Florida Football’s Defense Wants to be Feared

The goal for Florida’s defense the season is simple — wreak havoc.

For defensive lineman Brendan Bett, that identity starts up front.

“The main model for our defense is to be the most feared,” Bett said last month. “So regardless of what that is, in coverage and run stopping, pass rushing, whatever it is, we want to just be the most feared.”

Florida enters the season with a defensive front that believes it can be one of the strengths of the team. The Gators have emphasized physicality throughout the offseason, while defensive coordinator Brad White has spent preseason camp building a scheme designed to take advantage of the roster’s versatility.

That combination, depth, flexibility and aggression could define Florida’s defense, which debuts its new look in Saturday’s season opener against Florida Atlantic.

Bett said the defensive line has embraced the idea that the group has to set the standard for the rest of the unit.

“It starts up front, like it starts with the trenches,” Bett said. “If we’re not going, then I feel like nothing’s going to work.”

That mentality could be especially important for a defensive front that believes its depth will be one of its biggest strengths.

Bett pointed to the growth of teammates like Jayden Woods, while linebacker Myles Graham emphasized the front seven.

“I think you can rotate and keep everybody fresh, and you’re not really going to miss a beat,” Graham said Wednesday. “I think that’s really important in the SEC because it’s a dog fight every single week.”

That depth could become particularly important immediately.

Florida Atlantic’s offense is expected to test the Gators with an uptempo pace. White said FAU’s no-huddle strategy creates a unique challenge for a defense playing its first game of the season.

The Owls’ pace means Florida cannot afford to rely on a small group of defenders for the majority of the game.

While the tempo presents an immediate challenge, White has also spent the offseason creating another problem for opposing offenses: uncertainty.

Florida has the ability to operate out of both three- and four-man fronts, allowing White to move players around and create different looks without necessarily changing the personnel on the field.

White said the challenge is finding the balance between confusing the offense while avoid confusion on his own defense.

“The fun part as a coach is to try to find as many ways to create one-on-one opportunities,” White said.

Florida fifth-year senior Kofi Asare, who is entering his final season, said Wednesday the defense can change looks so quickly that an offense may not know whether a defender is actually coming on a pressure or dropping into coverage.

“It’s switching so fast,” the linebacker said. “So we get a lot of opportunity to create chaos and havoc.”

The key for the Gators will be making sure that unpredictability does not come at the expense of execution.

Asare spent the offseason working to understand not only his own assignment but every player’s responsibility. He has reached a point where he can see a play and react, instead of stopping to think about what he is supposed to do, he said.

For younger players, however, the learning process is still underway.

Freshman K.J. Ford has drawn attention for his aggressive style and natural pass-rushing ability. White said Ford will inevitably make some freshman mistakes, but the goal is to teach him when to unleash that aggression and when to stay disciplined.

Asare believes that once Ford’s understanding of the play catches up with his physical ability, he could become a major problem for opposing offenses.

The depth and development of players like Ford could allow Florida to maintain its physical style without wearing down as the season progresses.

That matters to Graham, who believes the defense is entering the season healthier and fresher than it has in recent years. He credited Florida’s strength program, training and coaching staff, as well as a practice schedule that gives players more time to recover between sessions.

For a defense trying to establish a new identity, the physical preparation is only part of it.

Graham said the team has worked to make its emphasis on violence, something that shows up every day rather than something reserved for game day.

“You’re not just going to roll the ball out on game day and be violent,” Graham said. “You got to practice it.”

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