The Inside the Gators staff has hit the phones for the latest on how Thursday's scrimmage went. We talked to a couple of people who attended, thus there are differing opinions on a couple of different players:
* The team worked on some goal-line and redzone drills, but for the most part it wasn't a situational scrimmage. For the majority of the scrimmage the offense would start at the 20 or 30 trying to move down the field against the defense.
* Overall the offense looked good in Thursday's scrimmage and was clicking more so in the passing game than in the running game.
* Once again, quarterback Luke Del Rio looked like the leader of the pack at the position and continues to look more and more like Florida's starting signal caller this season. He threw two touchdowns in the scrimmage - one to tight end C'yontai Lewis and the other to wide out Ryan Sousa.
* An observer who has been to multiple practices over the years said that they hadn't seen Del Rio practice or play before, but that he looked good overall directing the offense. "He looked pretty good throwing the ball. It's hard to compare him to anyone because that was my first time seeing him. I thought that he was a lot better than anyone they had last year."
* Austin Appleby also threw a long touchdown in the scrimmage, connecting with wide receiver C.J. Worton.
* Meanwhile there were mixed opinions on Feleipe Franks. One observer said he struggled a bit and didn't look like he was processing it all quickly enough. Though another person who was in attendance thought that Franks had some moments. He said that as far as talent, he has the tools and made some nice throws, 'He's a big guy with a strong arm and can make all the throws, but he has a ways to go and needs some coaching.'
* With Antonio Callaway and Brandon Powell sidelined for the spring and Ahmad Fulwood and Dre Massey out for this scrimmage with leg issues, one observer described Florida's receiving corps as overall looking 'very pedestrian' and not up to par with what he has witnessed at the position at Florida in the past.
* Having said that, another observer said that Joshua Hammond is a face that continues to stand out. He and Freddie Swain saw plenty of work.
* The offensive line struggled to protect at times, but according to the observer, that could just be because the defensive line was too much for them. "The first six or seven guys, they came to play. They were having their way with the offensive line."
According to the observer Bryan Cox Jr. was in the backfield the most. Keivonnis Davis was the top backup to Cox and he made a few plays. Also Jordan Sherit had a good day and, 'Flashed a few times.'
* The plus side is that even with the pressure, none of the quarterbacks threw any picks in the scrimmage.
The downside is that the running game struggled for the most part.
* It appears as though JUCO running back transfer Mark Thompson had a so-so day. One observer was impressed with him more in the passing game than as a runner. Thompson caught a short pass over the middle and took it for a 40 yard gain.
However, he was stopped dead in his tracks a couple of times running the ball. "I was kind of like, for a guy his size, he shouldn't come down that easy."
The observer was surprised because in his opinion, Thompson looked better in the open field than in the trenches. "For a guy his size, he runs very well. He is smooth. For a big guy though, he looks like Derrick Henry, he is huge, he plays smaller."
* The only linebacker who received any praise was Jarred Davis. The linebackers as a group didn't do a whole lot, but one observer said that part of that was because the defensive line was so disruptive and making all the plays in the running game.
* Cornerback Jalen Tabor did not participate in the scrimmage for an undisclosed reason, but Quincy Wilson (sports hernia) did participate in the scrimmage and earned a forced fumble and had a couple of pass break-ups.
* A player that stood out was safety Marcell Harris. The observer said that he no longer looks like a linebacker. He has trimmed down and you can tell it by the way he moves now. He looks much more fluid.
* Chauncey Gardner continued to display his physicality, landing the biggest hit of the day on running back Jordan Cronkrite.
* On the flip side, it appears as though Chris Williamson struggled. He was beaten a couple of times, giving up big pass plays to what the observer thought looked to be a walk-on wide receiver.
* Kicker Eddy Pineiro was sharp during Thursday's scrimmage. Bouncing back from missing a field goal at the end of Wednesday's practice, Pineiro went 3-of-3 on FGs during the scrimmage, including two from 57 and 49 yards out. He went perfect on PATs and showed off his leg on kickoff duty, often knocking it deep into the end zone.
* One observer who has been to Florida practices under three different Gators head coaches had this to say: "The whole vibe of the coaching staff is different. They came out and ran through their plays. When a player messed up a coach would put his hand on his shoulder pads and coach him, there wasn't all that screaming and yelling. Muschamp and coach Mac are polar opposites in practice. They were getting work done, the environment is much different than it used to be."
UPDATED - MORE NOTES FROM A PERSON WHO WAS THERE...
* Offense looked real good at times, but they were pretty evenly matched with the defense.
* Mark Thompson is a beast, he is the real deal. He had a couple of big plays - the biggest was an across the field cut and run for 35 yard gain (another observer said that was a pass reception).
* Joshua Hammond had two big time receptions along with several other catches. "He is going to be awesome."
* Bryan Cox is a beast. A straight monster. The first team defensive line is the truth. That is a great group and they are coming together under Coach Rumph. "He is a hell of a coach who knows how to get the best out of them."
* All three quarterbacks looked good. Luke Del Rio controlled the offense and has great pocket presence
* Feleipe Franks is going to be the man. I see him and Hammond having a great career together before it's over.
* The biggest plays that stood out were a Hammond deep ball over defensive back, a couple big strips by the defense in critical situations a couple of big runs by Thompson.
Blake Alderman and Landon Watnick contributed to this report.
* The team worked on some goal-line and redzone drills, but for the most part it wasn't a situational scrimmage. For the majority of the scrimmage the offense would start at the 20 or 30 trying to move down the field against the defense.
* Overall the offense looked good in Thursday's scrimmage and was clicking more so in the passing game than in the running game.
* Once again, quarterback Luke Del Rio looked like the leader of the pack at the position and continues to look more and more like Florida's starting signal caller this season. He threw two touchdowns in the scrimmage - one to tight end C'yontai Lewis and the other to wide out Ryan Sousa.
* An observer who has been to multiple practices over the years said that they hadn't seen Del Rio practice or play before, but that he looked good overall directing the offense. "He looked pretty good throwing the ball. It's hard to compare him to anyone because that was my first time seeing him. I thought that he was a lot better than anyone they had last year."
* Austin Appleby also threw a long touchdown in the scrimmage, connecting with wide receiver C.J. Worton.
* Meanwhile there were mixed opinions on Feleipe Franks. One observer said he struggled a bit and didn't look like he was processing it all quickly enough. Though another person who was in attendance thought that Franks had some moments. He said that as far as talent, he has the tools and made some nice throws, 'He's a big guy with a strong arm and can make all the throws, but he has a ways to go and needs some coaching.'
* With Antonio Callaway and Brandon Powell sidelined for the spring and Ahmad Fulwood and Dre Massey out for this scrimmage with leg issues, one observer described Florida's receiving corps as overall looking 'very pedestrian' and not up to par with what he has witnessed at the position at Florida in the past.
* Having said that, another observer said that Joshua Hammond is a face that continues to stand out. He and Freddie Swain saw plenty of work.
* The offensive line struggled to protect at times, but according to the observer, that could just be because the defensive line was too much for them. "The first six or seven guys, they came to play. They were having their way with the offensive line."
According to the observer Bryan Cox Jr. was in the backfield the most. Keivonnis Davis was the top backup to Cox and he made a few plays. Also Jordan Sherit had a good day and, 'Flashed a few times.'
* The plus side is that even with the pressure, none of the quarterbacks threw any picks in the scrimmage.
The downside is that the running game struggled for the most part.
* It appears as though JUCO running back transfer Mark Thompson had a so-so day. One observer was impressed with him more in the passing game than as a runner. Thompson caught a short pass over the middle and took it for a 40 yard gain.
However, he was stopped dead in his tracks a couple of times running the ball. "I was kind of like, for a guy his size, he shouldn't come down that easy."
The observer was surprised because in his opinion, Thompson looked better in the open field than in the trenches. "For a guy his size, he runs very well. He is smooth. For a big guy though, he looks like Derrick Henry, he is huge, he plays smaller."
* The only linebacker who received any praise was Jarred Davis. The linebackers as a group didn't do a whole lot, but one observer said that part of that was because the defensive line was so disruptive and making all the plays in the running game.
* Cornerback Jalen Tabor did not participate in the scrimmage for an undisclosed reason, but Quincy Wilson (sports hernia) did participate in the scrimmage and earned a forced fumble and had a couple of pass break-ups.
* A player that stood out was safety Marcell Harris. The observer said that he no longer looks like a linebacker. He has trimmed down and you can tell it by the way he moves now. He looks much more fluid.
* Chauncey Gardner continued to display his physicality, landing the biggest hit of the day on running back Jordan Cronkrite.
* On the flip side, it appears as though Chris Williamson struggled. He was beaten a couple of times, giving up big pass plays to what the observer thought looked to be a walk-on wide receiver.
* Kicker Eddy Pineiro was sharp during Thursday's scrimmage. Bouncing back from missing a field goal at the end of Wednesday's practice, Pineiro went 3-of-3 on FGs during the scrimmage, including two from 57 and 49 yards out. He went perfect on PATs and showed off his leg on kickoff duty, often knocking it deep into the end zone.
* One observer who has been to Florida practices under three different Gators head coaches had this to say: "The whole vibe of the coaching staff is different. They came out and ran through their plays. When a player messed up a coach would put his hand on his shoulder pads and coach him, there wasn't all that screaming and yelling. Muschamp and coach Mac are polar opposites in practice. They were getting work done, the environment is much different than it used to be."
UPDATED - MORE NOTES FROM A PERSON WHO WAS THERE...
* Offense looked real good at times, but they were pretty evenly matched with the defense.
* Mark Thompson is a beast, he is the real deal. He had a couple of big plays - the biggest was an across the field cut and run for 35 yard gain (another observer said that was a pass reception).
* Joshua Hammond had two big time receptions along with several other catches. "He is going to be awesome."
* Bryan Cox is a beast. A straight monster. The first team defensive line is the truth. That is a great group and they are coming together under Coach Rumph. "He is a hell of a coach who knows how to get the best out of them."
* All three quarterbacks looked good. Luke Del Rio controlled the offense and has great pocket presence
* Feleipe Franks is going to be the man. I see him and Hammond having a great career together before it's over.
* The biggest plays that stood out were a Hammond deep ball over defensive back, a couple big strips by the defense in critical situations a couple of big runs by Thompson.
Blake Alderman and Landon Watnick contributed to this report.
