By Matt Smith
SouthernPigskin.com

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It’s no secret that the SEC’s seven consecutive national championships are due in large part to great defensive lines and linebackers. Florida had just that last year, and came within a USC upset of Notre Dame from playing for the national title.

With a one-dimensional offense for much of the 2012 season, Florida was forced to rely heavily on its defense en route to a surprising 11-2 record.

Much of that production has to be replaced this fall, including first-round NFL Draft pick Sharif Floyd, defensive end Lerentee McCray, linebackers Jelani Jenkins and Jonathan Bostic and tackle Omar Hunter.

With only two returning starters in the front seven, both at new positions, as well as the loss of coordinator Dan Quinn, the Gators will look much different up front when the open the 2013 season on Aug. 31 against Toledo.

One of those two returning starters, senior Dominique Easley, shifts inside to tackle with the loss of Floyd and Hunter. The move represents a return to Easley’s more natural position.

“It was the first position I played,” Easley said Tuesday at SEC Media Days. “So I’m cool with it. Whatever’s best for the team.”

Head coach Will Muschamp expects not only a successful on-field season for Easley, but for him to be the leader of the retooled defensive front after deciding to delay his opportunity in the NFL.

“Dominique is a guy that can play inside or out,” Muschamp said. “A guy that had a very productive year [in 2012]. I think he made a mature, smart decision in coming back to school.”

Florida will get a key piece that was left outside of last season’s puzzle in linebacker Ronald Powell, who tore his ACL in the spring of 2012 and missed the season.

“Here is a guy (Powell) who has been thought a lot of adversity,” Muschamp said. “A guy that’s been through an awful lot. Never complained. Never got down about anything. He’s truly a great individual and excited that he’s a leader of our football team as well.”

Powell’s return does present a bit of a dilemma for Muschamp and new defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin. With Powell out, rising sophomore Dante Fowler Jr. emerged at the team’s Buck position, a hybrid role that also fit Powell’s strengths. Muschamp hopes to find an effective way to use both Fowler and Powell at the same time.

“Our regular package will have both of those guys have to be able to set the edge – Ronald at the Sam and Dante at the Buck,” Muschamp explained. “We need to get both of them on the field.”

Durkin was one of just three coaches retained by Muschamp when he took over for Urban Meyer in December 2010. Although the two had not worked together prior to that, Muschamp thought enough of him to promote him to not only retain him, but to promote him to the coordinator role when Quinn left for the NFL following last season.

“More than anything, [Durkin] understands how we want to play defense at Florida,” Muschamp said. “He does a great job of relating to our players.”

Antonio Morrison will slide over to middle linebacker this fall to replace Bostic after being a starter on the outside last season. Neiron Ball, Darren Kitchens and Michael Taylor are expected to help fill the vacant outside positions. The newness of the group does not concern their head coach.

“I certainly feel comfortable at the linebacker position,” Muschamp said. “We feel like we recruited well at that position.

It’s no secret that the SEC’s seven consecutive national championships are due in large part to great defensive lines and linebackers. Florida had just that last year, and came within a USC upset of Notre Dame from playing for the national title.

The 2013 units enter fall camp with a significant amount of uncertainty. For Florida to have a chance to join Alabama as the only teams to win three national titles in the soon-to-be-defunct BCS era, reshaping a retooled front seven is the Gators’ top priority before the season kicks off.