Coordinator Brent Pease called the offensive line the Gators’ strongest unit. It’s time for the big men to flex their muscles.
LSU’s defense may boast the best front four that Florida will face in 2012.
UF’s front five are the primary protection separating quarterback Jeff Driskel from multiple trips to the ground in The Swamp on Saturday.
“We know about their speed rushers,” Driskel said. “They’re going to get in there quick. ... Our line is ready for the challenge.”
“[LSU’s defensive linemen are] the guys that take out so much of the coverage situation because they get to you so fast,” Pease said.
“It’s not that maybe they’re sacking you all the time, but it’s just moving you around in the pocket. When you start having to move, your eyes become different as a quarterback on where you’re trying to focus and throwing on time and rhythm. It’s disruptive.”
The Tigers’ defensive line includes ends Barkevious Mingo, Sam Montgomery, Lavar Edwards and Jermauria Rasco.
Bennie Logan, Anthony Johnson, Josh Downs and Ego Ferguson rotate at tackle.
Mingo and Montgomery each earned first-team spots on the All-Southeastern Conference preseason squad. Logan was a third-team selection.
LSU’s eight defensive linemen have impressed in 2012, contributing to the nation’s No. 4 total defense.
The big men have combined for 23.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, 16 quarterback hurries and a safety in five games.
Despite the Tigers’ impressive numbers this season, center Jonotthan Harrison feels his unit can slow them down.
“We’re going against some better athletes, but we, especially as an offensive line, we’ve come a far ways from last year,” Harrison said. “We’re more meshed as a unit. We’ve been working this whole offseason for a situation like this.”
While Florida has surrendered only three sacks in two games since giving up eight against Texas A&M on Sept. 8, LSU’s pass rush presents a stiffer test.
As a result, coach Will Muschamp plans to make sure Driskel is not as vulnerable should UF’s protection break down.
“They’re a difficult group to block,” Muschamp said. “(You have) got to get the ball out of your hand and stay multiple in what you do. You can’t get in a one-dimensional game. You’ve got to change the launch point on the quarterback as much as you can.”
“You’ve got to kind of move him around,” Pease said.
“You’ve got to sprint out. You’ve got to roll him a little bit. You’ve got to kind of change where he’s going to be so they can’t zero in.”
If switching up the launch point does not work, Driskel will have to do what he has done all season: scramble out of the pocket to try to make a play.
Driskel’s dual-threat style has called for a sharper awareness by the offensive line, Harrison said.
“If we’ve seen the D-linemen change direction of their rush, then we have to be alert and say, ‘OK, maybe Jeff is rolling out, so we just need to keep protecting,’” Harrison said.
“It just emphasizes the fact that we need to protect as long as possible and not just give up or take a break on one play.”
Since Muschamp called the Gators “soft” late last season, the offensive line has worked to shed that label.
Harrison believes LSU’s defense will reveal how far Florida’s offensive line has come since 2011.
“The whole season, [Muschamp] said he wants to increase the physicality of our team because we’re going to be a hard-nosed football team,” Harrison said. “As long as we get out there and we’re physical and mentally sharp, we’ll be a successful team.”
Contact Joe Morgan at joemorgan@alligator.org.
Junior center Jonotthan Harrison (72) waits to snap the ball to sophomore Jeff Driskel (6) during Florida's 38-0 win against Kentucky at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Sept. 22.
