To the naked eye, the Florida defense has been dominant this season.
The Gators have overwhelmed opponents late in games, allowing just 13 second-half points all season and none in the fourth quarter.
As a whole, the unit ranks 12th in the country in total defense.
Despite UF’s early success, the unit still has more to prove. Specifically, it needs to show it can shut down a mobile quarterback for an entire game.
Florida has yet to face Georgia’s Aaron Murray, South Carolina’s Connor Shaw and Vanderbilt’s Jordan Rodgers this season, and all three gave the Gators trouble with their scrambling abilities in 2011.
Murray ran for 42 yards on nine carries in Florida’s 24-20 loss to Georgia last season. Shaw rushed for 88 yards and two touchdowns in the Gamecocks’ 17-12 win against the Gators in Columbia, S.C.
And Rodgers, who Florida will face on Saturday, rushed for 41 yards in last year’s matchup — not including the 21 yards he lost on sacks. He also used his feet to make throws outside the pocket, racking up 297 yards in a 26-21 loss, the closest Vandy has come to upsetting UF since 2002.
Based on Florida’s performance against Texas A&M and dual-threat freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel, the Gators defense didn’t fix the issue during the offseason.
Manziel ran for 41 yards and a touchdown while completing 16 of 20 passes for 141 yards in the first half alone. At halftime, the coaches stressed to the UF defensive linemen the need to limit Manziel by staying in their lanes and not overpursuing to make plays in the backfield.
The Gators were more successful in the second half, limiting Manziel to 19 yards on eight carries and only 32 passing yards.
If Florida struggles against mobile quarterbacks, defensive coordinator Dan Quinn said, preparation isn’t to blame.
“When you talk about the opponent at the start of the week that’s one of the things that you talk about early,” Quinn said. “Is this a quarterback who wants to move the pocket and create on the run or is it more of a drop-back passer?”
Quinn added that UF’s defense needs to stay disciplined and keep opposing quarterbacks inside the pocket.
“Certainly when you have a guy who can get outside you talk about what we say, taking care of the edges of the defense,” Quinn said. “To try to force the guy back inside at times in certain calls.”
The defense showed it had the ability to do so in the second half against Texas A&M, but it needs to play that way for four quarters to beat South Carolina and Georgia.
Containing Rodgers on Saturday would be a good first step in proving it can handle any type of quarterback.
Contact Josh Jurnovoy at jjurnovoy@alligator.org.
Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn yells to the defense during UF's 37-20 victory against Tennessee on Sept. 15. at Neyland Stadium. Florida faces Vanderbilt and versatile quarterback Jordan Rodgers this Saturday.
