Florida Defense is moving in the right direction

If this class holds together we have some great linebackers and linemen on the way. It will still be a couple more years, but we should have an improved defense in 24 and a great defense in 25

 

As much as I want to buy-in, the numbers don’t tell the full story. Our defense is still bad.

 

Total Off Rank
Charlotte 118th
Utah 103th
Vandy 102nd
Kentucky 83th
South Carolina 77th
Tennessee 28th
Uga 4th

Arkansas 120th
Missouri 30th
Lsu 1st
Fsu 22nd

 

and we haven’t faced 3 of the top offenses in the country yet in Missouri, LSU, and FSU.

There has been improvement, especially on 3rd down, but we still seem like we are just a few more quick twitch DT’s away from REALLY taking a leap.

also…we may need to start inquiring about what has Corey Raymond improved upon with the secondary. Haven’t seen much improvement as a UNIT.

 

The numbers DO tell a story, and I don't know how you can deny it. Our D is better this year, period. Are they great? No. Good? No. But they are improving, and these numbers show that. Numbers aren't biased, and they don't lie.

We played a ton of young kids this year, and have major talent holes. But we have a solid defensive class on the way, and with all the young kids who got experience this year, we will see even more improvement next year.

 

I think the D's biggest issue is weak LB play.

 

Add in an an offseason spent in the weight room will make a huge difference as well.

 

You need physical DB to play press coverage, not to mention run support. We aren’t there yet. And then theres the front 7…. There are a few of the transfers that we definitely miss.

 

They don’t give up thirty-eight yards on third and twenty-three 3-4 times per game anymore, so there’s something.

 

Offense is better than the numbers say and Defense is worse than the numbers say.

Slow pacing inflates defensive numbers and deflates offensive numbers. Both need to get better.

 

I think the program (offense, defense, and hopefully special teams) will continue to get better under Napier, the questions are how much better and how sustainable that will be.

 

Thanks for the bucket of ice water on that flicker of hope.

We wouldn't want any of that hope stuff catching...

 

Spot on, we are 3rd in the country in opponents plays against and over 10 fewer plays a game against compared to last year. Because of the new clock rules reducing plays/possessions a better apples to apples stat is yards per play. UF is 112th and worse than LY, 6.1 vs 5.9. 6.9 yppa in the last 3, so it is getting worse, not better.

 

I think it's a little more complicated than that. The Defense has looked better at times this year, but there have been games where they have plainly not shown up like the South Carolina game.

The end result is an offense that is statistically worse with respect to yards per play as well as a defense that is statistically worse with respect to yards per play.

That said, the OL is much worse this year. You get the impression that offense is being manufactured out of nothing whereas last year we had an elite athlete at QB with a much better line and didn't do much with it. We're definitely better at receiver this year.

Numbers are really important, but you really need context to gauge this Florida team's progress. I think we're moving in the right direction, but we're still really far from a finished product.

 

Some people think that great recruits immediately turn into All SEC, and All American as freshmen

 

I don't think that. But I know our young D players got a lot of experience. We have to backfill them with more great players, which we have on tap.

Which is why we have to stay the course.

 

The numbers align perfectly for what we see on the field for me. We are very feast or famine on D giving up a lot of chunk plays. Much better getting off the field on 3rd down 33% vs 50%, yet we are almost exactly the same as LY in points per play against and worse on the YPPA.

I think we have been so traumatized by 3rd and Grantham and "bend but don't break" that it has gone under the radar that our opposition doesn't even need to get to 3rd down because of these big plays. Throw in 0.6 take aways per game vs 1.8 LY, 1.3 vs 1.8 LY sacks per game, and you have a D that is giving up big plays while not creating their own.

 

Nick must be using outdated numbers, we are at 365.1 yards against and ranked 48th. 430.3 in the last 3 games, which would be good for 111th.

 

Throw out the numbers against the pud teams, they are meaningless. Just look at sec play. The number are fittin to get worse. A long row to hoe