The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
4. Tough test for Gators in Outback Bowl:
Gators fight injuries as they prepare for Outback Bowl clash.
Iowa running backs LeShun Daniels (1,013 yards) and Akrum Wadley (996 yards) will present a challenge for Florida’s defense today in Tampa, Fla.
Florida interim defensive coordinator Randy Shannon is not focused on whether he will end up as the Gators’ full-time replacement for the job vacated last month by Geoff Collins.
Or, at least, he wasn’t interested in sharing his interest while preparing Florida’s defense for today’s Outback Bowl matchup against Iowa.
Shannon said he hasn’t had time to think about his future at Florida and the decisions facing the Gators’ draft-eligible juniors.
“I don’t even think about it,” he reiterated when asked specifically if he’d like to be the full-time defensive coordinator. “All I can do is worry about this game, worry about these guys on this football team, worry about the University of Florida. That’s one of our biggest major things as a coaching staff, what we can do at the University of Florida to get this win against Iowa.”
Shannon was a highly successful defensive coordinator at Miami from 2001-06, ranking his defenses in the top10 nationally most of those years before taking over as the Hurricanes’ head coach for four seasons.
He’s spent the last two years coaching Florida’s linebackers while also holding the titles of co-coordinator and associate head coach.
Florida coach Jim McElwain has said Shannon will be considered for the fulltime position, and several players recently voiced support for him.
“Just coordinator for this game, stuff like that, just getting ready,” Shannon said when asked what discussions he and McElwain have had.
Shannon has a challenge in preparing for the Outback Bowl clash with No. 21 Iowa (8-4).
Not only because the Hawkeyes boast two running backs (Akrum Wadley and LeShun Daniels) who have combined for 2,340 rushing/receiving yards and 23 total touchdowns, but because the No. 20 Gators (8-4) are expected to be without their top three linebackers because of injuries.
That leaves redshirt freshman Kylan Johnson, making his sixth start, and true freshman Vosean Joseph, making the first of his career, as the Gators’ main linebackers for this game, along with senior Daniel McMillian and little-used redshirt junior Cristian Garcia.
“That’s the challenge of coaching,” Shannon said. “You just have to coach them up to the best that they can be. Coach them like, not like they’re just some guys; coach them like they’re All-Americans, guys that (are) going to be a part of a team that’s going to make a lot of plays.”
Like Florida, Iowa has had its own offensive struggles this season while ranking 120th nationally in total offense (333.3 yards per game), but the Hawkeyes have averaged 230 rushing yards during their current three-game winning streak (over Michigan, Illinois and Nebraska).
“The last three games they’ve played they’ve done a nice job of controlling the game with the run game,” Shannon said. “We have to do a tremendous job with our front guys, making sure they stop the run and get them into some third down and long situations.”
It’s not just the linebackers who are ailing heading into the matchup, either. Florida could be down two key safeties (Marcus Maye is out with a broken arm, Nick Washington is questionable with an ankle injury) and two main defensive ends ( Jordan Sherit is out with a knee injury and Bryan Cox Jr. is questionable with an ankle injury).
“It makes you grow up really fast,” Shannon said. “The maturity factor has to come in and step in. It’s not the first time you go through it. It’s just your understanding as a coach, you can’t sit back and say what you don’t have. You have to say what you do have. You have a bunch of players that want to play and you’ve got to coach those players to play.
“I think sometimes what coaches get enamored with is everybody wants the 5-star (player). Great coaches have coached 1-star and 2-star and no-stars to be where they need to be at.
“I think that’s what we have to do with this defense. As any coach, you have to coach the guys you have to be the best that they can be.”