an entirely new system, players were still figuring things out, blown assignments were happening, etc.

I keep hearing about how awful UF's competition has been, but Kentucky has ridiculously gaudy offensive stats against everyone not named Florida. And competition or not, you can see speed, you can see size, you can see guys playing assignment football regardless of competition.

 

[Enki_Amenra]

I don't mind them claiming the best D in the nation. After wwtfa we can can point out that they couldn't stop us, even with the best D in the country.

 

[RowdyRetile]

We scored nearly 30 on this defense last year with the same players, so I like our chances to get at least 20. I just watched highlights of the game last year and they destroyed our offensive line, but we have too much speed in our backs and QB.

Kamara and Dobbs have speed, that's about it. If Florida can't tackle Dobbs again, like last year, UT probably wins this game. If UF contains Dobbs' running, I think Florida wins. Or, if UT finds a way to get Kamara loose, they will probably win this game.

Hurd needs to have a great game, something more than the 90 yards on 25 carries variety. UT's offense was a one-man show last year, with Dobbs running/passing/receiving 66% of the total yards. I'm guessing UF is willing to let everyone else kill them EXCEPT Dobbs this year. I imagine Anzalone and/or Jarrad Davis follow Dobbs everywhere he goes tomorrow, which means SOMEONE has to make big plays for UT besides Dobbs.

 

[VOL 4 Life 83]

Two new players have made a huge difference. LB Alex Anzalone has been more than expected, and expectations were off the charts to begin with. Last year's starting MLB was Antonio Morrison, who was a solid player, but Anzalone is two steps faster than Morrison and is way bigger. Morrison was a good run stuffer, but he could not cover anyone is passing situations, and was susceptible to missing tackles on good open field runners, look no further than Dobbs last year. On two or three of Dobbs' long runs, including the 62-yarder, he totally juked Morrison out of his cleats or just ran right by him. Anzalone hasn't missed a single tackle that I can recall and constantly runs down players who should be faster (RB's, TE's and WR's). I'm anxious to see him against Dobbs/Hurd.

DE Jabari Zuniga, a redshirt Freshman, has been a beast at DE. He doesn't even start, but he has provided much better than expected depth at DE behind Cox and Sherritt. He leads the team with 4 sacks and has been an absolute beast around the edge.

Also, and most importantly, the defense has continuity this year, a second full year in Collins' system, and everyone clearly knows the defense and knows their assignments. Remember, when UF-UT met last year, it was the 4th game in an entirely new system, players were still figuring things out, blown assignments were happening, etc.

I keep hearing about how awful UF's competition has been, but Kentucky has ridiculously gaudy offensive stats against everyone not named Florida. And competition or not, you can see speed, you can see size, you can see guys playing assignment football regardless of competition.

Sorry, but struggles or not for UT this year Kentucky's offense doesn't hold a damn candle do us

 

[LotteryPick]

Two lockdown corners, two great linebackers, and a great DL.

The defense is legit. Doesn't mean they can't be beat, but I don't think they're overhyped.

 

[99gator]

Its the same line of thinking you all are using on Florida's offense.

It's not about whether Florida has the best defense in the country or not.

It's....we aint Ohio. We aint Appy State. Tennessee has been tackled for a loss 20 times on the season.

Based on what we have seen so far, the defense can be both overrated and have a field day tomorrow.

Who knows?

 

[RowdyRetile]

Sorry, but struggles or not for UT this year Kentucky's offense doesn't hold a damn candle do us

Well, at some point UT's offensive greatness has to show on the field, and stop being trapped in everyone's hopes and imaginations. UT is 92nd in America in total offense right now, Kentucky is 63rd, and would be a helluva lot higher had they not been totally stuffed by UF (148 total yards).

Cue the "nobody has played any competition quite like UT's competition" crowd. It can't be that only the teams that UT plays, for that particular week, are among the best teams in America. Truth is, UT should have crushed Ohio and Appy State and ran up ridiculous stats on both sides of the ball, instead of floundering around with a 92nd total offense ranking after 3 weeks.

 

[allenrikvik]

The UF defense will be the best defense that UT has faced to date. I expect that same plan as previous years - stack-up to stop the run, press the W/R's and dare J Dobbs to beat them. Get ready tight-ends and QB runs. I expect that we will have the same success - will move and get points, BUT we have a ready strong defense and I do not expect any let-up in the 4Q. Shoop will prove to be a difference. 10 pt game, Tennessee.

 

[utvols74]

If UT's offense = the first 3 games, then it will be on the defense to win the game. If this is the case, we could be looking at another 10-9 type game - which was the same style game played in Neyland in '14 resulting in a "L" for UT.

UT must get UF on their heals and keep on pushing. Think UT/UF 1990 game. Gawd, that was a dandy of a game.

 

[Smokey123]

Last year UF's defense was allowing just 55 Rushing per game. This year they're allowing 42 vs arguably worse teams. We rushed for over 250 yards against them last year

 

[RowdyRetile]

Here's some perspective:

SEC Total Yards Allowed:

1) Florida - 389
2) Bama - 955
3) Arkansas - 968
4) LSU - 977
5) Tennessee - 1,010

Of those teams, all have played at least two cupcakes except Bama (USCw and Ole Miss - although USCw has looked awful). LSU has played Wisconsin and Miss State. Everyone else has played two garbage teams and one decent team. And before everyone says how awful Kentucky is, it's the same Kentucky program that Florida scraped by in OT in 2014 and barely won 14-9 last year. UF was expecting a battle v UK, not their fault UK didn't show up.

 

[VOL 4 Life 83]

Here's some perspective:

SEC Total Yards Allowed:

1) Florida - 389
2) Bama - 955
3) Arkansas - 968
4) LSU - 977
5) Tennessee - 1,010

Of those teams, all have played at least two cupcakes except Bama (USCw and Ole Miss - although USCw has looked awful). LSU has played Wisconsin and Miss State. Everyone else has played two garbage teams and one decent team. And before everyone says how awful Kentucky is, it's the same Kentucky program that Florida scraped by in OT in 2014 and barely won 14-9 last year. UF was expecting a battle v UK, not their fault UK didn't show up.

Florida literally played some of the lowest rated offensive teams in the country.

North Texas #117
Massachusetts #65
Kentucky #89

So yeah, their defensive stats should be good

 

[RowdyRetile]

Last year UF's defense was allowing just 55 Rushing per game. This year they're allowing 42 vs arguably worse teams. We rushed for over 250 yards against them last year

Florida got torched by Dobbs last year, and everyone knows it. If Dobbs runs at will again this year, and breaks tackles and dips and dodges his way to 162 rushing yards again, UT wins.

 

[jerrync]

Its the same line of thinking you all are using on Florida's offense.

It's not about whether Florida has the best defense in the country or not.

It's....we aint Ohio. We aint Appy State. Tennessee has been tackled for a loss 20 times on the season.

Based on what we have seen so far, the defense can be both overrated and have a field day tomorrow.

Who knows?

So if TN wins, we should be one of the best offense in the nation? Since you have the best defense in the country. BS

 

[RowdyRetile]

Florida literally played some of the lowest rated offensive teams in the country.

Never mind the idea that their offensive stats are low BECAUSE they played Florida and haven't had enough games to overcome that? Kentucky is averaging 551 yards per game on offense when you minus out the Florida game. That's not one of the "lowest rated offensive teams in the country," in fact, it would be one of the highest.

But I know, I know, Kentucky hasn't played anyone worth a darn either.

 

[VOL 4 Life 83]

Never mind the idea that their offensive stats are low BECAUSE they played Florida and haven't had enough games to overcome that? Kentucky is averaging 551 yards per game on offense when you minus out the Florida game. That's not one of the "lowest rated offensive teams in the country," in fact, it would be one of the highest.

But I know, I know, Kentucky hasn't played anyone worth a darn either.

Average opponent offense ranking (Florida): 91
Average opponent offense ranking (UT): 52

So yeah, you're defense hasn't really faced anyone of significance yet.

Total Offense | FBS Football Statistics - NCAA.com

 

[tennesseecoyote]

I think we completed like two passes last year. We could see a similar performance this game. The secondary (especially corners) are awesome. The D line is great and gets constant pressure. They also have one very good LB. Apparently the LBs are the weak point. They get sucked into plays and tend to over persue. This leaves the middle of the field open at times, especially when blitzing. It also allows Dobbs or Kamara to make big plays once they get past the D line or the play breaks down and the LBs have been sucked into the line. It also leaves open the middle of the field for slants to WRs, HBs, and TEs. This is especially true if they are playing two deep safeties. Then again, if I were them, I would bring in a safety to close up that hole as much as I could. Of course, that leaves the deep/jump ball up for grabs. Can Dobbs make that throw and can our WRs catch it? We'll see... My advice... attack their LBs and safeties, let their speed and aggression work against themselves.

 

[Biopsyman]

Maybe they will get a serve case of explosive diarrhea during pregame