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UCF remains focused on forcing turnovers: ‘That’s not negotiable. We gotta get that ball out’
TL;DR
UCF's defensive coordinator Alex Grinch stresses the importance of forcing turnovers, a focus that remains critical as the new season begins. Last season, the Knights finished 12th in the Big 12 with only 14 takeaways.
Key points
- Alex Grinch emphasizes the need for turnovers
- UCF finished 12th in the Big 12 for takeaways
- The Knights had only 14 takeaways last season
- UCF lost eight of twelve games due to turnover issues
- Grinch's focus on turnovers remains unchanged
Mentioned in this story
UCFAlex Grinch
Big 12
(Matt Murschel/Orlando Sentinel/TNS)
When Alex Grinch stepped into the role of defensive coordinator at UCF last year, he quickly emphasized to his players the critical need to generate turnovers.
The Knights, however, struggled to create turnovers last season, finishing 12th in the Big 12 with only 14 takeaways. That, in turn, led the team to lose the turnover battle in eight of its 12 games, finishing 5-7.
As a new season begins, Grinch’s message about the importance of creating turnovers remains unchanged.
“That’s something that wins and loses football games,” said Grinch. “Unfortunately, we found out the latter of the two, which is why we lost more games last year than we won, because we didn’t get enough takeaways.
“Can we play okay defensively and still find a way to get a win, but not get takeaways? We tried that and it didn’t work. So, the message for our guys is and it’s not a suggestion and it’s not extra credit, it’s something that is a rally cry in spring ball.”
The message is clear and it’s been echoed throughout the defensive roster.
New defensive backs coach David Overstreet II has also been stressing the importance of taking the ball away. It’s something he believes should be on every player’s mind when they step onto the football field.
“The most important thing in the field of that ball. Nothing matters without that football,” said Overstreet. “They (opposing team) can’t score if they ain’t got the ball. When you watch tape, you say, ‘You see this guy running by you right here? You tagged off. You really could punch the ball right here.’
“It’s constantly telling the guys where they can get the ball and how they can get the ball.”
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“He’s very big on takeaways. That’s his number one thing: takeaways,” senior cornerback Antione Jackson said of Overstreet.
Q&A
How many turnovers did UCF's defense create last season?
UCF's defense created only 14 turnovers last season.
What was UCF's record last season related to turnovers?
UCF lost the turnover battle in eight of its 12 games, finishing with a 5-7 record.
Who is the defensive coordinator for UCF?
Alex Grinch is the defensive coordinator for UCF.
Why is forcing turnovers important for UCF this season?
Forcing turnovers is crucial for UCF to improve their performance and win more games this season.
