Giving up 45 points was unacceptable to Florida defensive lineman DJ Coleman, who believes the Gators have been playing too passively rather than attacking opponents with the aggression needed to compete in the SEC.
Florida's loss at Missouri exposed problems that Coleman believes extend beyond defensive schemes and positioning. He challenged his teammates to capitalize on opportunities, play with greater confidence and ignore outside criticism, while describing a significant increase in practice intensity under defensive coordinator Brad White.
Coleman also discussed the leadership message he delivered to Florida's defense, the importance of creating turnovers and the impact of Bryce Thornton's absence. With South Carolina coming to Gainesville,
he addressed the challenges of containing dual-threat quarterback LaNorris Sellers and the physical approach required to limit his effectiveness.
Here's everything Coleman had to say.
What needs to change about Florida's defensive approach?
I mean, I just feel like we've got to play more aggressively on defense. I feel like we're playing kind of passive. Some people might think it's scheme, but I feel like it comes from within us. I feel like we're in the right position. We just ain't capitalizing on opportunities when they show themselves. So I feel like that's really where that comes from.
How has Florida practiced this week following the Missouri loss?
If we were practicing on 10 already, we're practicing on 25 right now. Everything we've been doing, it's been unacceptable. So we're trying to flip the narrative now and doing everything we can to change it as soon as possible.
How has Brad White increased the intensity at practice?
He's definitely turned up the heat on us. He's more of a relaxed guy, I'd say, at times, but he'll turn it up when he needs to.
This week has definitely been his no-chilling week. We have no room to chill. Forty-five points, that's unacceptable at any level of football.
We're playing in the SEC on the national stage every week. So if we give up 45, 45, 45, 45, a lot of people will not be in this building anymore. So we can't do it.
What message has Coleman delivered to Florida's younger defensive players?
After practice, I had just brought the defense up. I had talked to them. I just really wanted everybody to know, we've got to treat every day like it's our last day.
Coach Sumrall, his message to the team has been win every day, and you'll see the results on Saturday. So just coming in with the right mindset, treating every rep game-like and going as hard as you possibly can. So when you're in situations that may feel uncomfortable or foreign in the game, you feel as comfortable as you can be.
So that's something I've just been trying to preach.
What does Florida need to do to win more one-on-one coverage matchups?
Eyes and trust in preparation. I'd say that. I feel like our guys just let the moment win instead of just trusting what they're trying to do.
Because I've seen all of these guys do things that they're capable of doing and showing on the big stage, and it's just now time to do it when the time comes.
How did losing Bryce Thornton affect Florida's secondary?
It kind of does, but I feel like just the next-man-up mentality. I mean, (Alfonzo Allen) is a great player. I feel like he can step up and take on that role, take on that challenge. He attacks every day with the right mindset. I feel like he'll be ready for anything we throw at him.
So losing Bryce hurts, definitely. That's a depth piece. We'll have more if we have Bryce, but I feel like the guys that are behind us, whenever we go down, you've got to be ready because you never know when your time is coming.
What does Alonzo bring to Florida's defense?
The way Alfonzo plays, it just brings energy to the whole team. He'll make a tackle on special teams or something that'll get the whole sideline hyped, just momentum.
So I feel like with a guy like him, just the momentum he can bring and the positive energy he brings to the team just when he's out there and making plays, I feel like that'll be good for us.
How has Coleman helped Florida's cornerbacks deal with criticism?
I just tell them to focus on the work. The outside noise, however true it may or may not be, just focus on the work because we're here for a reason. God put us in this position to do what we're able to do.
So I feel like if you let the outside noise creep in, then at some point you're going to start believing it. So I just try and keep them away from that as much as possible and keep their heads on right just so they can produce when the time comes.
How important is it for Florida to start forcing turnovers again?
Yeah, it's very critical. When the offense is struggling, a turnover can change the game, just giving them short field position and setting them up for easy scores.
I feel like if we get the ball out in the first half at some point, the game can go completely different. Just because I feel like we were pretty dead, just no turnovers. We didn't have any big swing plays. I feel like we were just in defensive mode, and we really weren't attacking as much.
What will it take to contain South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers?
Yeah, he's a great player. He can do a lot. He can threaten us in a lot of ways. I feel like we've just got to contain him as much as we can, but be aggressive in doing it. Not letting him run around and kind of controlling how he does it and being aggressive at the attack point whenever he's running, and just making him feel it whenever we get the chance.
Is it motivating to see a quarterback in the open field?
Most quarterbacks, you don't really get a chance to see them out like that. But with Sellers, it's going to be a lot of opportunities. They do a lot of QB runs, QB-designed runs. Then he's liable to scramble and make a play with his legs any time.
So that's something we're preparing for and something that we lift weights and practice for. Because he lifts, too, just like us.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: DJ Coleman calls out Florida's passive defense after Missouri loss
