WATCH: Corey Raymond discusses job promotion, the Gators secondary
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida assistant head coach Corey Raymond has a new job title this year. He’s working with several new starters and a new defensive coordinator, Austin Armstrong, on the backend.
Despite those changes, however, things aren’t too different for Raymond this spring. He still handles the cornerbacks and nickels, but now works more with the safeties as the secondary coach.
Armstrong coaches the safety position like former DC Patrick Toney, but not on a full-time basis. Armstrong oversees the entire defense as well and focuses on install and play-calling.
Moreover, Armstrong coached under Toney for two seasons at Louisiana, including his first year as DC in 2020, and has a defensive scheme that is similar to what he runs.
“There’s no changes,” Raymond said of the new coaching dynamic. “Basically, we’re still pretty much doing the same stuff we did last year. You know, with (me) coaching the safeties, it’s just we’re all together. Doing it together, you know, maybe some more working together, cohesiveness, talking together. It was the same thing with coach Toney, it wasn’t nothing.
“Everything from last year was more being new than anything, and the guys getting in. I think being a year in the system and not changing anything, you’ll see a lot more improvements because we had a good system last year. It’s the same system from last year, and I think that the guys are growing into it and understanding how to become professionals in it. That’s what’s going to make them better.”
In the video below, Raymond discusses his job promotion this offseason, his position group for 2023, Jaydon Hill moving to STAR, which defensive back has improved the most from last year and more.
Corey Raymond quotes
On the promotion from Billy Napier:
Raymond: “It was just, coach did that. It was nothing that came about, it was just something that coach decided to do and I’m gonna just roll with it. You know, he’s the head man. So, it was good. … It helps, you know, because we’re all together (in the secondary). It’s a good thing.”
On Armstrong’s multi-dimensional scheme:
Raymond: “You’re gonna do a little bit of everything, dab into a little bit of different defenses. Because it comes from a lot of things that have been, you know, where he came from, a little bit where [Dave] Aranda came from. It’s a lot of defenses that are mixed together, so you see a lot of different things. And so, it’s an adjustment but the good thing is, the kids already were introduced to it by coach Toney. He did a good job in doing it that and I think that it’s making them better.”
On being able to coach the entire secondary:
Raymond: “It’s good. It’s really, it’s a lot, you know what I’m saying? It’s good to have a lot of different people (contributing on staff) but you’re all on the same page. Which, we were all the time last year. Everybody was on the same page, but it’s gotten better. I mean, at the end of the day, it’s year two. So, it’s going to be better.”
On Florida’s defensive back room as a whole:
Raymond: “They’re working hard man. I think they have a chance to be — could be good. You know, it’s going to be on them putting in the work, which they are doing. And guys are stepping up and being leaders.”
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