Dissatisfaction with defense doesn't shake Napier's trust in Patrick Toney

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators‘ defense has been a point of contention and 32-year-old defensive coordinator Patrick Toney has received the ire of a passionate fanbase.

It isn’t unwarranted. Florida entered its bye week 12th in the SEC in total defense (429.3 ypg), 12th in rushing defense (185 ypg allowed), and last in the nation and SEC in third-down defense (52.58 percent). The Gators haven’t been good on defense.

Toney’s defensive scheme that we saw at Louisiana doesn’t appear to have traveled to Gainesville and the third-down defense looks a lot like the last coordinator, who was fired in the middle of the 2021 season.

“We’re all disappointed. I think there’s this perception out there — no one cares more than we do. No one cares more than our players do, no one cares more than our staff does, and certainly no one cares more than Patrick,” Napier said. “Patrick, I’ve been around a number of years, and absolutely one of the best coaches I’ve ever been on staff with. I’ve been around some of the elite coaches.”

Toney is currently a chef trying to make dinner with someone else’s groceries. For the most part, Toney has players he didn’t recruit, playing in a system that they weren’t recruited to play in.

It can be seen as an excuse. A great coach will put his players in positions where they can be successful. That clearly hasn’t been happening for the Gators, but is it all on Toney? Napier doesn’t think so.

Napier reiterates confidence in Toney

Toney was a big part of the defensive turnaround at UL, but their first year wasn’t great. In Toney’s second year, after getting a chance to recruit and develop, the Ragin’ Cajuns’ defense was better.

“He had a lot to do with our defensive turnaround at our previous stop,” Napier said. ”So he’s doing what he does. He’s extremely bright and he’s evaluating things objectively, and technically and making the necessary adjustments. We’ve got good people in the building. No one is taking more pride than our players and our staff and Patrick Toney in trying to improve in some of these areas.”

The biggest area of disappointment is Florida’s third-down defense, which is the worst in the country. It can’t all be put on Toney’s shoulders. The players have to play the game and make stops to get off the field.

Florida is just 56th in the country in tackling, according to Pro Football Focus. In seven games, the Gators have missed 74 tackles (10.6) per game. Florida’s safeties (Trey Dean and Rashad Torrence) lead the way with eight apiece.

Toney can’t make the tackles for his players. He can’t make them play their assignments perfectly, but he’s working to get more consistency from his group.

“I think overall, the things that we can control are the things that we’re focused on. I think fundamentals, communication, alignment, and certainly playing good team defense, being on the same page at the first, second and third level, and then finishing when given an opportunity of finishing. So, I think much like you would expect from an area on your team where you’ve struggled at times, you’ve been inconsistent,” Napier said. “We’ve been lights-out at times and then we’ve really struggled at times, so we’re looking for more consistency as a whole, from individual players, from position groups, and the unit as a whole.”

Ultimately, Toney will be judged for his defense every year but the 2022 season should be judged accordingly. Judged as a chef trying to make dinner with groceries he didn’t purchase and may have been unfamiliar with. He has the confidence of his head coach, which is all he really needs — and some elite recruits.