Gators Rebuilding 2010: Front Four Roulette
by mlmintampa on Sep 1, 2010 11:09 AM EDT
in Florida Football
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PrintWe continue our season preview, "Gators Rebuilding 2010." Until kickoff on Sept. 4 against Miami-Ohio, we will have a series of posts on players, positions and factors that will determine the Gators' success or failure this season. For all previous posts tagged as "Gators Rebuilding 2010" click here.
Florida's loss of Jermaine Cunningham and Carlos Dunlap, combined with a stacked freshman class, was sure to create a lot of challenges on the defensive line. The challenge is one that a rebuilding team wants; finding playing time in the first two games to figure out a proper rotation.
Line coach Dan McCarney sees a 10-12 man rotation against Miami-Ohio on Saturday. If Florida flips between a 3-4, 4-3 and 3-3-5, a deep rotation will keep the team fresh for a 12pm kickoff and save some energy. Inside, Omar Hunter and Jaye Howard will be switched with Brandon Antwine, Sharrif Floyd and Lawrence Marsh. The key there is not for any of those linemen to be studs, but to hold their ground. We saw in the SEC Championship Game how Alabama ate up Florida's front, limiting the chances of UF's backers and secondary. Watching the next few games, look to see who is best at taking up a double team and holding the line. Getting in the backfield is a bonus.
The ends is where UF will be tested early. Justin Trattou and Duke Lemmens haven't shown the freakish ability that Cunningham and Dunlap had. That's not to say they won't. But I think most of us would agree that Ronald Powell and Dominique Easley would fit that mold. Plus, if UF goes to a 3-4, Powell and Easley become frighting outside linebackers. The Gators won't have their pass rush tested much this season (Alabama probably being the first good passing team), and part of this season is building to 2011.
The Gators may also try including Powell and Easley inside, as well as Jon Bostic and Neiron Ball as a stand-up nose. With this much youth, and a lack of knowing exactly who plays where, expect to see multiple looks and maybe a New York Jets-style defense that relies on confusion.
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Yeah, like you said, I agree that we will employ a lot of different combinations against not only just Miami (OH) but throughout the season as well, as the Gators prepare for 2011. The freshman should gain valuable expirence and as long as the old guard (Trattou and Co) hold their own, the defense should be fine.
The Once and Future King
Did Marsh
lose his starting gig? Or has he just been injured this whole spring and summer? I haven’t really heard his name mentioned, and I almost forgot he was still on the team, until I found out he was nursing an injury.
Get out of my House!
But last year
Didn’t he see major time with the starters or am I just imagining things? I could’ve swore he was a starter last year.
Get out of my House!
The Sun article indicates that Marsh has a hamstring issue and is listed as probable. I’m also a little surprised that he hasn’t been talked about much, since I remember him being really talked up by the coaching staff during last season. Maybe that was just due to our lack of depth at DT last year.
by CanWeBeMature on Sep 1, 2010 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions
I think our DLINE is under rated.
They are very experienced to say the least. Dunlap was a huge under performer. I think this years DLINE will be very solid. Maybe they wont break any sack records, but I dont see them being the weak spot of the defense.
"When you argue correctly, you're never wrong."-Nick Naylor
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