Gators’ defense faces tough test
GAINESVILLE – Seven starters from last season are in the NFL, the leading tackler is recovering from season-ending surgery and the coordinator is halfway through his first season as a head coach.
The Florida Gators’ rebuilding defense was due for a dropoff. But no expected it to be so far, so fast.
The Gators enter Saturday’s visit from Texas A&M 10th in the 14-team SEC against both the run and the pass. This from a UF program that fielded a top-10 defense nationally during all but one season since 2007, finishing 15th in 2014.
The Gators (3-2, 3-1 SEC) now face their toughest defensive assignment.
A week after losing a 17-16 slugfest to LSU, UF will have to change gears against Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin’s up-tempo, explosive Aggies.
“We're going to have to get lined up and go because these guys will press the tempo,” UF coach Jim McElwain said. “This is totally different than a week ago.”
The Gators’ defense, a middling 55th nationally after five games, realizes things must change. Considering the inconsistency on offense, UF’s season might depend on it.
“It's not a question of athleticism for us,” senior end Jordan Sherit said. “It's gonna be a question of staying disciplined and having good eyes.”
Last Saturday, LSU caught the Gators guessing and burned them with jet sweeps to build a 17-3 lead.
“We beat ourselves,” sophomore safety Chauncey Gardner said.
Texas A&M, on the other hand, is sure to attack UF from all angles.
The Aggies (4-2, 2-1) have a dual-threat quarterback, first-year freshman Kellen Mond, a breakaway threat at tailback in sophomore Trayveon Williams and arguably the SEC’s premier big-play threat in receiver/ kicker returner Christian Kirk, who is tied for third in the league with six touchdowns.
“We know what we’re up against,” UF sophomore linebacker David Reese said.
Mond, though, unique matchup.
The Gators have faced just one dual-threat quarterback, Kentucky’s Stephen Johnson, and trailed by the Wildcats by 13 points before rallying in the final minute for a win. Against LSU, the Gators at times struggled to contain quarterback Danny Elting.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Mond is bigger than Johnson and faster than Etling.
“It’s a real big challenge,” UF defensive tackle Khairi Clark.
The Gators yielded 216 rushing yards to LSU — 20 above its average — and now face a Texas A&M attack averaging 224.8 rushing yards.
Clark, Sherit and Co. will have to set the tone at the line scrimmage or Sumlin’s squad could put the Gators’ young defense on its heels.
UF plays several firstyear freshmen in the secondary and three sophomores and a redshirt freshman at linebacker.
“They kind of rely on us to like play off of us,” Clark said.
The Gators’ front hopes to pressure Mond into mistakes and capitalize. Since recording three pick-sixes during the season’s first two games, UF has not forced a turnover.
“That's nothing but effort,” Sherit said. “... We gotta find a way to change the game." poses a