Gator Clause

McCray on LSU: 'If we come ready to play, they're not going to do nothing'

Double negatives aside, Florida defensive end/outside linebacker Lerentee McCray seems to have quite a positive attitude heading into Saturday's top-10 matchup with LSU.

Asked what aspect of the Tigers' offense is scary and needs to be locked down in order for the Gators to win, McCray said: "Nothing."

"The biggest thing that scares me on their offense is our defense," he said. "If we come ready to play, they're not going to do nothing."

Last season, Florida went into Death Valley and got whipped 41-11. It was a game in which LSU dominated every facet, pounding the Gators into submission in the second half with 24 minutes time of possession. McCray said "everything" went wrong in that game, but it wasn't due to a lack of confidence. 

"We was confident going into last year October. Things just didn't work out how we wanted it to," he said. "We just didn't really play well (against LSU).They scored 41 points, so I guess everything, everything just went wrong. They put up 41 points on the scoreboard."

But, according to McCray, things will be different this time around.

"That ain't going to happen this year," he said.

Driskel: This year's matchup with LSU 'won't be like last year'

Last season, Florida entered October with an identical 4-0 record before losing the next four.

Starting quarterback John Brantley was injured against Alabama on Oct. 1, 2011, and true freshman Jeff Driskel went in as his replacement. Driskel struggled and he also suffered an injury in that game, which prevented him from suiting up the next week at LSU. The Gators started freshman Jacoby Brissett and lost to the Tigers 41-11.

But now Driskel is healthy and leading the Florida offense, and he said Monday that this year's matchup with LSU is going to different.

"Going in last year we definitely felt like we had a shot, as well. We didn’t go in last year saying, hopefully we don’t lose by 20 or we’ll try to keep it close," he said. "We go into every game thinking we have a shot and knowing we have a shot. But this year we’re definitely confident.

"It will be a lot closer, that’s for sure. It won’t be like last year."

Driskel also said a win this year is much more realistic than it was last year.

"We’re a confident team," he said. "We’ve gotten better each and every game, and we’re going to do the same this week. We got a week off, so we got to rest our bodies. And we got a couple extra days to prepare for LSU. We’ll be ready to go."

Florida and LSU meet at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville.

Gators considering change from Nixon to Humphries at left tackle

With No. 4 LSU and its dominant defensive line coming to Gainesville this weekend, No. 10 Florida is considering a switch at arguably the most important spot along its offensive line.

Senior left tackle Xavier Nixon was replaced by freshman D.J. Humphries to start the second half of Florida's win against Kentucky on Sept. 22, and coach Will Muschamp said Monday that who starts on Saturday will be determined in practice this week.

"Whoever practices the best will play," Muschamp said when asked if it was possible Humphries would play this week. "We expect him to do a championship job.” 

Humphries is a true freshman who came in as a five-star recruit ranked No. 2 overall in the nation, according to Rivals.com. He played in a reserve role as early as Week 1 against Bowling Green and it seems Florida's coaches have been grooming him to replace Nixon sooner rather than later.

"D.J. deserves to play. He played well," Muschamp said after the Kentucky game. "I don’t care what year he is. He plays well and practices well and plays well and he deserves the opportunity.”

Muschamp was then asked if Humphries has a chance to start against LSU.

"We’ll see," he said. "We’ll see who practices the best."

Nixon has struggled during his time as a Gator -- weight issues, penalties and poor technique have prevented him from playing to his potential. He has not been a liability thus far this season, but with LSU coming to town, it's easy to see why Humphries is being considered.

"We know about their speed rushers," quarterback Jeff Driskel said. "They’re going to get in there quick."

Driskel said the Gators have some things prepared to counteract the Tigers' speed and power up front. Draw plays, quick passes and having tight ends and running backs assist in blocking the defensive ends will all help the offensive line against LSU. But UF can't help the linemen on every play, and each man up front is expected to hold up in a one-on-one situations.

Driskel said he's confident that Humphries can do that.

"He’s a guy that’s worked hard ever since he’s gotten here," Driskel said. "He came in in the spring, a little undersized but he’s really fast and he’s great in his technique. We have all the confidence in the world in him."

While Nixon's experience is certainly an asset, it's Humphries ability to keep up with LSU's speed on the edge that is the difference between the two. It's also why, as a true freshman, Humphries has a chance to play a pivotal role against one of the nation's top teams.

"It’s definitely hard (playing left tackle as a freshman), especially with the SEC defensive line that are so fast and have such good get-off off the ball," Driskel said. "But he’s quick as well. He has great technique, and he’s a smart player. He’ll be fine."

 

Pease: Debose must do things 'the right way, the way the play is called'

Florida receiver Andre Debose has plenty of talent. That's never been questioned. But Debose has also never maximized that talent.

He showed sparks at times last season, scoring four touchdowns on long receptions with back-to-back 65-yard scores against Alabama and LSU, and as a returner, bringing back a kick 99 yards for a touchdown in the Gator Bowl victory against Ohio State. But he's also disappeared, like in last Saturday's game when we didn't see the field in the first half. He has failed to make a catch this season and has been used primarily as a kick returner, but even that role has diminished of late.

Coach Will Muschamp had little to say after the game against Kentucky, but he elaborated more Monday on the situation with Debose. Like has been said for seasons, Debose has issues, and it doesn't seem to be improving. Offensive coordinator Brent Pease was asked about Debose on Wednesday and had some interesting things to say.

Here's the transcript:

On Debose's practice habits, Muschamp said specifically it's effort, is he not running hard on routes in practice or what specifically does that mean?

 

Pease: "It's one, he's got to get comfortable and do it consistently with what we're doing in the offense, and, you know, there's a trust. There's a trust factor there. You go out there, you're gonna run the right route. You're gonna do it hard, whether you're covered or not. Because sometimes running a route, it isn't always built for you. Depending on what the coverage does, you've got to open it up for other players, if they double team you, or play a cloud coverage over the top of you and you got to stretch the safeties. And if you don't do that you hurt your teammates. So it's just a combination of being consistent, understanding, playing effort all the way through. Because, even as a receiver, you're covered at times. You have to compete. You have to continue to try to get yourself open. You can't say, 'Well I'm covered. I'm done running my route.' And just accept the fact you're covered. That's unacceptable."

 

Making it sound like he doesn't have full grasp of playbook.

 

Pease: "I never said that."

 

That's what it sounded like. Is that the case?

 

Pease: "I never said that. I just think it's going out and competing consistently every day. And understanding what you got to do in this offense. It's not really that he doesn't understand it. It's just about going out and being there every day, so there's a trust factor, you know, in the give and take. And when the ball is in your hands, making plays."

 

You think you can fix that with him?

 

Pease: "Yeah. He's got great ability. He's just got to be consistent."

 

You have big plans for him if he can get it?

 

Pease: "I think anybody that's got a talent like he does, you know, there's always a role. I've never really been in an offense where it's centered around one guy. But when you put a guy with his speed on one side. I mean however you configured it. Jordan (Reed) over here, and Mike (Gillislee) in the backfield and Trey (Burton) right here. It's not so much about him, it's about what the defensive coordinator's got to handle and what they've got to account for. So how you fit in, and how you are unselfish in everything that you do and open it up, or people worry about Jordan Reed on the other side of the field. Or they worry about Trey Burton on the other side of the field. Now you're singled up. You take advantage of those things. If you don't take advantage of those things when your number is called, I mean, why? Why not? That's your job. That's your responsibility. Get it done."

 

When you're talking about trust, you're not talking about trusting he knows what to do...(Pease interrupts question)

Pease: "I'm talking about trusting that I can put him out there and he will make a play for us doing it the right way, the way the play is called."

 

My take: Needless to say, Debose has some thing to sort out before he becomes a regular contributor for the Florida offense. Perhaps the bye week also comes at a good time for Debose, who needs to show the coaching staff that he can be counted on. It sounds like they want him on the field, but as I have thought for a while now, it seems Muschamp and Pease believe the risk simply outweighs the potential reward.

Gators WR Debose struggling to reach field, potential

It was almost this time last year when Florida wide receiver Andre Debose made a lasting image on Gators fans. Well, at least for a quarter or two.

Debose beat Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick for a touchdown on the game's first play when the two teams met on Oct. 1 last year. For the optimists, it was a play that signaled Debose had finally arrived after several seasons of underwhelming underachievement. For the realists, it was one of many plays that shows why having a player like Debose on your team is so frustrating.

The Gators went on to get demolished in the game and Debose had just one other catch in the game. He finished the season with just 16 catches, however those receptions went for 432 yards and four scores, showing he has the ability to stretch the field and be a difference maker.

But Debose has barely seen the field this season under coach Will Muschamp and new offensive coordinator Brent Pease. On Saturday against Kentucky, Debose was benched for the entirety of the first half. Debose entered the game in the second half to return punts but muffed his first opportunity and almost turned the ball over.

Asked about why Debose didn't play in the first half, Muschamp said: "He just needs to practice better. If he practices better, he’ll play more."

That's been the knock on Debose since he arrived at Florida. Even under former coach Urban Meyer, Debose struggled to learn the playbook or the route tree and spent most of his time on the sideline or in limited packages. Now a redshirt junior, that hasn't changed in four years on campus, and Muschamp said he needs to learn how to practice well consistently.

"Anybody who is in the coaching profession, there’s a key to every kid, and we’ve got to find that key to motivate any young man, not just Andre, day in, day out, to consistently perform well, to consistently do it the right way," Muschamp said. "Because generally your practice habits carry over to the game. I’m young but I’m old-fashioned. I believe that. Guys that don’t go out and consistently perform well in practice, it generally carries over to the game. As coaches, we want guys that consistently do it well and do it right. We promote that within our program. We’re going to practice what we preach around here to our football team."

Muschamp said Debose's struggled relate more to effort than comprehension, and that Debose needs to practice well each and every time he has an opportunity -- something that can be difficult to get across to a talented, young player fresh out of high school. 

"When young guys come in, it's very difficult," Muschamp said. "Most times, in most situations -- not all -- they have not been asked to work hard because they have not had to. They’ve been so much better. They’ve been the big fish in the little pond and did not have to work very hard. Their raw athleticism was so much better than the other guy that it didn’t really matter. Well now all of a sudden they’re swimming in a big lake. They have to figure out the other guy is running well too. The little things matter. How you run the route. How you cover the guy, you hand placement, your pad level. All those things do matter. And working hard all the time do matter. And you can’t have a mental lapse as far as your work ethic, concentration and focus."

But this isn't Debose's first season as a Gator. In fact, other players in their first years have supplanted Debose and taken playing time from him. Freshmen Raphael Andrades and Latroy Pittman both have more catches than Debose, which isn't that hard of a task considering Debose has failed to register a reception through four games.

Andrades was a two-star recruit according to Rivals.com. Muschamp loves to point that out. Andrades made his first career start and caught his first reception on Saturday. Debose was a five-star recruit according to Rivals.com, and he sat the bench for most of the game.

Muschamp pointed to two examples of players he's worked with in Junior Seau and Jason Taylor to point out exactly what a player must do in practice to be successful. He called them two of the best "practice players" he's ever been around.

"They’re going to be in Canton, Ohio for a reason," he said. "God blessed them with a lot of ability, but they took advantage of the ability. They took it to another level."

 

Gators injury update; bye week timing beneficial

The bye week is coming at a good time for several Gators.

With a week off to get healthy, Florida defensive end Dominique Easley (knee), defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd (shoulder), H-back Trey Burton (back spasms), right tackle Chaz Green (ankle) and tight end Jordan Reed (concussion) are all expected to return for the Oct. 6 game against LSU, Florida coach Will Muschamp said Monday.

Easley went down against Tennessee late in the game and did not play against Kentucky. He was seen using crutches last week, but Muschamp said that was just to stabilize the knee and was purely a precaution. However, after originally saying the knee was not the same one Easley suffered a torn ACL in against FSU last season, Muschamp changed that Monday and said it is in fact the same knee.

"Yeah, it was the knee he injured last year," Muschamp said. "It was just a sprain on the knee. Everything should be fine."

Starting weakside linebacker Jelani Jenkins (thumb) is still uncertain for the LSU game, Muschamp said.

"I'll know more later in the week, I don't right now," Muschamp said. "I don't have the information right now, so I think he sees the doctor Wednesday."

There is a possibility that Jenkins, who has a broken bone in his thumb that required at least two pins to be inserted, could play with a club or cast on the hand.

Burton missed Saturday's game against Kentucky as well after back spasms flared up "out of the blue" on Friday before the game. Green has not played since the Texas A&M game with the ankle issue, but the added time off is expected to help him fully heal. Reed left Saturday's game against the Wildcats early after taking a large shot from two defenders on a pass down the seam.

Offensive tackle Matt Patchan (pectoral) will not play against LSU, but Muschamp said it is possible he returns in the second or third week of October. Patchan had tearing on the muscle, and Muschamp called it a painful injury. "He will play this year," Muschamp said.

Safety Cody Riggs (foot) also remains out.

Former UK QB Lorenzen fires back at Pease

Apparently, the talking will continue until Florida and Kentucky take the field this Saturday.

After Gators offensive coordinator Brent Pease was asked to respond on Tuesday to comments he made during the summer about running up the score on the Wildcats this season, former UK quarterback Jared Lorenzen, the original impetus for the comments, responded Wednesday in an article published by Lexington Herald-Leader.

In it, Lorenzen is quoted as saying the two never got along during Pease's time as offensive coordinator in Lexington from 2001-02. Lorenzen started as a freshman under then-coach Hal Mumme, but when Mumme was fired and Guy Morriss was promoted -- with help from players like Lorenzen petitioning for him with the athletic director -- he brought in Pease and Lorenzen was forced to split time with true freshman Shane Boyd.

"Let's just say we got into a lot of heated arguments," Lorenzen told the Herald-Leader.

Lorenzen regained the starter's role in 2002 and helped the Wildcats go 7-5 after a 2-9 season the year before. Morriss and Pease were suddenly hot names in coaching circles and left after the season to take jobs at Baylor.

"Really, I didn't have problems with anybody on that staff other than with Guy (Morriss) and Brent (Pease)," Lorenzen said. "And it had more to do with the way they left."

"We were told Guy was going down there just to talk to them. I figured he's just looking to get more money out of UK. But then 24 hours later and they're heading up out of town."

Lorenzen had his best statistical season under Pease, but that doesn't mean he always saw eye to eye with the coordinator. In the article, he seems to have matured slightly and admits that he might have been a little short sighted as a player.

"He can be creative, that goes without saying," Lorenzen said. "Some of the stuff he was drawing up was extremely creative. Maybe it was just me being a little bit of a hard-head being the young guy. We just didn't agree a lot."

As for Lorenzen's tweets about Pease when Florida hired him, he said he was taken aback by how quickly word spread. But that doesn't mean he's apologizing.

"I'm an emotional guy. I think anybody who has been around me knows that," he said. "I was surprised how quickly it got out because the next thing I knew my Twitter (feed) was full of Boise and Florida people."

"If the offensive coordinator from the University of Florida, or anybody for that matter, is worried about what a former player said about him instead of an SEC (opponent) — cool." Lorenzen said. "If it takes the heat off the guys, I'll take every bit of it because I bleed blue more than anybody in this world."

Kentucky coach Joker Phillips had a different take. When reporters told Phillips about Lorenzen's comments and Pease's pledge to hang 50 on the Wildcats this Saturday, Phillips responded succinctly.

"Tell Jared to shut the hell up," he said.

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/09/19/2342968/john-clay-hefty-lefty-still-throwing.html#storylink=cpy

 

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/09/19/2342968/john-clay-hefty-lefty-still-throwing.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/09/19/2342968/john-clay-hefty-lefty-still-throwing.html#storylink=cpy

Muschamp updates status of Gators DE Easley, LB Jenkins, OL Patchan

Speaking on the Southeastern Conference coaches teleconference this morning, Florida coach Will Muschamp said that defensive end Dominique Easley (knee) is questionable for Saturday's game against Kentucky.

Easley went down late in the fourth quarter of Saturday's win against Tennessee and has been using crutches to get around this week. However, Muschamp said the crutches were just to stabilize the injury as a precaution and that Easley should be fine. If he cannot play at Kentucky, freshman Jonathan Bullard or redshirt senior Earl Okine will start in his spot.

Starting weakside linebacker Jelani Jenkins will have a pin removed from his broken thumb in approximately eight days and remains out for this week's game. He started running and lifting weights today, Muschamp said, adding there is a chance he can play when LSU comes to Gainesville on Oct. 6.

Right tackle Matt Patchan (pec) remains out, Muschamp said. He said he did not know when the Gators would get Patchan back from injury.

Pease says game against former team Kentucky won't be personal, despite comments from former QB

Florida plays Kentucky this weekend in Gainesville. The Gators have beaten the Wildcats 25 straight times.

Offensive coordinator Brent Pease is familiar with that streak, as he spent the 2001 and 2002 seasons in Lexington as UK’s offensive coordinator, and earlier this summer he made comments that Saturday's game would be personal.

When Pease was hired at Florida this offseason, former Kentucky quarterback Jared Lorenzen, who played under Pease, took to Twitter to let his opinion on the Gators’ new hire be heard.

“Seriously, Brent Pease at Florida? He's freaking crazy and was brutal at UK when I was there,” Lorenzen said on his Twitter account, before adding more later in the day. “The good thing about Pease at UF is now we can shut them down. #nohalftimeadjs.”

Pease responded at Gator Club meeting this summer in Ocala, when he said the game would be personal and that he would look to run up the score on the Wildcats when they came to Gainesville this season.

“I coached Jared,” Pease said during the meeting, according to the Gainesville Sun. “Jared is one of those guys that was talking trash when I took this job. So that's good for about two extra launch plays, trying to get to 50 points on those guys when they come to campus.”

With that game set for Saturday, Pease was asked about those comments today. He backed off significantly.

“I liked Jared. He's a good kid,” Pease said Tuesday. “He did a great job playing when I was there. He actually did a fabulous job.”

“It's free speech America, you know,” Pease said Tuesday when asked about Lorenzen’s comments. “Hey I didn't make a quote there (in Ocala). You know, I had fun. And I was responding to a question. And you know, that's nothing personal.”

Pease went on to praise Kentucky’s commitment to football, its basketball and baseball programs and, of course, the ever-loved presence of Wildcat super fan Ashley Judd. He said Lorenzen’s comments have no real bearing on the game, and that he doesn’t consider the matchup personal.

“Two or three of my best friends still live there,” he said. “It's another game. I got a lot of respect for that place because, you know, I worked there, and I really love Lexington, and I still got a lot of friends who are in the administration there that worked closely with me, helped me out. And, you know, I wish them success.”

UF's Driskel familiar with comparisons to Tebow

After a breakout game against Tennessee on Saturday, Florida sophomore quarterback Jeff Driskel is already invoking memories of a certain former Gators star by the name of Tim Tebow.

Driskel shares the same knack for creating a big play with his feet that made Tebow an icon at UF, running for 81 yards on eight carries against the Volunteers.

“That's definitely a big part of my game being able to run the ball,” Driskel said. “When we're in spread, it really spreads out the defense and there's minimal people in the box, so if they're willing to spread them out like that and they're all covered and they're man to man, they can't hang one for me, so I can make a big play.”

Sounds familiar, right?

One run in particular against Tennessee, when Driskel scrambled to his right and then tip-toed the sideline before turning the run back upfield and toward the hash marks instead of running out of bounds, was vintage Tebow.

“No, I mean I try to make a vertical cut and get as many yards as possible,” Driskel said. “I don't really try to get out of bounds.”

At 6-4, 237 pounds, Driskel has said he isn’t hesitant to take a hit, and that he prides himself on his ability to get the extra yard instead of sliding. This isn’t new territory for Driskel. And he said he’s heard the comparisons to Florida’s favorite son since high school.

“I mean I've definitely heard those comparisons,” he said. “Even back in high school, just because of our body size and the way we can run the ball. It's nice to be compared but I wouldn't go that far and say I try to be like him or watch his film and try to be like him, but I guess we do play similar styles."

While the two share similar attributes, it’s simply way too early in Driskel’s career to start drawing any real comparisons in terms of statistics, wins, Heisman Trophies and national championships.

Gators quarterback Jeff Driskel wins SEC Offensive Player of the Week

After a standout showing in Florida's road victory against Tennessee on Saturday, sophomore quarterback Jeff Driskel was voted as the Southeastern Conference's Offensive Player of the Week.

"It's a great honor," Driskel said.

Driskel passed for 219 yards on 14-of-20 passing with two touchdowns. He also rushed for 81 yards on eight carries, including several impressive scrambles. Driskel racked up 300 of the team's 555 yards of total offense, which was the team's highest output in a conference game since 2001.

For highlights from the game, click here.

 

Top 10 things Florida must do to beat Tennessee

With Florida and Tennessee set to square off in Knoxville, Tenn., here's 10 things the Gators must do to continue their winning streak in the series.

1. Pressure Tyler Bray

If given time in the pocket, the Volunteers' junior quarterback has proven he has the ability to shred a secondary. Through two games this season Bray has passed for 643 yards and six touchdowns. Tennessee is 2-0 after beating N.C. State and Georgia State, and Bray has only been sacked once in those two games. For the Gators to win Saturday and avoid getting exposed deep, the defensive line must pressure Bray and force him to make quick decisions. Look for defensive coordiantor Dan Quinn to dial up some sexy blitzes with complicated coverages to try and confuse Bray.

2. Run the ball effectively

As I wrote in my advance for today, the key to this series historically has been rushing the ball. The last nine winners in the rivalry and 20 and the last 22 have been the team to win the running battle. Last year, the Gators held the Volunteers to minus-9 yards on the ground and made the Tennessee offense one-dimensional. (The injury to Justin Hunter didn't hurt either.) Still, the key to victory, especially for Florida, is controlling the clock with long scoring drives to keep the dangerous combo of Bray, Hunter and Cordarrelle Patterson off the field.

3. Don't let the big play beat you

Tennessee is going to take shots down the field. That much is certain. For Florida to win today, it needs to prevent the Volunteers' receivers from getting behind the safeties and scoring on quick, long strikes. Look for junior Matt Elam to stay at his safety spot more than usual in this game. Sure, he will still rotate down to play nickel in some situations, but with Josh Evans (shoulder) banged up and Cody Riggs (foot) out, the Gators need experience at the last level of defense. Redshirt freshman Valdez Showers and sophomore Jabari Gorman will be tested when on the field.

4. Force turnovers

The Gators forced just 14 a season ago and the coaching staff put a large emphasis in the offseason on taking the ball away. But through two games Florida has just one takeaway, an interception from sophomore cornerback Marcus Roberson against Bowling Green. That won't get it done today. To win in hostile Neyland Stadium, the Gators need to come up with some big plays in the secondary. If they can do that early in the game and rattle Bray, that might make the difference between winning and losing.

5. Don't give up turnovers

Just as forcing turnovers will be huge for Florida, so will protecting the ball on offense. Sophomore Jeff Driskel has done a fantastic job in that regard thus far, choosing to take a sack or negative play instead of forcing a ball into traffic. The team has only giveaway this season, a fumble from Omarius Hines in the third quarter against Bowling Green, but it didn't cost them. That won't be the case in Knoxville. Quite simply, the Gators can't afford to give the Volunteers any added opportunities today.

6. Stretch the field

The Gators want to run the ball, and the Volunteers know it. Expect to see the box stacked with orange jerseys early on until Driskel proves he can get the ball down the field and force Tennessee's safeties to stay honest. Driskel showed a hint of that last week against TAMU when he found Hines for a 39-yard gain on a nicely thrown ball. Expect to see Florida try to hit something big on play action early in the game to open up some holes for Gillislee in the run game.

7. Win the kicking game

This should be a lock for Florida, but crazy things have happened in this rivalry when it comes down to the right foot of a place kicker. Muschamp has referred to Caleb Sturgis as the nation's best kicker several times this season, and his ability to remain calm under pressure and hit the long ones is vital. Tennessee, on the other hand, is going with a former walk-on this week after junior Michael Palardy missed an extra point and a 39-yard field goal attempt last week against Georgia State. If it's close late, Florida has the advantage here.

8. Be sound on teams

Patterson is known as one of Tennessee's big-play threats on offense, but he also is sixth nationally with a 35.3 average on kick returns. He had 106 return yards last week against Georgia State and has the ability to break one and go the distance. That's exactly the type of play Florida must prevent. However, the Gators have their own big-play threat on returns as well in Andre Debose, who has been relatively quiet this season after making a splash last year. The new kickoff rules should play a large role in this one, as the Gators will likely tell Sturgis to kick the ball out of the end zone and gladly let the Volunteers take over at the 25-yard line.

9. Get Jordan Reed involved

This one seems obvious, as Reed is arguably the Gators' best weapon on offense outside of Gillislee. But Tennessee knows that as well and will be looking to shut down the versatile tight end. Offensive coordinator Brent Pease gushed about Reed this week and surely has devised some creative ways to get him the ball in space. Reed showed what he can do in that regard last week, taking a short route and gaining 30 yards purely on athletic ability. If Reed is effective, it will help keep linebackers from keying on Gillislee.

10. Convert in short-yardage situations

This has been one of Florida's biggest issues this season. Against Bowling Green, the offense failed to convert on nine third-down plays of fewer than two yards. Although the Gators did a better job of avoiding the situation against the Aggies, they still struggled in short yardage, especially with blocking up front. That won't get the job done today. Extending drives and converting on third down will be essential.

Prediction: Florida 29, Tennessee 27

Texas A&M billboard trash-talking Florida shows up in Gainesville

Texas A&M joins the Southeastern Conference this season, kicking off its first taste of the conference this Saturday against Florida.

There has already been some back-and-forth between the two programs, with coaches Will Muschamp and Kevin Sumlin exchanging friendly barbs through the media during the summer. At a Gator club meeting, Muschamp talked about the atmosphere at Kyle Field and the experience of playing a road game against the Aggies before dropping this nugget: "You ever been to College Station? It’ll be the only time you go.”

The mayor of College Station, Texas, Nancy Berry responded with a video to Muschamp and a gift basket, which he received, Muschamp confirmed Monday. "It was wonderful," he said. "There were some koozies and things, it was nice. Very appreciative."

Now, a billboard has found its way to Gainesville, chock full of "Texas talk." Check it out:

Pretty funny, right? Not so fast, as Lee Corso would say.

This "news" was originally reported by @GatorZoneChris (Chris Harry), a writer who works for the University of Florida and is paid by the University Athletic Association. Since Harry blogged about the billboard, Texas A&M vice president of marketing and communications Jason Cook has taken to Twitter to defend his school, saying that the Aggies had nothing to do with the billboard. The school is investigating and I will update this post if any more news surfaces.

So what say you? Who's behind it? Is it rogue Aggies fans with money to burn trying to stir the pot? Did the UF athletic association make this happen to drive interest in the program as ticket sales have dwindled and fans aren't showing up en masse? Does it matter? Is it even funny?

UPDATE: The billboard has been taken down due to a trademark concern over the use of the word "Whoop!" The USA Today's Rachel George is reporting that a Houston-based agency representing a fan group paid for the billboard.

Texas A&M distanced itself further from the ordeal with this statement: "This billboard was not placed by Texas A&M University, and it is certainly not reflective of how we have handled our transition into the SEC. We are investigating aggressively, as we believe that our institutional trademarks have been infringed upon. Texas A&M has tremendous respect for the University of Florida, and we look forward to hosting the Gators in our first SEC football game this weekend."

Gators quarterbacks Brissett, Driskel both to play in season opener

Will Muschamp announced Friday that both Jacoby Brissett and Jeff Driskel will play in Florida’s season opener, prolonging an already lengthy quarterback competition.

The sophomores have been described as “very similar” or “dead even” since spring and Muschamp said he needs to see some game action before making a final decision. He met with both quarterbacks on Friday morning, informing them that they each will take meaningful snaps against Bowling Green on Sept. 1.

“Their numbers are very similar, whether it's in one-minute, third down -- we've taken the details down all the way, (offensive coordinator) Brent (Pease) and I have,” Muschamp said. “Both guys are very even and our football team's got great confidence in both of them. I told both of them today, the last position I'm worried about is quarterback. I feel very comfortable about both guys.”

Previously, Muschamp had hinted at announcing a starter this Monday. But with Tuesday’s third scrimmage rained out, that option was no longer viable and Muschamp said he actually made the call to play both in the opener after the team’s second scrimmage.

"Again, we can win with both guys,” he said. “I've said that all along. Nothing has changed my opinion through this camp, and how these guys have competed and managed our team. We've tried to put them in tough situations and they've both handled it well. I think as we work into competition on game day, we'll see if there is some separation. I think that's the next step. Both guys deserve the opportunity to play and I know that."

Instead of naming a starter Monday, Muschamp said the decision on who would take the game’s first snap would come later in the week. The distribution of the snaps and how they will be divided – by quarter, half or series – are also yet to be determined.

Reminded by a reporter that he said during spring that it wouldn’t be ideal to have both playing in Week 1, Muschamp said: “I don't remember saying that. I'm sure you got a quote somewhere, but it is what it is right now. We can win with both guys. We function as an offense regardless of who that guy is very well. It's a compliment to both guys, because they both have a similar skill set and they both are accomplished in what they're doing.”

Although Florida is transitioning to a new motion-heavy offense with many pre-snap adjustments under Pease, Muschamp said he was not worried about the offense’s rhythm suffering because of quarterback substitutions. Florida struggled with penalties last season, accruing 36 pre-snap procedural flags on offense for a false start, delay of game or illegal substitution. The team finished 114^th nationally with 100 total penalties.

“I feel very comfortable,” Muschamp said. “We've been on the 40-second clock since practice one. Calling the offense, getting in the huddle whether it's in a no-huddle situation, a tempo situation or it's been a huddle up and call it from the sideline. Brent's purposely held calls late to get the verbiage in late for the quarterback staff to manage those situations, to get to the line of scrimmage, to understand the clock's coming down, to recognize that. So I think we've exhausted a lot of measures to make sure that these guys are prepared for this, and I feel very comfortable at this point.”

The quarterbacks will get some more work in that area today when the team practices inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, hoping to emulate game atmosphere and make up some reps missed because of Tuesday’s rain.

However, Muschamp would not speculate as to whether the competition could continue beyond the first game.

“I don't want to predict anything,” he said.

He said both Brissett and Driskel took the news well and that they understand that fans will take sides after seeing them play, creating a potentially contentious situation.

“They were great, but that's how they've handled the whole process. They're both very mature guys about it and handled it the right way. … It is what it is. Those guys understand what it is to be the quarterback at Florida. They really do. They get it, and they're mature, and they'll handle it. At the end of the day, you're going to be judged on your performance and how you play. So be it. It is what it is.”

Still, there is a slight chance this whole ordeal could be for naught, as Driskel has yet to be cleared for contact after injuring his shoulder last week in practice. He will be re-evaluated Monday.

And Muschamp would like you to believe it’s all a big fuss for nothing, anyway.

“I look at two talented guys we can win with,” he said. “It (playing two quarterbacks) didn't seem to affect LSU last year.”

Reports: Former UF running back Jeff Demps to sign with Patriots

Former UF running back Jeff Demps has agreed to a contract with the New England Patriots, according to the FOX TV News affiliate in Tampa and multiple sources.

Demps was being sought by several NFL teams and turned down serious interest from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The length and terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed.

Demps is expected to step in and fill a void at kick returner for New England. He will join several former Gators on the Patriots roster in defensive end Jermaine Cunningham, linebacker Brandon Spikes, tight end Aaron Hernandez, defensive tackle Gerard Warren and wide receiver Jabar Gaffney.

Spikes tweeted, "6 gators on the Pats now !!!!!!! #GrinchSmile the more the better !!" this afternoon.

After rushing for 2,470 yards and 23 touchdowns at Florida, Demps spent the spring concentrating on track and field and went to London as a part of the 4x100-meter relay team which took home a silver medal.

Gators wide receiver Story set to transfer

Redshirt freshman wide receiver Ja'Juan Story will transfer from Florida, coach Will Muschamp announced through a statement Friday morning.

Story, a 6-foot-3, 206-pound four-star recruit from Brooksville Nature Coast, did not play in a game last season, spending the majority of the year on the scout team.

"Ja'Juan came me to Thursday afternoon and indicated that he wanted to transfer," Muschamp said through a school release. "He just felt like this wasn't a good fit for him and he needed a fresh start. Ja'Juan is a good student and was a good teammate and we wish him the best of luck."

Story had more than 20 offers from Division I schools before ultimately enrolling at Florida last summer. He took visits to Ohio State and Oregon during the recruiting process.

“I met with Coach Muschamp Thursday afternoon and told him I wanted to transfer," Story said. "I had a great experience here and met a bunch of great people. It is a great football program with great players and coaches. It just wasn't the right fit for me."

Gators receivers coach Hill resigns, cites personal reasons

With Florida's fall camp set to open today, coach Will Muschamp announced wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator Aubrey Hill has resigned.

"Aubrey informed me he was resigning for personal reasons that have nothing to do with the University of Florida," Muschamp said Friday in a prepared statement. "Aubrey didn't want to be a distraction to our team and our football program and he thought it was best for him to move on. I appreciate Aubrey's efforts and wish him the best of luck moving forward. He will always remain a Gator."

Hill, who was an assistant coach at Miami for three years before joining Florida's staff in 2011, has been mentioned in two Yahoo! Sports stories investigating improper benefits provided by booster Nevin Shapiro to players the Hurricanes were targeting in recruiting.The first report broke nearly a year ago, but the NCAA is still investigating and has yet to hand down any punishment.

"I have too much love and respect for this program to become a distraction as I deal with some personal issues," Hill said. "I'm thankful for the opportunity to have worked with coach Muschamp, a tremendous staff and great group of players. The future is very bright here and the University of Florida will always have a special place in my heart."

In Hill's absence, new offensive coordinator Brent Pease will step in to coach the receivers alongside former Boise State quarterback and graduate assistant Bush Hamdan.

UF has not named a replacement recruiting coordinator, which is where the largest fallout of this news will likely come. Hill was a big name in the recruiting circles in the state of Florida and was very close with several of Florida's top-ranked verbal commitments.

UPDATE: Four-star wide receiver Rodney Adams of St. Petersburg Lakewood, who committed to Florida in February, has reopened his recruitment and has spoken to staffs from West Virginia, FSU and USF this morning, according to Rivals.com.

Links:

Hurricanes coach Al Golden's staff used booster's associate in potential recruiting violations - Most recent Yahoo! story that mentions Hill.

Renegade Miami football booster spells out illicit benefits to players - Original Yahoo! report on Shapiro.

UF Media Day: Muschamp, players talk improvement with fall camp set to open

With Florida set to begin fall practice Friday, second-year head coach Will Muschamp and Gators players addressed the media Thursday.

While these preseason media sessions are usually filled with hyperbole, that wasn't the case in Gainesville. Coming off a 7-6 season, much of the chatter from Muschamp and players was of improvement.

Before fielding any questions from the contingent in attendance, Muschamp pointed out several glowing reasons as to why there isn't any chest-thumping happening in The Swamp: UF has compiled a 15-11 record in its last two seasons, was outscored 72-22 in the fourth quarter last season, has led the Southeastern Conference in penalties the last two seasons and the team's minus-12 turnover margin a season ago.

"It's been emphasized, not well enough," he said. "So we have re-evaluated ourselves and what we have done as a staff to do a better job."

"We need to quit talking and start playing. At the end of the day, just get on the field and play. And that's what we need to do as a staff and what we need to do as a team. I didn't even contemplate even bringing a team over here today but [associate athletics director] Steve (McClain) wanted to."

Here are some highlights from Muschamp's press conference:

- New strength coach Jeff Dillman from IMG Academies instituted an olympic-style weight regimen that most players have raved about. The physical change in appearance of several players was noticeable. After the regular-season-ending loss to FSU, Muschamp infamously referred to his team as "soft." He said Thursday the team's attitude is "much improved" because the players have "bought-in."

"Their way didn't work," he said. "I think that they understand where we are headed with this program."

"Jeff Dillman is a Will Muschamp guy at the end of the day, and he's putting the same philosophical ideas I want in the weight room, from an Olympic core lifting and the things that we need to do to be
successful, that I know work in this league."

- Muschamp also discussed the benefits of bringing aboard new offensive coordinator Brent Pease, who brings to UF from Boise State a shift-heavy, motion offense that UF believes can cause problems in the conference.

"In a four-day period in game week and getting ready for that, especially when you have to adjust to some different motions and shifts each week, it creates issues defensively for you. I think that those are things that are different that certainly will complement our players very well and our scheme and our system."

More on this in the coming days and weeks.

- Florida begins its season on a bit of a different note this season, as the team travels to College Station, Texas, to welcome Texas A&M to the conference in Week 2. The Gators usually schedule two lesser opponents in the first two weeks before beginning the SEC slate in Week 3 against Tennessee. Muschamp said the team can't afford a sluggish start.

"We need to come out of the gate fast," he said. "I think it's been a great motivating factor for our football team over the summer and in the offseason program and in spring to understand that."

- There has not been any change in the quarterback competition between sophomores Jacoby Brissett and Jeff Driskel. Muschamp has been adamant that the team can win with either under center and said following spring practice that how each handles players-only practices during the summer would have a leg up. NCAA rules prohibit coaches from having contact during the summer. However, Muschamp did not provide any insight Thursday.

"From a standpoint of just hearsay, I think both guys have worked hard and they both look good physically. Both were in my office today. We'll see tomorrow (when practice begins)."

- Injury updates: According to Muschamp, defensive tackle Nick Alajajian (back) will be limited for the first 10 days of camp but is expected to be fine; freshman safety Marcus Maye (meniscus), should be cleared during the middle of camp; freshman tight end Colin Thompson (foot) will be limited to begin camp after undergoing surgery in spring and should be fine; wider receiver Stephen Alli (stress fracture) will be cleared probably middle of camp; cornerback Jeremy Brown, who missed all of last season and significant time in 2009 due to injuries, is still out but is expected to be cleared by September 1.

Muschamp also said starting Buck linebacker Ronald Powell has improved after surgery to repair a torn ACL he suffered in the spring game. No timetable for his return has been given.

Gators center Patric Young to return for junior season

Already a projected first-round draft pick before he ever set foot on the floor of the O'Connell Center, Florida center Patric Young has faced questions about when his time at Florida would be up before it ever really began.

With the Gators in the midst of last week's Southeastern Conference Tournament, it hardly seemed a fitting time to discuss his future. But Young did just that following Florida's second-round win against Alabama in New Orleans.

While fielding a question about winning the SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year award, Young said he couldn't wait to come back and win it again next year. Afterward, I followed up with him.

You said you want Scholar Athlete of the Year again next year, that means you’re coming back, right?

"Yeah"

100 percent?

"Yeah. I don’t know – Brad (Beal has) got a 3.9 (GPA) right now, so I gotta worry about him. Hopefully it'll stay within Florida’s hands though"

Do you think both of you will be back next year?

"I’ll be back. I don’t know about Brad, but I hope he is"

So 100 percent, I'm going to quote you on this, you’re back?

Yeah, I’m back next year.

I posted the news on Twitter, but with stories to file by deadline, I hurried back to the media room to start writing without following up further. The next day, Jason Lieser of the Palm Beach Post asked Young to clarify why he made the decision to return to school for the 2012-13 season. This time, he was somewhat noncommital, saying, "I really haven't thought about it because the season's not over yet."

But today, during a post-practice session with the media, Young reportedly confirmed to Lieser that he intends to come back, thus ending the Dwight Howard-esque back and forth of the past week.

So there you have it. The Gators will have their big man back next season.

For Beal, the decision will not be made until the season is over. The deadline to declare for the NBA Draft is April 10.

Gators pick up commitment from St. Thomas Aquinas DE Cox Jr.

Florida coach Will Muschamp added a necessary piece to the recruiting puzzle Saturday with the pickup of three-star defensive end Bryan Cox Jr.

Cox, the son of former All-Pro NFL linebacker and current Miami Dolphins pass rush coach Bryan Cox, fills a need on the defensive line, where Florida was extremely thin following the 2011 season. Cox is also a candidate for the Buck linebacker position currently played by rising junior Ronald Powell. 

From Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, Cox will join two former high school teammates in cornerbacks Cody Riggs and Marcus Roberson on the Gators roster. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Cox is rated as the No. 37 strongside defensive end in the country, according to Rivals.com. 

He is the 19th commitment in Florida's 2012 class, which will not be finalized until National Signing Day on Feb. 1. The Gators have commitments from three defensive ends and two defensive tackles so far. 

Cox committed Saturday while in Gainesville on an official visit. Several other Gators commits are also in town, as well as a handful of high-profile undecided targets, and more commitments could be coming soon. 

 

St. Thomas Aquinas alum Roberson out for remainder of season

Florida will play the rest of its season without its best cornerback.

Freshman Marcus Roberson suffered an injury to his neck during last week's loss to South Carolina and will miss the Gators' final two regular season games and the team's bowl game should they beat Furman on Saturday.

Florida coach Will Muschamp announced the news this morning at his weekly press conference, saying Roberson is still being evaluated. Muschamp classified the injury as a strain, and he said the medical staff is erring on the side of caution because of the seriousness of neck injuries.

"It's nothing that's going to be permanent," Muschamp said, adding that Roberson should "be fine" in 4 to 6 weeks. "He's going to be back for spring, but he will miss the rest of the season."

Sophomore Cody Riggs, also a graduate of Fort Lauderdale's St. Thomas Aquinas, will step back in to the starting lineup in Roberson's absence, Muschamp said. Riggs started the first seven games for Florida but was replaced by sophomore Jaylen Watkins against Georgia. Freshman Louchiez Purifoy and senior Moses Jenkins could also see playing time, with freshman safety De'Ante Saunders serving as an emergency option. 

Roberson started all of Florida's games this season, racking up 22 tackles, two pass break ups, a fumble recovery and an interception. Roberson and Saunders both started the season opener, becoming the first freshman duo to do so in school history. 

TE Gerald Christian and WR Robert Clark to transfer

Florida released the following statement Tuesday:

University of Florida head coach Will Muschamp announced on Tuesday that sophomores Gerald Christian (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) and Robert Clark (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.) intend to transfer from the program.

“Both of these players have expressed a desire for more playing time and felt that it would be in their best interests to transfer,” said Muschamp. “We wish them both the best of luck and appreciate their contributions to the program.”

“I’m looking for an opportunity to play more,” said Christian. “I have no bad feelings about Florida or the coaching staff, I just want to get a fresh start and see the field more.”

“I’ve enjoyed being a part of the Gator program but at the same time I’m excited about future opportunities to play more,” said Clark. “I will have nothing but good memories from my time in Gainesville.”

Christian, a 6’3”, 245-pound tight end, had four catches for 72 yards and one touchdown this season. Clark, a 5’9”, 173-pound wide receiver, does not have a catch this season but totaled seven catches for 69 yards and one touchdown in 2010.

Muschamp apologizes, promises to curb the cursing

Florida's Will Muschamp apologized Tuesday for using foul language on the sidelines during Saturday's loss to Auburn. After running back Chris Rainey muffed a punt, Muschamp could be heard on ESPN's live broadcast berating the officials and using multiple swear words. 

Video of the incident has since made the rounds on blogs and forums.

Muschamp was upset at the officials for not calling a kick-catch interference penalty on the play. He called a timeout during which he continued to yell at multiple officials. Muschamp said Tuesday that he would cut back on the cursing. 

"I do want to apologize for my language on the sidelines the other night," he said. "That’s not something that’s going to be tolerated at the University of Florida, first of all by me or anyone in our program, but that’s certainly not representative of this program, what this university’s about."

But the high-energy, aggressive nature with which he coaches is here to stay. Muschamp has said repeatedly that he would not change his demeanor, and he didn't back off from that Tuesday.

"It’s just the language. It’s hard when you got a 6-year-old and 10-year-old at home and you got to go home and explain to them what you said — that’s not good, and that’s not how we’re going to run our program. As far as the sideline stuff is concerned, we’re just going to be who we are. I’m just going to apologize for my language and nothing else." 

Bottom line: Don't expect Coach Boom to be changing anytime soon.

If you want to see the video, click here. Be warned, however, it does contain foul language.

Brissett to start against Auburn on Saturday

Florida coach Will Muschamp announced Friday that true freshman quarterback Jacoby Brissett will make his second consecutive start against Auburn this Saturday in Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Brissett was battling with fellow freshman Jeff Driskel in practice this week, and Muschamp said the ankle injury that kept Driskel from dressing last week at LSU was not an issue. Florida has had to turn to inexperienced options after fifth-year senior John Brantley went down with an unspecified lower leg injury against Alabama. 

Brissett completed 8 of 14 passes for 94 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions in his debut against LSU last week. Driskel has looked shaky in limited action, completing 7 of 16 passes with two interceptions. 

Coaches said Driskel is healthy, and if possible, they plan to play both quarterbacks against Auburn. I wouldn't expect Driskel to play meaningful snaps in the game, however, unless Florida is well behind, or Brissett is struggling, or both.

Expect Mike Gillislee to get the start at running back ahead of Chris Rainey, while the Gators offense once again tries to establish a running game to protect the quarterback. Gillislee was effective against LSU, rushing for 56 yards on nine carries, mainly between the tackles — where Rainey and Jeff Demps have struggled. 

10 Things Florida Must Do To Beat Alabama

This is it. This is the week we find out if Florida is for real. 

Entering Saturday's game, No. 3 Alabama is the favorite after embarrassing No. 12 Florida last year in Tuscaloosa. But things have changed in Gainesville. Will Muschamp is in his first year at the helm, and the Gators' defense is ranked in the top 10 in the country. It's a nationally televised game in primetime between two coaches who know each other like the back of their hands. 

This is why they play the game, for weekends and games like this. While the line has shifted toward Florida from Alabama (-6) down to (-3.5) in some places, not many people expect the Gators to have a chance.

Stewart Mandel of SI.com — "Theoretically, the Tide face a significant road test this week at Florida. In reality, those teams are as evenly matched as LSU and West Virginia were. — has already declared Alabama the victor.

All the talking heads on College GameDay this morning picked Alabama. 

But there's the feeling of upset in the air down here in central Florida. (Or, maybe it's just that cold front that sneaked into town overnight.)

Here's 10 things Florida must do tonight to beat Alabama and give Will Muschamp a statement win:

Run the ball: It all starts here. Florida is first in the SEC in rushing offense (259 yards per game), while Alabama's defense is first against the run. Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps have been tearing opposing defenses apart through four weeks. But they haven't played a defense like they will face tonight. In its only four SEC losses over the past four years, Alabama has faced a more than 2-to-1 run-pass ration in those games. The Tide have given up just one 100-yard rusher in their last 50 games; the key to beating them is pounding the rock. 

Stop the run: Every game comes down to these first two. They're fundamentals. But they also have greater importance in this matchup. Alabama backs Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy are better than anything Florida has seen thus far, and together they average more than 200 yards a game on the ground. Both are big, bruising backs that the Gators will struggle to bring down one-on-one. But to win, Florida must stop, or at least slow, Richardson and Lacy and force A.J. McCarron to beat them in the air.  

Get others involved: Florida has had success leaning heavily on Rainey and Demps, but more production will be needed from other positions against Alabama's defense. Tight end Jordan Reed and receiver Andre Debose, sat out last week's win at Kentucky with minor injuries and should be ready. Florida offensive coordinator Charlie Weis said he will empty the kitchen sink tonight, meaning players like Reed and Debose should finally see an increased role in the offense apart from blocking for UF's speedy backs.  

Force a turnover or two: Historically, turnovers have been the ultimate deciding factor in this rivalry. Florida couldn't recover from two giveaways in its first three drives last season, losing a laugher in Tuscaloosa 31-6. The Gators want to force three per game. But if they can keep the score close, and as long as they don't give it away on offense, just one or two should do the trick tonight.  

Avoid the big play: Apart from turnover margin, the only stat Muschamp routinely emphasizes is big-play ratio. The Gators have done a nice job this season of limiting the game-changing big play. But Nick Saban and Alabama are known for it, especially against Florida. The Crimson Tide pulled away from Arkansas last week after McCarron threw a touchdown on a fake field goal, and receiver Marquis Maze has made a living throwing touchdown passes against the Gators.  

Start fast: The Gators haven't played from behind once this season, scoring on their first possession three out of four games. A young, inexperienced team led by an emotional coach needs to play with a lead and avoid getting behind early. Florida couldn't recover from a first-quarter 14-0 hole last season. Forcing John Brantley to win a game through the air is a recipe for disaster. 

Tackle: Another fundamental, another important one. When Richardson and Lacy get to the second level, the Gators defense needs to swarm to the ball and wrap up. If allowed to the third level, both running backs will run straight through Florida's diminutive secondary, breaking the type of long run the Gators 'D' must avoid. Florida will likely bring an eighth defender into the box on obvious running downs to try and slow the Alabama run game.

Take advantage: Alabama's linebacker, C.J. Mosley, is out for tonight's game. Arguably the team's fastest linebacker, Mosley's absence should help Demps and Rainey find some space. While everyone is enamored with their ability to get to the edge, Demps and Rainey truly beat you when they get north and south. Expect Alabama to try to keep them running laterally, which will be increasingly tougher without Mosley. Florida must take advantage.  

Watch the screens: The Tide make a living in the screen game. Florida's defensive line has shown a knack for exploding off the ball and penetrating into the backfield, usually a dominant trait. Expect Alabama to try and exploit their aggressiveness.

Win the battle of field position: Weis said this week that punting isn't necessarily always a bad thing. He's absolutely right. In this game, which could very well be a slugfest decided late in the fourth quarter, winning the battle of field position will be imperative. The play of both team's special teams units should play a large role in this one. 

If Florida can do all these things, then its chance of pulling off the upset increase significantly. I just don't think they're ready to do it yet. The Gators are young, and while sometimes that can be an advantage, it won't be against the experienced Crimson Tide. Muschamp will make sure they don't get blown out of The Swamp, however. 

Prediction: Alabama 24, Florida 20. 

The Dee Finley Saga -- Why You Shouldn't Expect A Suspension

When news first broke Monday that Gators backup linebacker Dee Finley was arrested and charged with a third-degree felony charge of resisting arrest with violence, troubling visions came to mind. Did Finley hit a police officer? Did he get Tased? What the hell happened? 

Actually, it was nothing like that. Finley is not a felon and should not be labeled or treated as such. 

And with the news Tuesday that the State Attorney has reduced Finley's charges, it would not surprise me to see little or no punishment come his way. 

Before you explode, let me explain.

Mark Long of the Associated Press is reporting that his felony charge has been reduced to a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest without violence. Reading the initial police report, it seemed a little fishy to me, and this reduction does not surprise me at all.

Here's why: The University Police Department, and the arresting officer in particular, has quite a checkered past.

From accusations of officers egging hookers, to fighting motorists in a fit of road rage, to threatening to shoot a kid during a traffic stop, the UPD has never been the beacon of upstanding and honorable law enforcement. The case is no different with Dee Finley. 

The arresting officer in Finley's case, William Sasser, was one of five UPD officers involved in the shooting of UF doctoral student Kofi Adu-Brempong in 2010. Sasser was a part of the UPD's Critical Incident Response Team — their version of S.W.A.T.  But he was reassigned (read: demoted) following the incident.  He was also reprimanded in February 2010 for handcuffing a student to a stop sign. He's been suspended, crashed multiple police vehicles and he even admitted to taking speed and getting a DUI. Stand-up guy, eh? Read more about Sasser here.

From reading the vague police report, and this is purely speculation at this point, the area where Finley was stopped is very close to the access ramp to the football locker rooms and training areas. While through traffic is not allowed past the barricade that Finley supposedly avoided, players and football staff generally are. Most players park their scooters under the ramp to go to meetings, workouts or class, and they must pass the barricade to get there.

Now, before you accuse me of defending Finley outright, let me say this. Nothing can change the simple fact that Finley should not have been driving. I don't care if it's just a scooter on campus. The man has four — FOUR! — tickets in three years for driving on a suspended license or a similar charge. His license is suspended in Florida and his home state of Alabama. He has an open case for one of those charges. He knows he shouldn't be driving. 

But if you watch the video that recently resulted in a UPD officer's overdue firing, and you consider the questionable reputation of Sasser, it's not hard to envision a different scenario than the one he filed in his report (see below). 

The fact that the State Attorney reduced the charge to a misdemeanor offense means he disagrees with Sasser's assessment of the crime, if indeed a crime really was committed. With Gators Super Attorney Huntley Johnson on the case, I wouldn't be surprised if the resisting arrest charge is dropped completely.

“The State Attorney reviewed the case and decided to treat it as a misdemeanor,” Johnson told the Gainesville Sun. “I did not see resisting with violence in the description in the police report.”

Me either, Huntley. Me either.

I also don't expect Finley to be publicly disciplined for his alleged misconduct. Players are very rarely, if ever, suspended for traffic violations, which, at the end of the day, is what this whole saga is about. 

I'll say it again: Finley is not a felon and should not be labeled or treated as such. 

. 

Gators coach Will Muschamp releases statement in response to DT Sharrif Floyd's suspension

The NCAA released a statement informing the University of Florida that defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd has been suspended for two games for receiving impermissible benefits. There's a ton of information going around right now, and coach Will Muschamp just released an official statement. Here it is in full:

"I’m angered, disgusted and extremely disappointed that Sharrif will have to miss two games.

In my opinion Sharrif is getting lumped into what is bad about college athletics. As we indicated in the statement Saturday night his issue was not related to sports agents, University of Florida boosters or his recruitment to Florida or anywhere else.

Sharrif is what is good about college athletics – his life is about survival, struggle, disappointment and adversity. I have recruited kids that did not know where they would sleep that night or what they would eat. Growing up, Sharrif was one these kids. Sharrif’s life is also about triumph, honesty, integrity, determination, perseverance and character.  The NCAA stated that he received preferential treatment; there is nothing preferential about his life.

He grew up with only his great grandmother and still sends her Pell Grant money so she can pay her bills. How many kids do you know that would do that?  I know one – Sharrif Floyd.

I want to make it clear that this issue is not about sports agents, Florida boosters or his recruitment to Florida or anywhere else.  The issue is about his survival and the only reason the NCAA, the SEC and the University of Florida were aware of these issues is because Sharrif brought them to our attention last February. He came forward because, as I said before, he is honest and because of his integrity.

The toughest day that I have had as a head football coach at Florida was the day that I had to tell Sharrif that he could not play in our game vs. FAU last week. I took away part of his family. 

He had tears in his eyes and said “What have I done wrong?” I told him he did nothing wrong. It wasn’t any easier to tell him today that he would be missing Saturday’s game.

I have two sons at home- if they end up like Sharrif I will consider myself a successful father."

More to come later.

Breaking News: DT Sharrif Floyd declared ineligible

Florida defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd, who was announced pre-game as a starter against FAU, did not dress for the game and has been declared ineligible by the school. The University Athletic Association released the following statement:

"We have declared Sharrif Floyd ineligible and he is not eligible to compete until his eligibility is reinstated by the NCAA. We have been and will continue to work with the NCAA until this matter is resolved. This is an issue that is not related to sports agents, University of Florida boosters or his recruitment to Florida. We will not have any additional comment on this matter until it is resolved."

What to watch for tonight: FAU at UF

Offensive line: The Gators will need an unproven group of offensive linemen to come together in a big way this season. Charlie Weis' offense is built on the ability to pound the ball in the running game, and the line must be able to provide adequate time for quarterback John Brantley in pass protection. If Florida is going to have a chance at bettering last season's 8-5 record, it starts up front with Xavier Nixon, Dan Wenger, Jonotthan Harrison, Jon Halapio and Matt Patchan. While they shouldn't have much trouble against FAU, you should be looking for cohesion across the board and solid play at the tackle spots, where Nixon and Patchan are trying to stay healthy for the first time in their careers. 

The quarterback: Much has been made this offseason about Brantley's renewed confidence and how Weis' pro-style offense is a much better fit than the spread. Now we'll see if all that hype was justified. Brantley has gone on record as saying he's always nervous in games. He'll need to shed that to have success this season. 

Underclassmen in the secondary: The Gators will likely start two freshmen in the secondary for the first time in school history today. After switching to safety from corner in camp, freshman De'Ante Saunders has impressed and will make the start at safety alongside sophomore Matt Elam. At corner, freshman Marcus Roberson appears to be the favorite to start opposite senior Moses Jenkins. But sophomores Cody Riggs and Jaylen Watkins will also see the field extensively. FAU's weakness is at quarterback and receiver, so this should be a good coming out party for the secondary. If the unit struggles against the Owls, coaches should start worrying.

Wide receiver and running back: It's senior Deonte Thompson's last chance to prove himself. All accounts from camp have Thompson primed for a break-out type season. I'm not buying it. But Florida will need someone to emerge as a go-to guy for Brantley. Will it be redshirt freshman Quinton Dunbar? Frankie Hammond? Can Andre Debose get on the field? At running back, it will be interesting to see how Weis utilizes Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps, who Weis has called the fastest running backs he's ever coached. But neither fit the prototypical pro-style mold, and Mike Gillislee could be in line for some short-yardage carries. 

Muschamp and his staff: The Gators have closed practices and been extremely secretive with any information released pertaining to their new schemes. FAU coaches have admitted it's been difficult to gameplan for UF because they don't know what to expect. Will Muschamp must be thrilled. But this is Week 1 against a team Florida paid half a million dollars to come to Gainesville. Don't expect much to be revealed, especially on defense. Unless the Owls can keep it close, Florida will likely keep things very vanilla today. 

Prediction: UF 34 - FAU 10

 

Gators Release Depth Chart for Week 1 (Kinda)

There were some surprises on Florida's first depth chart since spring, but coach Will Muschamp cautioned that the list was tentative, saying it “certainly can change as we work through the week.”
Muschamp said offensive line and secondary are both positions that are still very much up in the air. Take a look at cornerback on the chart below to see what I mean. Muschamp said the final week of practice would determine the starters.
“All of those positions are a little bit up for grabs as far as who practices the best.” 
“I’m young, but I’m old-fashioned and generally how you play is how you practice," Muschamp said. "Nobody, in my opinion, has separated themselves to be named the starter here Monday before our first game.”

Here's how it looks: 

 

Muschamp shuts scrimmage down early: Truly frustrated or motivational ploy?

Apparently, Florida coach Will Muschamp wasn't pleased with his team's effort in a team scrimmage Wednesday. It was cut short by more than 30 minutes, leading to Muschamp's scheduled press conference being pushed up. 

"We did not execute very well," a seemingly frustrated Muschamp said. "Mental toughness was not there. Very immature football team at this point not consistently performing at the level we need to perform at.

"[There were] some procedural issues we should not be having at this point. [On] defense [there were] some mental mistakes we should not be having at this point. Overall, pretty displeased. Not what we were looking for tonight, that's for sure."

“It’s just a lack of focus on what you’re supposed to do and how you’re supposed to do it,” he said of why the practice ended early. “We’re in (a two-minute drill); we have guys walking around. We have no sense of urgency about what we do and how we do it and how we approach it. Very frustrating.”

While Muschamp wouldn't call the scrimmage — the same one he said would cost potential starters their jobs — a step backward, he did have this gem: “It dang sure wasn’t a step forward.”

But, coming from Muschamp, can we really believe anything he says at this point? Who knows if practice was bad? Practice is closed. It has been since spring. The only people that know what's going on aren't talking about it. Players are coached up on what to say, and what not to say.

To that end, it's this writer's opinion that Muschamp and his staff realized that the spewing overload of positive spin coming from the program was just too much.

Florida realized that people were starting to expect, at the very least, a very competitive football team this fall. Last night's verbal beatdown by Muschamp was merely a tempering of expectations and a motivational ploy for some camp-lethargic players. 

Defensive tackle Dominique Easley confirmed that sentiment Thursday.

"He just wants us to know that we’re not who we’re supposed to be yet," he said. 

Easley said Wednesday's scrimmage wasn't actually that bad. In fact, it was an improvement over the previous two. 

"From my perspective, everything went good," Easley said. "Obviously some things went bad. Every team, certain things go bad. But the way I look at it everything went good. He seemed a little upset because some plays went wrong, some people didn’t do what they were supposed to be doing, but that happens every where."

The fact is this team isn't where Muschamp, or the rabid fans of Gator Nation, expect it to be. There is a minimal senior presence, and a lot of the more-talented players on the roster are underclassmen. Add a brand new coaching staff and a complicated pro-style scheme on both sides of the ball to the mix and what you get is a mentally confused, young football team. 

There will be growing pains this fall. There aren't many guarantees around this team, but that much you can count on.

Just ask Jeff Demps.

"If we played tonight, I couldn’t even tell you [what would happen]," Demps said. "I’m pretty sure guys would go out and compete and play as hard as they can, but as far as just mentally being there, I’m not sure."

Florida cornerback Jeremy Brown reportedly out up to 3 weeks

Junior cornerback Jeremy Brown, who is expected to compete for a starting role this season, has been held out of practice this week with a knee injury, a source close to the team told alligatorSports Wednesday. 

Brown is expected to miss up to three weeks after injuring his knee in practice last week. A UF spokesperson declined comment until coach Will Muschamp can address the media. Muschamp said recently he is the only team source for injury-related news.

"It's not the NFL. We don't have to disclose anything," he said.

Muschamp's next scheduled media session is set for Saturday. 

 

Chris Rainey has a word for opposing defenses

With the reported resurgence of Chris Rainey and the return of Jeff Demps for his senior season, all indications point to the Gators backfield as the strength of the offense in 2011.

Asked about Trey Burton’s new F-21 role — a hybrid blend of fullback, slot receiver and short-yardage running back — and the combination of talent in the backfield, Rainey, exuding confidence, summed it up.

“We’re going to be giving a lot of defenses hell this year,” he said, carefully picking the right words through a wry smile. "We've got different athletes everywhere and they can't focus on one person."

Rainey missed five games last season after he was suspended following his much-publicized arrest, but teammates and coaches have praised Rainey's approach during the offseason, saying he has matured. 

Burton, Rainey and Demps combined for 1,808 yards from scrimmage in 2010 out of Urban Meyer's spread offense. And new offensive coordinator Charlie Weis has raved about the speed of the Florida offense, saying he's never had anything like it.  One of the more heralded offensive gurus around, Weis has elaborate plans to get his playmakers the ball in space. 

"It’s interesting to talk to Charlie and look at the different ways we are going to get those guys the football," coach Will Muschamp said recently. "Because that’s the bottom line at the end of the day, is getting [it to] those guys [at] the playmaker positions."

With quarterback John Brantley's ability to succeed in the Southeastern Conference still in doubt, the backfield will likely be leaned on early to carry the offense. Rainey, Demps and Burton are all in line for big years should they remain healthy. 

RB Demps set to return to Gators

The University of Florida released a statement Tuesday confirming running back Jeff Demps is returning to the football team.

"As I stated last week in Birmingham, Jeff Demps will be joining our football program when our squad reports for camp on August 5^th and when we start practice on August 6^th," Florida coach Will Muschamp said in a release from the school. "I met with him [Tuesday] and Jeff is looking forward to focusing on football for his upcoming senior season."

Demps also had some words that put to bed any rumors of a professional track career — at least for now.

"When I came to Florida I wanted to compete at a very high level in both sports and I’ve done that," Demps said. "Football has been my first love, but I also love running track. All of my coaches have been supportive and I’ve always been able to concentrate on whatever sport I’m competing in during that season. I concentrated on track this past spring and summer, and I’m now ready to concentrate on football. I’m looking forward to getting back together with my football teammates and having a great senior season."

There you have it. Demps will be back. 

 

SEC Media Days: What they're saying about Florida coach Will Muschamp

While Florida's presence is greatly diminished from previous years, new coach Will Muschamp and the Gators are still a topic of discussion throughout SEC Media Days. Here's what other coaches and players are saying about Muschamp and the Gators:

Georgia coach Mark Richt on his impressions of Will Muschamp and thoughts on an ex-Georgia player being a coach at Florida.
Richt: That's right. I'm sure he's going to tell everybody in Florida he's through and through, all that. I'm sure there's some red and black in his veins. Will is a great person, great coach, great competitor. He understands the game. He understands how to recruit. He gets it. That's why he's where he's at. 
I don't think there's any doubt that he's going to have a high level of success at Florida. Probably going to be a little weird for him, my guess is, when we play. ... I will say, once you play the game, once you kick it off, it changes everything. You know who you're playing for, you know who you're rooting for. ... It won't take him long to know where his allegiance is. 

Tennessee coach Derek Dooley on if working with Muschamp at LSU helped him and their current relationship.
Dooley: Will and I are good friends. Of course, we talked a lot. I know he told you guys that prior to him getting the job at Florida. We still stay in touch. Not as much, obviously. We certainly don't talk about the same things we did before. 
As far as helping, it does help being in this league and understanding this league, understanding the expectations of the fan base and the traditions. I do think it helps. 
But as long as you have an appreciation for a program and an institution and a university, and you open yourself up to how they do things, anybody can really come in this league and have success. You don't have to have a background in the SEC to have success in the SEC. 

On his opinion on the Muschamp hire and how it will affect the coaches' game-planning.
Dooley: Of course, I had mixed feelings. I was proud of him. He deserved it. He's earned it. But I'd rather him been at Texas because he's a friend of mine. I mean, that's just how it is. 
I don't think that has any impact, I really don't, on the game. I think we make this a bigger deal than it is. I don't know him in a way and he doesn't know me in a way that's going to be this difference maker on game day. We're certainly not going to be concerned about the other's well-being on game day. 
I just think it's probably a bigger story than we're making it out to as it relates to the competitive part of it on the game day. 
He's earned it. He's going to do a great job, there's no doubt in my mind. But we got to play each other every year and that's a big game for both programs. 

Five topics for SEC Media Days

More than 900 members of the media and coaches and players from each member institution converge on Hoover, Ala., this week for Southeastern Conference Media Days. Football is back, people. Here are some topics that are likely to be at the forefront during interviews Wednesday through Friday. Check back each day as I'll be bringing you daily updates from Hoover.

Scholarship increases — More and more, people are accepting the fact that college football is a business. South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier had an interesting proposal at the spring meetings and commissioner Mike Slive is on record in support of “paying for an athlete’s full cost of attendance, which over and above tuition, room and board, books and university fees would also pay for reasonable personal expenses as well as travel expenses when an athlete returns home to see family.” There are many hurdles to be crossed before that’s a possibility, expect a lot of discussion on this.

The Auburn NCAA Investigation — The New York Times reported last week that Auburn coach Gene Chizik had a heated interchange at the spring meetings with the NCAA vice president for enforcement. Chizik reportedly wanted to know why the NCAA hadn’t announced that the investigation was over. He was informed the investigation is ongoing. The feeling is that the NCAA is stepping up its enforcement after a year filled with scandal.  Since 1987, the year of the “Death Sentence” for Southern Methodist University, the SEC leads all conferences in major violations with 13. 

Muschamp/Weis/Brantley — Florida representatives coach Will Muschamp, quarterback John Brantley, receiver Deonte Thompson and defensive end William Green are likely to face one of the larger frenzies of the three-day spectacle. With so much change in Gainesville, there will be questions abound. The public wants to know if Florida is back, if Brantley can step up in a pro-style offense and if Charlie Weis is ready for a return to the college ranks.

Media picks — If Media Days teaches you one thing it’s that the media is notoriously bad at picking a preseason winner. Only four times since 1992 have those behind the notepad and keyboard correctly projected the winner. Florida was the choice in three of those years (1994, 1995, 2008). There’s no clear-cut favorite this year and it will be interesting to see how many votes South Carolina and Arkansas receive compared to the more-popular selections of LSU and Alabama.

7-on-7’s and recruiting rules — Slive sent a letter to the NCAA last month proposing an array of new recruiting rules including forbidding college campuses from holding 7-on-7 tournaments. Expect recruiting and oversigning to be another hot topic this week.

 

Side note: I won't be able to attend Friday Night Lights as I'll be in Hoover, but I'll post an update on the blog from a good friend and fellow reporter, Bryan Holt. Check back, it should be a busy week. 

 

 

Pre-season All-SEC team announced, six Gators selected

The 2011 All-Southeastern Conference Coaches' Team was announced Thursday, and as you may have guessed, Florida did not have a player selected to the first-team. 

The Gators had a sole second-team member, running back Jeff Demps, and six total selections. Alabama led all conference schools with seven first-team selections. Arkansas had a league-high 14 selections, but just one on the first-team. 

Linebackers Jon Bostic and Jelani Jenkins were both selected to the third-team defense. Kicker Caleb Sturgis made the second-team for specialists, while Andre Debose and Trey Burton were third-team selections. 

While some may wonder why the first-team isn't littered with Gators like usual, understand that this isn't a big deal. It is pre-season after all. Much of it can be attributed to a down year in 2010 and the unknowns that accompany a new coaching staff.

Florida has plenty of talent, but the majority of it is largely unproven. The good news is we are a little more than a month away from the start of the season and some clarity. 

Here are the team listings: 

OFFENSE

First-Team Offense

TE            Orson Charles, Georgia                                     

OL           Cordy Glenn, Georgia                                         

OL           Barrett Jones, Alabama                                       

OL           Bradley Sowell, Ole Miss                                  

OL           Larry Warford, Kentucky                                   

C             William Vlachos, Alabama                                   

WR          Greg Childs, Arkansas                                         

WR          Alshon Jeffery, South Carolina                         

QB           Aaron Murray, Georgia                                       

RB           Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina                   

RB           Trent Richardson, Alabama                               

Second-Team Offense

TE           Brandon Barden, Vanderbilt                              

OL           Alvin Bailey, Arkansas                                       

OL           D.J. Fluker, Alabama                                            

OL           Brandon Mosley, Auburn                                  

OL           Rokevious Watkins, South Carolina                  

C             Ben Jones, Georgia                                            

WR          Joe Adams, Arkansas                                           

WR          Rueben Randle, LSU                                            

QB           Stephen Garcia, South Carolina                         

RB           Knile Davis, Arkansas                                           

*RB         Jeff Demps, Florida                                              

*RB         Mike Dyer, Auburn                                              

Third-Team Offense

TE          Philip Lutzenkirchen, Auburn                           

OL          Grant Cook, Arkansas                                          

OL          Alex Hurst, LSU                                                     

OL         Bobby Massie, Ole Miss                                      

OL         Kyle Nunn, South Carolina                                  

C           Travis Swanson, Arkansas                                   

*WR       Emory Blake, Auburn                                          

*WR       Marquis Maze, Alabama                                     

*WR       Jarius Wright, Arkansas                                       

QB          Chris Relf, Mississippi State                                

RB          Vick Ballard, Mississippi State                           

RB          Onterrio McCalebb, Auburn                            

 

DEFENSE

First-Team Defense

DL           Jake Bequette, Arkansas                                    

DL           Josh Chapman, Alabama                                     

DL           Malik Jackson, Tennessee                                  

DL           Devin Taylor, South Carolina                            

LB           Dont’a Hightower, Alabama                              

LB           Chris Marve, Vanderbilt                                     

LB           Danny Trevathan, Kentucky                            

DB           Mark Barron, Alabama                                       

DB           Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina                      

DB           Robert Lester, Alabama                                      

DB           Morris Claiborne, LSU                                       

Second-Team Defense

DL           Melvin Ingram, South Carolina                         

DL           DeAngelo Tyson, Georgia                                  

DL           Kentrell Lockett, Ole Miss                                 

*DL          Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State                          

*DL          Barkevious Mingo, LSU                                      

LB           Ryan Baker, LSU                                                   

LB           Jerry Franklin, Arkansas                                     

LB           Courtney Upshaw, Alabama                              

DB           Brandon Boykin, Georgia                                 

DB           Casey Hayward, Vanderbilt                               

DB           Tyrann Mathieu, LSU                                          

DB           Tramain Thomas, Arkansas                                  

Third-Team Defense

DL           Corey Lemonier, Auburn                                  

DL           Sam Montgomery, LSU                                    

DL           Travian Robertson, South Carolina                   

DL           Tenarius Wright, Arkansas                               

LB           Jon Bostic, Florida                                              

LB           Jelani Jenkins, Florida                                         

LB           C.J. Mosley, Alabama                                          

DB           Johnthan Banks, Mississippi State              

DB           Dre’ Kirkpatrick, Alabama                        

DB           Neiko Thorpe, Auburn                                      

DB           Prentiss Waggner, Tennessee                            

SPECIALISTS

First-Team  Specialists

PK           Blair Walsh, Georgia                                           

P             Drew Butler, Georgia                                         

RS           Brandon Boykin, Georgia                                    

AP           Joe Adams, Arkansas                                         

Second-Team  Specialists

PK           Caleb Sturgis, Florida                                          

P             Tyler Campbell, Ole Miss                                  

RS           Warren Norman, Vanderbilt                             

AP           Trent Richardson, Alabama                                 

Third-Team  Specialists

PK           Zach Hocker, Arkansas              

*P           Dylan Breeding, Arkansas                                 

*P           Ryan Tydlacka, Kentucky                                    

RS           Andre DeBose, Florida                                       

AP           Trey Burton, Florida                                       

* - Ties

Check back soon as I'll be previewing SEC Media Days and Friday Night Lights.

 

 

 

Hope and Change

Hey gang, a little bad/excellent news for you today. This is my last post as CEO of Gator Clause, as I'm headed to Jacksonville for a new job next week. Sorry posts have been really infrequent lately due to some hectic changes in my life, but my replacement, Matt Watts, will get things kicked off this weekend with some coverage of Carlos Alvarez and his induction into the college football hall of fame.

I had a great time picking this blog up from Joe, despite the struggles with the insane commenters that we all know and love. I'll be out of sports reporting for the time being, but this was a great gig while I was in school, and I'll miss the back-and-forth I got to have with some of you.

Enjoy your new daddy, and please don't make his life too hard in the comments section.

-Mike

Florida gets a trick-shot video of its own

Finally, Florida has joined the illustrious ranks of Texas A&M, UConn, Monmouth, and Washington State. UF alum Brodie Smith, a former national champion with Florida's ultimate frisbee team, has put the Gators on the trick-shot map with his video of crazy frisbee shots, mostly done on-campus. It's embedded, but in case it shows up funny, here's the link. I know it's a little off-beat, but if you hate this, you hate fun.

Given how popular trick shots are, this could get pretty big. In fact, Smith said a Japanese TV network is running the video. "It's huge in Japan," he said. "I don't know why, but these Japanese people are loving these trick shots."

There's a lot to love, especially the shot around the two-minute mark where he spins the disc and pretty much slaps it into a trash can from the top of the track stadium, which, when you watch the replay and really think about it, has to go down as one of the toughest trick shots of any kind on YouTube.

And like most good videos, he finishes with a bomb -- an 85-yard hammer-style throw inside The Swamp. Smith said he hit most of his shots fairly quickly, but that one took 60-70 unsuccessful tries the first day, thanks in part to the huge impact the wind has on a throw that far. On the second day, he warmed up and nailed his first attempt, leading a memorable reaction from the camera man.

The concept for the video and Smith's YouTube channel of frisbee highlights was to show people that "it isn't a hippie sport." A few years removed from making yours truly look silly during Nease High School Frisbee Club games, Smith is teaching at Gainesville Eastside High and preparing to play with his team in the national championships, which would lead to a shot at the world title. In the meantime, he's working on a second round of trick shots.

"The first video, we didn't spend much time thinking of and creating shots. It was kind of on the fly. This next one, we a had a meeting for a few hours to try and get a game plan together," Smith said. "There are so many capabilities with a frisbee between kicking it, skipping it and throwing it different ways, so I would say if you like the first one, the second one is going to out-do it. You can't come out with another trick-shot video and not be better than the first."

Honestly, would this not be the perfect way for John Brantley to re-vamp his image? He came in with a reputation for accuracy and has fallen on some hard times, so why not recapture some glory with a video of him nailing some crazy football throws? With no snaps, pass-rushers or receivers to worry about, I'd imagine he could do some damage, and he could use the personality bump that would come along with a video like that. If only I could be an agent for college football players...

If you go to a Gator Club outing, wear a belt: Muschamp might charm the pants off you

Did You Know: While examining fossilized stomach contents of the Xiphactinus audax, a predatory fish from the Late Cretaceous period, researchers were able to determine that the animal swallowed its last meal (a 6-foot-long fish) whole, and the prey thrashed around in the Xiphactinus' stomach until it choked it?

Pretty crazy right? Well, that's the most interesting thing I learned during Will Muschamp's speech to the Central Florida Gator Club on Tuesday night, which took place in the surreal setting of the Orlando Science Center's dinosaur exhibit, hence the photo (that's Muschamp in the middle below the banner) and newfound knowledge.

OK, OK, I'm kidding (but not about the location). In fact, Muschamp was his usual, engaging self on the evening, offering a masterful blend of preaching core values while also keeping people laughing. He has six stops left on his tour (schedule here), which feels like a string of stump speeches where he's campaigning for Gators fans to love him. He's doing a great job.

I got a little risky with that lead-in, but if you're still with me, here are some notable moments:

• One fan praised him for kicking Janoris Jenkins off the team, which led to a round of applause (Re-elect Sheriff Muschamp! He's cleaning up the streets!). He wasn't about to bask in it, but he did urge fans to refrain from making judgments about private decisions (like the Jenkins one) without knowing all the facts. Since he's not going to share those facts, I guess that's him politely asking everyone to shut up.

• Jenkins said Muschamp gave him the boot without hearing him out, but Muschamp told reporters Tuesday that he presented a few options before making the decision. He added that he doesn't think the Gators have a marijuana problem, and while he declined to say Jenkins' punishment was meant to send a message to the team, this general quote pretty much sums it up: "Sometimes actions speak louder than words."

• He was very complimentary of quarterback John Brantley, saying he had a great spring and adding, "Everybody wants to bellyache about the spring game, but we've got to play better around him," citing poor pass protection as a major factor. The largest bottle of Pepto Bismol ever made won't stop my Orange and Blue Game Brantley Bellyache, unless it also erases memories.

• He expects everyone healthy by June 22, with running back Mack Brown being the last one. He said he always rips on Chris Rainey for not being able to beat Jeff Demps in a race, had high praise for safety Matt Elam and cornerback Jeremy Brown and even lauded receiver Deonte Thompson (though he added the hilarious comment that Thompson needs to improve on "finishing plays").

• Muschamp said his main focus is the line of scrimmage, as that's where he believes games are won in the SEC. That's also his biggest area of concern because of depth: "I think we've got quality players, but I'm worried about our numbers. ... We don't have the numbers to have guys getting injured, so we've got to be smart." I have to call him out here though, as he called guard James Wilson "John." To be fair, Wilson has been hurt since Muschamp arrived, so maybe that's why. Side note: James played at my high school and is a great person, and though injuries have derailed his career, I'm not giving up hope that he's going to make sure everyone knows his name this year.

• On a fan's concern that offensive coordinator Charlie Weis may have a tough time adjusting to the SEC: "Charlie Weis has coached in four Super Bowls. I think he'll be OK."

• When he hired defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, Muschamp said Jason Taylor texted him in disbelief that he could pull that off.

• On recruiting at UF: "There's a lot of great scenery, and I'm not just talking about the trees." A little creepy, but right on, coach.

• When athletics director Jeremy Foley first called him about the job, Muschamp saw the 352 area code and was skeptical (Gainesville was 904 when he lived here). "I have a lot of buddies who like playing jokes," he said, so when the caller identified himself as Foley, Muschamp said "What do you want?" Foley responded with "Uh, maybe this isn't a good time," at which point Muschamp realized it was for real.

• Muschamp was big on reminding the crowd that he grew up going to UF games and is familiar with the SEC, two facts that seem to have everyone really jacked up. He told a funny story about how he used to sell Coca-Cola at games, but when he relayed that to a previous audience, Foley called to ban him from using the C-word (UF has a contract with Pepsi), so he now says "I don't remember what it was, but it was something like Pepsi."

• He also made sure to bring up a lot of Gators legends, saying he brought in Fred Taylor, Wilber Marshall (his favorite player) and Tim Tebow to speak with the team. He had to show the players highlights of Marshall so they'd know who he was.

Now, Muschamp is really a hit on the road with his southern charm and embrace of UF history, but I've picked up a sentiment that's really alarming. I've heard/seen a few comments of fans griping about Urban's personality (or lack thereof), such as the guy in front of me Tuesday, who said "Urban would have been on his plane back to Gainesville right now." Well yea, he needed a little extra time to get through security because of those rings on his fingers.

But that got me wondering how widespread the feeling is. Meyer was always an outsider in the south whereas Muschamp is a good ol' boy, but does that matter to you? It clearly does to some, and from what I saw in Orlando, that's probably only going to spread from here.

In my mind, Meyer should be unassailable based on the success he had here. It will likely never be replicated, but I'm becoming increasingly convinced that Meyer will always rank below Steve Spurrier and any other winning coach who has the right accent. What are your thoughts?

And if you have any other thoughts or questions, fire away. There was a lot of other material I'm not about to cram in here, and if I can't answer your question now, I'll ask The Man at the next Gator Club event I go to.

He gone: Jenkins off the team, and I think it's a mistake

Florida coach Will Muschamp announced via Twitter that Janoris Jenkins is no longer part of the team today, a move that stems from Jenkins getting popped for marijuana twice in three months.

Now, it's unclear whether Muschamp really kicked Jenkins off the team or if Jenkins decided to leave rather than face suspension and other punishments. A UF spokesman simply said they both agreed to move on, which could mean just about anything. In my mind, if Muschamp didn't try to keep him, he made a mistake.

What would Muschamp really gain by kicking Jenkins off the team? He's the best player -- one of the only proven guys on the squad -- and would be especially valuable in what could easily be a rough season. Does it send a message to the rest of the team that they better behave? Yes. Will they? Come on. Will Coach BOOM start truly recruiting the "top 1% of 1%" that Urban Meyer used to talk about? If he wants to lose games, sure.

This is a sport that does not fall in line with the usual moral code of life, and I see no reason to treat it as if it does. Suspending Jenkins for 2-6 games, making him do community service and all kinds of physical penance would still send a message to Jenkins and the rest of the team, he'd be in tip-top shape, the Gators would have their best player, and hell, he might even learn something.

Instead, he's gone, and Florida is facing a likely 2007-ish cornerback duo of Jeremy Brown and Cody Riggs, with Moses Jenkins, Jaylen Watkins, Josh Shaw and De'Ante Saunders the other competitors. I like Brown, Riggs and Moses a lot, both as people and players, but I can't imagine them getting close to as solid as a pairing of Janoris and any one of them.

So, what is gained? If only for a moment, the Gators' reputation as The New Thug U may go away. There's a new sheriff in town, and he's ready to get everyone in line. But do you really care? Would you rather people poke fun at your team for arrests while they win titles, or would you rather be praised as a more wholesome, 8-4 program? I wouldn't be on this soapbox if I thought college football or Florida was really going to change. Since I don't (neither ever has), I'm going to keep preaching my rule-breaking philosophy.

All in all though, I have to admit this isn't a bad time for Muschamp to put his foot down. I don't see Florida as a serious challenger for the SEC this year, so if you want to make a statement, do it in a season where you already have a grace period and don't have much to lose.

For Jenkins, the next move is likely the NFL's supplemental draft -- assuming the league can stay lockout-free -- but he could also move to a lower-division school if he feels he can pump up his draft stock that way. I seriously doubt he elects to sit out a year at another D-1 school to play his final season. As I understand it, the supplemental draft works like this: Teams submit bids of what round they would take the player in, and if Team A says second round while Team B says third, Team A gets the player and loses their second-round pick in the next year's draft. It's a bit more complicated than that, but there's the general idea.

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How do you feel about this? Looking at yesterday's poll, the majority of you said you'd kick him off the team, though that came via a very late surge, which is suspicious to me. If Jenkins goes in the supplemental draft, would you want your team to take him? I sure as hell would. Because he's good at football and isn't violent or crazy.

Be Muschamp for a minute: How would you discipline Jenkins?

With yesterday's news that linebackers Chris Martin and Kedric Johnson also got busted for weed in January, it's clear that the Gators have a chronic issue with marijuana (get it?!) and Will Muschamp needs to do something about it before his entire roster goes up in smoke (I'm on fire!).

First, he should call them all into a room and scream "For the love of God, just smoke in your homes and not in public!" Martin, Johnson and Janoris Jenkins have all been caught with weed in a vehicle, and Jenkins was also snagged in a nightclub. Keep it indoors, and these problems go away.

Alas, it's too late for that with these three, so how would you handle it? Feel free to chime in on what you'd do with Martin and Johnson, but I'm most interested in Jenkins because he was caught twice and is probably the team's best player. My inner moral code says two-game suspensions for Martin and Johnson, and then six games for Jenkins (half the season).

BUT, I wouldn't do that with Jenkins for a simple reason: he's good. Look, college football is a dirty, twisted sport with a bass-ackward financial scheme, rampant misconduct by players and administrators and a laughable "postseason." In this case, I'm inclined to treat it like the circus it really is. Suspend Jenkins for four games (that's FAU, UAB, Tennessee and Kentucky) and bring him back in time to face Alabama, LSU, Auburn and Georgia, when the season really heats up. Hit him with plenty of conditioning, community service and the promise that one more slip-up means he's a goner, but I wouldn't kick him off the team or suspend him for half the year because he might bolt for the supplemental draft. Publicly, I would only say that Jenkins is suspended, but not for how long. Everyone would just have to wait week-by-week to see if Jenkins would play, thereby slowly diminishing the story.

Plenty of you will think that's too lenient, and in the real world, I'd agree. But this sport is a joke, and if I'm the coach, I want to be the one laughing with my shutdown corner ready for the toughest part of the schedule. After all, what's the NCAA going to do about it? As Dave Chappelle once said about the United Nations, "You got a problem with that? You know what you should do? You should sanction me. Sanction me with your Army. Oh, wait a minute, you don't have an Army!"

NOTHING is making Muschamp be hard on Jenkins except for the risk of his players not taking him seriously from a disciplinary standpoint, but he can handle that behind closed doors enough to fix that problem. Athletics director Jeremy Foley could pull rank and make a decision, but if that's the case, it doesn't really matter what Muschamp thinks anyway. As only Gator Clause can, we're giving you the power to be coach Muschamp for the next five minutes. So what would you do?

 

Jenkins in trouble again, think he'll bolt for the NFL supplemental draft?

The second arrest of the Will Muschamp era is in the books folks, and it's the same as the first.

Cornerback Janoris Jenkins got popped with a citation for possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana late Friday night after a cop saw him sitting in his car smoking a cigar. When the officer approached, Jenkins left the car, but the officer spotted the burnt marijuana cigar on the center console and put another notch in the belt of America's war on high-level drug trafficking by busting Jenkins. Mission accomplished!

In a vacuum, I feel the same about this as I did the last Jenkins arrest, which came in January when he got caught with a marijuana cigarette in a nightclub -- it's not a huge deal. But unfortunately for Jenkins, there's more to it. It's his second arrest for weed in three months and his third overall arrest, as he got hit with a Taser and arrested after a fight in May 2009.

This shows a clear lack of judgment and responsibility, and you'd think Muschamp has to lower the BOOM! for it. He took over a program known for its prowess in criminal activity, and I don't think he can afford letting the same player (a starter and team leader, no less) flaunt the rules. Jenkins is the only player arrested so far, and he's done it twice. Surely he got a stern talking-to after the last one, but all he did was switch from cigarettes to cigars.

So, what now? Muschamp is using the "behind closed doors" policy that Urban Meyer used, so I doubt we hear anything publicly about Jenkins' punishment (no comment yet from UF), but he'll likely be suspended for a few games at the least. It probably doesn't matter if he misses the FAU or UAB games, but will Jenkins even want to stick around? He's had a rocky start with the new coach and missed all of spring after shoulder surgery, so I'd wager that the NFL supplemental draft is looking like a decent option to him right now.

Obviously, the NFL is a complicated situation at the moment with the lockout, but if his recovery is going well and he knows he's missing a few games anyway, he may  want to make the jump. It won't look good, but he'll have to answer all the same drug questions this time next year if he stays, and it's obvious that staying out of trouble in Gainesville is a tough task for him.

We'll have to wait for the dust to settle on this, but in the meantime, Jenkins was off to Orlando today according to his Twitter. I guess he isn't too fazed by all this, but we'll see how Muschamp feels.

This wasn't the debut the Gators hoped for

Some things are better left unseen, like the 2011 Orange and Blue Debut.

The short of it: John Brantley's Blue team beat the Orange team 13-10 in front of 53,000.

The long and painful of it: Brantley's Blue team Blew, and Orange wasn't much better. Brantley went 4 of 14 for 45 yards, missing his first six passes and leading his team to just 3 points. The squads combined for 6 points in the first half, with 3 of those coming on a fifth-down field goal. Both touchdowns came via walk-ons, and walk-on defensive back Malcolm Jones led the game in rushing. And the crowd was more like 40,000.

What did we learn about the Gators on Saturday? Nothing, and I think everyone would be happier if the game hadn't taken place in public. Fans hoping for a revamped offense and new-look Brantley got more of the same, opening the team up to criticism it probably doesn't deserve and definitely doesn't need. After all, with a ton of key injuries and only a few weeks to learn new schemes from the ground up, how was this team going to look good?

If the object of a spring game is to make the team better, stick with the philosophy used for the rest of spring practice and conduct it in private. If the goal is to entertain fans, why not have a skills competition or something? Let Caleb Sturgis try outrgeous field goals, have a QB trick shot contest, make Chris Rainey race a horse -- do anything other than subject everyone to what we watched in The Swamp.

Maybe that's just me. And even though there are lots of excuses to make for UF's offense, including the fact that Charlie Weis isn't going to pull out all the stops in spring, it still looked worse than I thought. This was the fewest points ever scored by a winning team in the spring game, and Blue tied a record-low for completions at six. And both teams combined for just 340 yards. Ew.

Now, Andre Debose, Jeff Demps, Trey Burton, Mike Gillislee, Mack Brown and Mike Blakely were all out, leaving Rainey as the only true running back. And injuries to Xavier Nixon, Matt Patchan, Nick Alajajian and probably like 25 other linemen I'm forgetting made the offensive line a major problem.

But on the plus side, those injuries set up the lone bright spot of the afternoon: Sharrif Floyd and Dominique Easley destroying Brantley's pocket like Uncle Sam's about to do to mine when I finally file my taxes. They were in his face just about every play, leading to the quote of the day:

"I wouldn't call John Brantley's play today a struggle. I would call it, 'Not enough room,'" Floyd said. "Me and Dominique Easley collapsed the pocket. We forced offensive linemen into his face, and he had to roll out. That's just how our d-line plays. We play physical."

Indeed, those two looked great, and Ronald Powell was solid as well. Easley did come off the field late with an injury, but coach Will Muschamp said, "Easley is fine. Easley got tired, alright?" That trio is one of the few reasons to get excited about this team that's founded in some kind of solid evidence. They're all talented and look ready to break out, though Muschamp pointed out they still need some refining. Once they do that, Floyd said, "We will be completely unstoppable."

Meanwhile, I don't see how the same could be said of the offense. Not to pick on Brantley too much because, as I've said many times, he's a great person and has handled a very difficult situation in a professional manner, but he just doesn't seem to have it. Muschamp said he'd be the starter if the season began today, and he added that Brantley completed 70 percent of his passes in spring practice, which has to count warm-up throws to stationary targets not named Deonte Thompson (who, by the way, added to his already-impressive portfolio of drops by mishandling a reverse).

The other concerning thing about Brantley: The question of whether he looked the same Saturday as he had throughout spring practice was asked to Muschamp, Brantley and several other players. Everyone said he was his usual self in the spring game, which is scary. It's even scarier that they all appear to think that's a good thing, but hey, there's really no point in them bad-mouthing him.

As for the alternatives, Tyler Murphy and Jeff Driskel looked all right. Both out-did Brantley numbers-wise, but neither was that impressive. And to remind everyone of just what they're missing on offense, Tim Tebow, Danny Wuerffel and Steve Spurrier were honored at halftime with statues to commemorate their Heisman Trophies.

Spurrier's daughter accepted the statue for him, while he sent in a video message to fans (wearing a Gamecocks shirt in front of their logo), and Tebow and Wuerffel were there in person. Unsurprisingly, the biggest ovations of the day were for Tebow -- once when he was introduced and once when he picked up an errant Brantley pass and tossed it back.

That was a cool ceremony, and the statues are definitely worth a look next time you're near the stadium (located on the west side near the O'Connell Center). A reporter joked with Tebow that his was the only one not in a throwing pose, but it still looks pretty badass.

But besides the statues and defensive line, I'm not sure how many other positives you can take from this game. Oh, here's one: Kyle Christy tied the spring game record for longest punt at 55 yards. And they hype around Quinton Dunbar is sounding more and more legit. He ran with the first team, and they called a deep ball to him on the first play. Last year, the same call led to a long catch by Thompson, but this one was a bit underthrown with good coverage and was incomplete. But Muschamp repeatedly praised Dunbar after the game, so it's looking like he's your 2011 deep threat. We'll see if the ball ever meets him down there.

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So how'd you feel about this game? Agree with me that it'd be better off behind closed curtains? Think I'm blowing it out of proportion and that they weren't really that bad? Can Kyle Christy take home the Ray Guy Award this year?

W2W4 in the Orange and Blue Debut

Ah, the spring football game, where all of our questions will be answered and where we find out exactly who the playmakers are. Like last year, where John Brantley and Carl Moore came out and established themselves as one of the best combos in the SEC and Deonte Thompson showed flashes of why he'd be one of the nation's premier deep threats. Wait a minute...

My point is, don't get too carried away with Saturday's Orange & Blue Debut. It's a (very, very) glorified scrimmage for a team dealing with injuries and players who can't possibly have mastered the new schemes on offense or defense. So what can we get out of this? First, we at least get to watch some football. After a spring of closed practices, it'll be interesting to watch the Gators do just about anything, but there are a few players to keep an eye on.

-QB John Brantley

Obviously, the senior-to-be is the key to the offense. If he reprises his role as [demeaning nickname for Mr. Brantley redacted per UF request. I was a bit harsh here, and I apologize to anyone who may have been offended. Namely, Brantley] next season, the Gators are doomed. He hardly ever showed flashes of his alleged talent last year, lost his grip on the position and was rarely a threat to opposing defenses. Blame Steve Addazio all you want, but good players still shine through crappy play-calling on occasion. Brantley never did that, save for that catch he made of a deflected pass for a loss of yardage. That was tight.

Brantley has a good history in spring games. In 2009, he was 12-of-18 for 214 yards, 3 TDs and a pick, then switched teams and went 2-of-5 for 51 yards. Last year, he completed 15 of 19 passes for 201 yards and two scores. In the entire 2010 season, Brantley had four 200-yard games and three multi-TD games, so those spring outings weren't really a good predictor of how he'd play.

So what can you look for out of Brantley that's meaningful? Make sure he doesn't stink. If he looks like I would out there, it's a huge red flag. If he plays super well, it's not that big of a deal because he's supposed to.

-WR Quinton Dunbar

The Miami native has drawn rave reviews from teammates and coaches, and now's his chance to show off. The Gators are in desperate need of a downfield playmaker, and Dunbar is supposed to be that guy based on what we've heard out of practice. I don't buy any of this until I see it with my own eyes, and even though a big showing doesn't guarantee Dunbar will shine next year, he needs to display some of the talent we keep hearing about. 

Chris Dunkley is suspended for academic issues and Andre Debose has apparently still not made the kind of impression that everyone keeps waiting for, so Dunbar is the best bet to step up alongside Frankie Hammond, Omarius Hines and Deonte.

-C Jonotthan Harrison

Harrison moved from guard to center this off-season, and now that everyone in Gainesville knows how crucial it is to have a functional snapper, there ought to be lots of eyes on his play. There's expected to be a lot less shotgun this season, so his job should be easier than Mike Pouncey's, but he's still the leader on a line that only brings back Xavier Nixon, who might miss Saturday's game with an ankle injury. Also, it'll be interesting to see how Harrison deals with the next guy on this list.

-DT Dominique Easley

To put it bluntly, Easley was a little [again, redacted per UF request. Let's say "problem child"] last year. He couldn't handle going from five-star stud to a freshman on the bench. He clashed with older players. He skipped a practice along with Ronald Powell, and kept bucking the system even after Powell bought into the team concept, leading to Easley being left off the travel roster for the Vanderbilt game. Ouch.

But after Will Muschamp came in and told him "You either do it our way or you leave," Easley seems to have turned a corner. He's come out and talked about his attitude change this spring, and he, Powell and Sharrif Floyd appear to have a prettty good relationship to match their outrageous potential on the defensive line. One thing no one has ever questioned is Easley's talent, and he's been singled out as one of the top defensive performers in camp.

My biggest gripe with d-linemen is often their effort level. You can see the talent is there, but it's frustrating when they don't make the most of it (looking at you, Carlos Dunlap). A spring game is a good time to measure that work ethic. If Easley shows up and goes beast mode, it's a good bet that his head is in the right place. Powell and Floyd will be fun to watch too, but we've seen enough of them to know what they're capable of.

-LB Gerald Christian

This one's a bit tricky, as depth issues at tight end have forced Christian to play at his old position in recent practices, but he's expected to start alongside Jelani Jenkins and Jon Bostic at linebacker, and Saturday should be our first glimpse of him on defense. The part of his job that requires covering tight ends shouldn't be hard because he was one, but I'm interested to see his instincts and how comfortable he looks in his new spot.

-Others

Matt Elam needs to be the cornerstone of the secondary. Janoris Jenkins is the best player, but he's less of a veteran leader and more of the shutdown corner who just does his own thing. Elam has to fill the void Ahmad Black leaves behind, which is crucial. He said being vocal isn't his forte but that he's trying, so I'm interested to see how he looks tomorrow.

Chris Rainey always seems to have a few insane plays in the spring game, and I'd look for more of that. Also, he now has the chance to play like he did in high school, taking hand-offs deep in the backfield, picking a hole and darting between linemen, and he should be fun to watch.

Jordan Reed is a full-time tight end again and needs to be a big target in the passing game, and he'll be important as a blocker too. That's been an adjustment for him, so seeing how he handles guys like Powell is key.

And obviously, we get our first look at The Man tomorrow. Jeff Driskel and Tyler Murphy don't appear to have blown the doors off practice, but it's important they keep some pressure on Brantley.

Overall, this is a team with plenty of unsettled position battles, so effort should be top notch. I'm a fan of this year's format. Rather than split the players up randomly into two groups, it'll be the first-team offense (Blue) vs. the first-team defense (Orange), while the second-team offense (Orange) will face the second-team defense (Blue). That should give us the best look at these guys in the most competitive environment, and they're leaving room for some fun too.

Four "Guest Media Coaches" will get a chance to call some plays. The Gainesville Sun's Pat Dooley and Tampa Tribune's Joe Henderson will work with the Blue team, while the Orlando Sentinel's Mike Bianchi and WRUF's Steve Russell will "help" the Orange team. My money's on Russell to do the best job since I know he coaches youth sports. Word is that I didn't get a call because Muschamp is worried about getting shown up by a kid.

One last note, Muschamp took the team to play paintball Thursday rather than practice. Pretty cool.

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Thoughts? What are you most looking forward to on Saturday?

 

Still plenty of mysteries, but here are my guarantees about the UF offense

"Everything is different, but it's not that different. It's pretty much just like the spread, except it's not at all, and the terminology is new. Everyone has gotten a lot better, but they were all great last year so there wasn't that much room for improvement."

That, ladies and gentlemen, pretty much sums up every interview with Florida football players this spring. So, with practices closed and only this stuff to go on, what have we learned about the Gators? Very, very little.

Sure, post-practice chatter about things like Quinton Dunbar emerging as a playmaker and John Brantley looking like a perfect fit for a pro-style offense are positive, but it's all vague and could be completely false for all anyone knows.

But, after a few go-rounds dealing with the myths and occasional straight-up lies that come out of practices (like Joe Haden running the Wildcat a couple years back), I've got three things I think you can take to the bank when it comes to the 2011 Gators.

-First, I fully expect Chris Rainey to thrive. He's back at running back full-time after that silly little wide receiver experiment, and Will Muschamp praised Rainey's performance out of the I-formation so far. On Thursday, Rainey spoke to the media for the first time since his arrest in September for aggravated stalking, and he already seems like he learned how to keep his mouth shut. He had a knack for dropping controversial quotes in the past, and that loose tongue eventually landed him in trouble last season, albeit via text.

He should be a focal point of the offense, and despite his small frame, he's always been an excellent runner between the tackles because of his quickness. And now that he's taking handoffs deeper in the backfield, he says he has more of a chance to use his field vision.

“When I get the ball, I can just read the whole field and do whatever I want," Rainey said. "It's more freedom and a lot of fun. I tell them out there that it feels like high school again.”

-Second, the tight end position is about to gain a lot of importance. Jordan Reed became a playmaker last season more by virtue of his quarterback play, and even Aaron Hernandez was a hybrid player rather than a true tight end. Now, Reed is playing the traditional tight end role and says he isn't taking any reps at quarterback. He even said today he's not being used as a short-yardage option, which he previously said he'd be doing.

Instead, Reed said he's focused on improving his blocking, and with more two-receiver sets expected this year, his role in the passing game should increase. And frankly, he's one of the few real mismatches on this offense, so he has to get the ball.

-Third, there's no magic new Brantley in town. I expect him to be better than last season simply because he can't be worse, but not because he's touching the center's butt when he takes the snap rather than standing in the shotgun. At the end of the day, it will come down to Brantley finding open receivers and throwing footballs in their immediate vicinity, tasks he struggled mightily with last year.

The consensus between players and Muschamp is that Brantley looks really comfortable and awesome in the pro-style offense. For two years before last season, the consensus between players and Urban Meyer was that Brantley was extremely polished and could run the spread with ruthless efficiency. The latter certainly didn't pan out, and I'm not sold on the former until I see it.

It's the same Brantley in a new package, and the package doesn't change what he has to do to succeed. Take it from receiver Frankie Hammond: “He looks good, but from the spread to the I-formation, it really isn’t a difference in my opinion. He still has to make reads, still has to throw the ball around, now there are just more tight ends involved and a two-receiver set, which you didn’t see much in the spread.”

I'm not saying Brantley will be miserable, but going under center doesn't flip a switch. Yes, being more comfortable should help, but he also has an offensive line stacked with rookies, so that comfort may only last two seconds per play.

-Finally, so that I don't leave you on a depressing note, here are some tidbits.

Rainey on Charlie Weis' excitement working with Florida's pool of talent: “The first thing he said when he got here was that this is the most athletes he’s ever been around, so we felt good about that.”

Rainey on what to expect from the offense: "Fans are going to be happy again."

And, as I mentioned briefly up top, Dunbar is getting a lot of praise at receiver. I'm usually very hesitant to make too much of stuff like this when it comes out of closed practices, but everyone seems to love him. Hammond singled him out as the best young performer at the position and labeled him a great deep threat, and Muschamp has also talked him up a little bit. Add the fact that Carl Johnson said last season he didn't understand why Dunbar didn't get a chance during games, and the hype around the Booker T. Washington product may actually be legit.

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Agree/disagree with my guarantees? Have any of your own? How do you feel about Brantley? Does a new offensive style wipe away all the lowlights of 2010 for you?

Gators had the shots, just didn't make them

Kenny Boynton said it best: "Couldn't ask for anything more."

Boynton and backcourt partner Erving Walker had three late chances to win, take the lead and then tie Florida's Elite 8 matchup with Butler on three-pointers. They missed all three, handing the Bulldogs a 74-71 win and second straight appearance in the Final Four. Obviously a lot happened, and like with any NCAA Tournament game, a ton of factors could have changed the outcome. But those three shots will get the most attention, and I'm in what I can only assume is the minority in thinking the Gators handled them OK. Poor planning and execution, but Florida ended up with open shots and just didn't make them.

-The First Shot

With the game tied and 30 seconds left in regulation, Butler's Matt Howard missed a go-ahead free throw to set up a game-winning attempt. Walker dribbled the clock down to about five seconds, got a screen near the top of the key and threw up a shot from the right wing that just missed to send it to overtime.

A few things here. First, Florida didn't call a timeout, which I don't like at all, but there was a play on. The idea was for Walker to get a screen from Patric Young and either pull up or drive based on what his defender did. Butler's Andrew Smith backed down a bit, but at that point it didn't really matter since Walker had little time to drive. He pulled up from a few feet behind the arc but was open, and even though Walker had yet to hit a shot on the night, we've seen him make those before. There's no one on this team you'd rather have taking that shot than Walker -- I don't care what kind of game he's having.

Going inside wasn't a great option either. Chandler Parsons had zero points after the half, and while Alex Tyus looked good with 14, I'll take Erv anyday. The single best option was center Vernon Macklin, who had 25 points and dominated whenever he was on the floor, but he was on the bench because his poor free-throw-shooting makes him a liability late in games. Perhaps you could call time out, sub Macklin in at the beginning of that possession and get him the ball, but I'll take Big Shot Erv from three ahead of Macklin's knuckleball free throws.

Macklin said after the game that the combination of his four fouls and form from the charity stripe pretty much left Billy Donovan no choice but to sit him out.

-The Second Shot

Then, in overtime, the Gators again had the ball with 30 seconds left. This time they were down 1 and called a timeout, and the result was less of a play than the first time around. Walker got Boynton the ball on the left wing, and he launched a deep three that was just long with 19 seconds to go. Donovan said his only complaint would be that he'd like to see Boynton drive, but he was OK with the shot. So am I.

-The Third Shot

And for the final heave, down 3 with 10 seconds left, Walker came straight down and fired a bomb from straight away that came up short, and Butler wisely chucked it downcourt to pretty much end it. This shot had to be a three, and getting it up quick leaves time for a rebound and second shot if possible. Walker's shot was from pretty far out, but he's made them before. Sink that one and he's a hero who saves his best for the end of games. Miss and it's "Dammit Erv always takes stupid shots!"

That's what this came down to. Two players took three shots they're perfectly capable of making, and they didn't go down. Obviously any strategy that fails is subject to criticism, but the bottom line is that the top scorers on a No. 2 seed had chances to lift their team to the Final Four. They just didn't hit them, and that happens.

Guarantee you that if it ended on a missed turnoaround from Tyus, everyone would be complaining that it should be Walker taking the big shot. Everything gets second-and-third-guessed when it doesn't work out, but I think any of those three situations could have gotten the job done. One of those goes in and it's a different conversation.

All in all, great season and great run for this team. Next year will be very interesting as well since the starting frontcourt is graduating and guards Mike Rosario and Brad Beal join the fold, but what did you think about the way this one ended? Furious about the late-game management or are you on my side? I haven't found anyone who agrees with me yet, so I'd welcome you with open arms.

 

Gators join nation's Elite with win over BYU

Not the best of performances against a team that was essentially Jimmer Fredette & Friends, but Florida's 83-74 overtime win against BYU puts it in the Elite 8 and ONE win away from the Final Four. I don't care how strongly tinted your orange-and-blue shades are or how seriously you bought into this team's preseason hype -- looking at things at this point is damned impressive.

Yes, the Gators' road to Houston was paved with gold, as they snatched a tenuous 2-seed, had top dogs Pitt lose to Butler and got to face BYU without sexytime suspended forward Brandon Davies (I made this joke on Twitter but think it needs repeating: Is Davies the first athlete in history you can taunt by saying, "Hey, why don't you go have sex with your girlfriend again?") BUT, this is March Madness, and getting to the Elite 8 is not easy, much less a Final Four. The Gators are poised to do that now after surviving Fredette's 32 points and winning in an extra period that turned out to be pretty easy.

Kenny Boynton and Scottie Wilbekin did a pretty good job on Fredette despite that point total. He didn't score until late in the first half and didn't hit a three until the second, and while he got his points, they weren't easy, and that was kind of the plan anyway. No other Cougar scored in double figures (UF had four), depriving them of the support they got via Michael Loyd's 26 bench points in last year's win against Florida.

Two things stood out to me. First: Erving Walker's rebound near the end of regulation. Boynton missed a three with 25 seconds left, meaning Fredette could have had the ball for a final shot (I can see Billy Donovan screaming "NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!" in slow motion). Instead, Walker, who said he was supposed to be getting back down the other end for defense after the shot, took off toward the corner and corralled it. Chandler Parsons couldn't connect on his game-winner attempt, but the possession ran out the clock and kept Jimmer from doing something terrifying (like that three he nailed in the second half where he pulled up from Drew Brees' house and gave his Mormon fans the jolt of energy they've learned to survive on in lieu of caffeine).

The other thing was Alex Tyus. Where the hell did that come from? Nineteen points and 17 rebounds, a crazy shot block that came halfway up the backboard, and no huge mistakes in crunchtime. Honestly, that's the kind of game he should be having more often considering the fact that he's usually the best athlete on the floor, but Donovan will probably just take it when he can get it. If Tyus flips a switch and keeps that up while the other starters are playing well, the Gators suddenly get a lot more dangerous.

At the end of the day, Florida barely snuck by a smaller, less-talented squad tonight. The Gators should have been pounding the ball inside and using their size early rather than jacking up threes from all over the floor, but whatever. They figured things out late and got the win, and that's more than can be said for plenty of good teams who have already lost in this tournament.

Most importantly, they live to play another game, and they're in a spot plenty of great teams would kill to be in.

Gators set for showdown with their old pal Jimmer

Don't want to see Jimmer Fredette scoring on your Gators Thursday night? Easy. All you need is to go to New Orleans with a backpack full of the following items: a can of Red Bull, a fake beard, a roll of $1 bills and a camera. Kidnap him, drug him and take some compromising photos of him at a Bourbon St. strip club. That's three BYU Honor Code violations right there (just make sure it's an odd number of violations, as an even number would cancel out via the old double-negative rule).

Pretty easy, right? And if you fail, you still have all the necessary items for a classic night in Nawlins. Point is, there's really no stopping Jimmer, and I don't think it matters too much. Obviously, Florida can't afford to let him score 50 in their Sweet 16 matchup, but even in last year's 99-92 double-overtime loss to BYU in the first round, Fredette's 37 points didn't do all the damage. Michael Loyd, Jr. came off the bench to score 26 and actually had more points (12) than Jimmer (10) in the two overtimes.

Good news: Loyd is gone, and third-leading scorer Brandon Davies is suspended for the rest of the year for some out-of-wedlock lovemaking. Bad news: Fredette is better now than he was last year, and the Cougars still average more than 80 points a game, meaning that's about 52 points per game from non-Jimmers.

"It’s not like we’re going to say, ‘Alright, face-guard him and he’s not going to score,'" UF forward Chandler Parsons said. "He’s going to get his, he’s going to score points. The biggest thing is, he’s going to hit some ridiculous shots and we just gotta smack him on the butt and go down to the other end because we can’t hang our heads on shots he’s going to hit like that."

The likely man in charge of the early-game ass-slapping will be Kenny Boynton, who was full speed in practice Wednesday and ought to be fully recovered from the left ankle sprain he picked up against UCLA. Last year, Boynton did pretty well on Fredette (about as well as anyone can) and scored 27 himself, but all the work wore him out, and he ended up fouling out. Billy Donovan wants to avoid that this time around, so he'll also lean on Scottie Wilbekin and Casey Prather to help off the bench, in addition to likely support from Parsons and Erving Walker.

As far as BYU's approach, No. 2 scorer Jackson Emery is the next in line, but depending on how UF handles Fredette, anyone could go off. This is a good team, and coach Dave Rose said the Cougars' strategy in recent months has been to watch how opponents deal with Jimmer, then plan an attack strategy. If the Gators double-team Fredette on the perimeter, it's open season for the rest of Stormin Mormons. Take him one-on-one, and he'll probably burn you.

If it's me, I rotate Boynton and Wilbekin on Jimmer and focus on locking everyone else down. Let Fredette get his, but keep the Cougars from finding a solid second option. That sounds like the approach Donovan wants to take.

"They're getting over 80 points a game," he said. "Eighty points a game would lead the SEC in scoring, and it's because of the other guys around him, and that's what makes them such a great team is you may look at the scoring differential, but in a lot of ways they're balanced."

Two interesting moments from the press conference, when Parsons and Donovan were asked about the Davies' suspension.

Parsons: "I mean, rules are rules, so he knew what he was doing. I mean, it's something that we can't worry about really because he's not playing in the game tomorrow and that's really none of my business. Yeah, that's it." Laughter ensued.

Then, Donovan was asked how tough recruiting would be if he had to tell kids they weren't allowed to have premarital sex: "I'm not going to get into that. I mean, I don't know. First of all, I don't really talk about any of that stuff, either. I'll pass on that one."

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Alright, it's all set up for Thursday night's showdown. Florida is one step away from an Elite 8 matchup with either Wisconsin or Butler, and I have to say, I like the Gators' chances of getting to the Final Four. A lot can happen in March Madness, but I think an average defensive night and good offensive night gets UF through this next game, barring some transcendent performance from Jimmer (very possible).

How do you feel? What would you do about guarding Jimmer? And let's all pause for just a second and marvel at the fact that BYU has assembled a No. 3-seed caliber team despite that Honor Code. I fancy myself a pretty decent person, and my recent evaluation of those rules had me breaking seven of nine in a week. Is there a bigger recruiting handicap out there?

Pratice update: Powell buckles down, takes on "Buck" role

With Florida practices closed to the public, it's hard to learn much about the Gators, but here's what we got about the defense today:

-Ronald Powell seems pretty excited about his new role, and an excited, focused Powell should have you pretty jazzed up. The kid's a total freak, which isn't lost on his new coaches. This year he'll be playing the "Buck" position, a hybrid DE/LB spot pretty similar to what he did at times last season. D-coordinator Dan Quinn said it's patterned after what Charles Haley did with the 49ers back when I was in diapers, and Powell is pumped about it. He said he's watched film of Jason Taylor and Sergio Kindle to learn the role a little, but he doesn't know anyone who has played it personally.

“I’m loving it,” Powell said. “It’s more freedom. You don’t have to have your hand on the ground all the time. You can stand up, and it’s kind of my choice. … It’s the best position for me. If I could have picked any position, it would be the buck.”

That's good to hear from Powell, the nation's top overall recruit in 2010 who had some problems adjusting to his freshman year, when he and Dominique Easley skipped a practice and had trouble getting along with veterans. Powell calls that "a rough start," and he turned things around pretty quickly. Now, he could be the centerpiece of UF's defense.

-Jon Bostic and Jelani Jenkins said they've been working in a 3-4 during practice, and they're both happy with it. Jenkins, a HS running back, is most excited about the chance to fly around a little more, which he said the 3-4 offers.

“I like it a lot because it seems like it really frees up the linebackers and allows us to run a little bit,” Jenkins said.

-Gerald Christian is one of the most interesting guys to watch this spring (well, guys to not watch but think about what they might be doing behind those locked gates). He moved to LB from tight end this winter and was listed as a starter on the preliminary depth chart, which may or may not mean anything at all. Christian played some LB at Palm Beach Dwyer, and he said high school teammate and safety Matt Elam was glad to have him back on his side. He said the adjustment hasn't been tough for him, but he also admitted he would've preferred to work his way up the depth chart rather than starting out on top and having to hold everyone off. Also of note: he could be on offense in short-yardage situations at times this year.

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How excited are you for Powell? Anyone watch Christian in HS and have thoughts about him at LB? Any questions, just fire away and I'll check back.