Incidentally, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson made me aware of the importance of the star position. When he first played as star, he wasn't very good at it. I remember a light came on for him and he was phenomenal. He became so good at recognizing plays he would tell other defensive players what was coming. What really made him exceptional--he was great at tackling. No one on the Gators squad as played the star position as well. Jaydon Hill was catching on last season, but he was not so good at tackling.
We hear much of the same thing every spring. I'll adjust my excitement accordingly after the Miami game.
Actually, a gator site with articles about gators written by gator grads for the benefit of gator fans is about the worst place to get facts about player potential. Just go back and read the last few years of spring articles - it’s rinse and repeat as far as tone goes. Heck, even the all sec preseason list has been a big miss for us. The truth will come out game 1, and not a day before. In the meantime: go gators!
Ja'Keem Jackson is a CB, not a DL. Not sure Jack Pyburn will be back by fall. This is a very talented group of defenders, especially the DL.
What about the other incoming freshman LB out of Maryland, Chiles (I think?). I thought from what we read about the all star game he and Myles Graham played in that he was as exciting or better than Graham?
Not only are we in year three, we have also increased our budget, this had previously hindered us. Some decent staffing changes, more $, and the kids being in the system for a minute now. Mertz is back. Jackson, Tre, Boardingham, that other tall TE I can't think of (the guys $) The reciever guy from Wisconsin. The offense should be better this year. And, how can the defense not be? Go Gators.
Yes, he wasn't listed yet, because he is coming later. Thanks, I forgot about him! I will add his name.
Yes, in his last press conference, BN said the new staff is renewing him; especially, Ron Robert's! Ron Roberts is doing his job, being a coach to the coaches!
Star is "key: to the 4-2-5 defense. Who are the best tacklers for the Gators DB room who could play star?
Truthfully, we have no place to go but up. For the past two years we've been scrapping the bottom. Personally, I hope its a big improvement, but won't really know to games are played.
Looking back at his scoring defense stats for the last 5 years, he’ll put the best defense we’ve seen on the field since 2019. Most seasons his defense gives up 19-23 pts/g in the Big 12 and SEC. Considering where we are now, it’s a touchdown better per game. I can be hopeful for now.
Hope he helps it all come together finally. He seems like the field general you bring in when you need to turn the tide of the battle. Probably who Napier has wanted for awhile. I'd be happy even with a transition year as a solid SEC defense this year with a return to excellence thereafter.
Even an average SEC defense would make a huge difference in W/L record. Last season UF was 75th in scoring defense at 27.58/g. AU where Roberts spent last season was 41st at 22.62/g. AU was 7th in the SEC, we were 11th. Mind you Roberts accomplished that with the other side of the ball running the hurry up offense, which puts more pressure on the defense in possessions on the field against opponents. He had just finished a very successful season at Baylor the year we hired CBN, so likely wasn’t looking to relocate. An average SEC defense with what should be expected out of the more predictable offense could get us back to bowling with a ridiculous schedule. (Thanks SEC officials.) Go Gators!
Years ago, I heard James Bates say that the job of defensive tackles is to contain the offensive guards and keep them off the linebackers. Sure enough, 90% of the time when a running back makes a big run up the middle, a guard has blocked the linebacker who should have made the tackle. So, for starters, I’d like see containment up the middle. Players taking the right angles on tackles would be nice, too. We have to start winning some games because of our defense.
The main reason our defense sucked last year was our DBs. Bring in 3 transfer DBs to give us leadership and experience and this defense changes. Castell, Thonton and Denton can all learn and play and be ready for starting position in 2025. Add in Jackson and Johnson at CB and we are set. And I can't wait to see Gates play. The kid was a stud in high school. With a year under his belt to study and get healthy will serve him well.
