- Sep 8, 2014
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Florida's defense nearing some ugly statistical marks
The numbers are ugly for the Florida defense. But it might just be up to that unit to keep the Gators alive and swinging in the SEC East race.
https://florida.247sports.com/Bolt/...se-nearing-some-ugly-statistical-ma-108759088
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida's defense is approaching historically bad numbers when it comes to opponent scoring.
The Gators have allowed 24.2 points per game through the first five contests. Florida has finished just one season since 1971 with a higher scoring defense, in 2007 when the team allowed 25.5 per game after replacing 10 starters from a national championship squad.
And it could get worse. If Texas A&M hits its scoring average this week, this year's figures will exceed the year-end average from 2007. If the Aggies hit 42 on the scoreboard, the scoring figure would exceed the worst season-end average since 1946.
"We have a good test coming up this week," defensive end Jordan Sherit said.
Indeed.
Florida's total defense ranks just 55th -- the Gators haven't finished outside of the Top 15 nationally since 2007 -- and this year's numbers have been put up against fairly pedestrian offenses.
Michigan ranks 80th in scoring offense, Tennessee 97th, Kentucky 78th, Vanderbilt 110th and LSU 89th.
Texas A&M, though not exactly a powerhouse, ranks 41st in scoring offense.
"It’s a must win game for both sides. It’s going to be typical SEC matchup," Sherit said. "It’s going to be two sides and who wants it more. I think that’s the answer and what we’re going to find out at the end of the game. There’s talent on both sides, on both sidelines. It’s going to be who wants it more."
Florida's defense did manage to hold LSU to 17 points last week, but it wasn't enough to bail out a still dysfunctional offense.
Coach Jim McElwain is 5-10 in games that the opponent scores more than 14 points in, and he likely no longer has the defense to keep more than half of the teams Florida faces (17 of 32 in his tenure so far) to 14 or fewer.
The Gators have yet to do it this year.
The biggest thing coaches seem to be emphasizing is consistency, particularly when it comes to trusting the keys they give their players based on the opposing team's scheme and tendencies on film.
"There was a couple of examples (against LSU) where they'd run the exact same play with the exact same call," McElwain said. "We're up the field and we knock it for a 3-yard loss (one time), and another example where we're hesitant and it goes around for a big gain. I think the big thing is to make sure you reiterate your training and trust your training."
Texas A&M runs its offense at a break-neck tempo, averaging more than 77 plays per game.
If Florida can't get off the field Saturday better than it has in recent weeks, it could be a long day. The Gators can't afford another setback, and it seems unlikely the offense is going to suddenly click.
In years past, the defense has risen to the occasion. This is a different unit, but being able to do that again might be the difference between the Gators salvaging a shot at the SEC East or the season going off the rails in mid-October.
"They’re explosive. They just fought a hard fight with Alabama," linebacker David Reese said of the Aggies. "That just tells you what type of team they are. They’ve got great players, great running back and Christian Kirk. They’ve got good guys. We know what we’re up against."
The numbers are ugly for the Florida defense. But it might just be up to that unit to keep the Gators alive and swinging in the SEC East race.
https://florida.247sports.com/Bolt/...se-nearing-some-ugly-statistical-ma-108759088
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida's defense is approaching historically bad numbers when it comes to opponent scoring.
The Gators have allowed 24.2 points per game through the first five contests. Florida has finished just one season since 1971 with a higher scoring defense, in 2007 when the team allowed 25.5 per game after replacing 10 starters from a national championship squad.
And it could get worse. If Texas A&M hits its scoring average this week, this year's figures will exceed the year-end average from 2007. If the Aggies hit 42 on the scoreboard, the scoring figure would exceed the worst season-end average since 1946.
"We have a good test coming up this week," defensive end Jordan Sherit said.
Indeed.
Florida's total defense ranks just 55th -- the Gators haven't finished outside of the Top 15 nationally since 2007 -- and this year's numbers have been put up against fairly pedestrian offenses.
Michigan ranks 80th in scoring offense, Tennessee 97th, Kentucky 78th, Vanderbilt 110th and LSU 89th.
Texas A&M, though not exactly a powerhouse, ranks 41st in scoring offense.
"It’s a must win game for both sides. It’s going to be typical SEC matchup," Sherit said. "It’s going to be two sides and who wants it more. I think that’s the answer and what we’re going to find out at the end of the game. There’s talent on both sides, on both sidelines. It’s going to be who wants it more."
Florida's defense did manage to hold LSU to 17 points last week, but it wasn't enough to bail out a still dysfunctional offense.
Coach Jim McElwain is 5-10 in games that the opponent scores more than 14 points in, and he likely no longer has the defense to keep more than half of the teams Florida faces (17 of 32 in his tenure so far) to 14 or fewer.
The Gators have yet to do it this year.
The biggest thing coaches seem to be emphasizing is consistency, particularly when it comes to trusting the keys they give their players based on the opposing team's scheme and tendencies on film.
"There was a couple of examples (against LSU) where they'd run the exact same play with the exact same call," McElwain said. "We're up the field and we knock it for a 3-yard loss (one time), and another example where we're hesitant and it goes around for a big gain. I think the big thing is to make sure you reiterate your training and trust your training."
Texas A&M runs its offense at a break-neck tempo, averaging more than 77 plays per game.
If Florida can't get off the field Saturday better than it has in recent weeks, it could be a long day. The Gators can't afford another setback, and it seems unlikely the offense is going to suddenly click.
In years past, the defense has risen to the occasion. This is a different unit, but being able to do that again might be the difference between the Gators salvaging a shot at the SEC East or the season going off the rails in mid-October.
"They’re explosive. They just fought a hard fight with Alabama," linebacker David Reese said of the Aggies. "That just tells you what type of team they are. They’ve got great players, great running back and Christian Kirk. They’ve got good guys. We know what we’re up against."
Go Gators 
