gators gained from loss

The GATOR NATION Source

for University of Florida News, Sports & Everything Gator Shopping

Site Index

Privacy / Legal / Disclaimer

Other Links

Disclaimer: This site is in no way affiliated with the University of Florida, the University
of Florida Athletic Association, or any sponsor or organization associated with UAA.

Advertising

The GATOR NATION Source

gatorsUF.com

110 Coliseum Crossing #316

Hampton, VA 23666

(757)-788-8791

Gator

Shopping

The GATOR NATION Source

The GATOR NATION Source

Quick Links

Credited Sports Sources:

espn.com, msn.foxsports.com, gainesvillesun.com,
ufl.edu, alligator.org, gatorsports.com,
jacksonville.com, tbo.com, orlandosentinel.com,
gatorzone.com, alligatorsports.org, miami.com

[continued below]

Gator

Football

for Gator Football

About Us

[Home]

Alumni Services

Your one stop source for Gator football coverage!

The GATOR NATION Source

[continued below]

[Football News Home]

Gators gained from loss - 12/21/06

Not even Urban Meyer gave Florida much of a chance after the dismissal
of defensive tackle Marcus Thomas.

''At a lot of places, you take away a player like Marcus and you're in
reverse,'' Meyer said.

But what Meyer has found out during the past 1 � months is this: Florida
is just fine without Thomas. The Gators' retooled rushing defense is No. 1
in the Southeastern Conference and No. 6 nationally as it prepares for
Ohio State in the national championship game on Jan. 8.

''We knew we wouldn't miss a beat,'' said converted nose guard Steven
Harris, who played at Coral Gables High. ``We didn't think it was going to
be a problem at all.''

On Nov. 4, skeptics would have laughed at such a notion. On the same
day Florida struggled against Vanderbilt, it announced it would play the
remainder of the season without Thomas.

When he refused to comply with strict postsuspension guidelines, the
Gators kicked him off the team. Thomas was critical of Meyer in published
reports this week, saying the rules were too strict and that his NFL future
might have been damaged.

Surprisingly, there hasn't been a drop-off. The reasons: Harris and fellow
tackle Joe Cohen.

Harris and Cohen have played the best football of their careers of late,
combining for 15 tackles the past two games. They helped hold Heisman
Trophy finalist Darren McFadden to 73 rushing yards as Florida won the
Southeastern Conference championship with a victory against Arkansas
earlier this month.

''They stepped up when they had to,'' linebacker Brandon Siler said. ``It's
big what our team has accomplished up front. We've shut down a lot of
running games.

``A guy that was up for the Heisman -- we held him to [73] yards. It would
be hard to believe that our defense would be as good as it is, knowing that
we lost one of our best linemen.''

Give Siler an assist for the seamless transition. He noticed some of his
teammates were down following Thomas' departure, but gave them a
heavy dose of optimism.

'I talked to them and I was like, `We all right. It's all right. We have to deal
with what we have to deal with,' '' Siler said. 'I went up to Steve [Harris]
and I said, `Everybody is sad and real upset, Steve, but let me check this
out and see if we're all right -- can you play football?' He answered, 'Yeah,
I can play.' So then I said, `All right, we'll be fine.'"

Harris and Cohen said the reason they've been able to make up for the
loss of Thomas is because of playing time.

''The more you can get in against an opponent, the more you can get a
feel for the game, and that's all it was for Steve and me,'' Cohen said. ``It
was hard to get into a rhythm with all the rotating we were doing so
Marcus could play.''

Said defensive lineman Ray McDonald: ``They deserve it. [Joe and Steven
have] been through a lot since they've gotten here, just like all of us. They
deserve to get on the field and show everybody what they can do.''

UF retooled its rushing defense when Marcus Thomas was kicked off the
team. Steven Harris and Joe Cohen picked up the slack, and then some.

Thomas, a senior tackle who had four sacks and 26 tackles in limited
action while serving as the defensive line's leader, was suspended three
games after twice testing positive for marijuana.

Even without Thomas for eight games, the Gators allowed an average of
just 74.5 rushing yards. Louisiana State has the second-best rushing
defense in the SEC, yielding 93.2 yards a game.

Credited Source: miami.com