So far this season, Florida’s defense has lived by the big play. Whether it has been a timely interception, a fumble recovery, a quarterback sack or a tackle for loss, the Gators have hit their opponents with a knockout punch to turn the tide in games.
“(Big plays) are what we try to build around,” said Florida junior linebacker Dustin Doe, who had his first career interception last week against Georgia. “Last year, I don’t think we had enough big plays, and during the off-season that’s what we focused on.”
The 6-0, 230-pound Doe and his teammates also have gotten off the field and allowed Tim Tebow and Florida’s potent offense the chance to do their things. Florida has allowed its opponents to convert just 32.4 percent on third down. The Gators have also allowed just 4-of-19 fourth-down conversions after allowing their opponents to make 14-of-28 a year ago.
“Last year, our third-down percentage was terrible, which led our defense to be on the field and get tired,” said Doe, who has appeared in 33 career games with 16 starts. “That was tough. Now, we are trying to make those big plays because they are the ones that make the difference in the game.”
On Saturday night against Vanderbilt, Doe will get a chance to do battle with a Commodore offense which likes to pound the ball with Jared Hawkins. Vanderbilt has averaged four yards per carry this season, but has struggled on offense of late while trying to break in several new offensive linemen.
Doe, meanwhile, has gone through his own personal struggles with injuries, but looks to be getting strong again as Florida begins its stretch drive for a berth in the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta.
A year ago, Doe made 85 tackles, including five for loss, and he looked to once again lead the way for the Gator defense this time around.
Things haven’t been easy for Doe, but the former Live Oak Suwannee High star is getting back to his usual form.
Against Miami, Doe suffered an injury, which led to double hernia surgery. Following the Miami game, he played sparingly two weeks later against Tennessee and then the injury flared up against Ole Miss, which caused him to go in for the surgery.
“It got to the point where I couldn’t play with it anymore,” said Doe, who has 123 career tackles, including 15 this season in three starts and six games of action. “It was an injury on top of an injury, but now I’m great and have a full range of motion.”
From there, he returned to action against Kentucky and made an impact last week against Georgia. Being back to where he isn’t laboring to get into position feels good for Doe.
“I was limited physically (with the injury) and I could kind of put myself in positions to make the play, but each play I was two or three steps behind,” Doe said. “Now, I feel like I can break down and that my body will do whatever I tell it to do and I feel really good.”