Changes on defense are likely after the Gators have given up 464 rushing yards in back-to-back losses against Alabama and LSU.
The stark regression from the beginning of the season, when Florida was one of the best in the nation against the run statistically, can be attributed mainly to missed tackles, coach Will Muschamp said Monday.
The team has worked extensively on technique since fall camp, even doing live tackling drills during game weeks to ready the defense. Still, it remains an issue, and Muschamp said there could be changes coming.
“If you don’t want to stick your face on somebody, [we will] find somebody else,” Muschamp said.
While it has been an issue across the board, Muschamp pointed to the secondary as the weakest link. He said tackling has been “a big problem” for the unit, especially against dominant running teams like Alabama and LSU.
“Have we worked on it? Yes. Have we worked on it enough? No, obviously not,” he said. “We’re going to look at some different guys to see if they’ll tackle better.”
After the loss to LSU on Saturday, Muschamp said tackling is a matter of desire.
“You either want to do it or you don’t,” he said. “[We have to] find guys who want to tackle.”
Linebacker Jelani Jenkins was pulled against LSU and replaced with freshman Michael Taylor, and three safeties saw work opposite Matt Elam, including little-used redshirt freshman Josh Shaw.
Changing scheme: Muschamp said the defense has been more successful when playing a one-gap technique, in which the defensive linemen attack the space between two offensive linemen, rather than the two-gap technique, where they must read the play and react to the blocking assignments.
“That’s something we haven’t played as well and something we may look at not playing as much of,” Muschamp said of the two-gap schemes.
Gillislee to get more work: One of the few bright spots from Saturday’s loss was the play of running back Mike Gillislee, who rushed nine times for a team-high 56 yards.
Muschamp said Monday that Gillislee would be in line for a larger role going forward.
“He’s one of the guys we realized that recognized the way we needed to play with some toughness,” Muschamp said. “We need to get him some more touches.”
Fellow running back Chris Rainey said he’s excited to see Gillislee receive more playing time.
“He brings a lot to the table,” Rainey said. “I love when he runs the ball. He’s probably going to be playing a lot more now, so I can’t wait to see that.”
Injury update: After leaving the LSU game early due to undisclosed injuries, defensive end Ronald Powell and safety Josh Evans should be ready for Saturday’s game against No. 24 Auburn, Muschamp said.
Running back Jeff Demps was also limited Saturday with an ankle injury, and quarterback Jeff Driskel (sprained ankle) was not in uniform.
Cornerback Jeremy Brown (sprained knee) remains out.
Contact Matt Watts at mwatts@alligator.org.
Florida coach Will Muschamp cited poor tackling as one of the main reasons the team struggled against the run in games against Alabama and LSU, when the defense allowed 464 rushing yards and two 100-yard rushers. Muschamp said changes in personnel could be on the horizon.
