šŸˆ Florida 'D' has 'heavy package' designed just for 'Bama

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Is anybody a 'skeered?

...formation is known as the ā€œheavy packageā€ that utilizes five defensive linemen and two middle linebackers in order to suffocate the running game. Meyer and defensive coordinator Teryl Austin said it was implemented to stop teams that focus on the run.

Players didn't shy away from saying it was created primarily for their Bama plans after the Tide sliced up Florida's front seven last December, pounding out 251 rushing yards.
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http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100926/ARTICLES/100929608/0/news
 
If they can force you to pass you're playing into the teeth of their defense. The secondary has been lights out this year. If Bama's o-line continues to play hard as they have so far this year I don't see it being an issue to get your runners to the outside. If Ingram/Richardson can spring into the secondary it's over. The problem with putting 7-8 guys in the box is if you run into a truly superior run team they can still spring to the second level of your defense. I wouldn't want to be one of UF's safeties or DBs with Ingram or Richardson LOOKING for contact, not just getting to the second level.

If their DBs are able to lock down the receivers your tight end will have a field day. That's the thing about having such a great running game--it opens up options even if they're not that talented. Your TE (Dial, is it?) isn't a world-beater but he may well look like one this week because of the presence of your running backs. He'll be open.

This would be a good opportunity for Julio to silence the nay-sayers as well. He will obviously have single coverage if they run this "heavy set" as their base D Saturday. If he can get open and consistently catch the easy ones (not just the freakishly athletic plays he has a knack for making) he could have a field day with his size and strength. If he can catch it and spring the first tackle he'll be off to the races.
 
For years UF has made not effort to hide the fact that their aim was to "recruit the fastest team in America". How good at "heavy" can a team be after years of "heavy atrophy"?

For year Bama has recruited to become the best "heavy" team in the country. How good can a team be after years of effort to build heavy?

Does anyone think that simply replacing 1-2 players is the answer that everyone else has failed to realize?
 
LBS said:
For years UF has made not effort to hide the fact that their aim was to "recruit the fastest team in America". How good at "heavy" can a team be after years of "heavy atrophy"?

For year Bama has recruited to become the best "heavy" team in the country. How good can a team be after years of effort to build heavy?

Does anyone think that simply replacing 1-2 players is the answer that everyone else has failed to realize?
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I agree, its not like they didnt stack the box last year trying to stop the run game. Who didnt? Our big uglies are bigger than theirs. Also the key item missing in all these conversations is Charlie Strong, he aint at Florida anymore.
 
A quick series of no backs and they'll be sucking wind with screens out to Julio, Maze, and Hanks. Personnel groupings will limit their "heavy". With that said though, we stick to our plan and pound the ball at them. Alot of carries will be for 3-5 yards and then we spring several for 50-60+ yards.
 
I would love to see us trot out there with no backs for their first series, but that isn't our normal way of doing things. Actually, we need that 1 back set to provide another blocker when someone gets loose. As bad as our pass rush has been this year, I don't really know who Florida has that is so much better.

I predict a Bama win, but I don't see this game as being an open and shut case. We've got issues with QB's who have time to throw, and McElroy showed me Saturday that he can be rattled into holding on to the ball too long. It's not roses in Tuscaloosa. Sorry to rain on everyone's parade, but against our stiffest competition this season this past Saturday, we looked very mortal for about 54-55 minutes.
 
Bama can generate pressure and we showed we could in the second half of the game last week. The reason we didn't in the first half is because we didn't dial up many blitzes. We went very vanilla. That's from Coach Saban himself.
 
Duder said:
If they can force you to pass you're playing into the teeth of their defense. The secondary has been lights out this year.
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Tell me more about their secondary. All I know if Joe Haden and Wright (Jenorius???) are now in the NFL from last year's team. So you're saying they're better than last year's team even with those guys gone? Even with those guys we had no problem with in SECCG.
 
BamaDelta said:
Tell me more about their secondary. All I know if Joe Haden and Wright (Jenorius???) are now in the NFL from last year's team. So you're saying they're better than last year's team even with those guys gone? Even with those guys we had no problem with in SECCG.
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I'm not sold on the teeth of their D being the secondary. Yes they have some good players there, but better than the previous unit?

A look at some #'s.

Florida ranks #61 in pass defense allowing 201.50 ypg, and have 12 ints.
But they played the following passing attacks:
Miami (OH) # 67 passing offense
South Fl # 94 passing offense
Tenn # 66 passing offense
Kentucky # 35 passing offense

Now Alabama hasnt faced much better overall, but they rank #52 in pass defense giving up 188.75 ypg with 8 ints
San Jose St # 103
Penn State # 72
Duke # 20
Arkansas # 3

However Florida's pass offense ranks 90th in the nation, Alabama's #28.

The Florida defense can hang that hat on performances against Tenn and Kentucky but neither have the veteran offensive line or skill players that Bama has. Hopefully the Tide secondary did mature in that second half against Arkansas. That will allow Saban to dial up more pressure on opposing QBs.

Roll Tide!
 
BamaDelta said:
Tell me more about their secondary. All I know if Joe Haden and Wright (Jenorius???) are now in the NFL from last year's team. So you're saying they're better than last year's team even with those guys gone? Even with those guys we had no problem with in SECCG.
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Not at all saying they're better than last year but they have a fast, very talented bunch of DBs. They have twelve picks on the season, three guys in their secondary have three picks each. They've also broken up 15 passes as a unit this year. Of the 68 incomplete passes against the UF defense this year someone in that secondary has directly caused that incompletion 27 times--that's a pretty good clip. Meyer and Strong stockpiled talent on the defensive side of the ball and a good bit of it is in the secondary. Their unit has played lights out this year. Also, through four games they've generated 10 sacks and 6 QB hurries. My point is their pass defense is the best part of their D this year. I'm not saying it is at all better than last year. Obviously Meyer believes if he can force you guys to get away from your running game his pass defense will give him a chance. That being said, UF has yet to face an offense as potent as what they will face Saturday. Their tallest DB is 6'2"--Julio seems like he's 7' tall at times. If they can somehow get Bama to abandon the run, maintain pressure on McElroy and not lose sight of the other Bama receivers (i.e. don't focus on Julio) then yes, they'll have a chance. That's a lot of ifs, however.

My stance is their "heavy package" will do very little to slow down your running game. They have a young defense and Bama has a veteran offensive line that is as scary as anyone in the country. Joe Pendry is probably one of the more underrated o-line coaches in the country. Even if UF takes away the runs between the tackles, Bama can still get Ingram or Richardson to the outside on runs or drop back and throw a screen out to them which will spring them into the second level of the defense.

I don't know, maybe I'm over simplifying it because I loathe Florida so much but I just don't see them as the #7 team in the country.
 
So far this season, Alabama has passed 42% of the time, and run for 58%. Heavy? No. Besides, when both backs can catch the ball, 5 DLs only makes sense in extremely short yardage situations and you'd better hope that our two very small Tackles :) don't turn the DL inside, becuase our WRs can block very well. Good luck having the secondary tackle. FL has a very tough D, but this ploy doesn't change anything.
 
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