Our DL depth & Bama's offense

[clt_gator]

Originally Posted by NWFLTider

Ah....I guess I misread the thread title. I was under the impression that this thread narrowed the focus to the FL defense versus the Alabama offense, and not a more general discussion of Florida versus Alabama in its entirety...but regardless, it is that simple, as you say, in my mind. If McEroy has a productive day, we win.

I would agree with that assessment, assuming the Bama defense doesn't completely break down.

As a Gator fan, I just feel better about our QB than I would about a first-year starter.

[HotlantaGator]

Originally Posted by OhioGator

I would counter, that the two most important folks on D this Saturday will be Hunter/Sanders & Howard/Marsh. Hunter and Howard got the starting nods this past weekend. They'll likely get the starting nod again this week. If they can be a disruptive force up the middle, Alabama will have a long day.

Being a disruptive force is not the standard, they have rarely been disruptive all season...like most DTs, their job is to occupy OL and take up sapce and allow LBs to run freely...

[HotlantaGator]

Originally Posted by NWFLTider

Personally, I think the auburn game is an anomoly. It is not like auburn discovered the formula for water by stacking the box and focusing on Ingram. Every single team we have played has tried the exact same thing. For whatever reason..rivalry game, short week of gameprep, overlooking auburn, whatever...it happened. Personally, I think Ingram was hurt before the game in practice. He just didn't look as quick from the first play.

From my point of view...I don't think Florida needs to do anything different than normal. I think Bama, like last year, will get yards against the Florida defense. For Bama's offensive production, this game will be determined by he play of Greg McElroy. If McElroy can navigate through a gator infested swamp-like secondary without any INTs and pose a legitimate threat to throw the ball downfield, I think we win. If McElroy cannot accomplish that, well, Bama's only chance is to have some unbelievable defensive game or a total Florida meltdown.

I don't disagree, but its all interconnected.

IMO McElroy's ability to pass will be VERY dependent on running the ball, without play action I am not sure Mcelroy can just get it done passing the ball without the threat of a run...

Bama uses the run to set up the pass, not vice versa...

[clt_gator]

Maybe the Auburn game was an anomaly, but the week before the SECCG in a big rivalry game, you'd think Bama would really come to play.

Bottom line for me, Gators won by 11 last year w/out Percy Harvin. On paper, this Bama team doesn't look appreciably better. The Gators have taken a step back offensively, but still are the #1 unit in the SEC. And the defense is at least as good.

Unless McElroy is some hidden star that nobody is recognizing, I have a hard time seeing him leading Bama to a victory. This is Tebow's 3rd SECCG. McElroy has never played on a stage anywhere near this big.

[OhioGator]

Originally Posted by HotlantaGator

Being a disruptive force is not the standard, they have rarely been disruptive all season...like most DTs, their job is to occupy OL and take up sapce and allow LBs to run freely...

I understand this. However, one of the things that Howard and Marsh bring to the table is that they both are quick and disruptive. Hunter is very fleet-footed, as well. I don't think that Coach Strong asks them to just "occupy OL and take up space". These guys are trying to maintain their gaps while recognizing and slicing to the QB or RB. Howard has impressed me with this more than the rest.

[HotlantaGator]

Originally Posted by OhioGator

I understand this. However, one of the things that Howard and Marsh bring to the table is that they both are quick and disruptive. Hunter is very fleet-footed, as well. I don't think that Coach Strong asks them to just "occupy OL and take up space". These guys are trying to maintain their gaps while recognizing and slicing to the QB or RB. Howard has impressed me with this more than the rest.

yes Hunter seems very athletic for his size...Howard has 1 1/2 sacks to lead the DTs, and actually had 2 1/1 but got called for excessive celebration after a sack v UT...

Marsh had 1/2 sack last week, last year he was our best DT, maybe he is getting back to his pre-injury self.

[gatordavisl]

Originally Posted by NWFLTider

Ah....I guess I misread the thread title. I was under the impression that this thread narrowed the focus to the FL defense versus the Alabama offense, and not a more general discussion of Florida versus Alabama in its entirety...but regardless, it is that simple, as you say, in my mind.

But you said win the game. Stay on task, there Bama. If you were so intent upon the thread title, you could have talked about winning the battle vs. UF's D. Again - there is MUCH more to this game than your QB.

[gulfgator]

Originally Posted by HotlantaGator

Losing Dunlap is a HUGE loss, yes UF has SOME depth w/ Trattou but we ll need to face it, Dunlap was the single most talented player on the D, when he brings it he can be unstoppable, we do not have anyone else like that on the DL...

...

Dunlop is very talented, but there are at least 5 guys more important on D
namely Spikes, Stamper, Haden, Jenkins and Black

So while the DL will definitely be hurt, I don't see the dramatic impact you imply.

[fox]

Ingram was not the whole problem. Bama's Oline got owned. And whenever he got through that bloodbath he was stoned by the LB.

[Lawdog88]

Give me a guy who WILL bring it every down, not someone who might, or who decides WHEN to bring it.

Give me a guy who WILL impose his WILL on the other guy, and who WILL do it all day - until the other guy quits or the time expires, or who WILL die trying.

That is the kind of "reach down and get it" player I want, not the gifted kind who floats on talent, but does not sting.

And for those who think that collectively imposing our will on Bama does not have anything to do with emotion, determination, grit and tenacity - and is simply about mature execution of the called plays - you are mistaken. Both have their place, but the will to win on each play, coupled with the best mental and physical execution possible, is paramount.

Pardon my Lombardi moment.

[The_Graygator]

Originally Posted by clt_gator

Without mentioning "he who must not be named," I think it's important to remember a few things.

1. The Gators are deep on the DL
2. The primary concern in stopping Bama is bottling up their between-the-tackle running, not necessarily pressuring the QB.
3. Any team that can put 8 in the box and effectively single-cover Julio Jones can slow Bama significantly. Auburn almost did it without the personnel to single-cover Jones.

That said, the 2 most important folks on D this Saturday will be Joe Haden & Brandon Spikes, IMO. Even if we're shorthanded on the DL, I still don't think Alabama is going to run the ball all that well. And I'm also not sold on the fact that Ingram is "fine."

Bama's offense is designed around the run and is about 70% run-oriented with a serviceable passing game to compliment it. Last year, they had a much more dangerous passing game with JPW at QB, but even though McElroy has done a good job this season, their passing game's effective range has been limited to more short and intermediate routes this year.

They'll throw the deep ball at times, but it depends upon opponent from what I've seen, and whether or not they can set up the play. It's easy to drop back and hit a deep 50 yard pass down the sideline when you're playing Vandy, but it isnt against a quality, fast defense like UF.

Their OL showed some chinks last Friday against AU, particulary on their interior run-game. Bama had less than 80 yards rushing in that game I believe, and the only real passing McElroy did was the short, underneath game. That'll probably be about a 50/50 battle between UF's Joe Haden and Bama's Julio Jones.

I honestly believe our DL and LB's are going to cause some match-up problems for Bama's OL on run downs, and that we're going to force Bama to rely on McElroy's arm to make very hard, accurate passes to keep drives alive.

[PTCGator]

Originally Posted by Zeus

Heard that Bama thinks our OL is slow and our DL is our soft underbelly and that both will be exposed.

I guess that's what they thought about our DL last year too. Guess what.......they're all back! (except for Dunlap of course). Our "D" is bigger, faster and better than last year and somehow we beat the crap out of Bama in the 4th quarter! I can't wait for this game to get started.....Gators are going to blow through Bama like a tornado in a lumber yard!

[TheMantouKing5566]

We beat them without Percy Harvin last year, we can beat them without Carlos Dunlap this year.

[The_Graygator]

With a healthy Percy Harvin in last year's game, UF punts two times less and sustains more drives, keeps Bama's offense off the field more. It wouldn't have been close after the first quarter, something like 35 - 13 UF.

But the Gators still won, and how did they do it? By playing smart, field position, defensive football and wearing down Bama and beating them with their superior depth.

I still don't believe one man, Carlos Dunlap, is UF's entire defense, especially not with the depth we have on our DL.

Remember this, the Gators have more experienced depth on their DL than Bama has on their's, and it will prove to be a factor in UF's favor as this game wears on.