GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin said earlier this week that Florida's 11 defensive starters could all play in the NFL. My question: Which 11?
At six different positions you have co-starters.
Who's starting is a weekly question to be answered by the most recent practices as well as the last game. That's nothing new.
It exemplifies the competitive environment coach Urban Meyer has created at Florida in four-plus seasons.
Never mind that Florida is the defending national champion. That was last year.
You don't hold a starting position at Florida based on what you did last year or, in some cases, last week.
"We aren't just playing to win a game," said fifth-year senior linebacker Ryan Stamper. "We're playing to hold our starting position."
Linebacker provides a glaring example of Florida's competitiveness and depth.
Stamper started one game in his first three seasons at Florida. He started 11 last season.
Senior linebacker Dustin Doe, who returned a fumble for a touchdown two years ago against Tennessee, started 12 games in 2007 and just three last season. He's now on the third team.
A.J. Jones had eight starts last season, and Brandon Hicks had six. They're now listed as co-starters at strong-side linebacker.
Not one of those linebackers leads Florida in tackles. Neither does All-American linebacker Brandon Spikes.
True freshman linebacker Jonathan Bostic, who was a big hit in the spring, is tied with cornerback Joe Haden for the team lead in tackles.
The Gators aren't just two deep on defense. At some positions, they're three deep.
And the drop-off from starters to backups is only slight, which helps explain why their first two opponents failed to score a touchdown. That also helps explain why UT is a 28 1/2-point underdog for Saturday's game at The Swamp.
The strength of Florida's defense isn't the first 11. It's the first 22.
For example, take junior defensive end Carlos Dunlap, who is already being projected as a first-round NFL draft pick and was named defensive MVP of the last national championship game.
He entered this season with two career starts. And he might begin Saturday's game as Justin Trattou's backup.
Junior safety Ahmad Black started all 14 games last season and tied for the national lead in interceptions with seven. But in this secondary, it's almost as hard to start as it is to lead the nation in interceptions.
Enter sophomore safety Will Hill.
The former consensus high school All-American distinguished himself on special teams last year as a freshman. This preseason, Haden said Hill was the best player on Florida's defense.
Hill's progress is reflected in the depth chart, which lists him as a co-starter with Black at strong safety and with Major Wright at free safety.
"What makes Will Hill different from most safeties is that he can play deep middle, play man-to-man coverage and can play down in the box (front seven)," Meyer said. "Ahmad Black can't do all of those things.
"The only other guy we've had to do all that was Reggie Nelson (a star on the 2006 national championship team)."
As good as Hill is - and he might be the best player on the team when seniors Spikes and Tim Tebow go pro - his challenge isn't that much different from most of his defensive teammates.
He's just competing for a starting position.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 33
rockytopatl writes:
I think we know what we're up against. I say give Crompton a sling shot and see if he can take 'em down like David did Goliath. Maybe he'd be more accurate with it.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Adams is praising the # 1 team in the nation.
As he should in his assigned tasks.
Bring it Saturday, Vols!
CLEMSONVOL716WASBANNED writes:
How many seasons do you get to play at UF? According to this story, you must get at least 5 seasons of playing time:
"We aren't just playing to win a game," said fifth-year senior linebacker Ryan Stamper. "We're playing to hold our starting position."
Stamper started one game in his first three seasons at Florida. He started 11 last season."
1 start in 3 seasons and 11 last season...that is already 4 years of playing time and he starts this year?? That makes 5 years...maybe now we know how they have so many 1st and 2nd team players returning, you just keep'em an extra year.
GO VOLS
rockytopatl writes:
I'll bite, Zone. He stares down his primary and throws to him every time. Just like he does now.
n2thecheckerboards2 writes:
I bet Adams was really looking forward to this matchup. Now he's had a perfect excuse to write about the Gators all week, as we all know he has. His obsession with the Gators is rediculous.
VOLPhan writes:
Come on BIG ORANGE!! Take them from 3 deep to 2 deep... HELL -- TAKE EM ALL OUT!!!!
CLEMSONVOL716WASBANNED writes:
Got a question or 3 for you...
1. How big a spread does it take for you to consider it a beatdown??
2. How big a spread do you seriously think it will be??
3. What will you and the rest of the gator nation think if it is a close game until the end??
CLEMSONVOL716WASBANNED writes:
after all the talk about beatdowns, why not answer #1 and #3....
I am not trying to start any trash talking...but seriously...
How big does the spread have to be to be considered a beatdown??
What will be the toughts of Gator nation if the game remains close?
I think 42 may be very close to the right # on the spread. I think the UF depth takes a big toll on the VOLS. The Gators are definitely more talented on the starters than the Vols, but I think the bigger difference will be with 2nd teams, I think Uf has a bigger talent gap there than the starters.
On offense, I think UT needs to run some draws, screens, traps, and counter plays to try and use UF speed againist them.
I am not sold on the Tampa 2 yet, could be because our players have not completely learned it yet and we don't have all the right types of players for this scheme. We need to pressure Tebow and get into the backfield, but we must be wary of our ends losing containment our we will get burned on the outside for big yardage.
melo7606 writes:
Does u guy's feel me on that point or what? I haven't heard one thing good or bad about our defense during the espn brutal assault on our team. It's bad when corso passed words look good about us
watchdog writes:
1:09 in the Youtube video... hope springs eternal!
Cldvols1 writes:
So your saying you could outcoach CLK, much less 90% of the D-1 coaches out there? LOL Dude please, run along and see if the other Gayders wanna play frisbee. All of a sudden this little Gayder bait comes out of the woodwok and thinks he's Vince Lombardi. You do realize your name has vol and zone in it, we're you thinkin of Vol in the endZone? Bless yo heart! We sho do thank ye! GBO!!!
melo7606 writes:
Why is our defense getting thrown under the bus. Yes the offense looks shacky but our D has nothing to do with that. The writers make it sound like gator offense is playing against our offense and that's it. This whould give our defense just as mush ammo as the gator offense has.
melo7606 writes:
come on does it take this long to put my opinion up. I am not talking crazy or taking the lords name in vein or anything. go vols
melo7606 writes:
ALL CROMPTON NEEDS IS A LITTLE LOVE, A PAT ON THE BUTT AND A GOOD GAME TO GET BACK IN THE SWING OF THINGS... DON'T JUDGE ME GUY'S
RockinTop writes:
Well, it is what it is. Nothing really seems to work with Crompton. I have a real hard time believing that Stephens is worse since CLK said the competition was "close".
Not sure why I am responding to a loper ...other than to say a final time, I would rather lose with Stephens so he gains experience. As you said... Whatever doesn't work.... And Crompton hasn't worked or panned out.
Another thing is certain: WHEN Crompton throws his first interception on Saturday all the critiques are going to run through his head and he will fold with another 4-5 if he is left in the game.....or he will shake it off and not throw anymore. I anticipate the former.
We will learn an extreme amount about this team on Saturday....and even more about the coaches.
And this crowd goes silent.....
bobscleo#330846 writes:
FIRE JOHN ADAMS
kabulvol writes:
Well, well, well, I didn't know we were in the presence of coaching greatness. Help me out fellas, is that Knute Rockne over there?
Dude, you are a joke. But, I'm glad you post because its entertaining to laugh at you.
CRFVols writes:
lol....ignorance is bliss
And to think, Mike Hamilton should have offered you the coaching job.
WYLOVER writes:
I don't get why recruits continue to sign up to be on the bench at florida. The NFL awaits for some the defensive guys but the offense is not a factory for the NFL.
Meyer does a great job and wins games but I just don't see his system being sustainable when Tebow is gone and people see what that place does for you after the age of 22.
I think UT is a better product than UF 2 years from now.
CrankE writes:
Wouldn't be an Adams column without Tebow.
BrassMonkey writes:
The gators will not win by 28 you could bet the farm on it and have 2 farms Sunday morning. The announcers will say something like this going into the 4th quarter. "The Vols are 28 point underdogs at the swamp. Apparently no one told them this." We may lose, but not like everyone is predicting.
higgman55 writes:
I wonder how old a little panty waist, like you is? I also wonder if you have any hair on your small testes?
kman29 writes:
yeah your right. Who would believe that players in Meyer's offense could be successful in the NFL...
2009 NFL opening day:
Louis Murphy 4 catches 87 yards 1 TD
Andre Caldwell 6 catches 54 yards
Percy Harvin 2 rushes 22 yards, 3 catches 36 yards, 1 TD
hmmm...amazing 3 of Meyers top WRs the last few years are making impacts as starters in the NFL. lol!
Cldvols1 writes:
Bahahaha! Go Vols!!!
VolunteerLifer writes:
Actually, I found this Adams piece more interesting than most, mostly for the information that Meyer, too - just like Kiffin - preaches a culture of performance rather than Fulmer's culture of seniority. We can see that Meyer has been very successful with it, and that gives me greater confidence that Kiffin is on the right track.
UrbanCryer writes:
i wouldnt exactly say they MADE an impact. they played a little on some bad teams(except vikings). i know you dont like facts but here r some facts
Bengals- team scored 1 td. impact players score tds. no impact. bengals other wr's-laveranues coles,quan cosby,chris(jail time)henry(18ypc),ochocinco(18ypc),and jerome simpson from mighty coastal carolina. your boy(9ypc)2009 record 0-1
Raiders- 9 passing 1st downs. other wr's:darrius heyward-bay,johnnie lee higgins,nick miller,chaz schilens and jevon walker. he should be playing with that line up.te had more yds and as many catches. your boy = no impact. raiders 0-1
vikings- IMPACT PLAYER:peterson 25 for 180yds & 3td's. other wr's:bernard berrian,jaymar johnson,greg lewis,darvis regnaud, sidney rice. chester taylor 5 rec, HARVIN and some guy named visanthe shisincoe both had 3. what an impact.
sorry to be so long but your a clown. now go away.
UT is coming back. you dont like it. get over it. youre NON facts are dumb. HATER
UrbanCryer writes:
raiders leaders for 2009
http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/teams/s...
UrbanCryer writes:
bengals leaders for 2009
http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/teams/s...
Gators0608 writes:
We do have a great defense and great competition for playing time. We have a better reason to have hopes of winning Saturday. One of the Gaffney brothers told me that Alama Matthews will be one of the officials for the game Saturday. Al is from Jacksonville and he is a good friend of the Gaffney family.
GeneralNeylandsReturn writes:
Dang, maybe my Alma Mater should be paying you!
Have you sent in your resume?
If not, you just send it to:
Dr. J. Simek,
University of Tennessee
C/O Dr. J. Cheek
Office of Chancellor
Andy Holt Tower
University Blvd
Knoxville, TN 37996
If you send in an electronic copy, be sure to cc Mike Hamilton
Director: Department of Athletics
Here are the links:
chancellor@utk.edu
mhamilton@tennessee.edu
GeneralNeylandsReturn writes:
Have you sent in your resume?
If not, you just send it to:
Dr. J. Simek,
University of Tennessee
C/O Dr. J. Cheek
Office of Chancellor
Andy Holt Tower
University Blvd
Knoxville, TN 37996
If you send in an electronic copy, be sure to cc Mike Hamilton
Director: Department of Athletics
Here are the links:
chancellor@utk.edu
mhamilton@tennessee.edu
.
utvols420 writes:
With the news that Gerald Jones ran the wrong routes causing at least two of Crompton's INT's, I feel like John Adams should be benched by KNS. He obviously doesn't know as much about football as he should after calling for Crompton to be benched. He should feel stupid right now. We've all read columns where he was wrong before but to allow him to repeatedly make these mistakes over and over again is a shame. Don't you remember all the times he was wrong last year? There is only so much the other writers can do to keep KNS relevant. We need to recruit some big time west coast writer. Bench Adams!!!!!
JoeVols writes:
I saw John Adams wearing blue jean shorts the other day.. Just proves that he is a Tebow fan..
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