Andreu's Answers: Mature Gator defense shows composure

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Before every game this season, veteran football beat writer Robbie Andreu comes up with five pertinent questions, then answers them after each game. Here is Week 10: 1. Will middle linebacker Brandon Spikes play lights out after last week's suspension? Maybe he didn't play lights out, but he performed with his usual high energy and provided his usual leadership. When it looked like the game might slip away heading into the fourth quarter, Spikes and the defense stayed focused, stayed confident, and made the play (Justin Trattou's interception and 53-yard return) and the plays in the fourth quarter to lock this one down. Spikes lined up at middle linebacker and defensive end and helped put some pressure on South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia. For the game, he recorded three tackles and recovered a fumble. It was a very positive return performance by Spikes. 2. Can the Florida defensive front pressure USC quarterback Stephen Garcia into some mistakes? Defensive coordinator Charlie Strong fired all kinds of blitzes at Garcia throughout the game. The results were mixed in the first three quarters. The Gators sacked Garcia twice, but were burned for some big pass completions. The defense did not produce enough heat to force Garcia into some bad decisions and bad plays. It was a different story in the fourth quarter. After Trattou's interception and subsequent touchdown by the offense, the UF defensive front got after Garcia and dominated the rest of the game. Garcia was sacked four times in the quarter and was pressured into throwing an interception to cornerback Joe Haden with less than four minutes to play to seal the deal. 3. Will the Gators finally produce some much-needed big plays on offense? Florida got off to a huge start, with quarterback Tim Tebow throwing a 68-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Riley Cooper on the Gators' third play from scrimmage. The quick score gave UF momentum and silenced what had been a loud and electric crowd. But the offense reverted to form from there. Cooper dropped two touchdown passes and the Gators could not generate the big plays that might have put this game away much earlier. Urban Meyer said after the game the Gators are going to have to start hitting on those big-play opportunities because of what's coming — Alabama in the SEC Championship Game. UF blew some chances, but at least created some opportunities, something they were not doing in previous games. Once again, the offense left a lot of points on the field. Place-kicker Caleb Sturgis played a role, missing three of his four field goal attempts. 4. Who wins the matchup between the UF corners and the USC wide receivers? This one probably has to go down as a tie. Janoris Jenkins and Joe Haden had the USC receivers covered at times. But at other times, Alshon Jeffery, Weslye Saunders and Jason Barnes got open and made plays. Many of those plays came when the Gators were blitzing off the edge trying to pressure Garcia. Jeffery, Saunders and Barnes combined for 13 receptions for 156 yards and a touchdown. Once the Gators regained momentum in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter, the corners locked down the USC receivers and received a considerable boost form an full-throttle UF pass rush, some of it coming with only a three-man rush. Overall, this matchup was a wash. 5. How will the Gators respond to adversity on the road? Just like most of the games in recent weeks, the Gators had to somehow find a way to regain momentum after losing it in the second half. With South Carolina driving for what could have been an equalizing field goal or a go-ahead touchdown, the defense remained composed and came up with the game-changing play, Trattou's interception and return on the first play of the fourth quarter. The play came at a time when it appeared South Carolina was about to seize control of the game. From that point on, the defense dominated the game. There were all kinds of adversity in this game, and the Gators found a way to cope with it each time. This is a mature team that is confident it's going to make the plays it needs to. UF showed that trait again Saturday night.