Florida Gators Focus: Front Seven
Eleven sacks.
The Gators will try to replace that production, which came from current New York Jet Jachai Polite. While other players on the defensive line and in the linebacker unit made an impact in 2018, the story seemed to always be Polite.
In 2019, two guys will look to fulfill that role: Jabari Zuniga and Jon Greenard. Let's look at these two.
Greenard is new to Gainesville from Louisville. He suffered a season-ending wrist injury on the first series of 2018 for the Cardinals. However, in 2017, he led the team with 15.5 tackles-for-loss and had seven sacks. He has shown no signs of lingering injury issues since he has been in Gainesville, so a strong 2019 campaign is expected for the graduate transfer.
© Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Zuniga is entering his fifth year in the program as a redshirt senior. He started all 13 games in 2018 and was a force on the revamped UF defensive line. He also found himself in the backfield quite often, placing second on the team with 11 tackles-for-loss and six and a half sacks. There is no reason for the Marietta, Georgia, native not to make life extremely difficult for offensive coordinators all of 2019.
Jeremiah Moon, who saw his game action increase later in the season, will also get plenty of chances to get in the backfield in 2019.
In the interior, the starters are Kyree Campbell and Adam Shuler. Campbell started 11 games last season and recorded seven tackles with one sack. Those numbers should, and need to, increase this season. While Greenard and Zuniga are good players, expecting them to replace the production of a Jachai Polite without interior penetration to help them out is unrealistic.
Shuler is entering year two in Gainesville. He was at West Virginia before. In 2018, he had 39 tackles, which featured a ridiculous nine-tackle game against Tennessee. He also had five quarterback hurries which is fairly impressive for an interior lineman. UF needs more of the same from Shuler in 2019.
© Bryan Lynn-USA TODAY Sports
The success of Florida's linebackers really should come down to one name: David Reese. Reese is the leader of the entire defense, and there really is not anyone better to play that role.
Not only is Reese the best linebacker, finishing second on the team with 77 tackles in 2018 despite missing three games, but he gets everyone else right. The worst defensive performance of the season last year for this defense came against Kentucky, a game that Reese did not play in, unsurprisingly.
© Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Current Buffalo Bill Vosean Joseph was incredibly athletic last year, but he needed guidance. He needed a voice to keep him in the right spot and keep him disciplined. Reese was that voice.
Reese will be that same voice this season for Amari Burney, Ventrell Miller and James Houston, guys all expected to contribute in the heart of the defense this season.
