Gators defense seeking a win and injury-free day
Saturday, November 5, 2011 | General, Football, Scott Carter
By the end of the Georgia game a week ago in Jacksonville, Florida's defense was trying to hang onto a slim lead but the Gators clearly were not at full strength.
Cornerback Cody Riggs was unavailable due to a wrist injury in the first half. As Georgia drove for the winning score, the only starting linebacker on the field for the Gators was Jon Bostic in the middle.
Regular starters Jelani Jenkins and Lerentee McCray both left due to injuries. TV replays showed Jenkins wobbly from a collision and McCray appeared to be favoring a shoulder. Darrin Kitchens and Michael Taylor replaced Jenkins and McCray in the lineup.
Georgia scored the winning touchdown on Richard Samuel's 4-yard run, capping a 9-play, 45-yard drive with Samuel getting most of the work running between the tackles.
Florida defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is hoping the Gators can bounce back today against Vanderbilt.
“You sensed a group of men that played extremely hard and fought hard,'' Quinn said of the Georgia game. “The thing I can take out of that is that you got to look at yourself as a player and know you competed as hard as you could. There's something to gain from that.”
Gators coach Will Muschamp said this week that he is hopeful the injured players can return today.
If McCray can't play, Quinn said Kitchens will replace him in the lineup. As for Riggs, Jaylen Watkins and Marcus Roberson started at cornerback against Georgia, so his return would provide valuable depth considering the Gators remain without Jeremy Brown, who has not played this season due to a knee injury suffered during camp.
Quinn considers the tough times the unit has faced of late a strong building block for the future considering the defense's youth.
“There are now guys who have been through some tough times as players and competitors. There is a sense that you can come out a little bit hardened from the experience and know that you got to compete and be on your stuff all the time,'' Quinn said. “That's the encouraging part that you like.”
