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Sooner defense must stand firm
Stopping Florida's run game will be tough.

Sooner defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, giving high-fives to fans after a win, and the OU front line will match up against Florida's talented offensive line. Florida averages 229.8 yards rushing per game. MICHAEL WYKE/Tulsa World
 
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 1/5/2009  2:26 AM
Last Modified: 1/5/2009  3:30 AM

OU audio: How did 6-8, 337- pound Sooner oWensive lineman Phil Loadholt respond when asked, “When was the last time someone messed with you?” Listen to audio clips from him, as well as coach Bob Stoops, QB Sam Bradford and more.

Also: More blogs from Miami, including Guerin Emig’s discussion on the Dominique Franks comments, John E. Hoover on the Stoops-to-Denver rumors and more.



FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — If Florida's offense can impose its will on Oklahoma's defense, the Sooners might find themselves overmatched in Thursday's BCS National Championship game.

The No. 2 Gators' dynamic offense is led by 2007 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Tim Tebow, but even Tebow is Larry Csonka with an accurate left arm. These Gators are built on running the football, with speed, with power and with fearsome attitude.

But Florida's fancy offense goes nowhere without its punishing offensive line.

"We see ourselves as the best offensive line in the country," right guard Mike Pouncey said.

If the No. 1 Sooners are to slow down the Gators' ground game, it starts up front with defensive tackles Gerald McCoy and Adrian Taylor. Few linemen have successfully blocked McCoy one-on-one all season. He earned All-American honors in just his second season as a starter.

"They're great," Pouncey's twin brother, Markice, said. "Probably just like Alabama, one of the best (defensive lines) in college football. They're quick and stuff. Those guys are explosive off the football."

Florida ranks 11th nationally in rushing offense, averaging 229.8 yards per game. Oklahoma is 16th nationally in rushing defense, giving up just 106.0 yards per game. Barring game-changing turnovers, whichever comes closest to its season average on Thursday significantly improves its chance of winning.

"If they win it, they'll probably win the game," OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. "If we win it, we'll probably win the game."

And whichever team's foot soldiers best establish a new front — OU's defensive line or Florida's offensive line — will decide the bloodiest battle in this college football Armageddon.

"It always starts up front," McCoy said. "Any team who can control the line of scrimmage normally can win the game."

Tebow said last month he couldn't wait to play a defense from the Big 12 Conference, where points and yardage this season flowed like milk and honey. The debate intensified during interviews Sunday morning at the Marriott Harbor Beach Resort: is the Big 12 replete with great offenses, or bad defenses?

"Yeah, we've heard it all year," OU cornerback Dominique Franks said. "And this is going to be our chance to prove everybody wrong."

Florida offensive line coach Steve Addazio isn't criticizing the Sooners.

"I just watch the tape. I know what I see," Addazio said. "I see a defensive front that's very strong and powerful. I see good pass rushers off the edge. I watch linebackers that run really well. I see safeties that fit well in the run. I see a system of defense that they play, a really sound system of gap control by the front and the safety fits. I see that as a well-coached defense, a well-coordinated defense and a talented defense."

Five Florida players have rushed for more than 400 yards this year, led by Chris Rainey's 655, Jeff Demps' 582, Tebow's 564 and Percy Harvin's 538. Rainey, Demps and Harvin are speedsters and could be part of a gold-medal relay team. Tebow, all 240 pounds of him, has a fullback's running style, low and punishing.

The Gators thrive on their speed with a variety of misdirection plays, most notably a standard option with a backward pitch and a shovel option with a forward pitch — sometimes both going on the same play. There are plenty of end-around sweeps, counters and reverses, too.

Tebow won last year's Heisman, but the '07 Florida team fell short of expectations, going 9-4 and losing to a disintegrating Michigan team in a bowl. This year's Gators came together after an early home loss to underdog Mississippi, and won their last nine games — seven against Southeastern Conference opposition — by an imposing average score of 49-13.

"As people bought into the system and bought into the program, they cared more about what happened with the team than what happened with themselves." Tebow said. "When our offense really became good and became lethal is when they cared more about our offense scoring touchdowns than them scoring touchdowns."

And it started with Addazio and an inspiring speech to his offensive line. Injuries haven't derailed the Gators. Instead, like cement, they once looked like a mess but hardened quickly.

"They love football," Addazio said. "The guys up front love it. They can't get enough of it. They can't practice enough. The love the practice. They love the grind of the practice. They love the fundamentals. They want to come in and see every day on tape, 'How can we get better every day?' When you've got those kinds of things going on, you've got a pretty good deal. And they're talented."

And they're big. The top six linemen average 6-foot-5, 315 pounds. The Gator backs may have speed, but they need all that muscle. McCoy and his linemates will need to be strong.

"Any time somebody's a heavy run team, it all begins inside," OU coach Bob Stoops said. "And there's a lot of discipline to it, too, because of all the complications they can give you by pulling people and the different schemes they run."

Said Addazio, "You've got a good defensive front against a good offensive front. And they're gonna match each other. I think you're gonna see a very physical game."



John E. Hoover 581-8384
john.hoover@tulsaworld.com
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer

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6 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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If you see a comment that violates our terms and conditions, please help us by clicking the "Report this Comment" link next to a comment. That will alert the web staff to review the comment. Thank you.  -- Web Editor Jason Collington
 

 
Report Comment
pat, Kiefer (1/5/2009 9:00:50 AM)
BOOMER SOONER!!!!!!!

I heard a rumor that Ryan Reynolds may be back...anyone know if that is true?
Report Comment
shytnik, Colorado Springs (1/5/2009 12:06:45 PM)
Not Reynolds, Austin Box.
Report Comment
soonerchic, (1/5/2009 12:23:49 PM)
I wish Ryan Reynolds was back!!! He had back surgery, so he will probably be out for a while :(
Report Comment
Big Harp, Florida (1/5/2009 12:55:18 PM)
I did hear that Tebow and Harvin are going down.
Report Comment
pat, Kiefer (1/5/2009 12:58:39 PM)
soonerchic I hadn't heard he had back surgery...only knee...learn something new everyday. I was aware that Box would return, but was hoping for a Reynolds comeback too!

Big Harp...on each other? LOL
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Big Harp, Florida (1/5/2009 3:29:12 PM)
They are room mates you know.
 

 
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