Gators defensive coordinator Todd Grantham talks to defensive back Tre'Vez Johnson during Saturday's win in Tampa over USF. (Photo: Anissa Dimilta/UAA Communications)
The Opening Kickoff (Part I): Gators Defensive Coordinator Todd Grantham, 5 Questions
Monday, September 13, 2021 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The offensive fireworks on display last December in Atlanta when Florida and Alabama met in the SEC Championship Game made smash-mouth football enthusiasts of yesteryear cover their eyes.
The teams combined for 98 points, 1,067 yards and 59 first downs. Alabama prevailed, 52-46, and when the Gators met with reporters on Monday, naturally they were asked about their memories from that game nine months ago.
Multiple Gators said they used that loss as motivation heading into the 2021 season.
"It stung,'' linebacker Mohamoud Diabate said. "We didn't like that, being there and losing."
With the No. 1-ranked Crimson Tide (2-0) visiting Florida Field for the first time in 10 years on Saturday afternoon, the 11th-ranked Gators (2-0) get their shot at redemption in the SEC opener for both teams.
Both quarterbacks from last year's game — Kyle Trask and Mac Jones — are now NFL rookies. So are many of the skill players who made big plays, including former Gators tight end Kyle Pitts and Alabama running back Najee Harris, who scored five touchdowns for the Crimson Tide.
Diabate is still around, though, and is eager for another shot at Alabama. The Gators seek a different result, and if Diabate could write the script, the game won't resemble the one we watched last year.
"It was a weird feeling, just being a defensive guy,'' he said after Monday night's practice. "I'd rather have a 10-7 ballgame."
Not everyone shares Diabate's viewpoint, but one who probably does is Gators defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, tasked with slowing down Alabama's high-powered offense led by sophomore quarterback Bryce Young.
Grantham met with reporters on Monday night and here is a Q&A with the veteran defensive coordinator:
5 QUESTIONS WITH TODD GRANTHAM
Q: What have you noticed about Bryce Young that makes him a dangerous quarterback?
A: First of all, he's a very talented guy. He can make all the throws, he has the ability to throw it to field one, you know, from the far hash. Does a really good job of keeping his eyes down the field on the routes as they continue to develop, and he doesn't really look at the rush. That really doesn't affect him that way. And he's able to, you know, avoid—and he doesn't necessarily maybe look to scramble to run, as opposed to scramble to extend the play to get the ball down the field. He's good in protections, understanding where the looks are coming from and things like that. So for a young guy, he's really developed and probably ahead of his age, per se.
Q: What is an area of emphasis for the defense heading into this game?
A: I think the biggest thing there is understanding that, you know, you got to kind of ignore the noise from the standpoint of, it's gonna be a great environment, a lot of energy, but it's all about execution; executing the call, executing your technique and really being able to play within yourself to go do the things that we need you to do from a standpoint of playing good defense, which would be making sure that you have proper leverage on the guys you're supposed to cover. You're in the deep part of the field when you got to be in the deep part of the field, and you guys communicate the shifts and the motions, and make sure that we're on the same page on both sides of the ball.
Q: Where does the defense need to grow after two games?
A: Obviously, Alabama's an upgrade. I think our guys have really — when you go out and look at the goals that we have through the first three quarters — those guys have done that. I think these games have given us the opportunity to play a lot of guys. When you go back and look in the second half, Brenton Cox, Kaiir Elam, Zach Carter didn't play in the second half of [the USF] game and honestly, that was by choice just to get other guys reps — we felt like we were in control of the game — to give us some depth we need moving forward. I like the way our guys work. I like our energy. I think we're moving along pretty good. I like the way we adjusted during the game, what we saw, maybe some things the newer guys haven't been exposed to that rapidly. They were able to adjust and make some plays.
Q: What is your assessment of Brenton Cox Jr. early in the season?
A: He's graded out a winner the last two games. He's done a good job of setting the edge in the run game. If you go back and look at some of the rushes, he's had some good rushes. You have a choice to make as a quarterback. Do I take this sack or this hit, or do I get rid of this ball pretty quickly. So, some of those incompletions and things that have happened have been the product of Brenton with his pass rush. Those things will come. Like I said, he didn't play the second half of that game and he honestly didn't play in the first game I think past the second series. I think the guy's working his tail off and I think as he moves forward through the season we're going to see the kind of play you're expecting.
Q: Khris Bogle committed to Alabama late in the process, but what did you and your staff do to get him on board on signing day?
A: You know, I've got a pretty good record of recruiting and developing outside 'backers and doing that myself. So I mean, basically being able to show him how we would play you, how we would develop you, and how you fit in our program with where we are right now. So, I think it was pretty easy to be honest with you.
The teams combined for 98 points, 1,067 yards and 59 first downs. Alabama prevailed, 52-46, and when the Gators met with reporters on Monday, naturally they were asked about their memories from that game nine months ago.
Multiple Gators said they used that loss as motivation heading into the 2021 season.
"It stung,'' linebacker Mohamoud Diabate said. "We didn't like that, being there and losing."
GAME WEEK! #GoGators pic.twitter.com/tbG1yELLcl
— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) September 13, 2021
With the No. 1-ranked Crimson Tide (2-0) visiting Florida Field for the first time in 10 years on Saturday afternoon, the 11th-ranked Gators (2-0) get their shot at redemption in the SEC opener for both teams.
Both quarterbacks from last year's game — Kyle Trask and Mac Jones — are now NFL rookies. So are many of the skill players who made big plays, including former Gators tight end Kyle Pitts and Alabama running back Najee Harris, who scored five touchdowns for the Crimson Tide.
Diabate is still around, though, and is eager for another shot at Alabama. The Gators seek a different result, and if Diabate could write the script, the game won't resemble the one we watched last year.
"It was a weird feeling, just being a defensive guy,'' he said after Monday night's practice. "I'd rather have a 10-7 ballgame."
Not everyone shares Diabate's viewpoint, but one who probably does is Gators defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, tasked with slowing down Alabama's high-powered offense led by sophomore quarterback Bryce Young.
Grantham met with reporters on Monday night and here is a Q&A with the veteran defensive coordinator:
5 QUESTIONS WITH TODD GRANTHAM
Q: What have you noticed about Bryce Young that makes him a dangerous quarterback?
A: First of all, he's a very talented guy. He can make all the throws, he has the ability to throw it to field one, you know, from the far hash. Does a really good job of keeping his eyes down the field on the routes as they continue to develop, and he doesn't really look at the rush. That really doesn't affect him that way. And he's able to, you know, avoid—and he doesn't necessarily maybe look to scramble to run, as opposed to scramble to extend the play to get the ball down the field. He's good in protections, understanding where the looks are coming from and things like that. So for a young guy, he's really developed and probably ahead of his age, per se.
Q: What is an area of emphasis for the defense heading into this game?
A: I think the biggest thing there is understanding that, you know, you got to kind of ignore the noise from the standpoint of, it's gonna be a great environment, a lot of energy, but it's all about execution; executing the call, executing your technique and really being able to play within yourself to go do the things that we need you to do from a standpoint of playing good defense, which would be making sure that you have proper leverage on the guys you're supposed to cover. You're in the deep part of the field when you got to be in the deep part of the field, and you guys communicate the shifts and the motions, and make sure that we're on the same page on both sides of the ball.
Q: Where does the defense need to grow after two games?
A: Obviously, Alabama's an upgrade. I think our guys have really — when you go out and look at the goals that we have through the first three quarters — those guys have done that. I think these games have given us the opportunity to play a lot of guys. When you go back and look in the second half, Brenton Cox, Kaiir Elam, Zach Carter didn't play in the second half of [the USF] game and honestly, that was by choice just to get other guys reps — we felt like we were in control of the game — to give us some depth we need moving forward. I like the way our guys work. I like our energy. I think we're moving along pretty good. I like the way we adjusted during the game, what we saw, maybe some things the newer guys haven't been exposed to that rapidly. They were able to adjust and make some plays.
Q: What is your assessment of Brenton Cox Jr. early in the season?
A: He's graded out a winner the last two games. He's done a good job of setting the edge in the run game. If you go back and look at some of the rushes, he's had some good rushes. You have a choice to make as a quarterback. Do I take this sack or this hit, or do I get rid of this ball pretty quickly. So, some of those incompletions and things that have happened have been the product of Brenton with his pass rush. Those things will come. Like I said, he didn't play the second half of that game and he honestly didn't play in the first game I think past the second series. I think the guy's working his tail off and I think as he moves forward through the season we're going to see the kind of play you're expecting.
Q: Khris Bogle committed to Alabama late in the process, but what did you and your staff do to get him on board on signing day?
A: You know, I've got a pretty good record of recruiting and developing outside 'backers and doing that myself. So I mean, basically being able to show him how we would play you, how we would develop you, and how you fit in our program with where we are right now. So, I think it was pretty easy to be honest with you.
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