- Sep 8, 2014
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I love the picture of V. Joseph decleating the LSU QB!
http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/fl...as-battle-injury-bug-2016-pay-dividends-2017/
How Florida’s battle with the injury bug in 2016 could pay dividends in 2017
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – At first glance, Florida’s losses on defense to graduation and the NFL Draft look nearly impossible to overcome in 2017. The Gators lost four starters to graduation (DE Bryan Cox Jr., DT Joey Ivie, LB Jarrad Davis and S Marcus Maye) and another four to early entry in the NFL Draft (LB Alex Anzalone, DT Caleb Brantley, CB Teez Tabor and CB Quincy Wilson).
Despite losing eight starters, next fall’s defense will actually be mostly familiar faces.
Of those eight departing starters, five missed significant playing time due to injuries. While many of the Will Muschamp signees on defense are gone, coach Jim McElwain and coordinator Randy Shannon will still be able to turn to a starting 11 using players with experience.
Cox and Jordan Sherit, who is returning in 2017, were the first-string defensive ends at the start of the season, but both were hit by the injury bug. That led to more reps at defensive end for Keivonnis Davis (27 total tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks), Cece Jefferson (30 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks) and Jabari Zuniga (25 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 5 sacks).
If the Gators feel comfortable in Sherit, Davis and Zuniga, they might try Jefferson at defensive tackle, where depth is a bigger concern. The most experienced returning defensive tackles are Khairi Clark (16 tackles, TFL, sack) and Taven Bryan (17 tackles, 3 TFL, sack), who stepped up in Ivie’s absence.
Since former defensive coordinator Geoff Collins liked to use the nickel defense, the Gators frequently relied on two linebackers. For much of the year, that was Anzalone and Jarrad Davis.
In Week 7, however, against Missouri, Jarrad Davis sprained his ankle (he would sprain his other ankle in Week 11 against South Carolina). In Week 10, Anzalone went down for the rest of the year with a broken arm.
Freshman LB David Reese stepped into Davis’ role and played well, finishing fifth on the team in tackles with 49 total tackles, including five for loss. Fellow freshman Vosean Joseph was called upon when Anzalone went down and delivered a key hit on LSU QB Danny Etling which prevented a Tigers touchdown. Reese played in 12 games while Joseph appeared in all 13.
Marcell Harris, the team’s leading tackler in 2016 with 73 total, has established himself as the strong safety after filling in for Maye, who broke his arm in Week 11. Free safety Nick Washington is also back for 2017.
The tricky part for Florida is at cornerback. Tabor and Wilson stayed healthy throughout the year, with Tabor only missing the season opener due to suspension. The Gators have six cornerbacks remaining on roster, though few have gained meaningful experience playing on the outside.
Duke Dawson was a starter at nickel back throughout the season, and will likely be a starting cornerback in 2017. Chauncey Gardner, a 4-star CB signee in 2016 who won Outback Bowl MVP with a pair of interceptions, played at nickel and free safety last season, but will likely slide outside opposite Dawson.
If Dawson or Gardner miss any time in 2017, things could get dicey for the Gators. It was particularly telling last season that when Dawson went down in the FSU game, he was replaced at nickel by Daniel McMillian, a linebacker (Gardner was in at free safety for an injured Washington). The Gators went with McMillian, who has graduated, at nickel despite having cornerbacks Joseph Putu and Chris Williamson available on the bench, which doesn’t bode well for depth at the position.
The Gators offset that, perhaps, by bringing in three 4-star cornerbacks in the 2017 class. All three were ranked among the top 30 at their position in the country.
With secondary less of a strength than in past seasons, Shannon, who specializes in coaching linebackers, might go with more three-linebacker looks than nickel coverage. A likely third linebacker would be Kylan Johnson, who appeared in all 13 games as a redshirt freshman.
If those most experienced players win out, the Gators starting defense could look like this:
DE Keivonnis Davis
DT Cece Jefferson
NT Khairi Clark
DE Jordan Sherit
LB Kylan Johnson
LB David Reese
LB Vosean Joseph
CB Duke Dawson
FS Nick Washington
SS Marcel Harris
CB Chauncey Gardner
That would be 11 first-string defenders all with at least some starting experience, which makes losing eight starters a lot easier to swallow. While the injury bug was a thorn in Florida’s side this season, it could prove to be a blessing in disguise for 2017.
http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/fl...as-battle-injury-bug-2016-pay-dividends-2017/
How Florida’s battle with the injury bug in 2016 could pay dividends in 2017
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – At first glance, Florida’s losses on defense to graduation and the NFL Draft look nearly impossible to overcome in 2017. The Gators lost four starters to graduation (DE Bryan Cox Jr., DT Joey Ivie, LB Jarrad Davis and S Marcus Maye) and another four to early entry in the NFL Draft (LB Alex Anzalone, DT Caleb Brantley, CB Teez Tabor and CB Quincy Wilson).
Despite losing eight starters, next fall’s defense will actually be mostly familiar faces.
Of those eight departing starters, five missed significant playing time due to injuries. While many of the Will Muschamp signees on defense are gone, coach Jim McElwain and coordinator Randy Shannon will still be able to turn to a starting 11 using players with experience.
Cox and Jordan Sherit, who is returning in 2017, were the first-string defensive ends at the start of the season, but both were hit by the injury bug. That led to more reps at defensive end for Keivonnis Davis (27 total tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks), Cece Jefferson (30 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks) and Jabari Zuniga (25 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 5 sacks).
If the Gators feel comfortable in Sherit, Davis and Zuniga, they might try Jefferson at defensive tackle, where depth is a bigger concern. The most experienced returning defensive tackles are Khairi Clark (16 tackles, TFL, sack) and Taven Bryan (17 tackles, 3 TFL, sack), who stepped up in Ivie’s absence.
Since former defensive coordinator Geoff Collins liked to use the nickel defense, the Gators frequently relied on two linebackers. For much of the year, that was Anzalone and Jarrad Davis.
In Week 7, however, against Missouri, Jarrad Davis sprained his ankle (he would sprain his other ankle in Week 11 against South Carolina). In Week 10, Anzalone went down for the rest of the year with a broken arm.
Freshman LB David Reese stepped into Davis’ role and played well, finishing fifth on the team in tackles with 49 total tackles, including five for loss. Fellow freshman Vosean Joseph was called upon when Anzalone went down and delivered a key hit on LSU QB Danny Etling which prevented a Tigers touchdown. Reese played in 12 games while Joseph appeared in all 13.
Marcell Harris, the team’s leading tackler in 2016 with 73 total, has established himself as the strong safety after filling in for Maye, who broke his arm in Week 11. Free safety Nick Washington is also back for 2017.
The tricky part for Florida is at cornerback. Tabor and Wilson stayed healthy throughout the year, with Tabor only missing the season opener due to suspension. The Gators have six cornerbacks remaining on roster, though few have gained meaningful experience playing on the outside.
Duke Dawson was a starter at nickel back throughout the season, and will likely be a starting cornerback in 2017. Chauncey Gardner, a 4-star CB signee in 2016 who won Outback Bowl MVP with a pair of interceptions, played at nickel and free safety last season, but will likely slide outside opposite Dawson.
If Dawson or Gardner miss any time in 2017, things could get dicey for the Gators. It was particularly telling last season that when Dawson went down in the FSU game, he was replaced at nickel by Daniel McMillian, a linebacker (Gardner was in at free safety for an injured Washington). The Gators went with McMillian, who has graduated, at nickel despite having cornerbacks Joseph Putu and Chris Williamson available on the bench, which doesn’t bode well for depth at the position.
The Gators offset that, perhaps, by bringing in three 4-star cornerbacks in the 2017 class. All three were ranked among the top 30 at their position in the country.
With secondary less of a strength than in past seasons, Shannon, who specializes in coaching linebackers, might go with more three-linebacker looks than nickel coverage. A likely third linebacker would be Kylan Johnson, who appeared in all 13 games as a redshirt freshman.
If those most experienced players win out, the Gators starting defense could look like this:
DE Keivonnis Davis
DT Cece Jefferson
NT Khairi Clark
DE Jordan Sherit
LB Kylan Johnson
LB David Reese
LB Vosean Joseph
CB Duke Dawson
FS Nick Washington
SS Marcel Harris
CB Chauncey Gardner
That would be 11 first-string defenders all with at least some starting experience, which makes losing eight starters a lot easier to swallow. While the injury bug was a thorn in Florida’s side this season, it could prove to be a blessing in disguise for 2017.
