Spring Practice

[GatorNation79]

I’m not really sure what to make of those stats.

It's Spring ball with a new staff and system...we'll know what kind of team that we have 2-3 games in the season. I'm super excited about Mullen but I don't expect to be anything close to winning the SEC...anyone that does is delusional. We will look better but have a lot of issues still.

 

[instaGATOR]

Scrimmage stats at least give solid factual indications, while Crystal Balls always fail to produce much of anything... -----
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"They were OK,'' Mullen said. "Put a lot of different things on their plate. One of the things they have to do is – I think all of them – is just learn how to act. You are always judged on the next play. Too much, I think, they were worried about the last play or trying to force or make a big play on the next play." (a short memory for a bad play during a scrimmage or a game, review the film afterwards, iG)

After Friday's scrimmage, the perception in the media (and everywhere else) was that Franks was uptight and defensive discussing his performance. (correct as I've already mentioned, and imo, that's an old story with Franks)

"To me they're all brand new, young quarterbacks,'' Dan said. "I don't really know what they've learned in the past, so I don't judge them." (while I've watched Franks and Trask for 3 springs now, and Allen is now in his 2nd, so none of those 3 guys still FNG's)

Mullen "But to me you’re never going to become successful until you learn how to be an every-down player. As a younger RB, that’s what you’ve got to learn." (One run Lemons, off-on J.Taylor & F.Johnson, or Hail-Mary Franks, all with seemingly the same kind of 'lack of consistency' problems)

A 2nd Opinion from Alligator writer Andrew Huang -- Franks has NFL-caliber arm strength, as evidenced by his 63-yard game-winning touchdown vs. Tennessee. He was also prone to making questionable decisions with the ball in his hands. Sacks, turnovers and other mental mistakes offset his physical abilities last fall. (actually for 3 years now, and they were all still there in UF's Friday scrimmage, with the usual whiny excuses afterwards)
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Gator OL'men that might need to get their shot at some real playing time:

71. OG Nick Villano 6-3 313 rsJr - W-O
70. OG Tanner Rowell 6-2 298 rsSo - W-O
55. OT Noah Banks 6-7 305 rsJr - EE (JuCo-AA)
75. OT/OG T.J. Moore 6-5 305 rsFr
67. OT Chris Bleich 6-6 313 Fr - EE
Summer FNG's - IF they can get up to speed and size quick enough.
??. OT Richard Gouraige 6-5 271 Fr ****
??. C/G Griffin McDowell 6-4 280 Fr *** (MsSt flip)

 

[instaGATOR]

Coaching changes,,, change little for DB-U. But these coaches might just bring it up a level.

CB Marco Wilson So - 10 P-BU's, 34 Tkls - Fr All SEC
Wilson is one of just 4 UF Fr. ever to start at CB in the season opener, along with Joe Haden (2007), Janoris Jenkins (2008) and Marcus Roberson (2011).

CB C.J. Henderson So - 4 Int's, 22 Tkls - Fr All SEC
Since 1965, Henderson is the only player in UF history with a Pick-6 in back-to-back games.

Behind Wilson and Henderson, they have ST/CB Brian Edwards So. and CB/S Trey Dean Fr, among several others that are working for depth chart and playing time.

Nic/S Chauncey Gardener-Johnson Jr - Career - 24 Gms, 90 Tkls, 6.5 TFL, 10 P-BU's, 5 Ints,
He became the 2nd tFr. in program history to win a Bowl MVP Award, joining HoF RB Emmitt Smith (1987). He was named to ESPN’s, Sports Illustrated’s and the AP’s -- All-Bowl Team.

Developing the 2018 starters and depth at both safety positions is the big work in progress for now.
Jeawon Taylor Jr and Brad Stewart So look to have the inside hook for now. With Taylor still in a non-contact jersey from a shoulder injury, Shawn Davis So. is getting the 1st team snaps. He and Donovan Stiner So. look to be the primary back-up so far. Quinch Lenton So. and tFr Amari Burney EE are close behind them. So far, they are all playing well enough to get into the rotations for some playing time. But the true 'depth charts' will wait for the end of Fall practice.

https://www.seccountry.com/florida/florida-recruiting-elite-recruits-visiting
Safety Amaro Birmeu 6-2 210 4.39/40 -- A flash-back to the 2018 class.

In HS, wildcat QB, WR, RB, KR, and anywhere in the secondary, including blitzing the QB.
DC Grantham has said it's either safety or OLB for now.

”Gators HC Dan Mullen said. “Obviously his development, physical development and size and where he gets to will kind of determine where he ends up, but I think his athleticism gives him the flexibility to play three, four different positions on the defense.”

~As for Burney, he says he doesn’t care where he lines up. He just wants to get on the field as early as possible. (with a big thank you, to former OC Nuss for helping to make him a Gator)
* Amari is exactly the kind of top quality person that I like to see in the Orange & Blue. (iG)

“You know what, we’re all learning, we’re all pretty inexperienced players. So right now, I couldn’t tell you that,” Ron English said when asked who has stood out to him. “But we are getting better. We’re getting better, we need a lot of reps — we need a lot of reps — because we’re young and inexperienced, but we’re getting better.” (and that's the goal of every player on this team that's bought in)

 

[instaGATOR]

DB McAuthor Burnett is taking the xfer-out route to playing time.
That's understandable for anyone buried on the depth chart, so good luck to him.
https://www.seccountry.com/florida/florida-gators-football-transfer-mcarthur-burnett
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Juke & Scoot specialists for 2018:
1) RB Malik Davis Soph
2) WR Adariuss Toney Soph
3) RB Iverson Clement Fr EE
4) WR Jacob Copeland Fr
Any or All -- of those 4 can play several of the 'playmaker' positions.
The WR's can also run it or return kicks, while the RB's are great receivers out of the backfield. And any of them can make a defender lose his shoes and/or his J-strap in the open field.

PS
ON the Toney/Polite play in the O&B game, Toney should have thrown the ball away out of bounds for an incompletion, instead of taking that big loss. The coaches should coach up the 'what to do if the plays fails,' a bit better.

 

[instaGATOR]

First, Trask has moved ahead of Franks, by way of his passing accuracy and his decision making.
(not because I've always thought that he was a better QB than Franks)

Now, I think that E.Jones will, or has already, passed up Franks for the #2 spot.
I see a Trask/Jones combo similar to the Leak/Tebow combo in the works for 2018.


When J.Jones arrives next Spring (hopefully he's an Dec EE), then Franks will fully become an xfer prospect, if that doesn't happen a lot sooner. JMOHO's as always.

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And for anyone that wants to go in-depth on Emory's HS games, this link should give you all you'd want to see.

https://www.readandreaction.com/2018/03/11/379/

 

[instaGATOR]

I've had another 'Coming out of Spring' thought:

Why would I play R.J. Raymond 6-2 253 rsSr at FB, if I was Mullen?

~ A much needed lead blocker for the talented RB corp, instead of pulling OL'men.
~ Occasionally a quick hand off up the middle, or a red zone short yardage blaster.
~ Sneak him out for a pass a few times per season, he has excellent hands for a big guy.

FB John L. Wllliams - NFL Career
Rushing - 5,006 Yds
Receiving - 4,656 Yds
Total - 9,662 yds with 37 TD's

WR Percy Harvin - NFL Career
Rushing - 927 Yds
KR's - 4,127 Yds
Combined Carries - 5,054 Yds
Receiving - 4,026 Yds
Total - 9,181 Yds with 32 TD's

And no, Raymond is not JLW nor PH, but I do believe that his combined athleticism and desire were being wasted by the previous staff, while he was only being used on ST's and at backup TE. --- That, and wasting a Gator legacy that could have gone elsewhere to play,,, is a down-right shame imoho...

 

[instaGATOR]

SEC-C Defensive Depth Chart guesses coming out of Spring practice.
Nothing more than their view of where guys begin Aug practice. Adding in the summer 2018 class recruits will begin then, and some shifting around always happens before Sept arrives, so we'll see.

Star (Nickle) Gardner-Johnson Jr - McWilliams rsSo -- Burney Fr (Nic/S/CB)

SS - J.Taylor Jr - Davis So - Lenton rsSo
FS - Stewart So - Stiner - So - Huggins Fr

CB - Wilson So - Dean - Fr -
Ath Watkins Fr. (WR or DB?) summer arrival (imo, DB if Van-Grimes play)
CB - Henderson So - Edwards So -

ILB-a - Reese Jr - K.Johnson rsJr - Miller rsFr - D.Reese Fr
ILB-b - R.Jackson rsJr - Joseph Jr - Houston rsFr or Brunson rsFr

DE - Zuniga rsJr - Clayton Jr or Carter rsFr, Langham Fr.
Rush End - Jefferson Sr - Polite Jr - Moon rsSo, N.Smith rsFr, Chatfield Fr.

Nose Tkl - Clark rsSr - Conliffe So or Slaton So, Rowell rsSo.

DT - Ancrum rsJr - Slaton So - Dunlap Jr or Campbell So.

Looks okay to me for a place to begin Fall practice.

 

[instaGATOR]

A Gator 4-3 alignment vs a 3-4 alignment, in general as I see it, correct me if I'm wrong:
DE - NT - DT - DE

OLB - MLB - OLB/Nic

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------- DT - NT - DT/DE -------

DE/OLB - ILB - ILB - OLB/NIC

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The 1-2 depth chart at every position will see playing time in Grantham's defenses.
Defense by rotation / committee, instead of just primarily the starters. I'm impressed.

And hopefully, the offense does much the same with the wide use of the 1-2 depth chart at every position.
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IF your coaches are competent, in both recruiting and in coaching up their players, then your 2nd string should be very close to your 1st string in ability, especially as the 1st string tires out through a series or a game. Following that same line of logic, late in the 4th quarter, a fresh/young 3rd teamer in limited action, should be close to as good as the now worn-down 1-2 guys.
~ I believe that both Bear Bryant and Bud Wilkinson are examples of this method. In the 4th quarter, the Bear's fresh 4th string would be kickin' the butts off their opponents worn-out 1st teamers....

When players just sit on the bench during a game, then the coaches are wasting the full potential of their roster, or they are showing their own limits as coaches and/or as recruiters. Failure to correctly utilize all of your weapons is a good way to lose any game/battle, and/or the season/war.

If your team is made up of 'players and scrubs,' then the staff is made up of scrubs instead of coaches imoho.
A true 'TEAM' has no scrubs on it. (see 'Special Forces / A-Teams' for the prime example of that fact)