Will Muschamp constantly gives his cornerbacks high-risk, high-stress assignments.
They work alone, desperate to keep a receiver occupied long enough for Florida’s pass rush to invade the backfield. Not only do they shoulder the responsibility of man-to-man coverage with little or no safety net, they are playing bump-and-run at the line of scrimmage and chasing receivers downfield without an eye on the quarterback.
More often than not, corners such as Loucheiz Purifoy, Jaylen Watkins and Marcus Roberson are winning those battles. As No. 6 Florida prepares for its final game of the regular season, a trip to No. 10 Florida State on Saturday (3:30 p.m., ABC), it leads the nation in pass efficiency defense.
“We put a lot of pressure on our guys, and our guys rise up and make plays,” Muschamp said of his corners. “If people understood how much pressure we put on our guys, they’d probably be a little more understanding every now and then about a pass interference call.”
Every pass interference penalty is frustrating, but UF tolerates many of them as simply the cost of its playing style. The Gators (10-1) emphasize denying short passes and pressuring the backfield. Muschamp said that is their plan — as opposed to playing back and leaving space underneath the coverage — at least 80 percent of the time.
If that means defensive backs commit pass interference or defensive holding, which they have done 12 times (three were declined), so be it.
“Sometimes it’s a bang-bang play,” Muschamp said. “That’s where I get frustrated sometimes when people complain about pass interference. Well, you know, the way we play, sometimes there is contact. That’s part of the deal.”
Roberson and Purifoy have been flagged three times each, though two of Roberson’s were declined. Watkins has been caught once.
The tradeoff: Roberson is second in the SEC with 11 pass break-ups, Watkins is sixth with eight and Purifoy has five. Watkins also leads UF with three interceptions. The Gators are 13th in the country with 63 passes broken up or intercepted.
Because those corners are dependable, Florida can utilize a variety of blitzes and schemes without worrying about receivers running free.
“There’s a lot of blitzing, so we’re always in bump-and-runs and he puts us on an island by ourselves,” Purifoy said. “He’s got us out there to make plays.”
When Muschamp arrived last year, cornerback was arguably the most questionable position on defense. There were clear starters in line almost everywhere else, but UF was so light at corner that Purifoy and Roberson broke into the lineup as true freshmen.
Those two made substantial strides, and defensive coordinator Dan Quinn called Watkins, a junior, one of the most improved players on the team.
That group will be tested extensively Saturday in a game that will determine Florida’s post-season destination. The Gators are fourth in the BCS standings and, if they win, they can get into the national championship game with help.
Florida State (10-1) stands in the way with one of the best passing attacks in the ACC. The Seminoles have six players with at least 20 catches and average 281.5 passing yards.
Florida’s pass defense is No. 19 nationally at 185.8 yards allowed per game. The Gators have held opponents to 17 completions or fewer in seven of their past eight game, and their relentless cornerbacks have been vital.
“It’s very difficult, especially against some of the skilled people we’ve played against,” Muschamp said. “It’s not that we ask them to do a lot of stuff, but we ask them to do a very difficult job.”
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