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Meyer: UF Defense Maturing

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By MICK ELLIOTT | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 3, 2008

JACKSONVILLE - With each win, Florida coach Urban Meyer's affection for this year's defensive team increases, and, it seems, bad feelings for last year's bubble out.

After Saturday evening's 49-10 thrashing of Georgia, Meyer had the opportunity to share both. All it took was a question about how different he felt this year compared to last, Georgia's 42-30 upset.

"Probably as bad as I've ever felt in my coaching career was last year," he said. "Awful, because I didn't like the way they played. I didn't like the fact we didn't play hard. All you want is for kids to prepare. That's all you want. They didn't do that last year."

So far this year, the Gators' defensive performance may be the most pleasant and satisfying surprise of the team's success.

Georgia, second in the SEC only to Florida in scoring and tops in total yards, was a punt in slow motion. Bulldogs running back Knowshon Moreno was limited to 65 yards on 17 carries, more than 50 yards below his average. Meanwhile, quarterback Matthew Stafford, second in the SEC in passing efficiency, was intercepted three times.

"Maturity," Meyer said, explaining the difference. "And the fact there is competition for spots. We have two defensive ends, Justin Trattou and Carlos Dunlap, who both can play. Last year we had one.

"We have some inside guys fighting for their lives to get on the field. You got a guy like Dustin Doe, who was injured and is playing to get back in the starting lineup, and Ryan Stamper will not give it to him that easy. We're getting competition. We've got three safeties and someone better not sprain an ankle or you might not get back in there. There is some good competition and that's the difference."

Looking back, Meyer pointed to last year's woes as a result of his first recruiting season.

"Lack of competition and a lack of maturity," he said. "We lost nine starters off a national championship defense. Guys were playing that honestly did not earn the right at Florida yet. There was a void in recruiting. We recruited a very poor class our first year. As a result you play guys who weren't ready. That was the direct result.

"You need to keep going and get players in here. And we missed. So what you have is a lack of competition in spots."

Apparently, things have been looking up.

WHAT WENT RIGHT: What didn't? But what Meyer undoubtedly enjoyed most was that players celebrated Saturday by immediately insisting that this week's trip to Vanderbilt is the only thing on their minds.

"Our focus is going to be totally into it," freshman defensive back Will Hill said. "We know we have to come out and get this because it's about getting to Atlanta."

WHAT WENT WRONG: Georgia has a year to be angry about Florida's two timeouts in the final 44 seconds that allowed the Gators to relish their rout just a little bit longer.

Mick Elliott

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