Forget the defensive line for a second, Gators secondary has something to prove as well

GAINESVILLE -- For good reason, Florida's defensive line is receiving most of the attention this week as the Gators prepare for No.1 Alabama. Alabama's backfield combination of Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson might be the best in the Southeastern Conference and on Tuesday UF defensive end Duke Lemmens referred to Richardson and Ingram as the best rushing duo in the history of college football.

While the editorial board of this blog respectfully disagrees with that assessment -- Richardson and Ingram might not even be the best backfield combo in the history of college football in their state, considering Auburn featured Ronnie Brown, Carnell Williams and Brandon Jacobs at one point during their college careers -- we will concede that Ingram and Richardson are pretty good. Clearly, one of Florida's keys to beating Alabama on Saturday will be limiting Ingram and Richardson.

That brings us to the point of this blog topic: Limiting Ingram and Richardson will only be half the battle on Saturday for the seventh-ranked Gators. OK, maybe four-sixths of the battle, but who's counting? The point is, Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy played arguably the best game of his career in last season's Southeastern Conference championship game against a UF secondary many considered one of the best in the nation. McElroy finished with 239 yards and a touchdown on 12 of 18 passing attempts.

While former cornerback Joe Haden limited Alabama receiver Julio Jones to two receptions for 28 yards, Alabama receiver Marquis Maze played well against Janoris Jenkins. Maze had five receptions for 96 yards, including a 69-yard touchdown catch against Jenkins in one-on-one coverage.

Florida's cornerbacks and safeties will be tested again Saturday. Jenkins will likely shadow Jones, which leaves Jeremy Brown with the task of containing Maze.

"[Maze] is a dangerous guy, real fast in and out of breaks," Brown said. "Definitely a headache for defensive coordinators. He's special."

Alabama receiver Darius Hanks is also a threat, and could pose a potential mismatch against a young cornerback like UF's Cody Riggs. A junior from Norcross, Ga., Hanks is second on the team through four games with 11 receptions and touchdown for 197. What's more, Alabama's tight end, Preston Dial (6-3, 237 pounds) is a gifted athlete. He has eight receptions and two touchdowns for 94 yards this season. Don't forget that former Alabama tight end Colin Peek had three important receptions for 39 yards against Florida in 2009, including a touchdown to give Alabama a 26-13 lead with 9:53 left in the third quarter.

If UF loads the defensive box to stop Alabama's running game, UF's secondary will have to play mistake free (sound tackling will be key) against an experienced quarterback with plenty of options in one-on-one coverage situations. A breakdown in coverage like the one between UF safety Will Hill and Jenkins against Kentucky that led to an easy touchdown could be the difference in a game that will likely be close entering the fourth quarter.

What exactly happened on that blown coverage against Kentucky?

"It was nothing," Hill said. "Everyone has their outtakes on what happened but it was just one person seeing one thing and another person seeing another. It was just a miscommunication."

What has Hill and Jenkins done to work on the miscommunication?

"Just work on the coverage," Hill said.

Hill said that working on his "back-pedals, breaks and my vision, staying key on the quarterback," will be important this week.

-jo-

Comments

[Where is the blog Pig?]

What happens when a career-killing program gets its hands on the Pac-10 Freshman of the year?

Answer: Emmanuel Moody.

A sad, sad story. That flushing sound you hear is his NFL dream.

[Gatoralum]

I had to repost this!

Mr2Bits says:
October 2, 2010 at 6:56 am

Ohhhh, its 6:30AM and I can’t sleep just thinking about this game. The underdog side is still playing out nicely which has me salivating. Everyone on ESPN is making this game sound like we shouldn’t even make the trip and should just take our loss now. Michael Smith is the only one who can see through all this in that a team that gets so built up, falls the hardest, just look at us last year at the SEC game.

My prediction….who the hell has ever even seen a red Elephant? Annoying pom-poms, southern swoosh’s and frat tards dressed in ties in September at a football game go down today……UF 27- Bama 20

/////////////////////////////////////////////

DELUSION: IT'S WHAT'S FOR DINNER!

[Gatoralum]

John S says:
October 2, 2010 at 10:34 am

Tough one, but I think if we put up 30 points we’ll win. The Tide defense is not what it was, I think we’re a better team defensively. Hopefully McElroy doesn’t have the game of his life again. Funny that Trey Burton has as many touchdowns as Ingram and Richardson combined. Please Addazio, be less predictable and keep your foot on the gas, and I will take back every negative thing I’ve said.

Come on Gators, Bow-up!

////////////////////////////////////////////

MORE LIKE BEND OVER!

[Pac-10 Fan]

Not all is bad Florida fans. After this game you only have to leave the state 1 more time and thats to play Vandy. You have to love that dont you Florida fans. Now the real question is, does anyone really think you are a top 20 team?

[Gatoralum]

Mr2Bits says:
October 2, 2010 at 8:58 pm

So my guess is that we are saving our good play book for next week against LSU as we look like dog crap! AD4 will have his coming out party next weekend, this weekend were conceding to win the LSU game and hopefully Atlanta.

//////////////////////////////////////////////

"Good eye" Mr. Two Bit's! UF is going to "flop" this game to prepare for a less important game next week! Riiiiiiiiiiiiight!!

[Pac-10 Fan]

John S. just proves to be an idiot by saying "the game of his life again". Only a Floriduh fan can come up with something that dumb

[Kehoe no-likey Gator no more!]

Mr2Bits says:
October 2, 2010 at 9:22 pm

The way things are going I hope we can see Bama’s 2nd and 3rd stringers to get some game tape on if we make it to Atlanta!

/////////////////////////////////////////////

By virtue of the fact that there is not a team in UF's division of the SEC that can beat them, coupled with the worst non-conference schedule for a BCS eligible school in the country, I would have to agree, UF will endure this all over again in Atlanta!

[Where is the blog Pig?]

Where is the idiot blog Pig who said teams only schedule OOC road ges because they need the money? This was the Pig's excuse for the cowardly Gatatds failure to do so.

Guess Georgia needs the money, aside from an ass-whooping from a horrible Big 12 team.

Another sign of the over-rated SEC.

[Kehoe no-likey Gator no more!]

Not sure if they keep stats on this or not, but how many teams have lost to the same school two different times in the same season?

I know the University of Miami beat UF twice in the same season, but has any other team in the country accomplished this pathetic feat more than once?

Remember that if UF had not beaten FSU in their historic 1st time ever NC in '96, we could be staring at a "Hat Trick" for suck this season!

[Pac-10 Fan]

Outscored by Alabama 56-16 in 6 quarters. Way to step it up Florida when youre on a national stage. Youre chance to step your game up. You have 30 minutes or you will never see primetime games again

[Where is the blog Pig?]

BRANTLEY SUUUUUCKS. TELL US AGAIN HOW HE COULD START FOR AMY OTHER TEAM IN THE COUNTRY.

WHERE B YOUR DEPTH, GATARD TRASH? All those top recruiting classes and you PUKED ON YOURSELF.

GATARDS SUUUUUUUCK.

[Pac-10 Fan]

This is supposed to be the 7th ranked team in the nation? They should be ashamed

[Where is the blog Pig?]

I haven't seen this much puke since I had the flu.

STICK TO SCHEDULING USF and MIAMI OF OHIO GATARD TRASH.

[Over-rated SEC]

You would think a real coaching staff would teach QBs how to take a snap from under center then hand the ball to a RB.

[Where is the blog Pig?]

Robert Marve > John Brantley

[Over-rated SEC]

Another punk SEC team gets an L against a sorry Big 12 team as Colorado beats Georgia. The same Colorado team that lost to California 52-7

[Bull Gator]

First real team the cowardly Gators play this year and they get destroyed.

Saban out-coached Meyer last year and exposed him to be the fraud he is again tonight. I was roaring with laughter when the Mighty (tee-hee) Gators went for it on 4th and 1 on the goal line and tried that hokey high shool jump pass play and when you looked over at the Bama sideline the entire Tide coaching staff was motioning that play as they knew it was coming--again, you were out-coached and out-played.

Oh! And in typical big mouth Gator fashion fat boy Pouncey was blubbering before the game that the Gators will play Bama any time at any place--apparently tubby didn't get the memo they were playing in Tuscaloosa tonight. What a big mouth clown--typical Gator!

Boys and Girls in the orange and blue costumes, your 15 minutes of fame ended the second Timmy graduated--now get back in the cellar where you belong!

PS: Brantley will not last the season running nut case Urban's high school offense...no way--no how!

[Da U]

U lost!

[Over-rated SEC]

I thought this place would be packed with Florida fans. I wanted to hear their opinions as to what happened in that nail biter of a game

[mainecane]

lol what a joke. The gators scored a total of 6 pts lol there qbs threw 3 picks. Whats that about j 12 now Oh really gator qbs throw picks too. No not gator qbs. lol At least miami kept the osu game close u guys just got whooped Go canes lol You offense finally played a top 100 defense and couldnt score lol good luck replacing tebow u need it