Brad White sends blunt challenge to Florida’s cornerbacks before Auburn test

We highlighted yesterday the state of Florida’s cornerbacks two games into the season. Even though on paper it is among the most talented units the Gators have, it has also been one of Florida’s more disappointing units to this point. Against FAU, they played far too soft, and even against Campbell we didn’t quite see some of the physicality you would want to see against an overmatched opponent.

Don’t just take our word for it as defensive coordinator Brad White would like to see some added physicality as well. 

Florida’s corners need to be more physical against Auburn

We noted yesterday how Florida’s three starting corners (Ben Hanks III, Cormani McClain, and Kanye Clark) were the three lowest rated players on Florida’s defense in the game against Campbell, per Pro Football Focus.

One can take PFF ratings with a grain of salt, but what we mentioned was how Florida’s starters were seemingly in position with their man, but didn’t seem to have a knack to locate the ball and fight for the pass break-up. On the one notable reception that McClain gave up for 16 yards, we said:

“McClain’s one notable completion against was a 16-yard completion where he was tight with his man, but he made no real attempt to come back to the ball to make a play. The Campbell receiver did and made the catch.”

As we like to do from time to time, if you think we are just shadowy outsiders who don’t know what we are talking about, then take it from the mouth of Brad White, who was commenting on the three pass breakups that J’Vari Flowers had in relation to the zero that any of Florida’s starting cornerbacks had:

“You want to be competitive at the catch point, and we challenge all our guys, whether you’re a front guy and you’re competing against an alignment and you’re straining at the top of the pocket, whether you’re a linebacker trying to get off a block, finishing a tackle or you’re down the field and you’re a DB. 

You can’t say, ‘Oh, man, I was sticky, I was in a great spot all the way’ and then at the catch point you let up or you get weak or you get soft. Your competitive nature, your strain, has to go up at the catch point.”

Now we have expressed our concerns about White’s defensive style as a whole. Our main concern is that the scheme he ran at Kentucky was far too passive and was frequently shredded when matched up with offenses that know what they are doing.

But what we will give White and Jon Sumrall credit for is that they do seem aware of the issues the defense has had, and they have correctly pin pointed the problem from each of Florida’s two games.

Whether or not it gets fixed is a different story, but it is a reprieve compared to the previous regime that would gas light you into beleiving there was no problem at all. 

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