Better/Worse in 2016: Florida pass defense

In 2015, it was ill-advised to try to throw on the Gators. Even if a team could protect against defensive linemen Jonathan Bullard and Alex McCalister up front, there was a slim chance of the top wideout getting open going up against Vernon Hargreaves III, a unanimous All-American cornerback, or Jalen Tabor, whom Hargreaves said was even better.

Unfortunately for Florida, Bullard, McCalister and Hargreaves are in the NFL, joined by three other defensive starters from last year: LB Antonio Morrison, FS Keanu Neal and NB Brian Poole.

It’s not all doom and gloom, however, in 2016 for the pass defense. DT Caleb Brantley leads a veteran defensive line and DL Cece Jefferson appears ready for a bigger role in his second year. Tabor (below) and Quincy Wilson will handle the cornerback spots. Marcus Maye also returns at strong safety.

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The defensive staff maintains continuity in all areas except the secondary – and that’s a plus. When the resumes are compared side-by-side, there’s no question that the Gators upgraded by giving Kirk Callahan the boot and bringing in long-time Virginia Tech assistant Torrian Gray.

Pass rush

Florida’s pass rush is a good news/bad news situation heading into 2016.

The good news is that in terms of sacks and hurries, Jarrad Davis (pictured, 3.5 sacks, 7 quarterback hurries), Brantley (3, 2), Jefferson (3.5, 2), DE Bryan Cox Jr. (3.5, 6) and DT Joey Ivie (3.5, 1) have demonstrated they are capable are causing problems in opposing backfields.

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The bad news is that the team’s co-leaders in sacks from 2015, Bullard (6.5) and McCalister (6.5), are now on NFL rosters. And with them goes almost one third of the team’s total sacks (40). Florida’s 40 sacks were second in the SEC to only Alabama (52), but it will be difficult to replicate those kind of numbers in 2016 without two NFL Draft picks.

When it comes to replacing Bullard and McCalister, defensive coordinator Geoff Collins and defensive line coach Chris Rumph at least have options. Jefferson is dangerous as an edge rusher, but might be the best fit to plug up the inside. Either way, DE Jordan Sherit (1.5 sacks), DE Taven Bryan and Ivie should all be in line for bigger roles this fall.

Sack artist

If the Gators could clone one player on defense, it would probably be Jefferson. With the double whammy of losing Bullard and McCalister, Collins faces a difficult decision of whether to play Jefferson at defensive end, where he’s a proven threat, or at defensive tackle, where his size (6-foot-1, 275 pounds) and athleticism could prove most useful.

In spring practice, Jefferson played some of both positions. We won’t really get to see what he can do going up against SEC centers and guards until September, but we already know he is quite the challenge for offensive tackles everywhere.

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Perhaps most impressive about Jefferson’s freshman stats is that he tied for third on the team in sacks (3.5) despite not starting. Coming in rested and fresh likely helped with that, as he could give all for a couple snaps before being subbed out again.

When he did play, offensive tackles found out the hard way that the true freshman had quite the knack for landing that big push or getting that first step to motor his way into the backfield. Once Jefferson was in the backfield, quarterbacks learned that he was willing to track them down all the way to the sideline to force a throw away or get the sack.

Ball in the air

Florida’s secondary was hit the hardest by departures, but it could still be a team strength for 2016.

With Hargreaves now on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Gators’ two primary cornerbacks will be Tabor and Wilson. As a unanimous All-American and No. 11 overall pick, Hargreaves would appear nearly impossible to replace this season, but there might be less of a drop than expected. According to analytics website Pro Football Focus, Tabor and Wilson were actually the Gators’ two best cornerbacks in 2015.

Poole, the starting nickelback, was overshadowed by Hargreaves and Tabor, but his replacement Duke Dawson has some big shoes to fill considering Poole finished with 10 pass breakups, second on the team. Based on his two-interception spring game, however, it appears Dawson prefers catching the ball to swatting it away.

The biggest drop will likely come at free safety, where veteran backup Nick Washington will be asked to step in for Keanu Neal, a first-round pick by the Atlanta Falcons. When Washington has previously seen the field, it seems to lead to big plays for the opposing offense. He should be helped, however, by the return of veteran starter Marcus Maye at strong safety.

Pickoff artist

There’s no debate: Tabor is Florida’s top cover corner for 2016. Any discussion about the best cornerbacks in the SEC has to include the UF junior, who will likely be playing his final season with the Gators.

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Opposing quarterbacks who threw at Tabor because of Hargreaves’ reputation were in for a rude awakening last season. While the two cornerbacks tied last season for a team-leading four interceptions, Tabor’s 14 pass breakups to Hargreaves’ four show he had much a bigger impact in the secondary.

When Tabor does make a pick, he’s a threat with the ball in his hands, scoring two touchdowns last season.

Greatest concern

Communication issues in the secondary have caused problems in prior seasons, leading to some missed coverages on deep passes. While Tabor, Wilson, Maye, Dawson and Washington all have experience, they were rarely, if ever, all on the field at the same time. And that’s not accounting for times when newcomers like Chauncey Gardner and McArthur Burnett will get on the field.

Until we see the these five defensive backs play together, it’s hard to know how they will actually gel as a secondary.

One stat that must change in 2016

Florida contained most opposing passing attacks, keeping it to an average of 182.1 passing yards allowed per game, fourth in the SEC. Similarly, the Gators allowed only 6 yards per attempt, third in the SEC. Despite those strong numbers, UF gave up 17 passing touchdowns, tied for fourth-most in the conference.

The Gators need to tighten up coverage around the end zone.

Better/Worse in 2016

Even though the defensive line and secondary should be among the SEC’s best in 2016, the Gators lost too much talent for the pass defense to be as good as it was last season. Jefferson and Wilson are ready for bigger roles, but two talented athletes won’t make up for four absences.

That said, it you’re an opposing offensive coordinator, trying to pass against the Gators will still be difficult. Tabor and Wilson will definitely have their assigned receivers well-covered. Florida’s sack numbers might drop in 2016, but the defensive line still has formidable pass-rushers in Brantley, Jefferson and Cox.