Everyone knew the Gators would have trouble filling the hole at free safety left by Reggie Nelson.
But who would have guessed cornerbacks Ryan Smith and Reggie Lewis would be irreplaceable, too?
And linebackers Brandon Siler and Earl Everett?
And defensive tackles Marcus Thomas, Steven Harris, Joe Cohen and Ray McDonald?
Everybody should have known the defense could not be rebuilt in the span of a few months.
I watched Knowshon Moreno spin past Brandon Spikes and Mohamed Massaquoi sprint past Joe Haden and Tony Joiner, and as I saw Georgia score at will, it did not surprise me in the least.
Before the season, Urban Meyer expressed worries about his young, inexperienced defense.
It?s the middle of the season, and the defense is still young and inexperienced, and now injured, too.
It could be that way for the rest of the season and the bowl game, so get used to it.
Against Georgia, they committed mistakes that mark so many porous defenses.
They could not stop the run, and they gave up back-breaking plays in the passing game.
It could not have gone much worse.
BThat?s not Florida defense,C Meyer said after the game. BWe?ve got a long way to go. … We?re not playing very good defense right now.C
It will take an entire off-season to mold the unit together.
In the meantime, it?s trial by fire.
The Gators face perennial pushover Vanderbilt on Saturday, but even the Commodores should be able to put up a good score.
Vandy features a running quarterback and the Southeastern Conference?s all-time leader in receptions in Earl Bennett (check him out at www.MyNameIsEarlBennett.com).
That?s the same Earl Bennett who has torched Gators cornerbacks for 19 catches for 232 yards and three touchdowns the last two seasons.
With UF?s soft coverage in the secondary, Bennett could have a field day against Haden this week.
That?s not the only concern, however.
Linebackers Brandon Spikes and Dustin Doe have performed well, but neither has made a game-changing play in weeks.
Instead, the Gators have given up fourth-down conversions on 12 of 18 attempts and rank 10th in the SEC in third-down defense.
While Derrick Harvey and Jermaine Cunningham have pressured the quarterback at times this year, the interior of the defensive line has been sliced thin by injuries.
Desperation reared its head Tuesday, as backup center Mike Pouncey practiced at defensive tackle.
Next thing you know, Tim Tebow will line up at nose guard.
He did so in his last high school game on the final series of a 2005 state championship game.
Don?t get me wrong, UF?s defense could be great in a couple seasons.
Haden, Spikes, Doe and Major Wright could be All-America candidates in the future.
They say Tebow?s tears can cure cancer, but all it?s going to take is time and patience to cure UF?s defense.
