After finishing No. 113 in the NCAA with a minus-12 turnover margin last season, Florida ranks 14th nationally with a plus-seven margin so far in 2012.
Of the many explanations Gators players and coaches give for the shift, defensive tackle Omar Hunter’s is the simplest.
“Guys are trying extra hard, I guess,” Hunter said.
If only it were that simple.
“I wish it was,” defensive coordinator Dan Quinn said. “I would have told them to try harder earlier.”
One thing that hasn’t changed for UF is the focus coaches put on turnovers in practice.
Throughout the past two seasons, Quinn and coach Will Muschamp have harped on the importance of ball-hawking and using the pass rush to create takeaway opportunities.
“We’ve tried to emphasize it everywhere I’ve been,” Muschamp said. “We certainly didn’t do a good job last year.”
The Gators forced only 14 turnovers in 13 games last season, including just eight interceptions.
Through six games this season, Florida has 11 takeaways, including seven interceptions.
“We’re doing a little better job this year,” Muschamp said. “We’ve just got to continue to emphasize it. We talk about it every day.”
The Gators defense is more comfortable during its second season in the same system, leading to more takeaways.
Cornerback Jaylen Watkins said his second-quarter interception against Kentucky — when he jumped under Morgan Newton’s attempted slant pass and brought the pick back for a touchdown — was a play he would not have made last season.
His teammates have seen the same type of boost in Year 2.
“Being that this is our second year running this style of defense gave us an edge to play faster,” safety Josh Evans said. “Now guys know what they’re doing. We can actually play quicker in a game.”
Better knowledge of the system has also led to improved communication in the secondary. Players have a better understanding of where they have to line up in the formation, which frees them to make plays.
Evans also credited the secondary’s improvement to extra work in the film room. The ability to recognize a pass route as it is developing gives UF’s defensive backs extra time to get in position and make a play, Evans said.
While the coaches have emphasized turnovers since the beginning of last season, Quinn said the players have started to put more focus on generating takeaways.
“Although we emphasized it last year, maybe the players to each other are emphasizing it more,” Quinn said. “When another teammate’s telling you and reminding you, maybe that’s a little different. … When it comes from a player or another teammate, I think that adds value.”
Linebacker Jon Bostic said Florida’s opponents also factor in the shift.
Teams are attempting 35 passes per game against UF this season, compared to only 26.2 per game last year.
“Offenses are playing a lot more aggressive than they were last year,” Bostic said. “They have to put the ball in the air and do a lot of different things to win games.”
For the second season in a row, UF coaches are emphasizing attacking the ball in the air and going for a strip once the first defender has the ball carrier wrapped up.
In 2012, the results of that work are finally starting to show.
“We practice every day on creating turnovers,” Hunter said. “It’s just carrying over to the game.”
Contact Greg Luca at gluca@alligator.org.
Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn looks on during Florida’s 14-6 win against LSU on Oct. 6 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Quinn and coach Will Muschamp have put an emphasis on forcing turnovers.
