September 14, 2002 6:00 PM SWAMP TIME
TV Information: PPV
My Prediction: UF 48 Ohio 7
Official Florida Gatorzone Preview
Game Notes (From ESPN.com)
Coach Zook is a former defensive coordinator whose defense has looked dreadful. He's a special teams guru whose special teams haven't been, well, special. No. 12 Florida seeks to sort out some of these problems Saturday, when the Gators (1-1) play Ohio University (0-2) in a rebound game off their 41-16 loss to Miami.
On the defensive side, Zook said he reviewed every play the Gators surrendered of 15 yards or more against Miami _ that's 10 plays to be exact _ and wasn't completely discouraged. "I feel real good because a lot of the problems are correctable,'' Zook said. "As I've said, you can't fault your players for wanting to be good. They've just got to play within the system.''
The system, under new defensive coordinator John Thompson, will be simplified this week in what amounts to a preparation game for next week's Southeastern Conference opener at Tennessee. "When we watch the tape, we can see our guys play hard and try,'' Thompson said. "We just want to make sure the best players can play, play fast and not worry about assignments as much. We know that if we do cut it down, we can play faster.''
While there will be strategy changes, only one personnel change is planned. Linebacker Bam Hardmon, the only player among the front seven who played well last week, will move from outside to the middle and sophomore Todd McCullough will get a chance at the outside spot. Special teams is another story. Zook held an open tryout for the punting and kicking positions. After Thursday's practice, he said Sean Morton would take over for Jason Hunter at punter. Meanwhile, kicker Matt Leach held onto his job, holding off Brendt Talcott and Jeff Whitaker.
Booming kicks with accuracy and regularity, Leach looked like the real deal in spring and summer practices. But then came the games, and things were much different in front of 85,000 fans at The Swamp. He has missed two extra points and a 38-yard field goal this season. Still, Leach, who moved over from punter last season, will get another chance.
"If there's no one taking the job, then I'm not opposed to'' keeping Leach at kicker, Zook said. "I think the thing that he did is he competed this week.'' Kicking isn't the only problem.
Hunter botched a snap on a punt that resulted in a turnover and quick Miami touchdown.
Kickoff returns were awful. Florida's average start after kickoffs was at its own 17-yard line. Vernell Brown returned one from deep in the end zone and wound up at the 4. Keiwan Ratliff also was criticized for fielding two punts, one at his own 7, another at the 8, a faux pas that supposedly goes against an unwritten rule against fielding punts inside the 10. Zook, however, defended Ratliff.
"I thought it was one of the smartest things he did all day, otherwise the ball would have been on the 1 or 2,'' Zook said. "Believe me, I studied that.''
Indeed, Zook has studied a lot when it comes to special teams. He coached those units for two seasons with the Gators and three with the Pittsburgh Steelers. When he wasn't doing that, he was working with defenses. Despite the letdowns, Zook still thinks both units will be fine soon. "There's a lot of football still left to be played, and we're going to be a much better football team,'' Zook said.
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