After four solid performances to start the 2023 campaign, the Gators’ defense disappointed against Kentucky in week five, allowing 329 rushing yards to the Wildcats including 140 rushing yards on eight carries in the first quarter.
Austin Armstrong’s unit posted their worst tackling game of the season, totaling 17 missed tackles against Kentucky after missing just 27 combined tackles in the first four games, according to PFF. The Gators posted a tackling grade of just 31.2, their lowest grade on the season by over 25 points (Tennessee, 57.6).
“Yeah, time will tell. Time will tell. I’m hopeful it’s an outlier” Napier on the missed tackles in week five. “I’m hopeful that it is an outlier and I like to think that we take pride in tackling and we work on tackling.”
The majority of Florida’s defensive issues came in the first half, where Florida allowed over 200 rushing yards to Kentucky’s RB Ray Davis.
“We were lethargic, in particular early in the game,” Napier said. ” f you evaluated every missed tackle in that game, a lot of those were early in that game. So, clearly, I think fundamentally we could have been better. But I think there’s also an attitude to how you play defense and how you attack. So it’s about actions. It’s about attitude. We play Vanderbilt Saturday in 4 o’clock.”
RB Montrell Johnson is confident that the Gators’ defense will bounce back in week six after observing a great practice on Wednesday afternoon.
“I’m very confident. They just had a magnificent practice today,” Johnson said. “They had the mindset that nobody is gonna beat us on the ground every again. I think that’s all mentality, I think that we took that and ran with it after last game, and I think that we are going to be great going forward.”
In 2022, Florida lost to Vanderbilt 31-24, a stunning upset victory for the Commodores.
“Not good memories. Last year’s Vandy game, I almost cried,” Johnson said. “We know we were supposed to win that game and we kind of went out there not with the right mentality. Just went out there like, ‘We got this.’ We didn’t go out there with like, “We got to go out there and play hard” and stuff like that. I feel like that will change this year and we going to approach every game like that.”
It’s important that Florida comes out with the same intensity we saw against Tennessee if the Gators want to put Vanderbilt away early.
“I kind of preach to the guys that we got to have that edge every game,” Johnson said. “Not even like when we lose, after a win as well. We got to just have that edge every game. Go into every game with a certain mentality that we’re not coming back without the win.”
Florida’s defense will look to bounce back against a Vanderbilt offense that’s scoring over 31 points per game and ranks 82nd in total offense.
“I think ultimately we control our actions and we control our attitude,” Napier said. “We play Vanderbilt Saturday at 4 o’clock, and that’s our next opportunity, so that’s what we’re focused on.”