Football: Offensive line falls short as Florida’s dominating defense sacks Jefferson five times

The Florida defense dominated the nation in nearly all defensive categories entering Saturday's primetime matchup with LSU – except for sacks produced, with only seven in four games.

The No. 1 total defense in the country nearly matched that total Saturday night, overwhelming LSU's offensive line and sacking sophomore quarterback Jordan Jefferson five times in the Gators' 13-3 victory.

Florida senior linebacker Ryan Stamper said Jefferson feeling the heat and being forced to scramble stemmed from the defense's "great job covering" and effective penetration through the LSU offensive line.


"[Jefferson] wants to run the ball a lot, and we noticed that," Stamper said. "If we got good pressure on them, we knew he would want to run the ball a lot, so we knew we would get a lot of chances to sack him."


LSU took over at its own 20-yard line in the third quarter with the score 10-3 after Florida sophomore kicker Caleb Sturgis missed a 25-yard field goal. But Florida junior defensive end Justin Trattou and senior linebacker Brandon Spikes sacked Jefferson on first and third downs to force LSU's third punt of the game.

The LSU offensive is now tied with three other teams in sacks allowed at No. 107 in the country with 18 through six games.

LSU senior running back Charles Scott said missed blocks were a reason for the high number, and he said the pass protection "definitely needs improvement."


"A few of those plays I should have stayed in and helped out," Scott said. "If you see somebody getting beat and you don't help out, it's just as much as your fault as the guy getting beat."


Florida senior quarterback Tim Tebow was not sacked in his return from a concussion he suffered two weeks ago.

Tebow finished with numbers below his season statistics per game — 134 passing yards compared with an average of 155.4 yards and 38 rushing yards compared with a 61.8 average per game — but he threw the game's only touchdown to senior wide receiver Riley Cooper with 0:50 remaining in the second quarter.


"That one touchdown gave them the extra boost they needed to continue throughout the game," said LSU junior safety Chad Jones. "If that touchdown wouldn't have happened, things would have turned out differently."


The LSU defense spent the majority of the night on the field, as Florida dominated the time of possession battle Saturday, 36:30 to 23:30 and got 22 first downs compared with LSU's 12.


The Tigers held the No. 1 scoring offense in the Southeastern Conference to nearly four touchdowns below its season average of 39 points per game, and its lowest point total since 1999. But penalties tarnished the defense's performance as the unit was flagged six times Saturday — four times for lining up offsides and two 15-yard facemask penalties.

"Basically we got outplayed by their defense," LSU senior linebacker Jacob Cutrera said. "We should have gotten off the field more than we did. The penalties hurt — we need to fix that."


The Florida defense kept LSU out of the end zone for the first time since a 7-3 loss to Auburn in 2006. LSU coach Les Miles agreed Florida's pass rush made the LSU offensive line's pass protection tasks grueling.


"We threw a couple of balls to [senior wide receiver] Brandon LaFell, and they came out of the sky and started targeting him," Miles said. "We should well have had an over-the-top throw or two ... but when we called those, we didn't have protection."


Florida sophomore safety Will Hill said in addition to putting pressure on Jefferson, he knew the secondary needed to stop LaFell (4 receptions for 44 yards) and junior wideout Terrance Toliver (2 receptions for 14 yards) to win.


Florida remains undefeated through five games in 2009 while LSU enters its bye week at 5-1 and 3-1 in SEC play. Stamper said the Gators' victory against the Tigers is a statement about Florida's place in the college football ranks.


"On offense, defense and special teams, we are clicking and playing as one," Stamper said. "I think we deserve the No. 1 spot."


Cutrera said he hopes his team will have the chance to get revenge against the Gators and their defense later in the season.


"I guess it was a moral victory [allowing only 13 points]," Cutrera said. "We always want that ‘W.' Hopefully we'll face them again in the SEC championship."




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Rachel Whittaker at rwhittaker@lsureveille.com