GAINESVILLE — As much as Florida’s defensive players want to get on the field to exact some physical punishment on an opponent, the Gators also recognize the importance of their defense getting off the field as quickly as possible.
Such is the case Saturday when No. 24 Florida hosts 22nd-ranked South Carolina at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at 6:15 p.m. CST in a Southeastern Conference matchup. The team that emerges victorious clinches the Eastern Division title and a berth in the SEC Championship scheduled for Dec. 4 in Atlanta. Both squads are 6-3 overall and 4-3 in the conference.
South Carolina ranks fifth in the country in third-down efficiency on offense, converting first downs on 52.7 percent of its snaps on third down. Florida’s defense has been respectable stopping teams in that situation, ranking third in the SEC at 35.5 percent, a mark that also rates 28th nationally.
“We put a lot of emphasis on third downs and getting off the field and getting the offense the ball,” UF linebacker Jelani Jenkins said. “We’re cleaning up our assignments on every play we have and trying to make it so that we can go three-and-out more.”
The Gamecocks’ success on third downs can be attributed to the team’s offensive balance. Running back Marcus Lattimore is a hard-nosed runner who either bounces off would-be tacklers or runs over them. Quarterback Stephen Garcia has a stable of sure-handed receivers to look for downfield, but he also possesses the ability to scramble for yards when defensive containment breaks down.
Florida’s primary objective will be putting South Carolina in third-and-long situations by making plays on first and second down, Jenkins said.
Garcia has been inconsistent this year with dramatic swings in production. Garcia topped 350 passing yards in games against Vanderbilt and Kentucky. Then there are games like the one Garcia struggled through last week when he completed 14 of 29 passes for 161 yards with two interceptions against Arkansas.
Still, Florida safety Ahmad Black believes Garcia has made great strides since his freshman season.
“He’s getting better every year,” Black said. “He’s a good quarterback who likes to stay mobile. He takes on blitzes and pressure now. He used to just try to get the ball away, but now he sits back there and with everything in his face still gets the ball to” his receivers.
Defensive lineman Terron Sanders agreed, noting Garcia’s growth as a signal-caller is obvious on game tape.
“I think he’s shown tremendous strides throughout the last three years,” Sanders said. “He’s definitely a good quarterback who possibly could be in the NFL later on as long as he continues to improve. He’s definitely a threat for us and somebody we have to contain.”
Lattimore, meanwhile, is a game-changing force as a freshman and a player who rarely is brought down by a single tackler. He’s second in the SEC in rushing with 752 yards on 162 carries, an average of 4.6 yards per attempt. Averaging 94 yards per game, Lattimore has also punched the ball into the end zone 11 times.
“We put a lot of emphasis on tackling, just assignment football,” Jenkins said. “The first person has to wrap up, and everybody has to rally to the ball. We need all 11 guys to rally to the ball, and we’ll be fine.”
Such is the case Saturday when No. 24 Florida hosts 22nd-ranked South Carolina at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at 6:15 p.m. CST in a Southeastern Conference matchup. The team that emerges victorious clinches the Eastern Division title and a berth in the SEC Championship scheduled for Dec. 4 in Atlanta. Both squads are 6-3 overall and 4-3 in the conference.
South Carolina ranks fifth in the country in third-down efficiency on offense, converting first downs on 52.7 percent of its snaps on third down. Florida’s defense has been respectable stopping teams in that situation, ranking third in the SEC at 35.5 percent, a mark that also rates 28th nationally.
“We put a lot of emphasis on third downs and getting off the field and getting the offense the ball,” UF linebacker Jelani Jenkins said. “We’re cleaning up our assignments on every play we have and trying to make it so that we can go three-and-out more.”
The Gamecocks’ success on third downs can be attributed to the team’s offensive balance. Running back Marcus Lattimore is a hard-nosed runner who either bounces off would-be tacklers or runs over them. Quarterback Stephen Garcia has a stable of sure-handed receivers to look for downfield, but he also possesses the ability to scramble for yards when defensive containment breaks down.
Florida’s primary objective will be putting South Carolina in third-and-long situations by making plays on first and second down, Jenkins said.
Garcia has been inconsistent this year with dramatic swings in production. Garcia topped 350 passing yards in games against Vanderbilt and Kentucky. Then there are games like the one Garcia struggled through last week when he completed 14 of 29 passes for 161 yards with two interceptions against Arkansas.
Still, Florida safety Ahmad Black believes Garcia has made great strides since his freshman season.
“He’s getting better every year,” Black said. “He’s a good quarterback who likes to stay mobile. He takes on blitzes and pressure now. He used to just try to get the ball away, but now he sits back there and with everything in his face still gets the ball to” his receivers.
Defensive lineman Terron Sanders agreed, noting Garcia’s growth as a signal-caller is obvious on game tape.
“I think he’s shown tremendous strides throughout the last three years,” Sanders said. “He’s definitely a good quarterback who possibly could be in the NFL later on as long as he continues to improve. He’s definitely a threat for us and somebody we have to contain.”
Lattimore, meanwhile, is a game-changing force as a freshman and a player who rarely is brought down by a single tackler. He’s second in the SEC in rushing with 752 yards on 162 carries, an average of 4.6 yards per attempt. Averaging 94 yards per game, Lattimore has also punched the ball into the end zone 11 times.
“We put a lot of emphasis on tackling, just assignment football,” Jenkins said. “The first person has to wrap up, and everybody has to rally to the ball. We need all 11 guys to rally to the ball, and we’ll be fine.”
