UF's mentally fragile defenses

[InstiGATOR1]

One of the problems I have noticed during McElwain's tenure is that UF's defenses while very good have been fragile. It seems the defense plays really really well until the offense struggles and then seems to lose their edge. The failure after UF did not score on 4th and 1 in the third quarter is a great example of this.

It dawned on me today that this is how these players were trained. Under Muschamp they were protected. The offense ran the ball to run out the clock and protect the defenses stats. The offense took few chances to avoid putting the defense in bad positions ever. Thus they lost the mental edge that a defense playing on a team trying to win must have.

To me this is another area UF's staff must adjust. UF's defense players need to be taught that the offense is not merely there to protect them. They need to understand when things get difficult, they need to bow up.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Im not sure if its a mental thing. I think its an undersized thing. Being way too little at DT and undersized at DE and inside LBs cause this. Lack of depth too.

Its just the effect of poor recruiting. We really havent recruited well on defense even except with CBs and oass rush specialist undersized DEs.

 

[ATXGator]

I don't think that is the case. We had a lot of injuries going into the SEC Championship game and that means we didn't have the ability to rotate on the Dline. Alabama is going to wear you down no matter what, but it is more likely to happen if you don't have any depth.

That... plus because they had the lead they could pound and didn't have to throw the ball and that wears a D down more. If our offense didn't spot them points and could score... it would have changed Bama's ability to pound them.

 

[Durty South Swamp]

That's an interesting theory, and there may be some truth to it at a subconscious level, but honestly I think the majority of the issue is as plain as day. The defense plays hard, then watches the offense squander away their efforts every week. It only takes so long to give up and not give a crap.

At some point it doesn't even have anything to do with mental toughness, its just about the reality of the situation. Why bust your butt every snap just to get to the sidelines and watch the offense let the other team score anyway?

 

[T REX]

UF basically averaged giving up 400 yds a game to LSU, FSU and Bammer. Over 200 yds rushing per game. Look for a steady diet of that next season and in the bowl game.

 

[divits]

After years of offensive ineptitude we as a fan base have been beaten down mentally. If the defensive guys who have to actually to take the hits without much hope of getting any backing from the offense sometimes get a little down mentally I'm going to give them a pass.

 

[Double Gator Dad]

After years of offensive ineptitude we as a fan base have been beaten down mentally. If the defensive guys who have to actually to take the hits without much hope of getting any backing from the offense sometimes get a little down mentally I'm going to give them a pass.

It is "deja vu all over again" for the defense. It would be hard for anyone to stay completely committed given the reality of the last 6-7 years for our defense.

 

[Gator Fever]

I think they just aren't as good as we thought they were this year. Bama I am pretty sure could have ran it right down our throats to begin that game if they wanted to. Heck Arkansas and FSU handled them and some other teams at times when they decided to run it right at us. I think Arkansas was the only game where the defense could argue the number of plays each team ran got out of whack some causing extra fatigue later but even in that game Arkansas pushed them around some early. They had no excuse in the Tenn, FSU and Bama losses.

 

[rogdochar]

I think they just aren't as good as we thought they were this year. Bama I am pretty sure could have ran it right down our throats to begin that game if they wanted to. Heck Arkansas and FSU handled them and some other teams at times when they decided to run it right at us. I think Arkansas was the only game where the defense could argue the number of plays each team ran got out of whack some causing extra fatigue later but even in that game Arkansas pushed them around some early. They had no excuse in the Tenn, FSU and Bama losses.

There's no defense for that!

 

[gators4224]

Im not sure if its a mental thing. I think its an undersized thing. Being way too little at DT and undersized at DE and inside LBs cause this. Lack of depth too.

Its just the effect of poor recruiting. We really havent recruited well on defense even except with CBs and oass rush specialist undersized DEs.

That's the simple truth. It's a line of scrimmage league, and when we only have 5-7 d lineman total that can contribute that's a serious problem because there is no depth which means no rotation which means guys playing longer getting winded and injured.

This is the exact reason why I created the thread for backup DT options so we don't miss out on adding depth to our team

 

[LeeForThree]

One of the problems I have noticed during McElwain's tenure is that UF's defenses while very good have been fragile. It seems the defense plays really really well until the offense struggles and then seems to lose their edge. The failure after UF did not score on 4th and 1 in the third quarter is a great example of this.

It dawned on me today that this is how these players were trained. Under Muschamp they were protected. The offense ran the ball to run out the clock and protect the defenses stats. The offense took few chances to avoid putting the defense in bad positions ever. Thus they lost the mental edge that a defense playing on a team trying to win must have.

To me this is another area UF's staff must adjust. UF's defense players need to be taught that the offense is not merely there to protect them. They need to understand when things get difficult, they need to bow up.

Who cares about the defense....its pretty good as is. The offense is the #1-1000 priority right now.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

This is the exact reason why I created the thread for backup DT options so we don't miss out on adding depth to our team

Color me skeptical that they listen to us.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Who cares about the defense....its pretty good as is.

I'll remember you said that next year.

 

[Fishon]

One of the problems I have noticed during McElwain's tenure is that UF's defenses while very good have been fragile. It seems the defense plays really really well until the offense struggles and then seems to lose their edge. The failure after UF did not score on 4th and 1 in the third quarter is a great example of this.

It dawned on me today that this is how these players were trained. Under Muschamp they were protected. The offense ran the ball to run out the clock and protect the defenses stats. The offense took few chances to avoid putting the defense in bad positions ever. Thus they lost the mental edge that a defense playing on a team trying to win must have.

To me this is another area UF's staff must adjust. UF's defense players need to be taught that the offense is not merely there to protect them. They need to understand when things get difficult, they need to bow up.

I agree, but it was happening well before mac arrived. Yes, defense should be mentally tougher, but the offense needs to stop being a dumpster fire. Maybe they can meet somewhere in the middle