One of Quinn's regrets? The Gators weren't aggressive enough going after the quarterbacks.
“It's
kind of in my nature to play an aggressive and up-front style where we
can pressure and affect the QB that way,” Quinn said. “So at times I
wish I had more last year, and certainly we had it in the package and
I'd like to see us play that style.”
The
Gators finished 2011 sixth in the Southeastern Conference with 28 sacks.
To make the jump to an elite pass-rushing team in the league will take
more than increase in blitz calls. It will take improved pressure from
the four-man rush as well.
Quinn
has been evaluating the one-on-one matchups between defensive linemen
and offensive linemen in camp. He's confident that the Gators can get to
the quarterback more often in 2012, even without their best pass-rusher
early in the season. Junior defensive end Ronald Powell, who led UF
with six sacks last season, will miss at least the first month of the
season while recovering from a torn ACL.
With
Powell out, senior Lerentee McCray has moved to start in the hybrid
“buck” position, which lines up as an outside linebacker on 3-4 schemes
and a defensive end on 4-3 schemes. Quinn also has been impressed with
the pass-rushing ability of true freshman Dante Fowler and sophomore
linebacker Neiron Ball, who sat out last season with a vascular
condition.
“I'm
anxious to see what Neiron Ball can bring to us,” Quinn said. “He's a
really quick guy. He's long and fast, and as a rusher those are some of
the traits you look for.”
Quinn
said that Ball is lining up at the buck position in some nickel
packages. Fowler, a five-star recruit from St. Petersburg, had 20 sacks
in his junior season of high school.
“He
certainly looks like he belongs,” Quinn said. “He's physically strong,
and when he's out there practicing, you certainly say this guy is ready
to help and be part of our defense.”
The
increased depth on the defensive line also has Quinn more confident in
UF's ability to rush the quarterback. Quinn mentioned true freshman
Jonathan Bullard as another player capable of getting some sacks. He
also said that junior college transfer Damien Jacobs has improved his
pass-rushing ability from inside at defensive tackle since the end of
spring practice.
“Even
with Ronald not being available to us yet, with the addition of Ball,
with the addition of McCray moving down, with the addition of Bullard,
with the addition of Fowler, with the existing guys, it seems like the
lines are longer, which is certainly a good thing,” Quinn said.
And
Quinn is confident that Powell will return at some point during the 2012
season. Powell has already tested the knee with individual workouts on
the practice field.
I'm
really proud of the way he's approached (the injury),” Quinn said. “He's
just been very aggressive and diligent and on it. So I am expecting him
to have him back at some point.”
Secondary taking shape
With preseason practices winding down, Quinn laid out some the potential defensive depth chart on Thursday night.
Quinn mentioned Matt Elam and Josh Evans as the top two safeties, with Cody Riggs working out there as well.
“Communication has been good on the back end,” Quinn said. “I've been pleased with that.”
At
cornerback, Quinn was more vague, bringing up Riggs, Jaylen Watkins,
Brian Poole, Loucheiz Purifoy and Marcus Roberson. The competition,
Quinn says, has remained even.
“We're
going to play three DBs, three corners, a bunch,” Quinn said. “Certainly
in the first few games, we'll see that, when we're going to play
Bowling Green and Texas A&M, who based on their last season are
teams that can throw the ball. So we're going to have to use a nickel
package and play three corners and things like that. I kind of have a
feeling it will work itself out like it usually does through the course
of the season.”
Linebacker depth
Quinn
also said that Mike Taylor will back up Jelani Jenkins at weakside
linebacker and true freshman Antonio Morrison will back up Jon Bostic at
middle linebacker.
“This guy is really coming on,” Quinn said of Morrison. “I like his instincts, his toughness. I think he's got a good a future ahead of him.”
