With Jaye Howard gone to the NFL and Ronald Powell injured, Sharrif Floyd and Dominique Easley will try to pick up the slack for Florida’s 2011 sacks leaders.
“They’re bullies,” sophomore cornerback Marcus Roberson said. “They’re great guys who can bring pressure.”
Last year, the juniors racked up a combined 83 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and three sacks. Easley started 12 games at defensive tackle , and Floyd started 11 at defensive end.
However, their roles will reverse this season. Easley will see more time at defensive end while Floyd moves to the tackle position.
“[Easley will] start out at end, which is probably his most natural position,” Muschamp said. “And Sharrif inside because of the issues going into last season.”
Last September, the NCAA suspended Floyd for Florida’s first two games after ruling that he received “impermissible benefits” and “preferential treatment” from individuals not associated with UF.
Once Floyd returned to the lineup, Easley was set at tackle, so Floyd played end.
“It was very difficult to switch gears on those guys as we rolled into the season,” Muschamp said.
Count Easley as one of those happy about the change in position. He said he prefers end.
“I like to be in space,” Easley said. “So, at the end, I have more space to play with and I get more one-on-one matchups, so it’s much better.”
Safety Showers: Sophomore defensive back Valdez Showers is beginning to find comfort at safety. Chalk it up to familiarity.
“Way comfortable,” he said. “When I first came in, it was like overwhelming. I had never been in a defense that was so complex.”
Split practices have allowed Showers to call defenses, an aspect of his game he wants to address. He already believes he has improved significantly since spring practice.
“I felt pretty good,” Showers said. “I actually needed it so I could verbalize more calls and stuff, get more comfortable with it.”
As a safety, Showers is playing the same position Muschamp did during his football days. However, Showers says Muschamp acts no differently around the safeties than he does around everyone else.
“Muschamp is Muschamp,” Showers said. “He’s going to get you, and he’s going to love you at the same time. That’s just how he is.”
Contact Joe Morgan at joemorgan@alligator.org.
