by Bob Redman
For the last two seasons the Florida Gators defense has been highly disappointing. A coaching change later and there is a bit more confidence in the group at all three levels. A major part of that confidence comes from a better understanding of what is going on when they are on the field. New defensive coordinator Patrick Toney is catching quite a bit of praise from his pupils as they spent the spring growing in the scheme and are ready to prove things are better.
Toney actually has a lot of experience for a pretty young coach and that experience is nurtured with the time he spends away from his team in learning from the best. His players know very well that when he’s teaching in a meeting room or on the field, Toney is passing on what he’s learned from the best out there.
“Every time I step in his office, he’s always on a zoom with NFL defensive coordinators from all over,” Florida inside linebacker Derek Wingo said last month at a Gator Collective event. “He’s learning and always wants to know what’s next. He’s preparing for the future and the next play. He always has an idea in his mind.”
A big part of Toney’s repertoire as a coach is the ability to relay the message to the players of what he wants from them.
“I love being in the meeting room with him,” Wingo said. “He does a good job of explaining plays and making sure that you’re not just nodding your head and you think you know what’s going on. He makes sure that you really have it down pat.”
Count junior defensive back Jadarrius Perkins among those that will admit that he was a bit lost on the field last season. He’s quick to credit Toney for being able to get him to understand what’s going on this past spring that led to Perkins really playing well before a minor injury.
“Coach Toney did a great job with me personally,” Perkins said from the same Gator Collective event. “Helping me off the field as well, not just on the field. He tells you the position and where you’re supposed to be at. When you mess up it’s your fault because he’s putting you in position every play. He makes sure that there is no gray area. That’s the thing about playing DB, when there is no gray area you can play fast. That’s what I like about him.”
Toney is not afraid to get after it with his players, but is also there to lift them up when necessary.
“I’d say on the field he’s great,” Wingo said. “He’s intense and will get after you, but at the same time he understands that we’re going to mess up plays, we’re going to make mistakes. But it’s just being able to have a short term memory and get on to the next play and be able to keep the confidence going.”
There was documented confusion on defense the past two seasons and the players will tell you that it wasn’t an issue in the spring. They will also tell you that Patrick Toney gets a lot of credit for that.