SI Article: Defensive Coordinator Ron Roberts Brings New Attitude to Florida Gators

Really like the Roberts hire. I remember a lot of the power whiners getting in a twist over it- “ a head coach for the defense- what?”

Most of us really like Austin Armstrong as the D-coordinator. His energy and approach are exactly what most of us want at UF. He’s a young man and a first time coordinator. After his first season it’s clear he has a learning curve to game management. So, what to do?

CBN, in an unconventional move, brought in a mentor (head coach of the defense) to guide Armstrong. After some time and going through the offseason, this looks like a fantastic addition. The experience and prowess he brings to the defense will be invaluable to assist Armstrong and UF.

 

This right here sums up exactly what I've been talking about for... EVER about how badly our defensive coaches are in teaching our defenders to tackle... or more to the point how they have NOT been teaching proper tackling techniques. It's really just fundamental football 101 being re-taught.

Looks like this coach saw what I and millions of people saw when watching the Gators defense play live in action these last few years. It's nice to see our coaches noticing and addressing these details too.

From the link below:

Tackling Woes

If you watched the Gators during the past season, you saw something on defense that should simultaneously alarm and annoy you. Without a doubt, 2023 ranks as one of the worst tackling efforts by a Florida defense in recent memory. In fact, you would see four types of a poor tackle.

First, the "olé" tackle is an attempt without your base behind you and using the arms. This approach negates any force applied to the hit. Moreover, the defender lunges and often comes up with air, allowing the ballcarrier extra yardage. Next, the grab and drag. Now, this differs from the now-NFL-banned hip drop.

In this case, the tackler just grabs a jersey, praying for gravity to cooperate. Again, any ballcarrier with a scintilla of strength obliterates this attempt. Third, the business relies on nothing but self-preservation. Under these circumstances, the tackler initially appears eager to hit, only to grab and hope for the rest of the team to show up and actually make the play.

Defensive Coordinator Ron Roberts Brings New Attitude to Florida Gators

 

Fixed it, thanks, ET.

 

And something I noticed was the guys just were not in the position to make a proper tackle, and their teammates were not in position to funnel the ball carrier to the tackle. It’s so much easier to tackle and elusive runner if you are flanked by your own players and the runner doesn’t have, every option available
A player should not often have to make open field tackles.

 

Especially what was front and center in that Kentucky game... we were in EXACTLY THE WRONG SPOTS/POSITIONS on defense to stop the run. It was almost like sabotage it was so bad.

 

I think young players working together as a defense are always one step behind. Has these guys grow and learn this defense? Maybe there won’t be so many out of position people. That has nothing to do with skill but familiarization and practice. There’s no substitute for experience

 

I am not blaming the players... all of it was coaching. And I'm talking more about the line and the LBs..

Those coaches are gone.

 

3rd time's a charm.....

 

I think it’s a combination of both. Our defense, the last couple years was not very talented to begin with and last year. We had the youngest in the nation. That’s just a recipe for disaster no matter who your coaches are. I’m definitely glad we have some new blood in the coaching staff because they were just dysfunctional whether they could coach or not.

 

"Roberts guided [2023] Auburn to top-50 in scoring defense, sacks, tackles-for-loss and total defense. The Tigers also ranked top-25 in third-down defense and first-downs allowed while ranking No. 1 in the SEC in red zone defense. In the conference, Auburn was second in third-down defense, third in pass defense and fourth in interceptions."

Hopefully an end to 3rd and grantham.

 

3rd time- hu.... What are you bitchin' about?

 

Top 50 scoring defense will be a dramatic improvement. Will not be surprised if we track better than that after a few games. It has been said Auburn let Roberts go. Who knows, don't care. But a closer look makes it look like aubrin's issues were on offense, not defense- 41st scoring defense, 71st scoring offense.

Glad to have Roberts now and will leave it at that. Regarding tackling, how would one run fall practice and not realize your defense needs to practice tackling, specifically? It's actually alarming. Glad it's all corrected now. We need to be tough.

 

No bitchin'- spittin' facts...

This is BN's 3rd hire to run the defensive side of the ball.
Toney, Armstrong and now Roberts.

Peterson is the only defensive coach still around from year one.

 

At least Napier is making changes to try and improve the defense. Mullen stuck with the obvious disaster that was Todd Grantham's defense for 3.5 years, and it got him fired.

 

Wow! Who'da thunk it? I mean, after things going so well on defense those first two seasons.

 

And as it should be, change it till they can get the job done. No sense in having third and Grantham for four freaking years.

 

Which leads back to my original post

3rd time's a charm...( Post #10) Hoping this guy can get the job done and we see better defense.

If not then you have to look at the guy doing the hiring. That's how it usually works.

 

Auburn did not let Roberts go, that is just a PR line from Auburn. Their defense exceeded all expectations. The truth is he was butting heads with Freeze and not putting up with his BS and Billy came a calling.

We have more talent than Auburn had last year and those highly ranked Baylor defenses he coached. We had more fundamentals out than just tackling, that is why so many coaching changes occurred, and they are all being addressed.

This defense designed by Roberts runs multiples in the front and back end,(similar to NFL defenses) which disguises what the defense is running and doing, which can be very confusing for quarterbacks, if it is run correctly.

This defense is about to make a significant jump up from last year and if they start to develop some swag, it could be a fun season.