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Interceptions Key Stout Defensive Effort
By Chris Harry
GAINESVILLE, Fla. --
When Kentucky broke the huddle in the second quarter and stacked two
wideouts on both sides of the field, Jaylen Watkins knew what was
coming.
“Even before the play, I was thinking, if he throws this, it’s a touchdown,” Watkins said.
As in a touchdown for the Florida defense, that is.
Sure enough, the Wildcats play unfolded exactly how Watkins had watched
it over and over on tape last week and exactly how the UF coaching
staff and scout team had presented it at practice. His receiver, lined
up in back, feigned an outside route then delayed to break across the
middle.
Watkins, the UF junior cornerback, was planted exactly in the spot where the ball was supposed to go.
Interception.
Touchdown.
The play was the highlight of the sort of defensive effort Coach Will
Muschamp has been looking for in his two seasons at Florida. Not just
because the 38-0 outcome marked the Gators first shutout win over a
Southeastern Conference opponent in 11 years, but for the sight of
turnovers -- three of them, all on interceptions of UK senior backup
Morgan Newton -- and splash plays going the other way.
“Just huge,” Florida defensive coordinator Dan Quinn said. “I told our
guys, when you get a shutout it’s usually the result of getting
turnovers. They change field position and shorten drives. So I was
really proud to see our [defensive backs] get their hands on the those
balls and get one in the end zone.”
In addition to the Watkins pick, and his 26-yard return that made the
score 17-0, the Gators got an interception and 29-yard return from
sophomore De’Ante Saunders and a pick from sophomore linebacker Mike
Taylor, who took the play back 10 yards just before the half.
All told, the season-high three interceptions came with 65 return yards.
That was more than Kentucky’s 60 yards passing for the game.
The Gators expected to see sophomore Maxwell Smith, who was leading the
Southeastern Conference in passing (and ranked eighth in the nation)
coming into the game. Smith, though, was held out due to a shoulder
injury, which brought out on senior backup Morgan Newton, who really
struggled.
Newton finished just 7of-21 passing for 48 yards and all three of the
picks. His passer rating at halftime was in the negative digits.
“We prepared for Smith, but when newton came out it was strictly
business; just another quarterback,” Taylor said. “Our coaches gave us
a great scheme and we just read his eyes. He was going through his
progressions -- and we read them as well. We were able to jump on some
balls.”
Kentucky’s 219 total yards were a season-low for the Wildcats.
“I think we’re making progress,” Muschamp said.
The numbers likely would have been different had Smith been able to go
-- UK led the SEC in passing offense through three weeks -- but no one
will ever know.
“In terms of a shutout, they’re hard to get no matter who you play,”
Quinn said. “Kentucky came in certainly knowing how to throw it, so
[turnovers] were a big emphasis for us going into the ball game.”
Doing something with them has been an emphasis since the Gators
convened for spring practice and vowed to improve on the measly 14
turnovers the team had in 2011.
UF has seven through four games in 2012, with some yardage after the play.
“When we’re in scout team work and get interceptions we have to make
sure we return them all the way -- and get blocks, too,” Watkins said.
“It keeps their offense off the field and puts points on the board. If
we can help the offense with that, even better.”
For Watkins, the interception was the first of his career. And the
touchdown was his first since his prep days at Cape Coral High.
“Felt great,” he smiled. “Can’t explain it.”
Didn’t need to.
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