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Notebook: Interior Defense Troubles Meyer

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By ANDY STAPLES | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 10, 2007

GAINESVILLE — Florida coach Urban Meyer expressed dismay for a second consecutive day at his lack of confidence in the Gators' backup defensive tackles.

Tuesday and Wednesday, Meyer said Florida's inability to stop top-ranked LSU on five fourth-down attempts in Saturday's 28-24 loss may have had something to do with the fact that DTs Javier Estopinan and Clint McMillan rarely get a breather because coaches aren't sure backups such as freshmen Torrey Davis and Lawrence Marsh are ready to play significant snaps.

"We're not having that rotation," Meyer said during a teleconference Wednesday. "Last year, when we had that excellent defense, we had that nice rotation going with our defensive front."

Even after the dismissal of DT Marcus Thomas late last season, the Gators had an interior rotation that included Steven Harris, Joe Cohen, Ray McDonald, McMillan and Brandon Antwine. This season, Estopinan and McMillan have had to take the lion's share of the snaps.

"When you start hitting those fourth downs like LSU did," Meyer said, "your team gets fatigued."

CHANCE FOR REDEMPTION?: Meyer said Wednesday that he isn't sure whether senior S Tony Joiner will get a chance to earn back his captaincy.

Meyer stripped Joiner of the title after Joiner's arrest Oct. 2. Though a burglary charge was dropped, Meyer said he wasn't sure how he would proceed because he's never stripped a player's captaincy midseason.

"He's a guy," Meyer said, "our team is counting on to provide some leadership, and he acted like we don't want a captain to act. … It's too early to tell."

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