Brad White: Florida’s Defense Fell Short of ‘The Standard’
Florida’s 66-21 season-opening win over Florida Atlantic left little to complain about from the scoreboard.
But for defensive coordinator Brad White, there was plenty to clean up.
The Gators’ new-look defense gave up 396 yards to FAU, including two lengthy touchdown drives in the first half. After reviewing the film, White told the media on Tuesday the problems weren’t necessarily physical. Instead, Florida struggled with awareness, communication and adjusting to FAU’s tempo.
“In every game, there’s going to be good and there’s bad,” White said. “That was not the standard that we want to set for how to play defense around here.”
Florida knew FAU had the ability to play uptempo, but White said the Gators allowed the Owls to dictate their play at times rather than responding to it. The defense also had to adjust when FAU moved away from its explosive, pass-heavy identity and instead methodically worked its way down the field.
White emphasized the importance of understanding down and distance situations, especially in a stadium where communication becomes difficult once the crowd reaches its peak.
“At that point, you as a coach cannot communicate anymore,” White said. “It goes back to you have to be trained, and we have not done a good enough job.”
That makes Saturday’s matchup against Campbell another opportunity for a defense still learning how to play together under White.
There were positives in the opener. Florida had two interceptions by DJ Coleman and Dijon Johnson. White said Coleman’s preparation and work ethic have helped him quickly establish himself as a leader on the defense.
But the Gators offense gave the defense some breathing room.
Florida piled up 624 yards in its first game under offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner, and the new system showed its versatility even after wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. left with an injury. Faulkner said the offense was able to shuffle players into different roles and continue producing.
“That’s where the versatility comes in in the offense,” Faulkner said.
Running back Jadan Baugh provided one of the highlights, breaking off a 61-yard run. Faulkner said the play was not only a product of Baugh’s explosiveness but also of the receivers and tight ends blocking downfield.
The offense’s depth was on display again through Duke Clark, who scored his first touchdown as a Gator. Clark said the versatility of Faulkner’s offense allows him to line up in multiple places and use the skills he developed playing both offense and defense in high school.
Clark said he also added 13 pounds since last season, going from 195 to 208 pounds, as he continues adapting to his expanded role.
Special teams provided another bright spot. Kicker Patrick Durkin connected on a 53-yard field goal in his first game in The Swamp. Durkin said the moment was made even more special by the environment and the relationships he has built with his teammates.
Durkin has made a point of being more than just a specialist within Florida’s program. He said he regularly competes with players from other position groups in the weight room and spends time with teammates away from football, including bowling and playing card games with the quarterbacks.
“I never want to be a specialist kind of to the side,” Durkin said. “The team stuff is the most important thing to me.”
For Florida, the attention has already shifted from what went right against FAU to what needs to be better Saturday against Campbell.
White said the defense has to learn from making mistakes without losing confidence.
“This is a time to challenge,” White said. “This is a building process.”
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