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Florida Defense Coming Together As A Unit

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 19, 2008

GAINESVILLE - The University of Florida's defense learned a tough lesson last season. Despite a roster filled with highly touted recruits, the Gators, who had to replace nine starters from the 2006 national championship team, stumbled and allowed 25.5 points per game.

"A lot of people will tell you it's talent," said TE Tate Casey, when asked when a team begins to resemble a champion. "I don't think that's it. When you look at us, you can tell there's talent. The talent is there. That's never the issue between a non-championship team and a championship team. The two main things, one would be discipline and the second thing would be leadership."

The UF defense struggled to understand each player's role and accountability. According to LB Dustin Doe, junior LB Brandon Spikes has assumed a leadership role much like his predecessor, Brandon Siler, did.

"On our defense we try to hold everybody accountable, but he's like the voice," Doe said. "He's the vocal leader on the defense and the linebackers are like the quarterbacks of the defense."

The defense, bolstered by the leadership of Spikes and improved camaraderie, has dubbed itself the "wolf pack."

"Assistant head coach Steve Addazio put up a quote that said, 'The strength is in the pack and the pack is the strength,' so we just try to hold everyone accountable," Doe said. "We know that we're only as strong as the person beside us. We're trying to make everybody better."

Coach Urban Meyer has noticed. "The chemistry that I think was lacking a year ago, I don't feel that this year," Meyer said. "We'll find out when it gets tough during the season. If I had to say if I like this team, yes I do."

Karl Hyppolite

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