- Oct 5, 2017
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I was going to post this before going out for the weekend, but decided to save it for today. Also, in case things came out in the presser I could update ahead of time, but I might've missed something. I believe it is mostly updated. I enjoyed the discussion on the offense. Let's see how we feel about the defense. The offense and defense were originally part of the same post, but GatorChatter has length limits. Yes, I know I am long winded, add a lot of stuff that may or may not be important and TLDR. I try though, but can't help myself. 
DL/OLB- Better
Yes, I count the OLB, which is basically a stand-up defensive end in this scheme as part of the DL. Interesting fact, none of the 4 Jacks listed on the depth chart for last year’s Utah game remain on the Gators roster (don’t tell the guest Buddy Martin had on a week or two ago saying Powell-Ryland will probably start). Princely has moved over there and Pyburn has seen time there along with others.
The keyword for why this year’s DL will be better than last year’s is simple, depth. Yes, Gervon Dexter will be missed, and I’d prefer if Jalen Lee stayed instead of transferring to LSU. However, we gained multiple new pieces that will help the unit overall on to of the returners for year 2 along with the aggressive approach of new DC Austin Armstrong.
Watching Caleb Banks at the open practice made me feel like he is going to be a problem for opposing OL’s (and I hope its not just our OL) and Cam Jackson also has looked good. Add in second year guys like McClellan, Pyburn, Sapp and Lyons to go along with the others and the rotation should be better and that is before we get to some highly touted true freshmen like Kelby Collins, Will Norman, TJ Searcy and Kamran James. The lack of depth hurt the DL last year and in doing so, hurt our LB and secondary production as well. This year, I think this is the unit that will set the tone for the defense and will be better because of increased experience and increased depth.
LB-Same, could be better
There were times Miller, Burney, James, and Williams were solid last season and times when they weren’t. Williams might play more OLB this year, especially with the loss of Justus Boone forcing some movement along the DL. We replaced all of our attrition with Ohio State transfer Teradja Mitchell, Michigan transfer Deuce Spurlock, Houston transfer Mannie Nunnery, and brought in true freshman Jaden Robinson. Derek Wingo is also back in his second year in the system and the hope is this year he finally lives up to his recruiting hype.
I believe we will see jumps for James, Williams, and Wingo in year two. Nunnery was the highest rated LB of all of our current LB’s last season at 74.2. He was highly rated in coverage with 78.2. For reference, Shemar James would be second with a 62.6 rating. Granted, the competition is much higher for Nunnery now, but hopefully the transition to SEC play won’t be too much. Spurlock didn’t play much last year for Michigan (redshirted) and Mitchell played all of 1 defensive snap for the Buckeyes. I do have questions since in 2021 his PFF rating was 43.9 with a tackling rating of 47.7. I do believe that a change of scenery sometimes brings better play out of players, but like with George at tackle, I think there is something, including injury problems for Mitchell, that found a regular rotation guy with starting experience to fall out of favor with a coaching staff.
I’m not saying Miller or Burney set the world on fire by any means, but without knowing what we are for sure getting with the transfers and general youth all-around it is hard for me to say this group will be better than last year’s. I think the possibility for improvement is there, but it could also still have plenty of issues. That is why for now, I’m saying it is going to be about the same, but with the potential to be better.
CB/Star- Better
Returning Jason Marshall, Jalen Kimber, Devin Moore, Jaydon Hill, and Jadarrius Perkins is major for this team. Hill is moving to Star and Moore is returning from injury. Having Corey Raymond take over the whole secondary is a great step in this year’s defense along with moving to more press man coverage. It is no secret that we struggled in zone coverage a lot last year and part of that was pass rush issues and part of that is zone is not the player’s strengths. I do think that will improve, but the press coverage will increase these guy’s production. Press coverage creates smaller windows (in theory), which increases time QB has the ball, which gives pass rushers more time to get to the QB, more pressure equals more inaccurate throws, inaccurate throws in tighter windows will usually lead to higher pass defense efficiency and more interceptions.
I think the returning players will do well and that young guys coming in like Dijon Johnson and Sharif Denson can be brought along without (hopefully) being thrown into the fire.
Love this PFF quote about Marshall, “The sophomore only surrendered a 35.2 passer rating when targeted in press coverage over the last two seasons, eighth among Power Five corners. For comparison, spiking the ball every play nets a 39.6 passer rating.”
With an improved DL, more aggressive scheme, and more press man coverage, along with returning a ton of talent and experience, this group will be better.
Safety-Same, possibly better
This position group, like the LB’s is one where I have more questions than I’d like heading into the season. We lost starters Torrence and Dean, but return Miguel Mitchell, Dakota Mitchell, and probably the most experienced former highly recruited player Kamari Wilson. We brought in RJ Moten from Michigan and I have some of the same questions I have with Teradja Mitchell.
RJ Moten was rated at 64.8 last season at Michigan by PFF, which was lower than both Gators starters and his tackling rating was 45, for reference Trey Dean was the lowest of our three main safeties for the Gators at 66.8. Moten does bring plenty of experience and power 5 experience. The question is how much he will improve under the tutelage of Corey Raymond and in Austin Armstrong’s offense.
Kamari Wilson led the Gators safeties in tackling grad last season with an 85.3 rating. A second season and being under Corey Raymond directly could bring more out of him than we saw a true freshman last season. Although expecting a lot from a true freshman at safety in the SEC is a mixed bag anyway. Miguel Mitchell also will need to grow this season. True freshmen Bryce Thornton and Jordan Castell will probably be asked to contribute, and it is always a crapshoot with true freshmen safeties in the SEC.
With that said, last year was maddeningly inconsistent at the safety position. This year we could be at least at that maddeningly inconsistent with the potential to be better and provide greater consistency. The aggressive and improved defensive front can help make up for some safety issues by causing more havoc and putting more pressure on opposing QB’s. For now, I think the questions leave me with the same, possibly better output from the safety position.
Overall, the defense looks to be in a position to be improved from last season. The aggressiveness and depth up front may be able to mask some questions at other positions if they are not as improved. There is a chance that some players that have been questions will be strengths. If that is the case, this defense will support the offense much more than last season.
DL/OLB- Better
Yes, I count the OLB, which is basically a stand-up defensive end in this scheme as part of the DL. Interesting fact, none of the 4 Jacks listed on the depth chart for last year’s Utah game remain on the Gators roster (don’t tell the guest Buddy Martin had on a week or two ago saying Powell-Ryland will probably start). Princely has moved over there and Pyburn has seen time there along with others.
The keyword for why this year’s DL will be better than last year’s is simple, depth. Yes, Gervon Dexter will be missed, and I’d prefer if Jalen Lee stayed instead of transferring to LSU. However, we gained multiple new pieces that will help the unit overall on to of the returners for year 2 along with the aggressive approach of new DC Austin Armstrong.
Watching Caleb Banks at the open practice made me feel like he is going to be a problem for opposing OL’s (and I hope its not just our OL) and Cam Jackson also has looked good. Add in second year guys like McClellan, Pyburn, Sapp and Lyons to go along with the others and the rotation should be better and that is before we get to some highly touted true freshmen like Kelby Collins, Will Norman, TJ Searcy and Kamran James. The lack of depth hurt the DL last year and in doing so, hurt our LB and secondary production as well. This year, I think this is the unit that will set the tone for the defense and will be better because of increased experience and increased depth.
LB-Same, could be better
There were times Miller, Burney, James, and Williams were solid last season and times when they weren’t. Williams might play more OLB this year, especially with the loss of Justus Boone forcing some movement along the DL. We replaced all of our attrition with Ohio State transfer Teradja Mitchell, Michigan transfer Deuce Spurlock, Houston transfer Mannie Nunnery, and brought in true freshman Jaden Robinson. Derek Wingo is also back in his second year in the system and the hope is this year he finally lives up to his recruiting hype.
I believe we will see jumps for James, Williams, and Wingo in year two. Nunnery was the highest rated LB of all of our current LB’s last season at 74.2. He was highly rated in coverage with 78.2. For reference, Shemar James would be second with a 62.6 rating. Granted, the competition is much higher for Nunnery now, but hopefully the transition to SEC play won’t be too much. Spurlock didn’t play much last year for Michigan (redshirted) and Mitchell played all of 1 defensive snap for the Buckeyes. I do have questions since in 2021 his PFF rating was 43.9 with a tackling rating of 47.7. I do believe that a change of scenery sometimes brings better play out of players, but like with George at tackle, I think there is something, including injury problems for Mitchell, that found a regular rotation guy with starting experience to fall out of favor with a coaching staff.
I’m not saying Miller or Burney set the world on fire by any means, but without knowing what we are for sure getting with the transfers and general youth all-around it is hard for me to say this group will be better than last year’s. I think the possibility for improvement is there, but it could also still have plenty of issues. That is why for now, I’m saying it is going to be about the same, but with the potential to be better.
CB/Star- Better
Returning Jason Marshall, Jalen Kimber, Devin Moore, Jaydon Hill, and Jadarrius Perkins is major for this team. Hill is moving to Star and Moore is returning from injury. Having Corey Raymond take over the whole secondary is a great step in this year’s defense along with moving to more press man coverage. It is no secret that we struggled in zone coverage a lot last year and part of that was pass rush issues and part of that is zone is not the player’s strengths. I do think that will improve, but the press coverage will increase these guy’s production. Press coverage creates smaller windows (in theory), which increases time QB has the ball, which gives pass rushers more time to get to the QB, more pressure equals more inaccurate throws, inaccurate throws in tighter windows will usually lead to higher pass defense efficiency and more interceptions.
I think the returning players will do well and that young guys coming in like Dijon Johnson and Sharif Denson can be brought along without (hopefully) being thrown into the fire.
Love this PFF quote about Marshall, “The sophomore only surrendered a 35.2 passer rating when targeted in press coverage over the last two seasons, eighth among Power Five corners. For comparison, spiking the ball every play nets a 39.6 passer rating.”
With an improved DL, more aggressive scheme, and more press man coverage, along with returning a ton of talent and experience, this group will be better.
Safety-Same, possibly better
This position group, like the LB’s is one where I have more questions than I’d like heading into the season. We lost starters Torrence and Dean, but return Miguel Mitchell, Dakota Mitchell, and probably the most experienced former highly recruited player Kamari Wilson. We brought in RJ Moten from Michigan and I have some of the same questions I have with Teradja Mitchell.
RJ Moten was rated at 64.8 last season at Michigan by PFF, which was lower than both Gators starters and his tackling rating was 45, for reference Trey Dean was the lowest of our three main safeties for the Gators at 66.8. Moten does bring plenty of experience and power 5 experience. The question is how much he will improve under the tutelage of Corey Raymond and in Austin Armstrong’s offense.
Kamari Wilson led the Gators safeties in tackling grad last season with an 85.3 rating. A second season and being under Corey Raymond directly could bring more out of him than we saw a true freshman last season. Although expecting a lot from a true freshman at safety in the SEC is a mixed bag anyway. Miguel Mitchell also will need to grow this season. True freshmen Bryce Thornton and Jordan Castell will probably be asked to contribute, and it is always a crapshoot with true freshmen safeties in the SEC.
With that said, last year was maddeningly inconsistent at the safety position. This year we could be at least at that maddeningly inconsistent with the potential to be better and provide greater consistency. The aggressive and improved defensive front can help make up for some safety issues by causing more havoc and putting more pressure on opposing QB’s. For now, I think the questions leave me with the same, possibly better output from the safety position.
Overall, the defense looks to be in a position to be improved from last season. The aggressiveness and depth up front may be able to mask some questions at other positions if they are not as improved. There is a chance that some players that have been questions will be strengths. If that is the case, this defense will support the offense much more than last season.
