In his first season at Florida, new defensive coordinator Geoff Collins may arguably have the easiest job taking over a unit out of any new coordinator in the country.
Collins inherits a defense that returns seven starters from last season — a unit that finished ranked 15th nationally in total defense.
Luckily for Collins and the defense, the system that was ran last year is very similar to what Collins is installing. The only real difference comes with terminology.
“We’ll look through and see ‘this is what has been called in the past, here’s how it was different,’” Collins said. “... It’s kind of teaching them a new language.”
Instead of identifying key roles in the depth chart, Collins said that the staff is trying to rep as many different personnel groups together as possible, in order to simulate game like situations when injuries could likely occur.
“(We’re) just trying to figure out what the best matchup is when they’re together what the best chemistry is,” Collins said. “And so, on Saturdays when we’re rolling through guys or a possible injury may happen, they’re used to communicating with the different guys that they’ve played with throughout the spring.”
The one position that is severely lacking depth this spring is at linebacker, which lost Mike Taylor and Neiron Ball after last season. The lone returning starter, Antonio Morrison, is recovering from a knee injury he suffered during the Birmingham Bowl in January. Collins said Daniel McMillian and Alex Anzalone have done an admirable job early on in practice.
“The guys have kind of rallied around them because they can get along with any kid on the team,” Collins said. “They understand the defense, they know how to make the calls, they do it with confidence.”
Another big void that needs filling is replacing Dante Fowler Jr. at the buck linebacker position. Collins had high praise for redshirt junior Alex McCalister stepping into the role.
“He’s going to catch your attention and the way he worked in the offseason and what he’s done in the first four or five practices has been really positive,” Collins said.
There are without a doubt high expectations for this unit heading into 2015.
But for Collins and the Gators defense, those high hopes are embraced to the fullest.
“We want to be one of the best defenses in the country. The big thing, though, is to work with that every single day to make sure that those expectations are something that if we don't work at it, then it's not going to happen,” Collins said.
Follow Morgan Moriarty on Twitter @Morgan_Moriarty
Alex McCalister celebrates with Dante Fowler Jr. after a sack during Florida's 30-27 loss to LSU on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
