Here are some Insider Notes as I clear out my recorder after the first two days of spring practice.
* Dan Mullen told us when Todd Grantham came over from Mississippi State that though he is known for playing a 3-4, Florida would use multiple formations. Following what Grantham has done in the past, I thought that was just talk. However, to this point in the spring, that has been the case as we've seen the Gators mostly play nickel, with a 4-3 front.
* Fred Johnson and Jawaan Taylor were talking about how much trouble the line was having in trying to block Luke Ancrum.
* With the first week of practices in the books, my projected quarterback depth chart is:
* Last year I thought that Zach Carter was destined to grow big enough to move inside full-time, but he has sort of stalled out in what looks to be the 250-pound range. This is another case of we'll see where he stands when the pads go on, but he has held his own with the second string lining up at defensive end.
* Mighty mite cornerback McArthur Burnett is going to be one to watch when the pads come on. He played well over the weekend, making several plays while the team is in shorts. However, I want to see how it translates when the pads go on and the play gets a bit more physical. He looks like he might weigh a buck-fifty soaking wet and is by far the shortest of the cornerbacks. Having said that, he has stuck to receivers so far and made a couple of plays in coverage.
* While Jordan Scarlett has drawn the rave reviews over the first two days, and deservedly so, Lamical Perine has practiced very well as well. He looks like a different back this spring. He has toned up some and his acceleration is much improved. For all his natural ability it feels like Adarius Lemons has some issues taking to coaching. He and Greg Knox don't seem to be on the same page in most of the drills. That has been a bit disappointing because he has all the talent in the world. One player who isn't disappointing thus far is freshman Dameon Pierce. Coming in I thought Iverson Clement had a better shot at contributing earlier because of all that he can do. My thought also being that Pierce was solid, but didn't do anything great. I have been surprised at how quick and explosive he has been through two practices. That is before the pads come on, where he is the one I would expect to really shine.
* Early Entry freshman Trey Dean is already lining up with the second team at cornerback. Size wise and physically he is a beast compared to the other players at the position. However, he isn't as fluid in the hips. It will be interesting to see if he sticks here or eventually plays safety.
* At tight end, the numbers are low and it has been a mixed bag through the first two days. For all his physical promise, Kemore Gamble hasn't shown anything on the field yet. On the other hand, Moral Stephens has really made strides. I wouldn't be surprised if he made a strong push for playing time in passing situations this season. He is still undersized though for a tight end, and C'Yontia Lewis is by far the best blocker out of the group.
* Early entry offensive linemen Noah Banks and Chris Bleich are lining up with the third team offensive line. Banks could end up challenging Jean Delance for second string left tackle.
* Offensive lineman Brett Heggie has been dressed out, but not participating at all. He isn't wearing the knee braces that all the other offensive linemen who are practicing are wearing. Running back Malik Davis has been dressed out, but not doing anything. He is wearing some sort of rubberized brace on his leg from the top of his calf to mid-thigh. He doesn't appear to be walking with any limp. The same can be said for defensive lineman Keivonnis Davis. Coming off his accident and year-long suspension, he is walking with no noticeable issues, though I haven't seen him do anything yet.
* Despite being in a red non-contact jersey due to off-season shoulder surgery, safety Jeawon Taylor is still lining up with the first team and making plays on the ball. It will be interesting to see how much his practice time is dialed back when the pads go on.
* For the most part the transformation of the team in the 10 short weeks that Nick Savage has had them to date is simply remarkable. Overall the players seem to have more burst/acceleration and energy and to a man they look leaner.
In cases such as Tedarrell Slaton, who is a good 30 pounds off of the weight he was carrying last season, that is a good thing. When it comes to some of the other defensive linemen though, I'm not as sold. There's still the post-spring and then summer workout program to go through, but CeCe Jefferson and Jachai Polite, though they may have gained strength, do not look like SEC defensive linemen. Polite especially, who looked like he was heading to be in the 280-range under the previous staff, looks smallish at this point.
* Speaking of Slaton, I wouldn't be surprised if he were to pass Khairi Clark on the depth chart, perhaps before the end of spring, if not in fall camp. Slaton not only looks much leaner this spring, is a bit quicker off the snap. However, that isn't his forte. His calling-card is pure power and several times on Friday and Saturday he bull-rushed his way into the backfield.
* Again, to qualify this, there's only been two practices, both in shorts, however, two players who I have been a bit disappointed in are Dre Massey and Antonneous Clayton. As it currently stands, not only is Kadaruis Toney playing better than Massey at the 'Y' position, he had a non-descript first week and is in danger of falling down to being the sixth or seventh receiving option regardless of designated position. Then you have Clayton, who entering his junior season is running third string and not shining against the third string offensive line. His calling card coming out of high school was his burst and quickness off the edge, but he hasn't shown that through the first two practices.
* To me, linebacker David Reese actually looks thicker than he did last year – especially in the lower-body. If there was a player who needed to bulk up less and become more agile, it was him. Without pads, it's not easy to judge the linebackers – especially how they are playing the running game. However, in coverage, Vosean Joseph has impressed.
* Dan Mullen told us when Todd Grantham came over from Mississippi State that though he is known for playing a 3-4, Florida would use multiple formations. Following what Grantham has done in the past, I thought that was just talk. However, to this point in the spring, that has been the case as we've seen the Gators mostly play nickel, with a 4-3 front.
* Fred Johnson and Jawaan Taylor were talking about how much trouble the line was having in trying to block Luke Ancrum.
* With the first week of practices in the books, my projected quarterback depth chart is:
- Feleipe Franks – With his experience combined with his skill-set (which is better than his to-date production would suggest), someone is going to really have to shine to unseat him. That hasn't happened in the first week.
- Emory Jones – I have him second here not because I believe he is actually out playing Trask or will seriously compete for the starting position but because I think they will use him in certain situations and have specific plays drawn up for him.
- Kyle Trask – Forget any idea you may have that everyone is starting out equal. He is going to have to beat out Franks. One week in, he isn't off to a strong enough start to move ahead. He looks the part in positional drills, but he's too up and down during 11-on-11 in the first two days.
- Jake Allen – He is clearly in fourth after the first two days. It looks like the action is moving a bit too fast for him in 11-on-11.
* Last year I thought that Zach Carter was destined to grow big enough to move inside full-time, but he has sort of stalled out in what looks to be the 250-pound range. This is another case of we'll see where he stands when the pads go on, but he has held his own with the second string lining up at defensive end.
* Mighty mite cornerback McArthur Burnett is going to be one to watch when the pads come on. He played well over the weekend, making several plays while the team is in shorts. However, I want to see how it translates when the pads go on and the play gets a bit more physical. He looks like he might weigh a buck-fifty soaking wet and is by far the shortest of the cornerbacks. Having said that, he has stuck to receivers so far and made a couple of plays in coverage.
* While Jordan Scarlett has drawn the rave reviews over the first two days, and deservedly so, Lamical Perine has practiced very well as well. He looks like a different back this spring. He has toned up some and his acceleration is much improved. For all his natural ability it feels like Adarius Lemons has some issues taking to coaching. He and Greg Knox don't seem to be on the same page in most of the drills. That has been a bit disappointing because he has all the talent in the world. One player who isn't disappointing thus far is freshman Dameon Pierce. Coming in I thought Iverson Clement had a better shot at contributing earlier because of all that he can do. My thought also being that Pierce was solid, but didn't do anything great. I have been surprised at how quick and explosive he has been through two practices. That is before the pads come on, where he is the one I would expect to really shine.
* Early Entry freshman Trey Dean is already lining up with the second team at cornerback. Size wise and physically he is a beast compared to the other players at the position. However, he isn't as fluid in the hips. It will be interesting to see if he sticks here or eventually plays safety.
* At tight end, the numbers are low and it has been a mixed bag through the first two days. For all his physical promise, Kemore Gamble hasn't shown anything on the field yet. On the other hand, Moral Stephens has really made strides. I wouldn't be surprised if he made a strong push for playing time in passing situations this season. He is still undersized though for a tight end, and C'Yontia Lewis is by far the best blocker out of the group.
* Early entry offensive linemen Noah Banks and Chris Bleich are lining up with the third team offensive line. Banks could end up challenging Jean Delance for second string left tackle.
* Offensive lineman Brett Heggie has been dressed out, but not participating at all. He isn't wearing the knee braces that all the other offensive linemen who are practicing are wearing. Running back Malik Davis has been dressed out, but not doing anything. He is wearing some sort of rubberized brace on his leg from the top of his calf to mid-thigh. He doesn't appear to be walking with any limp. The same can be said for defensive lineman Keivonnis Davis. Coming off his accident and year-long suspension, he is walking with no noticeable issues, though I haven't seen him do anything yet.
* Despite being in a red non-contact jersey due to off-season shoulder surgery, safety Jeawon Taylor is still lining up with the first team and making plays on the ball. It will be interesting to see how much his practice time is dialed back when the pads go on.
* For the most part the transformation of the team in the 10 short weeks that Nick Savage has had them to date is simply remarkable. Overall the players seem to have more burst/acceleration and energy and to a man they look leaner.
In cases such as Tedarrell Slaton, who is a good 30 pounds off of the weight he was carrying last season, that is a good thing. When it comes to some of the other defensive linemen though, I'm not as sold. There's still the post-spring and then summer workout program to go through, but CeCe Jefferson and Jachai Polite, though they may have gained strength, do not look like SEC defensive linemen. Polite especially, who looked like he was heading to be in the 280-range under the previous staff, looks smallish at this point.
* Speaking of Slaton, I wouldn't be surprised if he were to pass Khairi Clark on the depth chart, perhaps before the end of spring, if not in fall camp. Slaton not only looks much leaner this spring, is a bit quicker off the snap. However, that isn't his forte. His calling-card is pure power and several times on Friday and Saturday he bull-rushed his way into the backfield.
* Again, to qualify this, there's only been two practices, both in shorts, however, two players who I have been a bit disappointed in are Dre Massey and Antonneous Clayton. As it currently stands, not only is Kadaruis Toney playing better than Massey at the 'Y' position, he had a non-descript first week and is in danger of falling down to being the sixth or seventh receiving option regardless of designated position. Then you have Clayton, who entering his junior season is running third string and not shining against the third string offensive line. His calling card coming out of high school was his burst and quickness off the edge, but he hasn't shown that through the first two practices.
* To me, linebacker David Reese actually looks thicker than he did last year – especially in the lower-body. If there was a player who needed to bulk up less and become more agile, it was him. Without pads, it's not easy to judge the linebackers – especially how they are playing the running game. However, in coverage, Vosean Joseph has impressed.
