Tallon stands by move to more nimble defensemen Gator’s defense seeks to avoid rerun of Vols debacle
It’s about speed, not intimidation, team president says
CORAL SPRINGS— It is always eyebrow-raising when a team discards players who have been part of a successful formula.
That was the case when the Panthers overhauled their defensive corps after setting franchise records for wins and points last season.
To the Panthers’ management, there is no looking back at what was a solid corps on the blue line. It’s about moving forward — quickly.
“We’re going to have more speed there and puckmoving ability,” DaleTallon, Panthers president of hockey operations, said Friday as the team began training camp at the IceDen.
“The game is becoming more of a speed game than ever before. If you’ve noticed Team North America [in the World Cup] and if you watched Pittsburgh win the Cup last year, itwas all based on speed and transition.”
And so those were the priorities when Tallon and his brain trust assembled a defense they are banking on as a cornerstone of a serious Stanley Cup contender this season, after a frustrating first-round playoff elimination in spring against the Islanders.
Only Aaron Ekblad and Alex Petrovic return from the six primary defensemen last season, when the Panthers finished seventh in the league in average goals against. Although Brian Tallon Campbell left as a free agent andWillie Mitchell retired, Erik Gudbranson and Dmitry Kulikov were traded away after arguably their best seasons.
The Gudbranson deal was met with surprise as the former first-round draftee had emerged as the Panthers’ most physical presence. But to Tallon, the retooled defense is better suited to the uptempo trend in the NHL.
“It’s about competing and winning puck battles, it’s not about intimidating anymore,” Tallon said. “It’s about how fast you can get the puck out of your end and how fast you can get backto retrieve it. That’s the No. 1 priority, to get back quickly to get the puck out of your end.”
In Jason Demers, a veteran of 432 games over eight seasons, the Panthers added a more offensiveminded D-man. Although he won’t deliver hits like Gudbranson, by the measure of various advanced metrics, Demers was a superior defender last season withDallas.
The most notable addition is Keith Yandle, who was signed to a seven-year, $44.45 million deal because of his ability to spark the power play, which was a Panthers shortcoming last season (ranked 23rd, 16.9 percent efficiency).
“He’s a 50-point guy,” Tallon said. “He should really help our power play. I think that’s the big part of scoring today. We were terrific at even strength last year. But we need to be more productive with special teams.”
Still, there is risk in dramatically altering such a key component as the defensive unit. In what is expected to be a tightly bunched Eastern Division, the Panthers’ hopes of getting off to a fast start will depend on the new mix on the blue line coming together.
That process has already been set backby the concussion and neck injury that knocked Ekblad out of the World Cup tournament. Tallon had no additional information on Ekblad’s condition Friday, though he said in a tone that conveyed more hope than conviction, “I’m sure he’ll be fine.”
The expectation is that Ekblad will form a pairing with Yandle. With 18 defensemen in camp, it will take time for the likely pairings to emerge.
“I think all the guys they brought in are elite players and are all easy to get along with and play with,” Demers said after the first scrimmage. “It’s going to be interesting to see, but I think we can do it. Training camp and all those games are enough time to get used to a guy. The first few games, you’ve just got to talk a lot and get used to each other, and make sure it’s an open conversation.”
Rookie Michael Matheson, who played himself into the picture with an outstanding performance during the Islanders series, added: “Everybody plays hockey pretty much the sameway. It’s pretty easy to get acclimated together.”
Ekblad (assuming a rapid recovery), Yandle, Demers, Petrovic and Matheson are the likely locks in the Dcorps. But there is plenty of competition with veterans Mark Pysyk and Adam Pardy (personal tryout), Matheson’s former Boston College teammate Ian McCoshen, and returnees Jakub Kindl and Steven Kampfer.
GAINESVILLE — The Florida Gators’ defense had never been better than last Saturday night, but the good feelings were fleeting.
Hours after throttling North Texas, safety Marcus Maye and his teammates relived a day when UF’s defense rarely had beenworse.
“Sunday morning hit,” Maye said.“We allwokeup andwatched.”
The Gators watched a defense last season against Tennessee they did not recognize. Florida overpursued, lost gap control and missed more than 30 tackles against the Vols.
Florida entered the day the SEC’s leading run defense, but was gashed for 254 yards—136by 6-foot-3, 210-pound quarterback Joshua Dobbs and 102 by 6-foot-4, 240-pound tailback JalenHurd.
The Gators would pull out the dramatic win on a late touchdown pass on fourth down to Antonio Callaway. But by then, UF’s defense had been beaten.
“That game definitely opened up our eyes and showed us there’s a certain way we need to play this game,” linebacker Jarrad Davis said.
Which defense shows up Saturday could decide whether the No. 19 Gators (3-0) stretch their winning streak against No. 14 Tennessee (3-0) to 12 games or fall to the Vols for the first time since 2004.
A Florida program that madeits reputation behind Steve Spurrier’s Fun N’ Gunoffense andcontinued it with Tim Tebow in UrbanMeyer’s spread offense has since developed a reputation as a defensive mecca.
Against North Texas, the Gators set a new standard, yielding a schoolrecord UF defensive back Marcus Maye, center, is confident the Gators can contain Tennessee’s offense.
53 yards and accumulating seven sacks for the first time since 1999.
“That’s probably the most complete game that I’ve seen and been a part of,” Maye said.
Florida expects to build on last week’s shutout win and erase the memory of last season’s showing against the Vols.
“From the get-go, from the start of the game, we came out and we did exactly what we were coached to do,” Davis said, “exactly what we went over during theweek.”
The Gators entered this weekend the nation’s leaders in total defense, scoring defense and sacks.
“Let’s face it, they ran it down our throat a year ago,” GatorscoachJimMcElwain said of the Vols. “I’m sure they feel pretty good about that and they should.”
But the 2016 Vols have struggled to find consistency up front this season. Coaches have shuffled players seeking the right combination, recently even moving Coleman Thomas, an All-SEC candidate at center, to right tackle.
The Vols’ run game has suffered. Tennessee ranks seventh in the SEC in average rushing yards (189 yards per game) and eighth in average yards per attempt
(4.33).
Meanwhile, the Gators have yielded an average of 43.2 rushing yards and 1.31 yards per carry to lead.
“What can I say about them defensively? This is probably the best defense we have faced since I’ve been here,” Tennessee coach Butch Jones said. “They make you earn everything that you get.”
UF may have to lean on its defense Saturday in sold-outNeyland Stadium.
Back-up quarterback Austin Appleby will replace injured starter Luke Del Rio, star receiver Antonio Callaway missed the North Texas game with thigh injury but has been upgraded to probable and the UF offensive line seeks consistency itself.
On Tuesday, cornerback QuincyWilson guaranteed victory. “Florida Gators are going to win, simple as that," he said.
The 20-year-old used a line from the 1990s TV show“Martin” to make his point.
“You ever seen a duck pull a truck? A duck don't pull a truck,” Wilson said.
McElwain, quite the pop-culture aficionado, was unfamiliar with the reference, but he did know this much: “He better go back it up, whatever he said.”