OrangeCrush18
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September 12. 2004 6:01AM
First test for secondary
By Robbie Andreu
Sun sports writer
andreur@gvillesun.com
The dropped interceptions and big passing plays given up by this rookie Florida secondary certainly were somewhat startling and disturbing Saturday. Yet, in a way, totally expected.
An untested secondary is not going to grow up in one quarter, one half, one game. No matter how fast and athletic the players. No matter the opponent, whether it's Eastern Michigan or Tennessee.
Saturday's performance was spotty at times, worrisome at others, but also encouraging. And it is simply this: A starting point in a maturation process that's going to play out over the course of the season.
Everyone knew that this Florida secondary probably would have some problems early in the season as the four new starters (and rookie secondary coach Dan Disch) felt their way and gained experience. This is a secondary with a big upside, with lots of potential, but it's going to have to play to reach it. It's going to take time, with improvement coming in small increments at times, by leaps at other times.
Just like the front seven a year ago (which is now a team strength), this is a secondary that will improve over the course of the season.
If you ask Ron Zook if he's worried about his secondary, he'll give you an emphatic "no." Because these guys were better in the second half Saturday than in the first half. They're better today than they were yesterday.
The secondary is no longer untested. It has played and now the growth process begins. Eastern Michigan certainly isn't anywhere near the challenge Tennessee will be in Knoxville on Saturday night. Or what lies down the road in the demanding SEC schedule. But it's a beginning.
In the first half of Saturday's game, the Florida defensive backs played exactly the way you would expect four or five or six new starters to play.
Cornerback Dee Webb dropped two interceptions, was beaten on a deep ball and missed a tackle that set EMU wide receiver Eric Deslauriers free for the Eagles' only touchdown.
Reynaldo Hill appeared tentative.
Even the old men in the group - safeties Jarvis Herring and Cory Bailey - were uncertain at times and had trouble making plays.
The problems were reflected in the halftime stats. EMU quarterback Matt Bohnet, who ran more times than he passed a week ago against Buffalo, completed 16 of 25 passes for 184 yards and a touchdown and looked about as efficient as a quarterback can.
The way things were going, it looked as if the Eagles might even have a chance to stay in the game and make things scary in the second half.
But as the Gator lead grew in the second half, so did the confidence - and level of play - in the secondary.
The Gators did a better job of crowding the EMU receivers and breaking on the ball. And for most of the second half, the EMU passing game was nowhere near the factor it had been in the first half. The Eagles passed for only 17 yards in the second half.
Is the secondary ready to take on Tennessee? The answer is, it is more ready than it was before Saturday's victory.
For this inexperienced secondary, the game plan has not changed.
The coaches will try to keep it out of difficult situations and give it help from what should be a terrific front seven as it matures over the course of the season.
"This secondary is going to be very good," Bailey said. "The plays we should have made today . . . we'll make those from now on. We're going to be a big-play secondary."
:nono: :nono: :nono:
First test for secondary
By Robbie Andreu
Sun sports writer
andreur@gvillesun.com
The dropped interceptions and big passing plays given up by this rookie Florida secondary certainly were somewhat startling and disturbing Saturday. Yet, in a way, totally expected.
An untested secondary is not going to grow up in one quarter, one half, one game. No matter how fast and athletic the players. No matter the opponent, whether it's Eastern Michigan or Tennessee.
Saturday's performance was spotty at times, worrisome at others, but also encouraging. And it is simply this: A starting point in a maturation process that's going to play out over the course of the season.
Everyone knew that this Florida secondary probably would have some problems early in the season as the four new starters (and rookie secondary coach Dan Disch) felt their way and gained experience. This is a secondary with a big upside, with lots of potential, but it's going to have to play to reach it. It's going to take time, with improvement coming in small increments at times, by leaps at other times.
Just like the front seven a year ago (which is now a team strength), this is a secondary that will improve over the course of the season.
If you ask Ron Zook if he's worried about his secondary, he'll give you an emphatic "no." Because these guys were better in the second half Saturday than in the first half. They're better today than they were yesterday.
The secondary is no longer untested. It has played and now the growth process begins. Eastern Michigan certainly isn't anywhere near the challenge Tennessee will be in Knoxville on Saturday night. Or what lies down the road in the demanding SEC schedule. But it's a beginning.
In the first half of Saturday's game, the Florida defensive backs played exactly the way you would expect four or five or six new starters to play.
Cornerback Dee Webb dropped two interceptions, was beaten on a deep ball and missed a tackle that set EMU wide receiver Eric Deslauriers free for the Eagles' only touchdown.
Reynaldo Hill appeared tentative.
Even the old men in the group - safeties Jarvis Herring and Cory Bailey - were uncertain at times and had trouble making plays.
The problems were reflected in the halftime stats. EMU quarterback Matt Bohnet, who ran more times than he passed a week ago against Buffalo, completed 16 of 25 passes for 184 yards and a touchdown and looked about as efficient as a quarterback can.
The way things were going, it looked as if the Eagles might even have a chance to stay in the game and make things scary in the second half.
But as the Gator lead grew in the second half, so did the confidence - and level of play - in the secondary.
The Gators did a better job of crowding the EMU receivers and breaking on the ball. And for most of the second half, the EMU passing game was nowhere near the factor it had been in the first half. The Eagles passed for only 17 yards in the second half.
Is the secondary ready to take on Tennessee? The answer is, it is more ready than it was before Saturday's victory.
For this inexperienced secondary, the game plan has not changed.
The coaches will try to keep it out of difficult situations and give it help from what should be a terrific front seven as it matures over the course of the season.
"This secondary is going to be very good," Bailey said. "The plays we should have made today . . . we'll make those from now on. We're going to be a big-play secondary."
:nono: :nono: :nono:
