Theater of Operations, Florida Vs. Georgia: Reviewing The Gators' Defensive Performance
by FlaGators on Nov 1, 2011 10:15 AM EDT
in Florida Football Analysis
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By all accounts, the Florida Gators' defense played well in Florida's 24-20 loss to the Georgia Bulldogs this past weekend. Things could always be better, I guess, but for a young defense, the performances of the last two games have to be encouraging.
Probably the most encouraging aspect of the defensive play against Georgia was the growth of the defensive line. Yeah, I know it got ran over for the go-ahead touchdown, but it was put in such bad positions all game long by the offense that you just knew it was going to happen sooner or later.
Jaye Howard, Sharrif Floyd, Ronald Powell, Dominique Easley and Omar Hunter combined for 23 tackles (four and half for loss), and two sacks. Howard and Floyd combined for 16 of those tackles. It appears that Sharrif Floyd is finally becoming comfortable as a member of the Gators.
Anyway, after the jump, the defensive breakdown for the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.
Play No. 1: Jelani Jenkins' tackle for loss:
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
Jelani Jenkins (yellow circle) is about to get into the backfield untouched. Nobody even puts a hand on him. This is a prime example of bad blitz pick-up by an offensive line.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
You can barely tell from this angle, but there is about a two-yard hole that Jelani is running through.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
Georgia running back Isaiah Crowell has absolutely nowhere to go.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
Jenkins does a great job of finishing the play. That's something that this defense has lacked the past month or so.
Play No. 2: Ronald Powell's sack on Aaron Murray:
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
Welcome, Ronald Powell, and nice to meet you. Georgia is going to attempt a play-action bootleg to the right. Powell recognizes it just in time and covers it perfectly.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
You can see that at the exact moment of the fake handoff, that Powell is in a "wait and see" type of mode. Because the play isn't in his direction, he has that luxury. Two Gators defenders (not circled) actually bite on the fake. But Jon Bostic (yellow circle) realizes that his assigned man (green circle) is in motion and heading out into the flat.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
At this point, because Bostic is covering the flat, Powell is free to come at the quarterback. Which he does.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
At this point, Powell is committed to getting to the quarterback. Please note that Dominique Easley (yellow circle) is heading towards the play as back-up. I love that about him: He's always moving towards the ball, because you never know.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
But, in the end, Powell gets his man without any help. Very nice to see from Ronald Powell.
Play No. 3: Georgia's touchdown pass against De'Ante Saunders:
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
Talk about one of your all-time mismatches. "Pop" Saunders, who is 5'8", will be covering Georgia wideout Michael Bennett, who is 6'3". Without help. How will this go?
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
What is really impressive here is that Murray does a pump fake and Saunders doesn't bite at all.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
The ball is in the air and Saunders is staying with him at this point.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
The ball is now in Bennett's hands. Saunders is in mid-air, doing the best he can to knock the ball out.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
Bennett ends up holding on to the ball for the touchdown. Saunders actually had great coverage on the play; it was more a matter of height mattering more, and, well, Saunders is at more than half a foot of a disadvantage. There can be absolutely no blaming of Saunders on this play.
Play No. 4: Georgia's touchdown pass against Jaylen Watkins:
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
Georgia will have a height advantage on this play, too, though it will be a much smaller one. Tavarres King is 6'1" and Jaylen Watkins is 6'0"; while that is relatively even, there is still an advantage there for Georgia. It should also be noted at this point that the only reason why Watkins is in man coverage is because Cody Riggs hurt his wrist and was out for the rest of the game.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
You can't really tell all that much from the picture, but King and another Georgia wideout (both green circles) both do a quick stop and stutter-step move.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
The ball is nearly there and Watkins is right there with King.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
Look at that coverage! Once again, a Georgia wideout makes a stellar play.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
Watkins fights to knock the ball loose the entire way down, but to no avail.
On both of Georgia's passing touchdowns, there is absolutely nothing more you could have asked for out of Saunders and Watkins. Did they both get beat on the play? Sure. But they played the ball exactly how they were taught and it just didn't work out. I can't and won't ever blame either of them on those plays. I don't think that would be fair to them at all.
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Great write up, sir.
On both of Georgia’s passing touchdowns, there is absolutely nothing more you could have asked for out of Saunders and Watkins. Did they both get beat on the play? Sure. But they played the ball exactly how they were taught and it just didn’t work out. I can’t and won’t ever blame either of them on those plays. I don’t think that would be fair to them at all.
Agreed 100%. Both plays could have went either way, we just ended up on the bad side of it…story of the season.
Coach Muschamp: Laying the Boom down on your a.....
Yep. Story of the season.
Next year, you watch, those plays that are 50/50 like that … will be in our favor. Or the majority of them anyway.
Editor at Alligator Army - The Florida Gators Blog
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I agree
There is only so much you can do, the only other option these guys had was to tackle the wideout before the ball got there and get a pass interference call, which in hindsight may be better, but in reality we all would’ve hated those plays just as much.
Kudos to the defense, if only the offense had been on the field more, and a certain running back caught the ball and hung on to it more … cough chris rainey cough … Georgia loses this game.
Perfect (pur-fec-t): the only person on earth, besides Tim Tebow, in the 21st century to be without fault is gatorhippy.
It was nice to see the run defense step up against UGA and the Barners
after the gashing they took at the hands of LSU and Bama.
All the same, it is kind of disappointing that Jaye Howard basically hasn’t improved at all. He’s ended up kind of busting out.
I guess with Sharrif and Easley both being tackles, but neither big enough to be nose tackles, we’ll be going to a 4-3 and will need to bring in some defensive ends that’ll be able to close. Either Ronald Powell needs to get bigger and stronger to fill that role, or they’ve gotta start prepping him for a move to linebacker. Jelani could probably transition outside without that much trouble since he’s got good speed and is decent in coverage already, and if Powell can live up to his potential, we’d have our best guys on the field.
We have only youth ready to come in at end. Lerentee McCray was supposed to be an end, but he’s moved to LB. Basically, we have Kendric Johnson who is a redshirt soph. and then a bunch of rookies in Lynden Trail (who, as I recall when we first got him, had to get a lot bigger,) Clay Burton, Tevin Westbrook, and Gary Marseille. Basically, those guys have to get there if we want to be workable next year.
it is kind of disappointing that Jaye Howard basically hasn’t improved at all. He’s ended up kind of busting out.
This.
Either Ronald Powell needs to get bigger and stronger to fill that role, or they’ve gotta start prepping him for a move to linebacker.
Powell has been playing LB a bit. In the BUCK position. He’s doing the “hybrid” thing that is very popular now. It does take some time to adjust though.
Lerentee McCray was supposed to be an end, but he’s moved to LB.
He’s been phenomenal.
Editor at Alligator Army - The Florida Gators Blog
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The Buck position won't work as well in the 4-3 though
If they go to it, which they should if the strongest two players are defensive tackles. It works better in the 3-4 where it can shift into a 4 man front or drop into coverage. Playing Buck should give him some valuable linebacker experience though if he makes the move there, as he probably should. Jelani has been playing well in coverage, he’s fast, and he’s a pretty good tackler. He’d really be well suited to be on the outside. Despite being marked as an outside guy when recruited as well, I see him play the interior more often than not.
Get Lerentee McCray, who isn’t that unsuitable for an OLB (he appears to have pretty good pursuit and closing speed,) Ronald Powell at middle, and Jelani Jenkins on the other side. If you develop some of the young guys to be decent at DE, you’ll have a pretty formidable front 7 if they develop well from this year.
Of course, this is under the assumption Ronald Powell is rotating in for Jon Bostic
and does well. Which…who knows?
Yeah …
Editor at Alligator Army - The Florida Gators Blog
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Preferrably Ronald Powell gets bigger and can fit in at DE
Since we are super shallow at depth there, while Bostic, Jenkins, McCray would basically be about as good as you can hope for on this team.
I’d be comfortable with all of that.
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Agreed.
I think the coaches will figure it out. Powell seems to be playing better and getting used to the roll. His sack came when he was on the edge. The Gators defensive staff did a great job in calling for the pass (notice the 5 defensive backs in on the play instead of an extra LB) … and he also showed excellent closing speed.
I do think though, that Powell isn’t as effective at LB … yet. And like you, on the outside is where he appears to be more comfortable and playing better.
Editor at Alligator Army - The Florida Gators Blog
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I believe
Muschamp wants to stick with the 3-4 or we would’ve switched by now.
The fact is Powell needs to get bigger regardless, just look at the Bucks in the NFL. Most of them look like DEs but are slightly shorter and slightly quicker. The best example in my mind is DeMarcus Ware of the Cowboys. that guy could play end in a 4-3 and be just as effective.
Perfect (pur-fec-t): the only person on earth, besides Tim Tebow, in the 21st century to be without fault is gatorhippy.
Brian Orakpo! The SackPo!
But yeah, I think they’ll address weight concerns in the off-season, as I’m sure was what you were thinking as well.
We are undersized as an entire defense. But I think by next year we’ll be a lot better in that department.
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I don't know how he expects to get the most out of a 3-4
without someone who can fill the nose tackle position adequately. The buck is workable, but if the 3 in your 3-4 doesn’t have a nose tackle, it’s a lost cause.
The hope was that someone like Omar Hunter, Jaye Howard and Leon Orr could be a stop-gap of sorts. But Jaye Howard has regressed, Hunter is finally starting to play well and Orr hasn’t really shown up all season.
But incoming guys (hopefully) in Mann and Phillips should be okay.
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Hunter
has the body type to play that 3 position. Easley definitely doesn’t. Dominique looks more like a dwight freeney to me anyways.
And like FlaGators said, Brian Orakpo would be a good example for Powell too.
I’d rather see Floyd and Easley as to defensive ends and either Orr (who still needs to develop, he’s big though) or Hunter (who Meyer touted as the best of his class when he came in) to step up, learn the role and fill it.
Perfect (pur-fec-t): the only person on earth, besides Tim Tebow, in the 21st century to be without fault is gatorhippy.
Well said.
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That would be dandy as well
But if you don’t have a good nose tackle in your 3-4, you’ll never be able to beat a good offense. The stop gap just has to be there or you’ll never get a rush without bringing 5 guys rushing.
I disagree on the touchdown passes.
I had this discussion on Twitter: Coverage is sort of a combination of positioning, awareness, and ball skills. Both Saunders and Watkins had great positioning, but neither showed the sort of awareness or ball skills you want out of cornerbacks, especially on fourth down and near the end zone.
Those are forgivable mistakes — they’re young, they’re short, neither is a starting corner — but I do think there were some problems with their coverage.
Also, on Powell’s sack, Bostic’s coverage is good, but Jenkins’ was incredible. He read Murray’s eyes as he started rolling, and dropped about 10 yards to run underneath a crossing receiver and take away his route. Gary Danielson did a good job of noting that on the broadcast.
It’s not a high percentage play though. More often than not, with that type of coverage, those passes fall incomplete. You can’t ask for more.
You also have to take into account (and I made a note of it on the play … that Cody Riggs was out, so Watkins had to cover the outside receiver, which is Riggs’ man) that we were forced to cover with safeties on the play. Both Saunders and Watkins are corner-safeties (for the most part) so they aren’t in coverage a lot during practice.
I can’t and won’t ever ask for more than what they did. I have no issue with how they played the ball.
As for the Powell sack, the reason why I didn’t cover Jelani on the play, was that he wasn’t viable. I probably should have made a note about it, along with rest of the coverage down the field, but with Bostic covering the flat perfectly … Easley on the way to help … and Powell committing to the QB at the right time, it works.
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I can’t and won’t ever ask for more than what they did. I have no issue with how they played the ball.
Yep. As ECFIVESTAR said above, the only other option would of been a pass interference, but, I for one, would of been YELLING like crazy if that would’ve happened, and I’m sure others would’ve, too. Georgia made a pull-it-out-of-our-ass play, congrats to them for that, it was a lucky-as-shit catch tho, both times, more importantly on the first one tho if my memory serves me correctly.
Coach Muschamp: Laying the Boom down on your a.....
The luck will change. By this time next year, we’ll probably get the majority of the bounces, turnovers …etc., that we aren’t getting this year. It always comes around.
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It doesn't, though.
It regresses toward the mean, but it doesn’t necessarily even out.
by Andy Hutchins on Nov 1, 2011 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Right. But if we were playing at the mean … we’d be 6-2.
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How could you Andy?!?
Don’t ever give credit to Gary Danielson …
I HATE GARY & VERNE
Perfect (pur-fec-t): the only person on earth, besides Tim Tebow, in the 21st century to be without fault is gatorhippy.
Lol. Yeah but I will take a Gary & Verne CBS lineup over a lineup ESPN offers any day of the week.
How….do….you……do? – Verne
Coach Muschamp: Laying the Boom down on your a.....
How….do….you……do? – Verne
I actually like that line though.
Editor at Alligator Army - The Florida Gators Blog
The Florida Gators - The most despised team in all of college football - Which is fantastic.
They mess up too much for me
like calling Marcus Roberson Mike Robinson … does anyone even know a Mike Robinson? And then saying some of the dumbest stuff in the world, talking about it for 15 minutes and then referring back to it again and again … It’s time they were put out to pasture.
Give me Jesse Palmer and Reece Davis … but I’d really rather have Daryl (Moose) Johnston and someone, another fox pairing.
Perfect (pur-fec-t): the only person on earth, besides Tim Tebow, in the 21st century to be without fault is gatorhippy.
You guys made the Meltdown Thread this week with a really strong showing.
Personal favorite:
Tom Brady was an average quarterback under Weis. What fucking chance do Brissett and Driskel have?
'Gentlemen, it is better to have died a small boy than to fumble this football.' John Heisman
http://www.rollbamaroll.com/2011/11/1/2525434/its-meltdown-time
'Gentlemen, it is better to have died a small boy than to fumble this football.' John Heisman
That’s almost as good of news as Bank of America getting rid of the $5 debit card charge.
Editor at Alligator Army - The Florida Gators Blog
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We made it once this year after the Wake Forest debacle man
I just think it’s a funny way to let off some steam
'Gentlemen, it is better to have died a small boy than to fumble this football.' John Heisman
I bet. I think this time, was the second time I’ve looked at it this year, and that was only because you pointed it out.
Editor at Alligator Army - The Florida Gators Blog
The Florida Gators - The most despised team in all of college football - Which is fantastic.
Bank of America? People still use them? Credit Unions are the way to go!
Coach Muschamp: Laying the Boom down on your a.....
Yeah … but other banks (SunTrust, Regions, BB&T, TVCU … etc) follow and do what BOA, Wells Fargo and a few others do. So if they aren’t going to do it, the other banks wont.
Trickle down effect.
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I sent our thread to Brian Cook.
So we’ll see if we can make a TWIS/IMT double happen!
by Andy Hutchins on Nov 1, 2011 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s great to see the front 4 finally blooming Easley has been a beast off the ball the past couple of games I think he gets into the backfield faster than the QB gets the ball in his hands.
by gatorempire127 on Nov 1, 2011 1:55 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
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