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After a 2007 season in which Florida’s secondary was routinely carved up to the tune of 258.5 yards per game, Vance Bedford was just the medicine the Gators needed to get well again in 2008. Starting a sophomore playing just his second year ever on defense and a true freshman, Bedford molded Florida’s corners into a formidable duo, much the way he coached Charles Woodson to the Heisman Trophy at Michigan in 1997.
The Gators improved from 11 to 26 interceptions in 2007 and while it might be hard to improve on that kind of production, Bedford thinks this group of Florida cornerbacks might be deeper and a better all-around unit than last year.
Improvement, he says, hinges on the Gators “continuing to work together as a unit.” He’s also looking to avoid giving up big plays like they did in last year’s only loss (31-30 to Ole Miss).
“We gave up some big plays in key games, and we can’t allow that to happen,” Bedford said after Friday’s practice. “We have to continue to tackle well here. Just eliminate mistakes and big plays in key situations.”
Any time the talk shifts to Florida’s corners, the first remarks are always about Joe Haden and Janoris Jenkins. Now a junior, Haden has started since he was a true freshman. Last year he finished second on the team with 87 tackles to go with three interceptions. Jenkins earned freshman All-SEC honors after bursting on to the scene with 39 tackles and three interceptions. While Bedford acknowledges the strong play of his two top corners, he is quick to pass along praise to the rest of the defense as well.
“It’s a team sport. Janoris and Joe are playing well, but they’re playing well because of the [defense] and the team,” Bedford said. “We had an outstanding pass rush last year, we do different things to move guys around. I feel very confident with the guys we have.”
While the talent is very good at the top, that extends down the depth chart as well. Bedford applauded the play of a couple of back-ups who have worked hard to give Florida solid depth behind Haden and Jenkins.
“Markihe Anderson has had an excellent camp so far,” Bedford noted. “Wondy Pierre(-Louis) has done some good things. Those guys are making plays right now. I’m pretty pleased, and we’re going to have our first scrimmage coming up tomorrow. To me, that’s when we’ll find out. Right now, we’re playing basketball. Tomorrow is live. I mean, do you want to get your nose bloodied? We’ll find out.”
Having a deep secondary with a pair of seniors (Anderson and Pierre-Louis) along with a junior (Moses Jenkins) coming off the bench is quite a nice problem for Bedford to have. He also addressed the status of a couple of young guys with big expectations as well. While Bedford wasn’t willing to put a percentage on redshirt freshman Jeremy Brown’s readiness, he does expect Brown to see some more action after being limited by lingering back issues over the past week.
“I expect to see him out there next week moving around,” he said.
Another young guy who has stood out like a sore thumb throughout the beginning of fall camp is Josh Evans, a native of Irvington, NJ. Although not as heralded as some of his fellow incoming freshmen, Evans has shown great potential through the first week of fall camp.
“He’s a tough, physical guy,” Bedford reports. “That’s the type of player we like here. He’s probably going to help us out a lot on special teams this year. We don’t need him to play right now, but we like his future here.”
Evans, who is listed at 6-2, also provides Florida with yet another nice option as a big corner, which is a type of player which Vance Bedford loves to bring into the mix.
“I’ve always liked big corners, that’s the first thing you look at,” he explains. “In our conference, you look at Georgia, LSU, and Alabama, you’re talking about 6-2 to 6-4 receivers, and it’s tough for small corners to get out there and play unless they’re really dynamic.”
While Bedford is as tough as any of the coaches on the staff, he has a softer side as well. The self-described “goofball” loves ribbing his players as much as they love to give it back.
“The thing I believe in is if you’re having fun you’re going to work that much harder,” Bedford said.
Fun is an apt word to describe the situation Bedford has at corner as he moves into the 2009 season. Last year he had a bunch of talented kids playing corner, and now he has several good football players under his wing, a big difference, and an enviable position to be in.
“I think we have some good depth, and I’m looking forward to seeing all of those guys play this year,” he said.
After a rough 2007 season from the cornerback position, Gator fans can now say the same thing as well.