With only a few days remaining until Florida’s opening football game against Florida Atlantic, defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is anxiously awaiting to debut his new look defense.
Quinn said in a post practice interview on Wednesday he is encouraged by how his defense has performed during fall camp.
“I am encouraged about the way the guys are approaching the game and practice,” Quinn said. “It’s been physical and fast, that’s how our style is, that’s how we want to play. I’m anxious to get started and get going with the season.”
Part of Quinn’s plan is to cross-train the defensive line at different positions. He said he has been impressed with the progress of Sharrif Floyd, Dominique Easley, Jaye Howard and Omar Hunter.
“One of the good things about the big guys inside is that all the guys are playing more than one position,” Quinn said. “Some are playing nose tackle and defensive tackle. Some are playing defensive tackle and defensive end. I’m pleased with the progress of those four guys. Having the ability to make them interchangeable adds value to our defense. I’m encouraged with where they are at, we are certainly a work in progress, but I’m encouraged with where we are at and where we are headed with that group.”
The defensive front isn’t the only position where guys have been cross-training. The secondary has also been doing the same.
“We are evaluating some guys,” Quinn said of the secondary. “We have some guys that can play swing both at corner and safety and really it’s like that on the whole defense.
With a majority of the defense cross-training at other positions, Quinn said communication will be vital for this defense to be successful.
“I think it’s important for all the guys to be able to work together,” Quinn said. “We have a really big emphasis on communication. Not just with our secondary but with our whole defense. Sometimes it’s good for those guys to get in a rhythm together but it’s also important for everybody to understand the rules and communicate together.”
It is well known that Florida will be switching from a traditional 4-3 defense to a combination of a 3-4 and 4-3 scheme. Quinn said it’s a schematic advantage, because opponents will have to prepare for both alignments when they face the Gators.
“When you combine both the 3-4 and 4-3 packages, it adds some value in terms of how the offense will have to prepare against you,” he said. “That’s one thing Will (Muschamp) and I have always believed in. “
Florida produced just 21 sacks last season, good for second to last in the SEC. For comparison, South Carolina registered 41 sacks to lead the conference. Quinn talked about some guys that have stood out to him so far in camp as far as rushing the quarterback.
“The guys from the outside during training camp that have provided for us have been [William] Green and [Lerentee] McCray and [Ronald] Powell, establishing stuff on the outside,” Quinn said. “Inside, certainly Easley and Floyd are the two that stood out to me of the interior rushers. We are anxious to get those guys going on third down.”
Floyd moved from defensive tackle to defensive end during fall camp. Quinn said he still will use the athletic sophomore at tackle in certain situations and he has done a nice job of learning both positions.
“He really picked it up well,” Quinn said. “We play him both at d-end in our base package and sometimes defensive tackle in our nickel package. He’s done a terrific job with that.”
A concern for the talented but inexperienced defense is leadership. Quinn said there is only one way to develop leadership, and that is to gain experience by playing.
“We have some really talented young guys that need to play and establish some experience,” he said. “I’m looking forward to seeing them pull through. I think the leadership capabilities are there. It’s easier to lead when you’ve had some games under your belt.”
Junior inside linebacker Jon Bostic is one guy who does have experience. As the Mike linebacker in Quinn’s defense, Bostic will be the guy making the calls in the huddle and adjustments at the line.
“I got a lot of confidence in him, I really do,” Quinn said. “He has a high football IQ. You can tell he gets concepts fast. He’s done a good job through training camp of leading the defense, making the calls, making the checks. He’s off to a really good start.”
Freshman Marcus Roberson has been singled out by both players and coaches as a guy who has stood out at the corner position. Quinn said his rare combination of size and speed has helped him adjust to the college level quicker than others.
“When a guy has speed and length, it helps you as a cover guy,” Quinn said. “He has some of the traits to help him in coverage. He’s still young and learning in the system and developing, but when a guy does have speed and length sometimes it enables you to play a little different style and maybe match up on some bigger receivers at times. He has that and I’m really looking forward to seeing him develop. He’s come in to camp, and he’s really had a good training camp. He’s made an impression on me.”
With such a young group, a lot of questions still remain. Saturday will be the first test for not only the players, but the coaches, as well.
Gator Country football and recruiting analyst Derek Tyson can be reached at Derek@GatorCountry.com. You can also follow him on Twitter at DerekTysonGC.