Gators Enter Bye Week Seeking Improvement on Defense
The UF defense must improve in the second half ot the season to avoid more losses such as Saturday's 45-35 home defeat against LSU. (Photo: Maddie Washburn/UAA Communications)
Monday, October 17, 2022

Gators Enter Bye Week Seeking Improvement on Defense

Arianna Allen, FloridaGators.com Writing Intern
The Gators look to reboot following a disappointing home loss to LSU on Saturday night.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Following the 45-35 loss to LSU on Saturday night, Gators linebacker Ventrell Miller headed into the locker room.

A loss naturally stings. A loss to a Southeastern Conference rival burns. Especially against one that has now won the last four meetings. 

Miller trudged into the disheartened UF postgame meeting after another strong individual performance, leading the Gators with 10 tackles. And as a veteran leader, the sixth-year senior went in with one thing in mind: to uplift his teammates in the wake of the Gators' third loss of the season.

Wide receiver Justin Shorter, who caught the first touchdown pass of the game, reflected on Miller's words when he met with reporters afterward. 

"He just told us that we needed to come together and come in and really just go back to the drawing board and come in every day and really work as hard as we can," Shorter said. 

The Gators have work to do, definitely on the defensive side entering their bye week. Florida ranks 77th nationally in scoring defense (28.1 points per game), 106th in total defense (429.3 yards per game), and dead last in third-down defense (131st), allowing opponents to convert 52.6 percent (51 of 97) on third down.
during the Gators game against the LSU Tigers on Saturday, October 15, 2022 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. / UAA Communications photo by Isabella Marley
Defensive lineman/linebacker Brenton Cox Jr. gets one of the few pressures on LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels in Saturday's loss. (Photo: Isabella Marley/UAA Communications)
The loss to LSU epitomized the season for UF's defense, highlighted by Daniels completing 23 of 32 passes for 349 yards and three scores. The Gators produced little pressure and had only one sack.

The Tigers marched down the field to score six touchdowns on their first six drives, and added a late field goal with transfer quarterback Jayden Daniels leading the way in LSU's victory at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. The Gators struggled throughout the night to contain the Tigers, who rolled up 528 yards of total offense. 

The Gators particularly stumbled on third down with LSU converting 8 of 12 third attempts. The Tigers punted only once in the whole game and that was in the fourth quarter. LSU was 2-for-2 on fourth-down attempts.
 
The LSU offense undoubtedly made it look easier than it should have been. UF head coach Billy Napier is well aware of the weakness that third-down poses for the defense. 

"We're not very good," Napier said.

What is contributing to the holes within the third-down defense? 

"I think it's a combination of everything," Napier said. "It's a combination of schematics, a combination of personnel, a combination of fundamentals, detail and assignment and individual matchups." 

This is not the first time that the Gators have struggled with executing defensive technicalities. The third-down defense has been a consistent issue within the last few weeks.

In the Week 3 loss at Tennessee, the Gators allowed the Vols to convert six of their nine third-down attempts. The Gators ultimately lost, 38-35.

In addition to the Gators struggling to stop an LSU defense that allowed Tennessee to score 40 points the previous week, there seemed to be minimal defensive rhythm. 

"I think that we're going to be sick when we watch this tape, that's what I can tell you," Napier said.

And although the defensive flaws were exposed on a national scale at a primetime game, there is belief and hope in the players within the locker room to grow from the performance. 

"I do believe that we've got a group that takes ownership of what they can do better," Napier said. "Players and coaches. I think we'll work hard to improve that for sure."

They have no choice. No. 1-ranked Georgia awaits after the bye week.

 
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