Starting defensive end Jabari Zuniga’s sprained ankle had healed enough that he could have played against Auburn, but the coaching staff held him out with the expectation he would be 100 percent for Saturday’s game at LSU.
“He was available,” UF coach Dan Mullen said Monday. “He was cleared to play, but I don’t think he was 100 percent. Going into the game, our thoughts were, ‘Hey, if we cannot play him this week, give him the opportunity to be 100 percent next week, instead of kind of playing at 80 percent on consecutive weeks.’
“He was battling. I know he wanted to play. He didn’t get into the game, but that’s a good thing for us because we expect him to be 100 percent coming into this game.”
Mullen said there’s also a chance running back Dameon Pierce will be available for Saturday night’s game. He took a helmet-to-helmet blow in the win over Auburn.
“Dameon Pierce has got a chance to play as the week goes on,” Mullen said. “We’ll see where he’s at coming off the hit he took in the game.”
That is all but certain to turn up the heat in the Gator defense.
From what I have watched of Burrows and the LSU offense, the pass rush will be a big factor in holding down LSU pa ssing game. When Burrows has time (4+ seconds) he can light it up. With a strong Gator secondary, the D-line must limit the time Burrows has. I guess this is Capt. Obvious speaking, but LSU has very good receivers and the offense is built around pass first. I would absolutely hate to see a 3-man rush against LSU in a third and long. Burrows is just too good to be given 5 or more seconds to find a receiver. LSU defense is just SEC average as is running game, so there is a way for Gators to win, but it will not be easy. (outscore LSU).
With Zuniga back, I would love to see him and Jon Greenard do their best Derrick Harvey and Jarvis Moss versus THE ohio state university, circa 2007 BCS national championship game, impressions.