People keep pointing at Florida's defensive numbers from last season and screaming scheme problems and I'm convinced they didn't actually watch the tape. The Gators finished 34th in yards per play allowed which isn't elite but it also isn't broken. The real issue was situational. Florida gave up conversions on 42% of third downs last season which ranked 89th nationally and that is a death sentence no matter what scheme you run. You can have the best coverage concepts in the country but if you cannot get off the field on third and medium the whole thing falls apart.
Calling it now: Florida's defensive staff makes third down defense the single biggest emphasis this spring and summer and the numbers flip dramatically by October. The Gators had 12 sacks on third down all season. That is inexcusable for a Power Four program. You watch Georgia and Texas get home with four man rushes on third and long and create negative plays while Florida sat back in zone and let quarterbacks sit in clean pockets. The havoc rate was there on early downs but it evaporated in obvious passing situations.
The secondary actually graded out better than people want to admit. Florida allowed 7.1 yards per attempt which was middle of the SEC pack and they held opponents to a 59% completion rate which was solid. The problem was the front seven could not generate pressure without blitzing and when they blitzed they got exposed on screens and crossers. That is a personnel and development problem not a schematic one. The staff brought in help through the portal and the young edge rushers from the 2025 class have had a full year in the weight room.
Mark my words: Florida finishes top 25 in defensive SP+ this season and people act like it came out of nowhere. The foundation was already there. They just need to stop beating themselves on third down and quit giving up explosive plays in the intermediate middle of the field. The pieces fit. The scheme is fine. Execute.