Sub-par defense has been a constant theme for this Florida football team this season and it is something that desperately needs to be fixed.
The Gators rank towards the bottom of the SEC defensively in almost every major statistical category. They are 15th in rush defense (188.8 yards per game), scoring defense (27.3 points per game) and total defense (425.5 yards per game).
Head coach Billy Napier addressed the issues for the Gators on the defensive side of the ball including the lack of pass rush.
“I think that ultimately, we haven’t been able to generate the pass rush that we would like,” Napier said during Wednesday’s press conference.
“That’s about as blunt as I could be. Now, there’s a lot of things that go with that, and I do think we’ve been working other rushers, using, you know, different sub-groupings to try to create some pass rush, and then, just simply put detailing up some of that, you know.”
Napier emphasized that the defense needs to create passing downs in order to find more success with the pass rush.
“Look, you gotta create passing downs,” Napier said. “Then you have to create scenarios where there is a favorable DND (down and distance) and you can predict percentages and go get the guy.”
Napier continued, “So I don’t necessarily think we’ve been in that position often. So ultimately, if you can win on first and second down, or even first down and get in the second, third and longs, it gives you a better chance. More advantageous situations to rush the passer and get pressure and sacks.”
Communication on defense has been a major point of emphasis that Napier wants the team to get better with. There have been missed assignments that have resulted in a lack of communication.
“It’s a habit to create,” Napier said. “It’s a defined process. And you gotta do it verbal and non-verbal at this level, these stadiums we play in, and certainly on defense when we play at home, it’s critical.”
Gators junior edge defender Jack Pyburn feels as if the defense got a chance to improve their communication over the bye week.
“Just communication overall,” Pyburn said. “We’ve put a huge emphasis on that during the bye week. That was one of our big things was get lined up, get the call, communicate, know what you have and then communicate. So alignment, assignment, basic defense. Do your job. The scheme will work. Make plays.”
Florida will get the opportunity this Saturday to show whether or not they’ve made any sort of improvements on defense as they face a very talented UCF rushing attack.
Up next for the Gators
The Gators host the UCF Knights in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 7:45 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
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