Defense looks stout on paper

[News Bot]

JACKSONVILLE — Despite all the struggles throughout the year, including giving up almost 450 yards to Furman, the Florida defense comes out of this six-loss season actually looking pretty good. At least statistically. After shutting down FSU’s offense in the final regular-season game (95 total yards), the Gators ended the year ranked in the top 10 nationally in total defense.
But, in reality, is this a top 10 defense?
Outside linebacker Jelani Jenkins doesn’t seem to think so. At least not yet.
“I think we have a lot of talent on defense,” Jenkins said. “I think we made a lot of mistakes throughout the season for whatever reason — jumping offsides, stupid penalties that put us in bad situations.
“From the beginning, I felt the defense had a lot of talent. I still feel that way. But we made too many mistakes. I don’t really attribute it to being young. After a few games, we were experienced. We should have been able to handle it better than we did.”
Jenkins admitted that the defense, and the team as a whole, lacked discipline this season.
“I don’t think we were too good of a disciplined football team,” he said. “Little things happened that contributed to all those losses.”
With most of the top 22 defensive players returning in 2012, Jenkins said this defense has a chance to mature into something special.
“I’m looking forward to (next season),” he said. “Experience is going to help us lessen the mistakes we made this season. I’m looking at this game as being the start of a new year. We’re going to try and get it started off with a bang.”

Source: GatorSports.com - Robbie's Playbook

 

[DRU2012]

This "D" has all the tools to be a BEAST, no question--they got better as the season progressed, and with coaching, concentration and the elimination of those mistakes that players AND coaches have talked about (not to mention some combination of improved "Strength & Conditioning", and an offense that can burn some clock while they drive--that defense consistently wore down late in games), they can be great from the start next season.
That still leaves the offense, which HAS to more consistently score TOUCHDOWNS in the redzone (Master of the Obvious strikes again). Between missed INTs on defense, and the offense's long drives that ended in FGs (and sometimes PUNTS!) instead of TDs--often because of something stupid like a block-in-the-back away from the play, or the ball snapped over the QB's head (again!)--we left a LOT of points on-the-field in 2011, enough to win at LEAST 2 or 3 of those close ones we lost.
Tough defense: better preparation, more self-discipline, depth and experience, more strips and INTs--all that's left defensively may well be for the offense to give them a decent breather here and there. Add that offense actually cashing IN those long drives , and you've got a recipe for SEC-contention right THERE.

 

[Leakfan12]

I hope they're on BEAST mode against the suckeyes and soon to be their new coach.