Florida’s biggest weakness on defense last season was an inability to stop dual-threat quarterbacks. Even after a hot start to this season , the Gators are yet to prove they can keep a mobile signal caller under wraps.
Their next test is Saturday, when Florida plays at Vanderbilt (6 pm., ESPNU).
Commodores quarterback Jordan Rodgers is the first in a string of mobile quarterbacks the Gators will face the rest of the season.
Of the five major-conference opponents remaining on UF’s schedule, Georgia’s Aaron Murray is the only quarterback gaining fewer than 35 yards per game on the ground.
“Certainly it’s a challenge when you play a mobile quarterback,” defensive coordinator Dan Quinn said. “That dual-threat is something we have to work hard on in practice.”
Florida faced many of the same challenges last season, and the results weren’t pretty. Murray rushed for 53 yards against the Gators, South Carolina’s Connor Shaw gained 93 with two touchdowns and Florida’s State’s EJ Manuel gained 28. All three will play Florida in the season’s final six games.
Rodgers presented a challenge for UF last year, throwing for 297 yards and two scores while picking up another 20 and a touchdown on the ground in Vanderbilt’s 26-21 loss.
“We certainly have a lot of respect for the way Rodgers can run,” Quinn said. “Having seen him do it against us, I don’t think you have to tell anybody on our club that we know this guy can run. They certainly saw it, and we need to do a better job against that.”
Quinn said one of the keys on defense was to do a better job of setting the edge — making sure the quarterback can’t roll out of the pocket.
Maintaining discipline in pass-rush lanes became an issue against Texas A&M on Sept. 8. Freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel, making his first career start, threw for 141 yards and ran for another 41 in the first half. He finished with 173 passing yards and 60 rushing yards.
Still, cornerback Jaylen Watkins feels the Gators have corrected the problem.
“It was just discipline issues last year,” Watkins said. “I’m not really worried about it this year. I trust our front to contain Rodgers.”
About the Author
