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UF Defense Ready For Onslaught

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By MICK ELLIOTT | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 4, 2009

FORT LAUDERDALE - The really big question for Florida in the BCS Championship Game is how and if it can slow down the Oklahoma Sooners' points-happy, super-charged offense.

With Heisman Trophy-winning QB Sam Bradford operating a really hurry-up offense that scored a ridiculous 702 points this season, the Sooners have been college football's most unrestrained force.

OU arrives for the national title game riding a record streak of five consecutive games in which it scored more than 60 points. In the game before starting the run, the Sooners scored 58.

"Our major concern when you look at us, each game we average anywhere from 60 to 65 plays a game, and when you look at their offense they're averaging anywhere from 85 to 90 plays a game," UF defensive coordinator Charlie Strong said.

All season, OU has disrupted defensives with a no-huddle attack that runs plays so quickly that opponents are either caught still trying to call defensive sets or, even worse, in the process of making substitutions when the ball was snapped.

Much of Florida's title-game defensive practice has centered on being prepared for the onslaught.

"Our defensive line and secondary are really going to have to be in shape, because right after the Sooners run a play they get right back up to the ball and run another play," LB Ryan Stamper said. "That's why they put up a lot of points. We've got to be ready for that. We've been doing a lot of running to be in shape - more extra running than we did during the regular season."

One of the Gators' defensive strengths this year has been the depth that encouraged situational substitutions. But there might not be time for that.

"That's going to be the real hard part," Stamper said. "We're doing a lot of practice just getting guys running on and off the field. So I think we will be ready."

FASHION CUT

Hands down, Florida DB Joe Haden wins the week's pregame hairstyle award.

The sophomore cornerback is sporting a tightly cropped cut with "BCS 1" razor cut on one side and a star and his jersey number 5 on the other.

"A dude named Tony," did the design, Haden said. "At the SEC Championship Justin Trattou had a Mohawk and I liked the designs that he had in his head and I asked him who did it so I could get it for the national championship game."

Who next? Tim Tebow?

"I don't know," Haden said. "I haven't even - darn, I need to go ask him."

DOWN AND DIRTY

Working behind a rock-solid defensive line that opened enough holes to produce a pair of 1,000-yard rushers, Sooners QB Sam Bradford was sacked only 11 times this season. To put that in perspective, Florida DE Carlos Dunlap has nine this season.

The Gators are well aware of the protection Bradford has received.

"He's clean all the time," Gators S Ahmad Black said. "I guess their line blocks real good. A quarterback ought to be dirty. Especially against us. We play a quarterback and he's all clean at the end of the day, that's not good."

Listening to Black, the Gators are preparing to bring extra pressure with the blitz.

"We've got to get pressure on him and hit him," Black said. "I think that's going to be a key to the game."

HONEST EFFORT

After offensive coordinator Dan Mullen accepted the head coaching job at Mississippi State last month, Urban Meyer promoted from within, elevating Steve Addazio to the position.

While Addazio already has taken the responsibility, Mullen - juggling cell phones - is remaining with Florida through the BCS game and will be in the press box calling plays.

"I hear, Iis he 100 percent?'" Meyer said. "No, it's not 100 percent for Florida. He's employed by Mississippi State. However, he is committed to this team. Most importantly, he's going to give his best effort because he has a quarterback who is going to give his best effort, and an entire team. He has been very professional."

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