UF defense driven to rebound against UGA
GAINESVILLE — If the Florida Gators’ remote SEC East title hopesendSaturday against Georgia, it will not be duetoanotherdefensivecollapse against a high-powered offense.
This much Gators linebacker Mike Taylor promises.
As Florida prepared to face Bulldogs’ quarterback Aaron Murray, the SEC’s career leader in total offense, Taylor called Missouri’s 500-yard performance on Oct. 19 a “one-time thing.”
“I can guarantee you that won’thappenagain,” he said. ing a loss at Miami. in 2012. But the Gators’ once
Once was shocking “We got some young guys formidable run ‘ D’ has alenough. and guys that maybe haven’t lowed 100-yard rushers in
The Gators had not albeen there before, haven’t consecutive games. lowed close to 400 yards in seen that experience before, “We need to play blocks total offense since thestart of I don’t know,” Durkinsaid. “I better up front,” Muschamp the 2012 season and last think our guys are resilient. said. “Our linebackers in the yielded 500 yards during the They work hard, and they’re Missouri game didn’t have 2008CapitalOneBowl. This confident in what we’re domuch of a chance.” season, LSU, with 327 yards ing. I think you’ll see it.” The return of senior deon Oct. 12, was the only team The Gators (4-3, 3-2 SEC) fensive tackle Damien Jernigan, who grew up a row. For this team, for the to gain more than 275 yards will need their defense to Jacobs (head injury) and watching FSU- Miami bigger picture, this is the on Florida’s vaunted debounce back against Murray outside linebackers Ronald games. most important game I’ve fense. and the Bulldogs (4-3, 3-2 Powell (ankle) and Darrin “Not in the state of Floriever played in against UM,”
But nothing went right SEC). Kitchens should help. All tackle Cam Erving said. da, it hasn’t,” said Jernigan, said FSU defensive back from the opening snap of a ACL tears have sidelined missed the Missouri game. “It’s just amazing that we’re FSU’s starting nose tackle. Lamarcus Joyner, who 36-17 loss at Missouri. Georgia’s top two wide reIn the end, though, the going to be able to go out “It probably lost its relewent to school at Ft. Lau
Officials flagged starting ceivers — Malcolm Mitchell Gators’ entire defense did there and play this game. vance a little bit throughout derdale St. Thomas Aquisafety Cody Riggs 15 yards and Justin Scott-Wesley — not show up at Missouri. First time in a long time it’s the country, but in the state nas. “No disrespect to the andejected himfor targeting and talented back-up tail“We don’t have any exbeen this important.” of Florida, we look forward tradition and the legacy receiver L’Damain Washingback Keith Marshall. But the cuses,” Riggs said. “We just Bad blood began develto it every year.” that this rivalry game carton at the end of a ries.”41-yard Bulldogs will have tailback played really bad.” oping between the two As is the case with most catch. On the game’s second Todd Gurley, who missed When September ended, teams in the late 1980s in-state rivalries, proximity With FSU legitimately play, Missouri connected on three games with a high anthe Gators led the SEC in when FSU and Miami were plays a huge role in the enentering the national a 20-yard touchdown pass, kle sprain, to take some of eight defensive statistical both reaching the pinnacle ergy surrounding the game. championship picture for beginning a longdayforUF’s the pressure off Murray. categories. Florida still leads of their success. The HurriFSU has nine players on its the first time in more than a defense. Gurley, a 6- foot-1, the league in pass defense canes claimed national tiroster from Miami. Both decade, Winston and other
“At some point, we didn’t 232- pound sophomore, and total defense. tles in 1987, ’ 89 and 1991. teams place a major emSeminoles are looking to react the way we needed to rushed for 450 yards, four But the loss of star defenFSU won it all in 1993. phasis on recruiting South forge a new legacy in the on defense,” defensive coortouchdowns and averaged sive tackle Dominique EasA slew of memorable Florida, meaning each rivalry instead of rehashing dinator D.J. Durkin said 6.3 yards a carry in four ley (torn ACL) and a loss of games came in that span, squad consists of players past games. Wednesday, his first public games prior to the injury. confidence have been eviwhile the state of Florida who were former team“I watched the ESPN 30 comments since the loss. “Whether they block dent during the past two became the gold standard mates or opponents in high for 30 [documentary]; they “That’s something that them or not, he gains posigames. for football. school. said how Florida State stole hasn’t happened with our tive yards,” UF coach Will “I feel like our defense is By the mid-2000s, MiMiami holds the all-time the swag from Miami,” group.” Muschamp said. “He comstill a great defense,” lineami and FSU lost their aura series lead over FSU, 31-26. Winston said. “So that’s go
The Gators would allow petes on every run.” backer Dante Fowler Jr. said. of invincibility. The Seminoles, however, ing to be a big thing for us, four plays longer than 35 During Georgia’s 17-9 win “Once you lose a game or Because of that, the nahave won the past three obviously, trying to bring yards, including two longer last season, Gurley rushed two you kind of lose your tional audience and media games by a combined score the swag back, Miami saythan 50 yards. Florida alfor 118 yards and a touchconfidence. All we’ve got to lost interest in the rivalry. of 101-56. ing that they got it back.” lowed two plays longer than down — the only rusher to do is just get our swagger But don’t tell that to Sun“Despite all the other 35 yards all season, both dur- top 100 yards against Florida back.” shine State native Timmy wins, we have won three in