Chris Graythen - Getty Images
For previous editions of Theater of Operations' Season Review, please see bottom of article.
The cornerbacks of the Florida Gators were probably the most criticized unit on the team. Aside from being unfairly blamed for the Gators' loss to the Georgia Bulldogs, the unit improved as the season went on. What was especially noticeable however, was their lack of interceptions. When only one cornerback on the roster (Marcus Roberson) gets an interception, you're going to struggle as a unit.
Speaking of Roberson, he was arguably the Gators' best cover corner throughout the year, but he wasn't without his struggles. For a large portion of the season, Roberson looked lost and confused. In terms of talent, one could see that he was going to be just fine, but his season was cut short due to a neck injury.
Cody Riggs on the other hand, didn't quite progress as expected. The sophomore cornerback struggled mightily the entire season picking up the new defense. Riggs didn't manage a single interception on the year (but then again, the entire defense struggled throughout the year getting turnovers) and took what seems to be a step back in the learning process.
I still feel that Riggs will get there, but it is taking a little longer than I thought.
Play No. 1: Roberson's interception on Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray:
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
Roberson (yellow circle) is just going to play zone-converage. The Bulldogs on the other hand, are going to attempt to run a little screen-pass to Isaiah Crowell.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
The ball however, bounces off the head of Crowell (yellow square) and Roberson is there to capitalize.
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
Roberson makes a great diving catch for the interception (yellow square).
(Photo courtesy of the SEC Digital Network)
And yes, Roberson does indeed keep the ball off the ground.
Play No. 2: Riggs is burned deep against LSU:
(Photo courtesy of CBS Sports)
Riggs (yellow circle), who is playing Randle (green circle) one-on-one, makes a critical miscalculation on the play. You can't really see in on the film (unless you watch the replay, which isn't available in the highlights), but he turns the wrong way. This is something that the coaches will point out to him in during film study, and, hopefully, it won't happen again
(Photo courtesy of CBS Sports)
Because he rotates to the outside (instead of inside), Riggs is in a terrible position on this play: A yard behind the receiver, and even worse, on the outside shoulder. This is not good, especially considering the throw is on Randle's inside shoulder.
(Photo courtesy of CBS Sports)
Riggs has no chance at all.
Play No. 3: Rigg's half-sack on Kentucky quarterback Morgan Newton:
(Photo courtesy of GatorVision)
Riggs (yellow circle) is going to come on a blitz. Yeah, even Riggs who is listed at 5'9" can blitz. I say listed because as we all know, he probably isn't even that.
(Photo courtesy of GatorVision)
Riggs (yellow circle) comes free, but the running back (green circle) is going to pick him up.
(Photo courtesy of GatorVision)
Contact!
(Photo courtesy of GatorVision)
As Newton begins his march in the scrum, Riggs (yellow circle) is trying to figure out where he is.
(Photo courtesy of GatorVision)
As Newton (green circle) is getting tackled, Riggs (yellow circle) locates him.
Riggs (yellow circle) gets the half-sack along with Ronald Powell.
Count me in the group, and I know I said it before last season as well, but I think the cornerbacks are going to be just fine moving forward. The group (make that the entire defensive back unit) is extremely young and much like from 2007 to 2008, there was significant improvement. I fully expect things to be parallel to that.
Previous Season Review editions of Theater of Operations: Quarterbacks (parts one, two, three), running backs (parts one, two, three), tight ends (one part), wide receivers (parts one, two), offensive line (parts one, two), defensive line (parts one, two, three), BUCK (one part) and linebackers (parts one, two).
0 recs | 36 comments
Are we going to have a special dedicated to just ELAM?
Gators1 - February 8, 2012
Maybe. I’m still debating on how to group the safeties. Was thinking of doing a Matt Elam and Josh Evans one, then a “Pop” Saunders and Jaylen Watkins one.
FlaGators - February 8, 2012
Yeah. Changed my mind. We’ll go ahead and do one just on Elam tomorrow morning. I’ll figure out the rest of the safeties the next day. Which will probably lead to a Saturday post again, but hey, Elam deserves his own one right?
FlaGators - February 8, 2012
His should be titled
Theater of Operations, Florida Gators Season Review: The Defensive MVP
ECFIVESTER - February 8, 2012
How about
Theater of Operations, Florida Gators Season Review: The Defens
iveMVP?theologator - February 8, 2012
Haha, love it fellas.
FlaGators - February 8, 2012
Catchy
But Easely would have a dance off to prove you wrong … I bet he’d win too, he gets in tons of practice, like before and after most snaps. That’s devotion!
ECFIVESTER - February 8, 2012
I think you should do one tomorrow for just Elam then the other 3 together on Friday, just my opinion, but your the boss.
Gators1 - February 8, 2012
Yeah, leaning towards that way. Probably what I’ll do.
FlaGators - February 8, 2012
I'm not as optimistic about the corners.
We really need Brown and Roberson to return at 100% from their injuries, or we could be in trouble. Riggs and Watkins especially (if I remember correctly Watkins played a lot more corner than safety this year) were absolutely horrible at locating the ball in the air. Watkins actually impressed me with his positioning in man coverage, but it would never matter because he could never get a hand up to prevent the receiver from catching the ball no matter how draped over him he was. It happened multiple times in the Georgia and Vandy games, and directly led to both the Georgia loss and Vandy almost coming back in the second half. I think Poole is going to come in and get a lot of playing time early, especially if the injury riddled brown can’t go. I just don’t see any of the other guys on the roster besides Roberson having the ability to consistently cover SEC wide receivers man-to-man. I really hope the coaches work a lot on the corners’ ball skills this off season.
Cali Gators - February 8, 2012
While true, just remember that the switch from safety to corner is a tough one for a lot of people and takes some time getting used to.
Riggs can get there, but if he is relegated to the No. 3 roll (or say, nickel CB) that’d be alright. You could do a lot worse than Riggs as your No. 3. As we have seen. (Cough – Moses Jenkins – Cough).
Poole definitely adds something to the mix. Even some of the other recruits like Willie Bailey. Maybe not right away in Bailey’s case, but still. The pressure those guys will put on the current guys can only be good.
FlaGators - February 8, 2012
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Not Moses Jenkins!
OH Wait he’s gone
ECFIVESTER - February 8, 2012
I agree on that in Riggs case. Watkins has no excuse as he was a corner all along. But next fall I really feel the 3 best corners on the roster, in order, will be Brown, Roberson, and Poole. And if Brown can’t go you’re really left with only 2 SEC starting caliber corners. This is why Howard would have been such a nice get.
Cali Gators - February 8, 2012
Watkins was also supposed to redshirt until injuries hit.
FlaGators - February 8, 2012
Really? Watkins was a sophomore this year. He and Josh Shaw (now transferred) were signed in the same recruiting class and were extremely highly rated corners coming out of high school. But obviously in 2 years in Gainesville Shaw never got on the field and Watkins was a backup at best. But I don’t see why he would have redshirted his sophomore year.
Cali Gators - February 8, 2012
Hmmm. You’re right. For some reason I was thinking that Watkins was a freshman. I must have had someone else in mind.
I stand corrected.
FlaGators - February 8, 2012
maybe because he plays like a freshman?
skigator93 - February 8, 2012
Haha, that’s probably it.
FlaGators - February 8, 2012
Brown
I don’t we can count on a kid who has missed 3 full seasons due to injury to be healthy. Not his fault – just fact.
skigator93 - February 8, 2012
Off topic.
Anyone have any idea when Diggs’ announcement date is?? It’s killing me that he hasn’t decided yet I need to know.
Roberson is good, Watkins made me wanna kill ppl, Riggs isn’t as fast as ppl say he is or at least not when he’s covering guys, Brown needs to stop getting hurt this isn’t soccer. Theres my twocents on the cornerbacks so I’m not totally off topic.
gatorempire127 - February 8, 2012 via mobile
Diggs announces Friday night.
Cali Gators - February 8, 2012
Thank you very much.
gatorempire127 - February 8, 2012 via mobile
At 10 PM
I heard it would be right after the Heat play the Wizards in DC.
ECFIVESTER - February 8, 2012
which is a Florida team and the local NBA team …
what do you say Diggs takes his talents to Florida …?
ECFIVESTER - February 8, 2012
Reading into it a little are we?
Cali Gators - February 8, 2012
hey I’d like Coach Boom to land an athlete like that we all know we need Play makers and UF is definitely the bigger and better program over Maryland, the other major opposition.
ECFIVESTER - February 8, 2012
Thanx!
Just wanted to squeeze in a thanx to you, FLAGators for putting these together. I thoroughly enjoy the break downs and just wanted to let you know your work is appreciated.
coolgator - February 8, 2012 via Android app
Thanks. You’re welcome.
FlaGators - February 8, 2012
Roberson is definitely our best corner on roster right now. With poole coming in I think he gets alot of time and maybe a starting job by mid season. What happened to purifoy from last year, he was a stud in high school and has really good size he is like 6’ 1 and a pretty good cover corner from his looks in high school. I know I saw him on some special teams but why not ever at corner when riggs and watkins never really seems to play that well. Also why did saunders never get a chance and playing a true corner instead of the nickel back, he couldn’t of been that much worse than what we had.
RNappy20 - February 8, 2012 via Android app
Yeah, Purifoy played special teams. I think he led the team in tackles on special teams as well.
FlaGators - February 9, 2012
Purifioy did a pretty good job at corner when he played tho from what I remember didn’t get burned a whole lot did a pretty god job of sticking with his guy. I’d argue that wth more playing time he could be our 2nd or 3rd best corner next year. Plus he’s a sure tackler as you said from his play on special teams.
gatorempire127 - February 9, 2012 via mobile
This is true. As the nickle CB (more or less) he did play fairly well. But like you said, more playing time is going to be needed.
FlaGators - February 9, 2012
Semi off-topic question
Am I the only one who hears a worried Danny Glover’s voice screaming “Riiiigs” every time Riggs is involved in a play?
Thanks for doing this series, I’m enjoying the position-by-position breakdown.
theologator - February 9, 2012
Haha, I hadn’t ever thought about that. Nice Lethal Weapon comparison.
And thanks, welcome.
FlaGators - February 9, 2012
On Topic Question
And I thought I was the only one that heard that when I see him in a play.
wright_gator - February 9, 2012
Awesomeness
is your comparison
ECFIVESTER - February 9, 2012
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