Florida Gators
Gator Fall Classic (Day 1)
Gators sophomore Ronald Powell seeks to build on performance against Vols
Thursday, September 22, 2011 | Football, Women's Tennis, Scott Carter
Gators defensive coordinator Dan Quinn wanted to see more out of hybrid linebacker/defensive end Ronald Powell in the Tennessee game.
Powell had five tackles and a sack in the first two games, but with Quinn moving him to an outside rushing position he calls “buck” in Florida's new defensive scheme – think of the way Jason Taylor plays for the Dolphins – he wanted to see Powell introduce himself to Vols quarterback Tyler Bray regularly.
Quinn and Powell spent extra time together in the film room to get Powell ready for the assignment. Whatever they watched and talked about seemed to help as Powell finished with two tackles, half a sack, two quarterback hurries, and a pass break-up against the Vols.
“Played his best game out of the first three, got some really good pressure,'' Florida coach Will Muschamp said. “More than anything he played fast, played physical, and that's what we're needing out of him. He certainly had it in him.''
Powell forced both of Bray's interceptions with heavy pressure. Powell approached the challenge with confidence.
“I had a good week of preparation and a good week of practice,'' he said. “I just took it from there and played the way I can play. There is more to come.''
The biggest adjustment Powell made was a less-is-more approach. He thought about what he had to do less and focused more on playing aggressively.
“It was just taking it from the classroom to the field and just going without thinking,'' he said.
The teacher was pleased with Powell's performance and hopes to see a similar one on Saturday at Kentucky.
“I thought that he got off the ball a lot quicker. I really thought some of the hesitant, the waiting and the thinking that we saw in the first two ball games, we didn't see that quite as much,'' Quinn said. “I thought it was a little bit of that light coming on and telling somebody exactly what you want and then have him go out and do it. I think that was a good step for him, a really good step.''
