We begin this edition of the War Room like we do every week with a couple of ground rules. Everything that is reported in the War Room must stay in the War Room. That is how this works. The information in War Room is detailed to the point that it does not need to be passed beyond the doors of this post. This is a special feature for subscribers only, which is why it is posted on the premium board. Posting here is the only way to ensure that the information is exclusive to The Alley. Anyway, the War Room will only work if everyone helps make it work. And now that no one has read this ... it's on with the news.
INSIDETHEGATORS.COM SPRING PRACTICE REPORTS
Staff Report I
Here's a position-by-position breakdown of information we have received from sources who have observed some practices.
Offense
* Schematically the offense is high-octane. Florida is taking more deep shots in the passing game than in the previous year and is gaining more yards via the pass in practice. It uses a variety of formations and personnel groupings to attack the defense.
* Quarterbacks: It's only been two weeks of practice, but it if he can stay healthy it is all but a given that John Brantley is expected to be the starter. He is still conservative passing the ball, but his experience makes him the likely choice. Tyler Murphy has been the surprise story of the off season. He has corrected his release which has made his passes less vulnerable to bat-downs, and has shown great accuracy on the deep ball. Jeff Driskel struggled a lot early, too often throwing it into coverage and having it intercepted, but has improved as time has gone on.
* Runningbacks: Senior to be Chris Rainey has been electrifying, earning high praise from everyone I spoke with. However, there are no other running backs other than walk-ons due to injuries and Jeff Demps running track.
Trey Burton has been effective as a fullback, and has been able to make the transition from being a quarterback to being a blocker effectively. He is usually picking up defensive ends and linebackers coming off the edge and holding his own. He also gets the ball put in his hands a fair amount.
* Wide Receivers: The trio of Quinton Dunbar, Omarius Hines and Stephen Alli have been the biggest standouts during the first two weeks of practice. Deonte Thompson has also caught some nice deep balls this season.
* Tight Ends: Back at the position once again, Jordan Reed has been excellent and shown a real understanding of the offense. He always knows where to be and has been one of the hardest working players on that side of the ball. A.C. Leonard has also been impressive and should find a role as well. Gerald Christian has been involved on offense as well as on defense, as opposed to just primarily defense.
* Offensive Line: Neither source really said much about the offensive line, except that the Gators are not seeing the same snap issues they saw last season from the center exchange.
* Coaching: While former offensive coaches Zach Azzani and Scot Loeffler were more aggressive coaches, Charlie Weis is less so. He is a demanding coach who wants his players to understand the nuances of his system, and when they don't, he will let them know about it. However, Weis has been more of a teacher and is very involved in helping his players understand where they need to be and why.
Defense
* Schematically the defense is different from what the Gators did last year. By-and-large, thought they are calling it a 4-3, it is essentially a 3-4 that utilizes multiple fronts and formations. There are almost always four linebackers on the field, because Ronald Powell's Buck linebacker, stands up more than he is down in a stance. He is classified as a defensive end, but it looks more like a linebacker who
blitzes a lot. Even when he is down in his stance and there are three linebackers, a a safety usually comes up to help out. This defense has also been very aggressive, they are coming from everywhere, ramping the blitz ratio up even further from where it was a year ago.
* Defensive Line: Sophomore Shariff Floyd has been performing well. Omar Hunter was supposed to be hurt, but he has also been performing very well and is ready to step up and be a major force for the Gators' line. He has been explosive and hard-working player who has drawn double-teams in practice.
* Linebacker: He is supposed to be a defensive end, but out of the linebackers it's Ronald Powell who has been making the most noise. He is one of the most feared opponents by players on the team and has been extremely aggressive. After the first day of hitting, Powell's helmet was turned from orange to a scratched white because he had hit so hard so frequently. His strength so far has been his size/speed combination which allows him to tear through blockers. Chris Martin is similarly feared and has been working behind Powell at the Buck position. Jon Bostic and Jelani Jenkins have had stand out days too.
* Defensive Backs: Safety Matt Elam has been stepping up big in the secondary, becoming a safety much in the mold of Ahmad Black. He has been a ball hawk, notching a fair amount of interceptions. He has been on the receiving end of most of Driskel's interceptions. Jeremy Brown is also a player who has been standing out at the corner position and seems as though he is ready to claim the spot opposite Janoris Jenkins.
* Coaching: Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is a very patient coach who is a very good teacher. He mainly expects effort from his players and seems to want to teach his players not just that they're doing something wrong but why. He is very calculated.
* Special Teams: There's not much to say here. Freshman Kyle Christy has been working out as the number one punter and is expected to be the starter come game day.
Staff Report II
This information came from someone who has been to the practices and Saturday's scrimmage.
* Center Sam Robey has been struggling. That is why Jonotthan Harrison is playing more center. On the other hand, Nick Alajajian has been doing very well (this was before his meniscus injury).
* John Brantley is being treated as the starter. He and Charlie Weis have a very good relationship and have been spending one-on-one time together going over the system. Jeff Driskel and Brantley have become somewhat close. Driskel had one long bomb on Saturday during the scrimmage that was very impressive.
* Defensive end Earl Okine has been doing very well in practice and has stepped up as a vocal leader during practices. They have had to hold him back some because he has had several concussions. He is okay, but he had a couple during the fall and they are concerned about him getting any more.
* During the scrimmage, the offense threw the ball down field at least every third play.
* There were four first string offensive possessions in a row during the scrimmage where Brantley threw a touchdown on second down. There were lots of 'ooohhhs' and 'ahhhhs' from the family and former players in the stands.
* There seems to be more actual coaching and learning going on during spring practice than there was the last couple of years. Is it because this staff is more about technique than the old one or is it because they have to teach more because they are putting in a new system? It seems like after every play there is coaching going on instead of just letting them go.
* The whole attitude of practice was more fun and upbeat. The mood seemed much lighter than it was in Meyer's last couple years.
* Will Muschamp is very concerned about injuries, as a result, even the scrimmages are not at 100 percent speed. Tackling drills are not one-one-one at full speed either, as to reduce risk of injury. The "circle of life" was discontinued.
* Deonte Thompson has begun to take on a vocal leadership role (at least he has been trying to help the young guys and encourage everyone).
* The defense has been about 50-50 on plays that are for a 3-4 and a 4-3.
* Gerald Christian is listed as a starting linebacker on the defensive side of the ball, but because he is so new to the defense, he still doesn't look as comfortable out there. He is so athletic, which is why coaches wanted to move him to begin with. They are having him work on both sides of the ball, so that if he does not work out at linebacker, he can be moved back to tight end without being behind.
* Muschamp wants his team in the best shape. From the workouts and what he has said to the team, he did not think they were in great cardiovascular shape last year. He would rather them be 10 lbs under weight but have a motor that won't quit, instead of big but out of breath. (Obviously being big and in shape is his first choice).
* Muschamp is having assistant coaches keep track of who's taking off plays...and those players are docked practice reps.
Kyle Maistri's Spring Report at the halfway mark
Here are some thoughts gathered from talking to Will Muschamp and various players during the post practice press media opportunities.
* Ronald Powell - Powell has established himself as one of the big hitters on the defense, and guard Jon Halapio said that he’s “running through people” on the practice field right now.
Word around the team is Powell is the hardest to block of any pass rusher right now and he’s going to be a big key to the defense from that Buck position.
Halapio also said Powell along with Sharrif Floyd have been two of the leaders for the defense in the early going, even though they’re both just sophomores.
* Dominique Easley - The worst thing about a move to center for Jonotthan Harrison? Having to block Dominique Easley, according to the sophomore offensive lineman.
Easley was an attitude problem as a true freshman, routinely butting heads with the veteran players and his struggles culminated in failing to make the travel roster for the Vanderbilt game.
Easley’s roommate Powell said Easley is recommitted to having a big year, and head coach Will Muschamp said he’s responded well to his “our way or the highway” ultimatum.
Easley is showing a quick first step, which has earned him praise from teammates and coaches alike. Muschamp even named him on a list of about 10 players who have stood out to this point (The others he singled out -- Chris Rainey, Jordan Reed, Quinton Dunbar, Sharrif Floyd, Lerentee McCray, Jon Bostic, Jelani Jenkins, Jeremy Brown, Matt Elam, Caleb Sturgis and Kyle Christy).
* Matt Elam - The expectations for Elam are high, he’s being looked to as the next great Florida safety, following in line behind Reggie Nelson, Major Wright and Ahmad Black. Elam understands that not only will he get a lot of playing time in 2011, he will be counted on to be a leader. That’s something he says he’s working on, as being vocal doesn’t come as naturally to him as making tackles or picking off passes.
Here’s what fellow defensive back Cody Riggs had to say about Elam this spring:
“When Matt makes a call, I listen to him. Me and Matt have a lot of communication out on the field,” Riggs said. “He’s more vocal. Last year, Ahmad Black was his mentor, so that’s not his role to be speaking, but this year it’s Matt at safety and we really look forward to working with Matt. I think he’s just fitting into that role Ahmad had.”
Like Black, Elam is plenty comfortable around the line of scrimmage and is extremely effective as a blitzer, a role he loves. As far as filling in for Black, he’s not trying to be anyone but himself.
“I’m not too worried about that,” Elam said. “I’m just going to go out there and play football, I’m not worried about filling shoes.”
* Quinton Dunbar - There’s one name that keeps coming up over and over again -- Quinton Dunbar. By all accounts, the guy is an animal at wide receiver and has been consistently impressing since last season’s fall camp. Urban Meyer routinely praised Dunbar, though he never found any playing time for him, and outgoing senior Carl Johnson had this to say about Dunbar in the off-season:
“From what I saw of the freshmen -- Dunbar, to me, he’s dynamic,” Johnson told the Palm Beach Post. “He should have played this past year, but I’m not a coach.”
Fast forward to this spring, and the same things are being said.
Muschamp has been impressed with his ability to stretch the field, and the word is he’s been embarrassing some defensive backs in practice.
Junior wide receiver Frankie Hammond Jr. is just one of Dunbar’s many fans.
“I would have to say Quinton Dunbar is probably the most impressive (of the young wide receivers),” Hammond said. “He gets vertical and he can stack DBs really well. Quinton Dunbar is definitely making a great improvement at the receiver position.”
The only question now is will Dunbar’s monster practice play translate to playing time and production come fall?
* Frankie Hammond Jr. - Good people make bad mistakes.
And Frankie Hammond Jr. falls into that category.
He busted his tail to work his way back after his scholarship was stripped from him following a DUI arrest last fall. He produced down the stretch last season, and he’s taking on a leadership role as one of the veteran receivers in camp. He’s always been a fast player, but now he’s added some muscle and is adding a physicality to his game that hasn’t always been there in the past.
Every indication from Muschamp so far points to Hammond being a starting receiver when Florida kicks off its season against Florida Atlantic on Sept. 3.
* John Brantley - Brantley has earned praise from the coaching staff for his work ethic and maturity both on and off the field during camp.
But a lot of his teammates aren’t necessarily jumping on the opportunity to talk about a changed man. No one has called Brantley out for not looking good in practice so far, but almost every offensive player has been bombarded with questions about if they see a difference in Brantley now as opposed to during the season. Every answer has been more or less the same -- “Brantley is still Brantley, there’s not a big change in him, and we have confidence in him to lead our offense.”
Often times players don’t want to trash a guy’s previous performance (as would be required to praise Brantley for making a turnaround), but the vibe is a little strange.
The media got accused of over hyping Brantley prior to him ever starting a game, but the majority of that hype came from what the team was saying about him while he was backing up Tim Tebow. I heard from multiple players that guys on the team weren’t worried about the possibility of playing LSU without Tebow in 2009 because many of the players felt Brantley was the better quarterback, and many of the offensive players were excited for the opportunity to spread the ball around. That obviously didn’t happen last year with Brantley as the full time starter, and it would probably be hard to find anyone in the locker room who would say Brantley is a better quarterback than Tebow now.
I’m not saying guys are rooting against Brantley, or even don’t think he can be the man for the job, but it sounds like he’s going to have to prove it to everyone, including himself, on Saturdays.
* Cody Riggs - We’ve heard it a million times by now -- Will Muschamp loves big, physical cornerbacks. But you don’t have to be big to be physical. At 5-foot-9 (and now 180 pounds according to Riggs), Riggs isn’t physically imposing on the UF practice field, but that doesn’t mean he’s a “cover corner” or “undersized.”
“It’s not about how tall you are, it’s about whether you make plays or not,” Muschamp said. “It’s about playmaking ability, and Cody has been very productive throughout the spring and I’m very pleased with where he is.”
Muschamp compared Riggs to New England Patriots cornerback Jonathan Willhite (5-foot-11, 185 pounds), who played for Muschamp at Auburn.
Muschamp certainly prefers size, but he said his reputation as a coach who has to have big cornerbacks is something that is put out there by schools he recruits against.
The stigma is nothing new for Riggs.
“I’ve heard that my whole life,” Riggs said. “(Muschamp) watched film and he saw that I’m going to come up and hit anybody, and I’m able to handle bigger receivers so it wasn’t a problem.”
The talk is Jeremy Brown is slightly ahead of Riggs for the second cornerback position, but Riggs is pushing him hard.
INSIDETHEGATORS.COM EXPERT OPINION
One of our more popular features over the past year was the addition of Edwin Weathersby's Scout's Eye View. Edwin has moved on, but we have another person to take his place. This person has a background playing college football as well as working on the talent scouting end of the equation at both the pro and college level (as part of a college coaching staff).
In the next week or so, we'll run his first Scout's Eye View - where he breaks down the limited amount of video that has been provided from spring practice.
Until then, he dropped a couple of tidbits on the current Gators that he is familiar with from the recruiting process.
* Trey Burton at fullback is interesting. Because of his skill set, there's perhaps a strong possibility of some trick plays come from him lining up in the backfield. I would have been more tempted to throw him over on defense. But maybe he is that jack of all trades guy. Just don't get that excited about him as a pure athlete....and definitely not relative to UF standards.
* Watching some of the video, I see Stephen Alli is catching jump balls left and right. Alli is not that great (his speed is overstated), but he is someone who can help in the vertical passing game because of his size advantage.
* When he was coming out, if you can believe this, many liked Frankie Hammond Jr. more as a track guy than for football.
* Ronald Powell is a beast. In my opinion, Chris Martin was overrated. Florida has some 'real' guys on the defensive line. Impressive. They all look young, but watch out.
* After seeing him last year, I would still be willing to bet that Jeff Driskel figures out a way to start for UF....this season.
INSIDETHEGATORS.COM RECRUITING TIDBITS
From Adam Gorney
* Cornerback Kevon Seymour recently picked up a Florida offer and the Pasadena (Calif.) Muir prospect is excited. The 6-foot, 170-pound prospect is still probably going to wait out the recruiting process but more big programs are expected to offer.
Nebraska is a new school on his list and he was one of the top cornerbacks at the recent Badger Sports Elite 7-on-7 in Las Vegas. Washington has made an early impression and if USC offers then the Trojans could be tough to beat but Florida could have a legitimate chance here if the Gators can get him on an official visit.
* Two California wide receivers - Jordan Payton and Derrick Woods - list Florida offers but both would be considered long shots.
Payton, from Westlake Village (Calif.) Oaks Christian, has been committed to USC for a long time and has no intention of backing out anytime soon. Woods, out of Inglewood, will probably stay local.
* Andrus Peat is wide open and the offensive tackle from Tempe (Ariz.) Corona Del Sol will probably draw out his recruitment maybe until National Signing Day. Florida is one of many schools that have offered and it's just too tough to tell.
Encino (Calif.) Crespi offensive tackle Jordan Simmons just picked up an offer from Ohio State. Oregon, Miami, USC and Washington are some of the favorites for Simmons, who probably sees Florida at a stretch right now.
From Chris Nee
* Aleem Sunanon, kicker/punter for Olympia High School was invited to visit UF this Saturday. He is scheduled to meet with some of the coaches, watch their practice, campus tour and facility tour. Sunanon was also invited to Princeton University Junior Day on April 9th and he is scheduled to go. He just received another Junior Day invitation from Yale for April 23rd.
* Orlando (Fla.) Olympia offensive guard James Hamilton visited Florida on Tuesday. Hamilton plans to visit USF on Saturday and possibly South Carolina on a week from Saturday. Hamilton holds offers from Cincinnati, Connecticut, Florida Atlantic, Illinois, Michigan State, Purdue, Rutgers, South Florida, Syracuse, Texas A&M, and Western Kentucky.
From Keith Niebuhr
* Marietta, Ga. Lassiter 2013 quarterback Eddie Printz, who likely will be a top-10 player in the South next year, won't just be in and out when he visits the Gators next week. According to his dad, the 6-foot-3, 209-pounder, who passed for more than 2,200 yards in 2010, will be in town three days and two nights in Gainesville. "We're driving Thursday, but we're leaving at 7 a.m." Printz will be spending lot of time of Florida offensive coordinator Charlie Weis. He also will attend the Spring Game, which
is something the family is really looking forward to. Printz's family does not publicize where his offers have come from, but there is believed to be serious mutual interest from both parties.
From Kipp Adams
* When talking to the Stephenson coach today (Monday), he said he would not e surprised if Florida gets all four of the big time prospects from Stephenson this year. All four as in Mike Davis and JaFar Mann who have already committed and linebacker Raphael Kirby and defensive end Jarontay Jones who are leaning that way.
* The second tidbit, I heard it straight from Quinteze Williams mouth, is that if he were to commit today, it would be to Florida (of course, he did commit three days later).
From Justin Johnson
The Florida Gators are making a strong push in the state of Georgia for the class of 2012, offering 18 kids from the Peach State already. They already have three commitments from those 18 prospects, and have quite a few more that are very high on the Gators at the moment. What prospects from the Peach State are the Gators involved with? Find out below.
* Jonathan Taylor (DT) Jenkins County - The massive defensive tackle prospect should be among the top overall defensive tackle prospects in the nation next year. The Gators did not take a nose tackle in the class of 2011 and haven't yet landed one for 2012. Taylor is wide-open to most SEC and ACC programs; UF is among the mix to land his signature, but it is unclear how much he likes the Gators at this point.
* Geno Smith (CB) St. Pius X - Smith is the top cornerback in the state of Georgia bar none. He is tall, lanky and plays fast, which is usually a prototypical Will Muschamp corner. He stated that the Gators were among the four schools recruiting him the hardest and that they were in decent position. Georgia and Alabama will be tough to beat for the lock-down corner prospect though.
* Jordan Jenkins (DE) Harris County - Jenkins is among the best potential pass rushing prospects nationwide for 2012. He is not only quick for being 235-pounds, but is exceptionally strong as well. He has long arms to help him get leverage on offensive lineman, and the necessary strength and speed to make him near impossible to block at times. The Gators seem to be in great position for Jenkins right now along with Georgia Tech, Alabama, Auburn and Tennessee. UF is recruiting him at the BUCK position, the same position sophomore sensation Ronald Powell will play this season.
* Josh Clemons (LB) Lowndes - Clemons is an extremely versatile prospect for the class of 2012. He excels at outside linebacker, wide receiver and safety for his Lowndes team, but will switch to quarterback for the upcoming season. The Gators were the first school to offer Clemons, but Florida State has done well in recent years with the Lowndes program and Georgia always recruits well in the Valdosta area. UF is likely in his top 5, but where they sit in it is unknown.
* Dillon Lee (LB) Buford - This is the best pure linebacker prospect the state has to offer for 2012. Lee is an excellent athlete and doesn't let up on his tackles. When it comes to his linebacker skills Lee excels in coverage, closes extremely well on the ball carrier, and doesn't miss too many tackles. He also has elite ability as a tight end, where he had 13 receptions for 349 yards and eight touchdowns last season. Lee is down to Florida, Alabama and Florida State, in which he will make a decision in the near future. If a prediction had to be made on where he ends up, the Crimson Tide would be the slim favorites over the Gators.
* Jarontay Jones (DE) Stephenson - Jones has the total package as a defensive end prospect. He is big, strong, quick, and contains a nose for getting to the quarterback. He is also solid going against the run. As it stands right now, the 6'3" 245-pound blue-chip prospect seems to be the best overall player on a school that UF could potentially land four commitments from in Stephenson High School out of Stone Mountain. They already have two commitments (Mike Davis and JaFar Mann), and look to be in good shape for Jones and Raphael Kirby. Auburn will be the Gators biggest contender for Jones.
* JaQuay Williams (WR) Sandy Creek - The 6'2" 180-pound wide receiver out of Tyrone is the top receiver the state has to offer for 2012. He possesses excellent hands, attacks the ball at its highest point, and has a knack for making the big play. He averaged around 30 yards per catch, while also averaging a touchdown every three times he caught the ball over his sophomore and junior seasons. The Gators haven't offered due to him not having a test score yet, but if he gets a good enough score, an offer should be on the way. UF has already had him on campus and made a strong impression. Florida also recently picked up a commitment from his new teammate in defensive lineman Quinteze Williams.
* Raphael Kirby (LB) Stephenson - The linebacker prospect is another part of the Stephenson pipeline the Gators are trying to add on for 2012. Kirby transferred from Parkview High School recently, where he recorded 120 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and three sacks his junior year. He possesses great speed for a player his size (6'2" 218-pounds). The Gators seem to be in great standing for Kirby, as they currently lead for his services. His offer list is beginning to take off, with teams like Alabama, Georgia and
LSU all offering recently.
* Mike Davis (RB) Stephenson - The Gator commit is one of the top running back prospects in the state, alongside Alabama commitments Justin Taylor and Kenyan Drake. Davis is extremely quick with a great initial burst of speed on his runs. He doesn't hesitate often hitting a hole. The future Gator back is very powerful as well, standing in at 5'11" 195-pounds.
* Quinteze Williams (DT) Sandy Creek - Florida's newest commitment, Williams was among the first prospects in Georgia for 2012 to really blow up. With offers from all over the southeast, Williams was a very nice pick up for UF. He moves well for a player who is 6'4" 295-pounds, and doesn't rely on his size to make plays, which is a plus at the high school level.
* Ukeme Eligwe (LB) Stone Mountain - Eligwe is an exceptional tackler, possesses great size and speed, and has very good ball instincts. Eligwe has offers from the likes of Florida, Arkansas, Auburn, Boston College, Florida State, Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia Tech. He seems to be very high on UF at the moment, along with Florida State, Georgia and Virginia Tech. He stated it was a dream of his to play in either California or Florida.
* JaFar Mann (DT) Stephenson - Mann is one of the many good defensive line prospects in Georgia. He is probably the best run-stuffer in the state, while also having a solid pass rush ability when necessary. Mann is a prototypical 3-4 defensive end, something UF is looking to use more often in the future. Mann chose UF over offers from the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Miami, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
* James Deloach (DE/OLB) Jenkins County - Deloach possesses great athletic ability for someone who is 6'3" 260-pounds. He can easily play outside linebacker in a 3-4 or defensive end in a 4-3. Deloach is not only a very good recruit, but the team to get him will likely bring along his potential five-star teammate Jonathan Taylor. Deloach has visited UF, but it is unknown where they stand for him right now.
* Kurt Freitag (TE) Buford - Freitag visited UF a couple of weeks ago along with his teammate and fellow Gator recruit Dillon Lee. Freitag is a solid tight end prospect, standing at 6'3" 220-pounds. He has offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia Tech and South Carolina, along with the Gators. Alabama may be the team to beat here.
* DeAngelo Brown (DT) Savannah Christian - Brown was unheard of at the beginning of the process by most, but after watching him twice in person, it was obvious he was a ball player. The reason the 6'1" 285-pound defensive tackle wasn't a hot commodity at first was due to him not getting his tapes out to colleges or scouting services. UF has asked him to come back for a camp and they could then potentially offer if they were impressed, but Brown was unsure if he could make it. He has picked up offers from Louisville and Vanderbilt so far.
This post was edited on 4/1 9:02 AM by Mark Wheeler
INSIDETHEGATORS.COM SPRING PRACTICE REPORTS
Staff Report I
Here's a position-by-position breakdown of information we have received from sources who have observed some practices.
Offense
* Schematically the offense is high-octane. Florida is taking more deep shots in the passing game than in the previous year and is gaining more yards via the pass in practice. It uses a variety of formations and personnel groupings to attack the defense.
* Quarterbacks: It's only been two weeks of practice, but it if he can stay healthy it is all but a given that John Brantley is expected to be the starter. He is still conservative passing the ball, but his experience makes him the likely choice. Tyler Murphy has been the surprise story of the off season. He has corrected his release which has made his passes less vulnerable to bat-downs, and has shown great accuracy on the deep ball. Jeff Driskel struggled a lot early, too often throwing it into coverage and having it intercepted, but has improved as time has gone on.
* Runningbacks: Senior to be Chris Rainey has been electrifying, earning high praise from everyone I spoke with. However, there are no other running backs other than walk-ons due to injuries and Jeff Demps running track.
Trey Burton has been effective as a fullback, and has been able to make the transition from being a quarterback to being a blocker effectively. He is usually picking up defensive ends and linebackers coming off the edge and holding his own. He also gets the ball put in his hands a fair amount.
* Wide Receivers: The trio of Quinton Dunbar, Omarius Hines and Stephen Alli have been the biggest standouts during the first two weeks of practice. Deonte Thompson has also caught some nice deep balls this season.
* Tight Ends: Back at the position once again, Jordan Reed has been excellent and shown a real understanding of the offense. He always knows where to be and has been one of the hardest working players on that side of the ball. A.C. Leonard has also been impressive and should find a role as well. Gerald Christian has been involved on offense as well as on defense, as opposed to just primarily defense.
* Offensive Line: Neither source really said much about the offensive line, except that the Gators are not seeing the same snap issues they saw last season from the center exchange.
* Coaching: While former offensive coaches Zach Azzani and Scot Loeffler were more aggressive coaches, Charlie Weis is less so. He is a demanding coach who wants his players to understand the nuances of his system, and when they don't, he will let them know about it. However, Weis has been more of a teacher and is very involved in helping his players understand where they need to be and why.
Defense
* Schematically the defense is different from what the Gators did last year. By-and-large, thought they are calling it a 4-3, it is essentially a 3-4 that utilizes multiple fronts and formations. There are almost always four linebackers on the field, because Ronald Powell's Buck linebacker, stands up more than he is down in a stance. He is classified as a defensive end, but it looks more like a linebacker who
blitzes a lot. Even when he is down in his stance and there are three linebackers, a a safety usually comes up to help out. This defense has also been very aggressive, they are coming from everywhere, ramping the blitz ratio up even further from where it was a year ago.
* Defensive Line: Sophomore Shariff Floyd has been performing well. Omar Hunter was supposed to be hurt, but he has also been performing very well and is ready to step up and be a major force for the Gators' line. He has been explosive and hard-working player who has drawn double-teams in practice.
* Linebacker: He is supposed to be a defensive end, but out of the linebackers it's Ronald Powell who has been making the most noise. He is one of the most feared opponents by players on the team and has been extremely aggressive. After the first day of hitting, Powell's helmet was turned from orange to a scratched white because he had hit so hard so frequently. His strength so far has been his size/speed combination which allows him to tear through blockers. Chris Martin is similarly feared and has been working behind Powell at the Buck position. Jon Bostic and Jelani Jenkins have had stand out days too.
* Defensive Backs: Safety Matt Elam has been stepping up big in the secondary, becoming a safety much in the mold of Ahmad Black. He has been a ball hawk, notching a fair amount of interceptions. He has been on the receiving end of most of Driskel's interceptions. Jeremy Brown is also a player who has been standing out at the corner position and seems as though he is ready to claim the spot opposite Janoris Jenkins.
* Coaching: Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is a very patient coach who is a very good teacher. He mainly expects effort from his players and seems to want to teach his players not just that they're doing something wrong but why. He is very calculated.
* Special Teams: There's not much to say here. Freshman Kyle Christy has been working out as the number one punter and is expected to be the starter come game day.
Staff Report II
This information came from someone who has been to the practices and Saturday's scrimmage.
* Center Sam Robey has been struggling. That is why Jonotthan Harrison is playing more center. On the other hand, Nick Alajajian has been doing very well (this was before his meniscus injury).
* John Brantley is being treated as the starter. He and Charlie Weis have a very good relationship and have been spending one-on-one time together going over the system. Jeff Driskel and Brantley have become somewhat close. Driskel had one long bomb on Saturday during the scrimmage that was very impressive.
* Defensive end Earl Okine has been doing very well in practice and has stepped up as a vocal leader during practices. They have had to hold him back some because he has had several concussions. He is okay, but he had a couple during the fall and they are concerned about him getting any more.
* During the scrimmage, the offense threw the ball down field at least every third play.
* There were four first string offensive possessions in a row during the scrimmage where Brantley threw a touchdown on second down. There were lots of 'ooohhhs' and 'ahhhhs' from the family and former players in the stands.
* There seems to be more actual coaching and learning going on during spring practice than there was the last couple of years. Is it because this staff is more about technique than the old one or is it because they have to teach more because they are putting in a new system? It seems like after every play there is coaching going on instead of just letting them go.
* The whole attitude of practice was more fun and upbeat. The mood seemed much lighter than it was in Meyer's last couple years.
* Will Muschamp is very concerned about injuries, as a result, even the scrimmages are not at 100 percent speed. Tackling drills are not one-one-one at full speed either, as to reduce risk of injury. The "circle of life" was discontinued.
* Deonte Thompson has begun to take on a vocal leadership role (at least he has been trying to help the young guys and encourage everyone).
* The defense has been about 50-50 on plays that are for a 3-4 and a 4-3.
* Gerald Christian is listed as a starting linebacker on the defensive side of the ball, but because he is so new to the defense, he still doesn't look as comfortable out there. He is so athletic, which is why coaches wanted to move him to begin with. They are having him work on both sides of the ball, so that if he does not work out at linebacker, he can be moved back to tight end without being behind.
* Muschamp wants his team in the best shape. From the workouts and what he has said to the team, he did not think they were in great cardiovascular shape last year. He would rather them be 10 lbs under weight but have a motor that won't quit, instead of big but out of breath. (Obviously being big and in shape is his first choice).
* Muschamp is having assistant coaches keep track of who's taking off plays...and those players are docked practice reps.
Kyle Maistri's Spring Report at the halfway mark
Here are some thoughts gathered from talking to Will Muschamp and various players during the post practice press media opportunities.
* Ronald Powell - Powell has established himself as one of the big hitters on the defense, and guard Jon Halapio said that he’s “running through people” on the practice field right now.
Word around the team is Powell is the hardest to block of any pass rusher right now and he’s going to be a big key to the defense from that Buck position.
Halapio also said Powell along with Sharrif Floyd have been two of the leaders for the defense in the early going, even though they’re both just sophomores.
* Dominique Easley - The worst thing about a move to center for Jonotthan Harrison? Having to block Dominique Easley, according to the sophomore offensive lineman.
Easley was an attitude problem as a true freshman, routinely butting heads with the veteran players and his struggles culminated in failing to make the travel roster for the Vanderbilt game.
Easley’s roommate Powell said Easley is recommitted to having a big year, and head coach Will Muschamp said he’s responded well to his “our way or the highway” ultimatum.
Easley is showing a quick first step, which has earned him praise from teammates and coaches alike. Muschamp even named him on a list of about 10 players who have stood out to this point (The others he singled out -- Chris Rainey, Jordan Reed, Quinton Dunbar, Sharrif Floyd, Lerentee McCray, Jon Bostic, Jelani Jenkins, Jeremy Brown, Matt Elam, Caleb Sturgis and Kyle Christy).
* Matt Elam - The expectations for Elam are high, he’s being looked to as the next great Florida safety, following in line behind Reggie Nelson, Major Wright and Ahmad Black. Elam understands that not only will he get a lot of playing time in 2011, he will be counted on to be a leader. That’s something he says he’s working on, as being vocal doesn’t come as naturally to him as making tackles or picking off passes.
Here’s what fellow defensive back Cody Riggs had to say about Elam this spring:
“When Matt makes a call, I listen to him. Me and Matt have a lot of communication out on the field,” Riggs said. “He’s more vocal. Last year, Ahmad Black was his mentor, so that’s not his role to be speaking, but this year it’s Matt at safety and we really look forward to working with Matt. I think he’s just fitting into that role Ahmad had.”
Like Black, Elam is plenty comfortable around the line of scrimmage and is extremely effective as a blitzer, a role he loves. As far as filling in for Black, he’s not trying to be anyone but himself.
“I’m not too worried about that,” Elam said. “I’m just going to go out there and play football, I’m not worried about filling shoes.”
* Quinton Dunbar - There’s one name that keeps coming up over and over again -- Quinton Dunbar. By all accounts, the guy is an animal at wide receiver and has been consistently impressing since last season’s fall camp. Urban Meyer routinely praised Dunbar, though he never found any playing time for him, and outgoing senior Carl Johnson had this to say about Dunbar in the off-season:
“From what I saw of the freshmen -- Dunbar, to me, he’s dynamic,” Johnson told the Palm Beach Post. “He should have played this past year, but I’m not a coach.”
Fast forward to this spring, and the same things are being said.
Muschamp has been impressed with his ability to stretch the field, and the word is he’s been embarrassing some defensive backs in practice.
Junior wide receiver Frankie Hammond Jr. is just one of Dunbar’s many fans.
“I would have to say Quinton Dunbar is probably the most impressive (of the young wide receivers),” Hammond said. “He gets vertical and he can stack DBs really well. Quinton Dunbar is definitely making a great improvement at the receiver position.”
The only question now is will Dunbar’s monster practice play translate to playing time and production come fall?
* Frankie Hammond Jr. - Good people make bad mistakes.
And Frankie Hammond Jr. falls into that category.
He busted his tail to work his way back after his scholarship was stripped from him following a DUI arrest last fall. He produced down the stretch last season, and he’s taking on a leadership role as one of the veteran receivers in camp. He’s always been a fast player, but now he’s added some muscle and is adding a physicality to his game that hasn’t always been there in the past.
Every indication from Muschamp so far points to Hammond being a starting receiver when Florida kicks off its season against Florida Atlantic on Sept. 3.
* John Brantley - Brantley has earned praise from the coaching staff for his work ethic and maturity both on and off the field during camp.
But a lot of his teammates aren’t necessarily jumping on the opportunity to talk about a changed man. No one has called Brantley out for not looking good in practice so far, but almost every offensive player has been bombarded with questions about if they see a difference in Brantley now as opposed to during the season. Every answer has been more or less the same -- “Brantley is still Brantley, there’s not a big change in him, and we have confidence in him to lead our offense.”
Often times players don’t want to trash a guy’s previous performance (as would be required to praise Brantley for making a turnaround), but the vibe is a little strange.
The media got accused of over hyping Brantley prior to him ever starting a game, but the majority of that hype came from what the team was saying about him while he was backing up Tim Tebow. I heard from multiple players that guys on the team weren’t worried about the possibility of playing LSU without Tebow in 2009 because many of the players felt Brantley was the better quarterback, and many of the offensive players were excited for the opportunity to spread the ball around. That obviously didn’t happen last year with Brantley as the full time starter, and it would probably be hard to find anyone in the locker room who would say Brantley is a better quarterback than Tebow now.
I’m not saying guys are rooting against Brantley, or even don’t think he can be the man for the job, but it sounds like he’s going to have to prove it to everyone, including himself, on Saturdays.
* Cody Riggs - We’ve heard it a million times by now -- Will Muschamp loves big, physical cornerbacks. But you don’t have to be big to be physical. At 5-foot-9 (and now 180 pounds according to Riggs), Riggs isn’t physically imposing on the UF practice field, but that doesn’t mean he’s a “cover corner” or “undersized.”
“It’s not about how tall you are, it’s about whether you make plays or not,” Muschamp said. “It’s about playmaking ability, and Cody has been very productive throughout the spring and I’m very pleased with where he is.”
Muschamp compared Riggs to New England Patriots cornerback Jonathan Willhite (5-foot-11, 185 pounds), who played for Muschamp at Auburn.
Muschamp certainly prefers size, but he said his reputation as a coach who has to have big cornerbacks is something that is put out there by schools he recruits against.
The stigma is nothing new for Riggs.
“I’ve heard that my whole life,” Riggs said. “(Muschamp) watched film and he saw that I’m going to come up and hit anybody, and I’m able to handle bigger receivers so it wasn’t a problem.”
The talk is Jeremy Brown is slightly ahead of Riggs for the second cornerback position, but Riggs is pushing him hard.
INSIDETHEGATORS.COM EXPERT OPINION
One of our more popular features over the past year was the addition of Edwin Weathersby's Scout's Eye View. Edwin has moved on, but we have another person to take his place. This person has a background playing college football as well as working on the talent scouting end of the equation at both the pro and college level (as part of a college coaching staff).
In the next week or so, we'll run his first Scout's Eye View - where he breaks down the limited amount of video that has been provided from spring practice.
Until then, he dropped a couple of tidbits on the current Gators that he is familiar with from the recruiting process.
* Trey Burton at fullback is interesting. Because of his skill set, there's perhaps a strong possibility of some trick plays come from him lining up in the backfield. I would have been more tempted to throw him over on defense. But maybe he is that jack of all trades guy. Just don't get that excited about him as a pure athlete....and definitely not relative to UF standards.
* Watching some of the video, I see Stephen Alli is catching jump balls left and right. Alli is not that great (his speed is overstated), but he is someone who can help in the vertical passing game because of his size advantage.
* When he was coming out, if you can believe this, many liked Frankie Hammond Jr. more as a track guy than for football.
* Ronald Powell is a beast. In my opinion, Chris Martin was overrated. Florida has some 'real' guys on the defensive line. Impressive. They all look young, but watch out.
* After seeing him last year, I would still be willing to bet that Jeff Driskel figures out a way to start for UF....this season.
INSIDETHEGATORS.COM RECRUITING TIDBITS
From Adam Gorney
* Cornerback Kevon Seymour recently picked up a Florida offer and the Pasadena (Calif.) Muir prospect is excited. The 6-foot, 170-pound prospect is still probably going to wait out the recruiting process but more big programs are expected to offer.
Nebraska is a new school on his list and he was one of the top cornerbacks at the recent Badger Sports Elite 7-on-7 in Las Vegas. Washington has made an early impression and if USC offers then the Trojans could be tough to beat but Florida could have a legitimate chance here if the Gators can get him on an official visit.
* Two California wide receivers - Jordan Payton and Derrick Woods - list Florida offers but both would be considered long shots.
Payton, from Westlake Village (Calif.) Oaks Christian, has been committed to USC for a long time and has no intention of backing out anytime soon. Woods, out of Inglewood, will probably stay local.
* Andrus Peat is wide open and the offensive tackle from Tempe (Ariz.) Corona Del Sol will probably draw out his recruitment maybe until National Signing Day. Florida is one of many schools that have offered and it's just too tough to tell.
Encino (Calif.) Crespi offensive tackle Jordan Simmons just picked up an offer from Ohio State. Oregon, Miami, USC and Washington are some of the favorites for Simmons, who probably sees Florida at a stretch right now.
From Chris Nee
* Aleem Sunanon, kicker/punter for Olympia High School was invited to visit UF this Saturday. He is scheduled to meet with some of the coaches, watch their practice, campus tour and facility tour. Sunanon was also invited to Princeton University Junior Day on April 9th and he is scheduled to go. He just received another Junior Day invitation from Yale for April 23rd.
* Orlando (Fla.) Olympia offensive guard James Hamilton visited Florida on Tuesday. Hamilton plans to visit USF on Saturday and possibly South Carolina on a week from Saturday. Hamilton holds offers from Cincinnati, Connecticut, Florida Atlantic, Illinois, Michigan State, Purdue, Rutgers, South Florida, Syracuse, Texas A&M, and Western Kentucky.
From Keith Niebuhr
* Marietta, Ga. Lassiter 2013 quarterback Eddie Printz, who likely will be a top-10 player in the South next year, won't just be in and out when he visits the Gators next week. According to his dad, the 6-foot-3, 209-pounder, who passed for more than 2,200 yards in 2010, will be in town three days and two nights in Gainesville. "We're driving Thursday, but we're leaving at 7 a.m." Printz will be spending lot of time of Florida offensive coordinator Charlie Weis. He also will attend the Spring Game, which
is something the family is really looking forward to. Printz's family does not publicize where his offers have come from, but there is believed to be serious mutual interest from both parties.
From Kipp Adams
* When talking to the Stephenson coach today (Monday), he said he would not e surprised if Florida gets all four of the big time prospects from Stephenson this year. All four as in Mike Davis and JaFar Mann who have already committed and linebacker Raphael Kirby and defensive end Jarontay Jones who are leaning that way.
* The second tidbit, I heard it straight from Quinteze Williams mouth, is that if he were to commit today, it would be to Florida (of course, he did commit three days later).
From Justin Johnson
The Florida Gators are making a strong push in the state of Georgia for the class of 2012, offering 18 kids from the Peach State already. They already have three commitments from those 18 prospects, and have quite a few more that are very high on the Gators at the moment. What prospects from the Peach State are the Gators involved with? Find out below.
* Jonathan Taylor (DT) Jenkins County - The massive defensive tackle prospect should be among the top overall defensive tackle prospects in the nation next year. The Gators did not take a nose tackle in the class of 2011 and haven't yet landed one for 2012. Taylor is wide-open to most SEC and ACC programs; UF is among the mix to land his signature, but it is unclear how much he likes the Gators at this point.
* Geno Smith (CB) St. Pius X - Smith is the top cornerback in the state of Georgia bar none. He is tall, lanky and plays fast, which is usually a prototypical Will Muschamp corner. He stated that the Gators were among the four schools recruiting him the hardest and that they were in decent position. Georgia and Alabama will be tough to beat for the lock-down corner prospect though.
* Jordan Jenkins (DE) Harris County - Jenkins is among the best potential pass rushing prospects nationwide for 2012. He is not only quick for being 235-pounds, but is exceptionally strong as well. He has long arms to help him get leverage on offensive lineman, and the necessary strength and speed to make him near impossible to block at times. The Gators seem to be in great position for Jenkins right now along with Georgia Tech, Alabama, Auburn and Tennessee. UF is recruiting him at the BUCK position, the same position sophomore sensation Ronald Powell will play this season.
* Josh Clemons (LB) Lowndes - Clemons is an extremely versatile prospect for the class of 2012. He excels at outside linebacker, wide receiver and safety for his Lowndes team, but will switch to quarterback for the upcoming season. The Gators were the first school to offer Clemons, but Florida State has done well in recent years with the Lowndes program and Georgia always recruits well in the Valdosta area. UF is likely in his top 5, but where they sit in it is unknown.
* Dillon Lee (LB) Buford - This is the best pure linebacker prospect the state has to offer for 2012. Lee is an excellent athlete and doesn't let up on his tackles. When it comes to his linebacker skills Lee excels in coverage, closes extremely well on the ball carrier, and doesn't miss too many tackles. He also has elite ability as a tight end, where he had 13 receptions for 349 yards and eight touchdowns last season. Lee is down to Florida, Alabama and Florida State, in which he will make a decision in the near future. If a prediction had to be made on where he ends up, the Crimson Tide would be the slim favorites over the Gators.
* Jarontay Jones (DE) Stephenson - Jones has the total package as a defensive end prospect. He is big, strong, quick, and contains a nose for getting to the quarterback. He is also solid going against the run. As it stands right now, the 6'3" 245-pound blue-chip prospect seems to be the best overall player on a school that UF could potentially land four commitments from in Stephenson High School out of Stone Mountain. They already have two commitments (Mike Davis and JaFar Mann), and look to be in good shape for Jones and Raphael Kirby. Auburn will be the Gators biggest contender for Jones.
* JaQuay Williams (WR) Sandy Creek - The 6'2" 180-pound wide receiver out of Tyrone is the top receiver the state has to offer for 2012. He possesses excellent hands, attacks the ball at its highest point, and has a knack for making the big play. He averaged around 30 yards per catch, while also averaging a touchdown every three times he caught the ball over his sophomore and junior seasons. The Gators haven't offered due to him not having a test score yet, but if he gets a good enough score, an offer should be on the way. UF has already had him on campus and made a strong impression. Florida also recently picked up a commitment from his new teammate in defensive lineman Quinteze Williams.
* Raphael Kirby (LB) Stephenson - The linebacker prospect is another part of the Stephenson pipeline the Gators are trying to add on for 2012. Kirby transferred from Parkview High School recently, where he recorded 120 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and three sacks his junior year. He possesses great speed for a player his size (6'2" 218-pounds). The Gators seem to be in great standing for Kirby, as they currently lead for his services. His offer list is beginning to take off, with teams like Alabama, Georgia and
LSU all offering recently.
* Mike Davis (RB) Stephenson - The Gator commit is one of the top running back prospects in the state, alongside Alabama commitments Justin Taylor and Kenyan Drake. Davis is extremely quick with a great initial burst of speed on his runs. He doesn't hesitate often hitting a hole. The future Gator back is very powerful as well, standing in at 5'11" 195-pounds.
* Quinteze Williams (DT) Sandy Creek - Florida's newest commitment, Williams was among the first prospects in Georgia for 2012 to really blow up. With offers from all over the southeast, Williams was a very nice pick up for UF. He moves well for a player who is 6'4" 295-pounds, and doesn't rely on his size to make plays, which is a plus at the high school level.
* Ukeme Eligwe (LB) Stone Mountain - Eligwe is an exceptional tackler, possesses great size and speed, and has very good ball instincts. Eligwe has offers from the likes of Florida, Arkansas, Auburn, Boston College, Florida State, Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia Tech. He seems to be very high on UF at the moment, along with Florida State, Georgia and Virginia Tech. He stated it was a dream of his to play in either California or Florida.
* JaFar Mann (DT) Stephenson - Mann is one of the many good defensive line prospects in Georgia. He is probably the best run-stuffer in the state, while also having a solid pass rush ability when necessary. Mann is a prototypical 3-4 defensive end, something UF is looking to use more often in the future. Mann chose UF over offers from the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Miami, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
* James Deloach (DE/OLB) Jenkins County - Deloach possesses great athletic ability for someone who is 6'3" 260-pounds. He can easily play outside linebacker in a 3-4 or defensive end in a 4-3. Deloach is not only a very good recruit, but the team to get him will likely bring along his potential five-star teammate Jonathan Taylor. Deloach has visited UF, but it is unknown where they stand for him right now.
* Kurt Freitag (TE) Buford - Freitag visited UF a couple of weeks ago along with his teammate and fellow Gator recruit Dillon Lee. Freitag is a solid tight end prospect, standing at 6'3" 220-pounds. He has offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia Tech and South Carolina, along with the Gators. Alabama may be the team to beat here.
* DeAngelo Brown (DT) Savannah Christian - Brown was unheard of at the beginning of the process by most, but after watching him twice in person, it was obvious he was a ball player. The reason the 6'1" 285-pound defensive tackle wasn't a hot commodity at first was due to him not getting his tapes out to colleges or scouting services. UF has asked him to come back for a camp and they could then potentially offer if they were impressed, but Brown was unsure if he could make it. He has picked up offers from Louisville and Vanderbilt so far.
This post was edited on 4/1 9:02 AM by Mark Wheeler
