Florida Gators Focus: Defensive Backs.
One group is worried about being in good position on the field. The other group is worried about its position in 2020's NFL Draft.
Florida's defensive backs have perhaps the biggest gap between expectations of corners and safeties. The corners give defensive coordinator Todd Grantham plenty of reason to believe that 2019's defense can repeat its 2018 success, finishing at No. 21 in the nation in defensive efficiency. Three corners expect to make a significant impact this season, let's first look at them.
CJ Henderson. Marco Wilson. Trey Dean.
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Henderson is arguably the most talented player on the entire roster. Barring injury, he is a top NFL Draft prospect after the season. He has proven that in an aggressive Todd Grantham defense that often leaves corners on an island, he is more than capable.
Wilson will play against the Miami Hurricanes at Camping World Stadium in Orlando for the first time since the second game of last season against Kentucky. Before the 2018 season, he entered the year as on the Preseason third team All-SEC. A successful comeback for Wilson is no guarantee, but he has looked excellent so far in camp. Wilson was also excellent in his freshman campaign, earning a spot on the Coaches Freshman All-SEC team.
Dean replaced Wilson last year after the injury and stepped in as well as a true freshman not expected to start possibly could. Dean is fearless and will step into the STAR position, played last season by Gardner-Johnson. Gardner-Johnson was closer to a safety than a corner, while Dean is the opposite. However there is little concern that Grantham will not cater that position to suit Dean, just as he did Gardner-Johnson.
The safety position is an enormous question mark for Florida this year, however. The three biggest names at that position are: Jeawon Taylor, Donovan Stiner and Brad Stewart.
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All three of these players flashed in some way in 2018. Stewart had perhaps the biggest play of the year, with an interception returned for a touchdown to essentially end the LSU game. Stiner officially iced the LSU game with an interception on the next possession and he also had a game-winning sack against Mississippi State. Taylor is the most consistent out of all three, both in terms of production and staying on the field.
The safeties struggled often last year to be in correct position. Perhaps the most important note about them is that the two times they faced legitimate quarterbacks with NFL potential, production was low. Jake Fromm and Drew Lock picked Florida's pass defense apart. Howver, it was usually not with star wide receivers, but with tight ends and backs. That is typically the responsibility of the safeties and the linebackers, which are also a group a concern as far as pass defense.
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