Despite sporting a collection of highly touted recruits it would be an understatement to say the Gators defense struggled last season.
UF allowed over 250 yards passing per game last season en route to allowing 25.5 points per game. A lack of leadership appeared to be the key to the Gators defensive woes.
"A lot of people will tell you it's talent," said tight end Tate Casey, when asked what happens when a team begins to resemble a champion. "I don't think that's it. When you look at us, you can tell there's talent. The talent is there. That's never the issue between a non-championship team and a championship team. The two main things, one would be discipline and the second thing would be leadership."
The Gators certainly lacked leadership on defense as they introduced nine new starters following the exit of the core members of the 2006 national championship team.
The influx of new starters led to a dearth in the understanding of each player's role and accountability. Junior linebacker Brandon Spikes is now taking the mantle of leadership in the same fashion his predecessor, Brandon Siler, did.
"On our defense we try to hold everybody accountable, but he's like the voice," fellow linebacker Dustin Doe said. "He's the vocal leader on the defense, and the linebackers are like the quarterbacks of the defense."
Improved leadership from Spikes as well as improved camaraderie among the entire unit has led to the defense dubbing itself the "wolf pack."
"(Assistant coach Steve Addazio) put up a quote that said, 'The strength is in the pack and the pack is the strength,' so we just try to hold everyone accountable," Doe said. "We know that we're only as strong as the person beside us. We're trying to make everybody better."
Doe has done more than just use words, too, as the junior has grown his beard out over the summer.
"I'm wolfing right now," Doe said with a laugh.
Taking the time to bond off the field has been instrumental to growth on the field. According to players and coaches, there were several fights in practice last season, which illustrated just how disconnected the team was.
Several cliques formed within the team, something strength and conditioning coach Mickey Marotti attempted to nip in the bud.
"Coach Mick would always say, 'Hey, I always see you with these guys,'" cornerback Joe Haden said. "One thing we've tried to do is hang out with guys we probably would never hang out with before."
If you ask members of the Gators defense what the keys to improvement this season are, one of the first things you will hear is improved chemistry, rather than anything schematic.
Fourth-year coach Urban Meyer certainly has noticed the difference in his team. Meyer said he knew early on that the 2007 incarnation of the Gators didn't have what it took to win championships.
While he won't say if this team has the capability, he does say he is happy with the group.
"This is a much different team," Meyer said. "And I'm proud to say that this (team) is not even close."
