Gators Enter Bye Week Seeking Improvement on Defense

A loss naturally stings. A loss to a Southeastern Conference rival burns. Especially in opposition to one which has now received the final 4 conferences. 

Miller trudged into the disheartened UF postgame assembly after one other sturdy particular person efficiency, main the Gators with 10 tackles. And as a veteran chief, the sixth-year senior went in with one factor in thoughts: to uplift his teammates within the wake of the Gators’ third lack of the season.

Wide receiver Justin Shorter, who caught the primary landing go of the sport, mirrored on Miller’s phrases when he met with reporters afterward. 

“He just told us that we needed to come together and come in and really just go back to the drawing board and come in every day and really work as hard as we can,” Shorter stated. 

The Gators have work to do, undoubtedly on the defensive facet coming into their bye week. Florida ranks 77th nationally in scoring protection (28.1 factors per sport), 106th in complete protection (429.3 yards per sport), and useless final in third-down protection (131st), permitting opponents to transform 52.6 p.c (51 of 97) on third down.

The loss to LSU epitomized the season for UF’s protection, highlighted by Daniels finishing 23 of 32 passes for 349 yards and three scores. The Gators produced little strain and had just one sack.

The Tigers marched down the sphere to attain six touchdowns on their first six drives, and added a late area objective with switch quarterback Jayden Daniels main the way in which in LSU’s victory at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The Gators struggled all through the night time to comprise the Tigers, who rolled up 528 yards of complete offense. 

The Gators significantly stumbled on third down with LSU changing 8 of 12 third makes an attempt. The Tigers punted solely as soon as in the entire sport and that was within the fourth quarter. LSU was 2-for-2 on fourth-down makes an attempt.

 

The LSU offense undoubtedly made it look simpler than it ought to have been. UF head coach Billy Napier is properly conscious of the weak point that third-down poses for the protection. 

“We’re not very good,” Napier stated.

What is contributing to the holes throughout the third-down protection? 

“I think it’s a combination of everything,” Napier stated. “It’s a combination of schematics, a combination of personnel, a combination of fundamentals, detail and assignment and individual matchups.” 

This is just not the primary time that the Gators have struggled with executing defensive technicalities. The third-down protection has been a constant challenge inside the previous few weeks.

In the Week 3 loss at Tennessee, the Gators allowed the Vols to transform six of their 9 third-down makes an attempt. The Gators finally misplaced, 38-35.

In addition to the Gators struggling to cease an LSU protection that allowed Tennessee to attain 40 factors the earlier week, there gave the impression to be minimal defensive rhythm. 

“I think that we’re going to be sick when we watch this tape, that’s what I can tell you,” Napier stated.

And though the defensive flaws have been uncovered on a nationwide scale at a primetime sport, there’s perception and hope within the gamers throughout the locker room to develop from the efficiency. 

“I do believe that we’ve got a group that takes ownership of what they can do better,” Napier stated. “Players and coaches. I think we’ll work hard to improve that for sure.”

They haven’t any selection. No. 1-ranked Georgia awaits after the bye week.