JACKSONVILLE — On a pivotal third-and-7 play just before halftime of Florida's victory against Ohio State on Monday, defensive tackle Jaye Howard tore through the middle of the Buckeyes line and wrapped up quarterback Braxton Miller.
Howard threw Miller to the ground like a ragdoll, forcing a loss of 11 yards and preventing Ohio State from a shot at the end zone and a tie game at the half.
"I had a lot of frustration," Howard said. "[Former Florida coach] Urban (Meyer) brought it out of me today."
The vicious play was just one of a season-high six sacks on the afternoon for the Gators defense, which was as dominant as it has been on the line of scrimmage all season.
"We emphasized it during the three-week period that we prepared for this game," Howard said of getting after the quarterback. "We got extra reps at pass-rushing. We got an extra period at practice just to pass rush. It paid off today."
Howard, a senior, finished with 4.5 tackles and 1.5 sacks. He also got involved in another in the first quarter, when Howard and sophomore Sharrif Floyd combined to sack Miller.
Floyd moved inside to defensive tackle for the bowl game after fellow tackle Dominique Easley tore his ACL in the FSU game, and he was effective in his more natural position. Floyd recorded a solo sack on Ohio State's first series before combining with Howard to bring down Miller on the next play.
"Our defense, we always had it there, we just never really brought it together until a couple games ago," Floyd said. "Either we was down in one spot or really didn't understand another spot, but at the end of the day we brought it together and played as one. And we played with some excitement."
Florida coach Will Muschamp said defensive coordinator Dan Quinn did a good job scheming for Miller and his mobility, and added that the defense benefitted from putting Ohio State into likely pass scenarios.
"No question a game changing, momentum changing six sacks, 12 tackles for a loss," Muschamp said. "We're doing a better job of playing blocks up front, although we didn't at times in the first half."
Muschamp compared Miller to former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who also made plays with his legs as a mobile quarterback, saying, "We had to do some things to create edges and not let him escape as much."
The Gators were effective in that regard, as several of Florida's sacks were coverage sacks, when Miller held onto the ball too long because there wasn't an open option in the passing game.
Oft criticized defensive end/linebacker Ronald Powell, who came to Florida as the nation's top recruit but hasn't lived up to expectations, said Monday's win signified the coming together of the defense.
"It wasn't no one guy thing, it was us as a system," he said. "It wasn't just the d-line, it wasn't just the corners, it was all of us as a group."
Powell had two tackles and a sack to finish the season with six. But he led the team this season and Florida recorded just 28 sacks on the year, which is not in the top 50 in the nation.
"We definitely said this is going to be our opening for next season, steps through for us," Powell said. "Good thing we got the win, so the only way is up."
Contact Matt Watts at mwatts@alligator.org.
Florida defensive end/linebacker Ronald Powell was one of five Gators to sack Buckeyes freshman quarterback Braxton Miller during Monday's Gator Bowl.
