Gator Defense Ready For Alabama Challenge

The Florida Gator football team will go to Tuscaloosa this weekend to take on the Crimson Tide. Defensively, Florida is trying to fix some mistakes made in a 36-30 win over Kentucky last weekend.  The defense allowed a total of 450 yards but gave up some big plays in the passing game where the Wildcats threw for 369 yards.

The Crimson Tide offers an explosive offense that is ranked eighth nationally, producing a combined 1,705 yards in their first three games. This is the most yardage ever for Alabama through the first three games of the season.

“They’re a physical unit… that you know. They want to establish the run, establish the line of scrimmage… that’s kind of how they’ve always been,” said Florida defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin. “That’s what they hang their hat on offensively. So we know that it’s a big challenge for us and we have to go play physical and control the line of scrimmage on our end.”

The Gators are heading into a tough match up with an inexperienced defensive backfield that surrendered six big plays against Kentucky that gained 173 yards in the air.

Florida safeties struggled to locate the ball, but according to Florida’s Marcus Maye this game is a big opportunity for the Gator defense to redeem itself.

“It’s definitely a big opportunity, it’s a big game. You know, you always want to go up against the best teams in the country… week in and week out. We are going to take that game and take it as it is and play like it’s one of the biggest games of the year,” said Maye.

The Gators haven’t met with the Crimson Tide since 2011, which ended in a 38-10 loss. The game will be held Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. You can tune into ESPN 850 WRUF for coverage beginning at 12:30.

For interviews with players click below:

Durkin on a physcial Alabama offense.

Maye on the Alabama game.