It's hard to argue UF's defense &ndash which coach Urban Meyer said has a chance to go down as one of the best ever &ndash has a weak link, but the one unit that seems to offer up the most questions is the line.
Perhaps that says more about the secondary and linebackers, but the tackle position is the most competitive starting position battle on the defense.
Juniors Lawrence Marsh and Terron Sanders stepped into starting roles last year and are the favorites to hold their positions, but if they falter, freshman Omar Hunter and sophomore Jaye Howard have impressed the coaching staff in practice.
"If they don't go out and practice well, and they don't play well, then they're not going to play at all," defensive coordinator Charlie Strong said of the position battles.
Sanders said he feels good about where he stands in the pecking order, but admitted the competition for playing time is fierce.
"I really feel as though only certain spots on the team are cemented, especially on the defensive front," Sanders said. "Every day is a competition, and every day is a challenge, and every day could make or break your chances of starting or getting the bulk of the playing time."
The end positions seem to be more solidified, as senior Jermaine Cunningham and junior Carlos Dunlap have two years as starters under their belts.
Strong told an anecdote at UF's Media Day illustrating the type of understanding of the system that some of his players are developing.
In the national championship game, Oklahoma had the ball on third and 2 with the ball on the hash mark closest to its own bench. The Sooners subbed in bigger personnel to try to pick up the first down, and Strong was unable to counter with subs of his own for fear of having too many men on the field or burning a time out.
Linebacker Ryan Stamper stuffed up the play for a loss, but when Dunlap came off the field he had something to say to Strong.
"He said, 'Coach, we were in the wrong defense! We can't run that defense against that personnel grouping,'" Strong said. "I said, 'I never thought you would know that. I'm glad you did.'"
Junior Justin Trattou will be pushing for playing time on the outside, and a high football IQ could end up being the difference the coaches are looking for.
Defensive line coach Dan McCarney said the talent is there for the line to become a major factor for the highly talented defensive as long as they ask themselves a couple questions.
"How good do you want to be? Do you want to be the best? Do you want to be the best to ever put on a Florida uniform?" McCarney said. "Do you want to be the best in the SEC? Do you want to try to become one of the best in the country? The sky is the limit for these guys."
