Vols' defense can't rest

KNOXVILLE -- The Florida football team didn't need much offensive creativity last season in Neyland Stadium. The Gators took a quick 17-0 lead over Tennessee and cruised to a 30-6 victory.

Florida generally stayed vanilla after its early eruption, and UT's defense generally stayed in front of the Gators' explosive playmakers.

Tennessee narrowly outgained the Gators and held them to 243 yards -- the lowest output in their national championship season. Florida gained 358 yards from scrimmage in the Southeastern Conference championship victory over then-undefeated Alabama and racked up 480 yards in the BCS national-title win over Oklahoma.

"We feel like we can't say we played a good game last year, because we lost," UT senior weakside linebacker Rico McCoy said. "But from my perspective, the ball bounced the wrong way a couple of times. Special teams, that played a big role last year. The defense did a pretty good job, and I think we're even better this year.

"I'm looking forward to seeing what the defense can do this year."

Florida senior quarterback Tim Tebow said the Volunteers always produce "one of the most physical games that we play all year," and the Gators' Heisman Trophy winner has plenty of perspective. He'll have a chance Saturday to become just the third SEC quarterback to defeat UT four times. Florida's Danny Wuerffel and Alabama's Jay Barker were the first two.

The Gators scored 59 points against the Vols in 2007 -- Tebow's first start in the series -- but they scored two non-offensive touchdowns, and two of the offense's TD possessions started in Vols territory.

Florida needed then-freshman Tebow to convert several short-yardage plays late in the 2006 UT game, and he produced to propel the Gators to a 21-20 victory.

"It's such a big game, and it's such an intense rivalry," Tebow said. "It's a rivalry where you go out there and you play extremely hard."

Despite Florida living up to coach Urban Meyer's promise to make it one of the fastest teams in college football, McCoy expressed confidence that the Vols could contain the Gators' perimeter quickness.

Look at what happened last season, McCoy said.

"Percy Harvin had a couple of plays, but speed didn't play a role in our game last year," he said. "Everybody played assignment football, and you didn't see any 40- or 50-yard runs or 60-yard bombs or anything like that.

"There were a couple of special-teams plays, but that speed wasn't a factor last year on (our) defense."

Junior defensive back Dennis Rogan, like most of the Vols, didn't match McCoy's machismo.

"We're pretty confident, but we also know we're up to a big task this weekend," Rogan said. "They have a really special offense, and special guys that can make plays, so we've just got to stay focused and go out there and play like we've been playing.

"You always want to compete against the best players, and they definitely have some of the best players around. We're looking forward to going down there."

UT's defenders remain publicly confident in their offensive teammates, but another disastrous start would certainly make it hard to avoid a fifth consecutive loss in the series -- which would tip the all-time advantage to Florida, 20-19. The Vols' passing attack doesn't strike many as the kind that can overcome a large early deficit.

"We've just got to come out playing Tennessee defense from the jump and not hurt ourselves," McCoy said. "Even though we played a pretty decent game last week (against UCLA) as far as the defensive side, we still hurt ourselves on a couple of plays. It was not that they outmanned us or out-schemed us. We had a couple of busts -- you know, blown assignments -- which gave up a couple of yards last weekend.

"That's one thing that we can't have happen this weekend -- we hurt ourselves. A guy not blitzing here or there or a guy forgetting his responsibility. We can't have any busts this weekend, and we'll be in this ballgame."

A big play from Eric Berry certainly wouldn't hurt, either, though it's doubtful the Gators will test their luck too often against UT's junior All-America safety. Western Kentucky threw in Berry's direction once early in the first quarter, and that near-interception is the last time he's been seriously challenged in the passing game.

Berry said UCLA didn't throw a pass in his direction last week. Vols defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin eventually moved him down in the box against the Bruins -- essentially making him an outside linebacker -- to keep him near the ball.

"It makes sense. I wouldn't throw at him," McCoy said. "That could be the case, because he's a great ballplayer and hasn't had really a lot of big plays. I'm sure he hasn't been given a lot of opportunities right now, but it's a long season, and I'm sure he'll have a lot to come."

The sooner, the better, Berry said. Duplicating his 96-yard interception return touchdown against Tebow two years ago would be a boost.

Even Berry can't afford to gamble too much, though. Not Saturday, at least.

"You've just got to be where you're supposed to be," Berry said. "Make sure you don't get too focused on the false keys. Make sure you read your keys and be where you're supposed to be at. You can't get sidetracked."