Gator Bowl Preview: Florida Defense Presents Problems

What: Florida Gators vs. Ohio State Buckeyes

When: Monday, January 2nd; 1:00 p.m.

Where: Everbank Field; Jacksonville, Florida

Television: ESPN2

Gators' Record: 6-6

Opposing Coverage: Alligator Army

The Gator defense fared better than the offense in Will Muschamp's first season as head coach, which makes sense given the state of the Florida roster and Muschamp's reputation as a defensive guru. Already a unit that possessed a history of performing well, driving a national championship run in 2006 and contributing to one in 2008, Urban Meyer left plenty of talent for his successor. Florida ranked 9th in total defense and 29th in scoring Meyer's last season. This year, the Gators rank 9th in total defense again and improved their scoring rank to 25th.

High points came against Kentucky, South Carolina, and Florida State, the latter game being a defining moment for coordinator Dan Quinn's unit despite a loss. The Gators held Florida State to under 100 yards and 1.7 yards per play, an astounding figure no matter the opponent let alone a BCS team. The Gators fell due to four interceptions by their quarterbacks, which directly led to one Seminole touchdown and set up short fields for two more. If Charlie Weis had only played Tresselball, like Jimbo Fisher did on the opposite sideline, the Gator defense may have delivered a victory.

The high points were matched by equally steep low points, however. Losses against Alabama and LSU saw the Gators cede over 35 points, 350 yards, and 5.3 yards per play in each game. Built for speed and pressure, the Gator front seven could not hold against the mammoth linemen the two SEC West powers trotted out. Both schools had great success on the ground, rushing for 454 yards and seven touchdowns combined.

Strategy Time

In fact, it seems Alabama and LSU set the strategy for Ohio State perfectly. Florida ranks 10th in pass defense and only 40th in rush defense, figures that may be deceptive. According to Bill Connelly's S&P+ metric, Florida's raw numbers were distorted by the poor performances against the Crimson Tide and Bayou Bengals, two of the nation's best offenses.

S&P+ ranks the Gators' run defense at 3st nationally, eight surprising spots higher than its pass defense. If Jim Bollman goes into the game thinking he can just mimic Alabama and run the ball down Florida's throat, he is deeply mistaken. While the Buckeyes have a fine rushing attack, they lack the big play ability at tailback that would make such a strategy worthwhile. Alabama had Trent Richardson, a Heisman candidate; Ohio State has Dan Herron, a tough but non-explosive back.

Instead, Ohio State should pay attention to the injury front. Kedric Johnson, weakside defensive end, and Lerentee McCray, weakside linebacker, injured themselves during bowl prep and are now game-time decisions. Johnson and McCray are pass-rush specialists who figure into Muschamp's pressure packages. Without their presence, Florida will lean upon its base defenders more, perhaps lessening the Gators' ability to disrupt the quarterback and cause mistakes.

Bollman, in his final game as Ohio State's offensive coordinator, must avoid the temptation to turtle up and call passive, predictable plays. Florida is about equally good on Passing Downs as Standard Downs, so there's little chance that the Gators will suffer massive breakdowns in their secondary on third-and-eight. If Bollman molds a gameplan similar to his one against Michigan or Nebraska, Ohio State can stay ahead of the chains and give Braxton Miller a chance to grow in his first bowl experience.

Players, Good and Bad

The injured defensive players may affect Muschamp's nickel strategy, but they won't change the base package. With a defensive line that borders on elite, and an arch-strategy taken straight from Nick Saban, we can be reasonably sure that Muschamp's main focus will be on stopping the run and forcing Miller into tough third-down situations.

Ronald Powell

Senior defensive tackle Jaye Howard anchors the middle, and he will be joined by Shariff Floyd, who shifted inside after Dominique Easley tore his ACL against the Seminoles. Floyd was recruited to Florida as a defensive tackle, but Muschamp moved him outside to gain a weight advantage on the interior. Wherever he plays, Floyd makes an impact.

William Green, a hefty, solid experienced senior, will replace him at the strongside end position, and should be an adequate substitute. Ronald Powell plays the weakside end, which, under Muschamp, makes him similar to the LEO in Ohio State's defense. Powell will range from a pure rusher on the edge to a stand-up linebacker who drops into coverage.

Running against Florida's line will be difficult, another reason for Jim Bollman to open the playbook and attack through the air on early downs.

The Gator defensive secondary is littered with young but talented players. True freshman Marcus Robinson starts at corner, true freshman De'Ante Saunders starts at free safety; true sophomore Cody Riggs mans the other corner spot, true sophomore Matt Elam starts at strong safety. Given their experience level, it's quite surprising that Florida's passing defense has not suffered more, further proof that a strong defensive line can hide weaknesses in the back seven.

Sandwiched between the two units are Gator linebackers Jon Bostic, Jelani Jenkins, and the aforementioned McCray. Muschamp has been critical of his linebackers this season, noting that they've missed run fits that have allowed backs to slash the defense at times. There are no glaring issues here, really, but this may be a spot where Ohio State could find success with confusion.

Counters, traps, and the like--plays other than the standard power and Iso runs-- in tandem with an aggressive passing attack may befuddle the Gator linebackers as much as Alabama or LSU did, and may deliver the same result those teams enjoyed.