A reincarnation is breeding.
At least according to defensive end Carlos Dunlap. After the defense, and especially the line and secondary, struggled last season with youth, inexperience and injuries, the Gators have a message for the rest of the nation: They're back.
"We're going to be just like the national championship line," Dunlap said. "That's what you can look for."
Dunlap said the line should be "two, possibly three times better" than last season. If that lofty goal happens, Tim Tebow will barely have time for a sip of Gatorade as the defense will constantly get the Gators juggernaut offense back on the field.
"Everyone says we're the weakest," he said. "So we're working to be one of the strongest."
The defensive line is certainly one of the areas of biggest improvement, but rifts can be seen throughout the defense.
Backup linebacker Lorenzo Edwards, who barely played last season after coming in as the No. 1 ranked weak-side linebacker by Scout.com, said he doesn't have a choice on whether he actually makes an impact this year.
"It has to be," he said. "I have to produce. …I don't have any choice."
And neither does UF's defense. Bottom line: It's time to put up or shut up.
But just like last year with a laundry list of first-year starters, it'll be much of the same this year. Defensive end Jermaine Cunningham, linebackers Brandon Spikes and Dustin Doe, defensive backs Joe Haden and Major Wright and tackle Javier Estopinan (if healthy) are the only ones that have probably nailed down starting roles. The rest - while many do have experience - have not had starting roles.
Even Wright and Haden are only sophomores, and they're already viewed as leaders for the developing defense.
"It goes from me being young to having to grow up a lot," Wright said.
More than just Wright is going to have to grow up. While Dunlap's pass rushing abilities have been compared to former Gator and NFL first-round draft pick Derrick Harvey, his run defense isn't as solid. Beside Estopinan, that pretty much goes for the whole line. After Estopinan tore his ACL last season, UF's rush defense was noticeably weaker.
"Everything starts in the trenches," Dunlap said. "If the trenches perform well, then the offense will perform well, and the defense will put points on the board also."
POUNCEY EXPLAINS INCIDENT
Offensive lineman Maurkice Pouncey was cited for an open alcohol container violation on July 20. He has paid his fine and the case is closed, but he said he's having to run extra sprints after practice for "as long as the coaching staff wants."
"I made a mistake," he said. "I just want to tell everyone I'm sorry… It'll never happen again."
The sophomore was in the passenger seat, but since it was registered to him he was blamed for the incident. The can of Natural Light beer was empty, but any open container is a violation.
Coach Urban Meyer has only had praise for Pouncey since arriving on campus, and he started every game at guard after losing tackle Phil Trautwein for the season. Pouncey should be fine to start the season as the starting center.
BACKUP QB SPOT UP FOR GRABS AGAIN:
It's the same story for Cameron Newton and John Brantley.
Last season the two were vying for the backup spot behind Tim Tebow, with Newton eventually winning out.
Now, same story, different chapter. Meyer said he probably won't name a backup until right before the season, but he has said in the past they're grooming Brantley to eventually be a starter at UF.
Either way, the two are used to it by now.
"Every play, every minute it's being under the telescope," Newton said. "This battle is not taking nothing out of our friendship. That's my buddy."
They don't forget that it is a battle, though.
"I respect him as a friend the same way as a player," Newton said. "Off the field we're buddies. On the field we're still buddies, but we're competing for an assigned spot. He understands that, and I understand that."
