Brantley has earned PT

[TheTodd]

John Brantley has the kind of arm, intelligence and feel for the game that quarterback coaches can’t teach and the kind of patience that Urban Meyer hopes to reward with significant opportunities to run the offense this season. Make no mistake about it, Brantley’s job is to back up Tim Tebow but he’s much more than an apprentice.

The former Gatorade National Player of the Year would probably start for eight or perhaps even nine Southeastern Conference teams right now, but at Florida, he can only wait his turn while Tebow finishes up one of the great careers in college football history. The time spent in Tebow’s shadow hasn’t been wasted, however. Meyer sees how Brantley has gone about his business preparing every single day as if he were a starter.

He also sees how the ball looks like a dart when it leaves Brantley’s hand and he knows how a change of pace in the offense can throw a defense off. It worked so well in 2006 that the Gators won a national championship with Tebow coming off the bench to spell starter Chris Leak in certain situations. Every opponent on Florida’s schedule had to prepare for Leak, a pure dropback passer, while spending precious practice time every week getting ready for the multi-dimensional Tebow.

Now the roles are somewhat reversed. Tebow is still the mutli-dimensional quarterback who is as much a threat to run as he is to throw and he’s the starter. Brantley is the pure dropback passer who will force defensive coordinators to prepare a plan B for the Gators because Meyer plans to bring the third year sophomore from Ocala off the bench and not just in mop-up time.

“I don’t want to make any promises because that always comes back to haunt you,” Meyer said after Thursday’s practice. “He’s earned playing time at Florida so we’re anxious to get him in a game.”

A strong work ethic has put Brantley in position to get on the field before games are all but in the books. Meyer isn’t sure how much he’ll use Brantley nor is he sure what point in games he’ll insert Brantley into the lineup but he does know he wants to get Brantley on the field.

“He’s earned it,” Meyer said. “This is not charity work. How much [playing time]? That remains to be seen but we’d like to get him in the game.”

STEPPING UP AT WIDE RECEIVER: The last few days have been very kind for redshirt freshman Frankie Hammond, who has made his move to get into the wide receiver rotation. Urban Meyer is extremely happy with his first four of Riley Cooper, David Nelson, Deonte Thompson and Brandon James and he’s starting to see freshman Andre Debose make plays out of the inside slot.

Now Meyer wants to see one of his other young receivers join the rotation and Hammond might be the guy. A high jumper for Florida’s track team back in the spring, Hammond has outstanding speed and the ability to stretch defenses vertically. In Florida’s offensive scheme, the speed receivers on the outside occupies safeties and opens the middle of the field for drag, hook and bender patterns for the slot receivers.

“Frankie is showing some strides,” Meyer said. “He’s the next level guy that’s going to step into the rotation.”

With Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy gone to the NFL, the Gators will have to find playmakers ready to step up their production from last season. While replacing Harvin and Murphy’s production might be a tough task, Meyer sees some potential playmakers in his rotation.

“Riley Cooper is a guy that comes to my mind because he’s done it before” Meyer said. “Aaron Hernandez would probably be the other because I’ve witnessed it. I’m anxious to watch a Deonte Thompson do it. I’d say those two and maybe Jeff Demps because I’ve seen those guys do it.”

BACKUP TIGHT END: With freshman Desmond Parks likely to redshirt, Hernandez is the only true tight end on the roster although the Gators are making provisions for their goal line and short yardage situations.

“Desmond Parks is a guy we’ll probably redshirt,” Meyer said. “It’s not for sure. He’s not ready to play yet. The one guy that we are going to use in goal line situations will be (defensive end) Justin Trattou. We’ll use [Trattou] like the Patriots use (linebacker Mike) Vrabel. He’ll be practicing with the first team as far as goal line offense. If we have an issue at tight end, that’s an issue.”

Because he’s such a playmaker in the passing game, losing Hernandez to injury would be a huge blow although it must be noted that Hernandez doesn’t play a traditional tight end role down in a three-point stance at the end of the line.

“The good thing is we can operate without a tight end,” Meyer said. “The fullback/tight end position is really interchangeable so you have (T.J.) Pridemore, (Rick) Burgess and when (Steve) Wilks gets back and (Christopher) Scott. So we have some people there but it just would not be the traditional tight end position. I would put that at 10 percent of the time we’re with a traditional [tight end]. Another reason we do it is because we have a good tight end.”

INJURY FRONT: Nose tackle Lawrence Marsh has a sprained ankle but he’s expected back to practice Monday. Freshman linebacker Jelani Jenkins, whose sprained ankle was in a boot Wednesday, should be practicing again next week.

Junior linebacker Brandon Hicks, a starter the last half of 2008, has been out with a badly sprained ankle but he is expected to be back practicing next week as well.

“Our training staff’s glass half full people so they say we’ll have him early next week,” Meyer said. ... By the end of the year he played like an SEC linebacker. He’s a great kid. We need him back. Great special teams player, too.”

One area that has been hurt by the sprained ankles and dings is special teams. Hicks, Jenkins, Jon Bostic (sore neck) and Brendan Beal (sore neck) are among the players who have missed practice time, particularly with the special teams.

“We have to get everybody back,” Meyer said. “I think on Monday we’ll have a full allotment and we’ll be ready to go.”

OFFENSIVE LINE: Even though he hasn’t settled on a starting five on the offensive line, Meyer feels good about the depth and the fact he’s got players capable of playing multiple positions. Carl Johnson can play both tackles and he started the last 10 games of last season at left guard. Maurkice Pouncey started all 13 games as a freshman at right guard and all 14 games last season at center. He can play every position on the offensive line as can twin brother Mike, who starts at right guard and is the principle backup at center. The Gators have 16 offensive linemen on scholarship.

“I think it’s the most depth we’ve had,” Meyer said. “We miss (Phil) Trautwein (graduated) because he was such a good technician and kind of a stalwart at the let tackle spot.”

The left tackle will either be sophomore Matt Patchan or Johnson but that won’t be decided until Wednesday of next week.

“Patch is getting a little better,” Meyer said. “We’ll be fine. Having the ability to move Carl Johnson gives you flexibility. I think Mo Hurt (guard) is going to be able to play and (Sam) Robey (backup center). We do have some flexibility in the offensive line and that’s always the way you want it. We haven’t had that before here.”

The offensive line that has been taking shape has been Patchan at left tackle, Johnson at left guard, Maurkice Pouncey at center, Mike Pouncey at right guard and Marcus Gilbert at right tackle.

“Right now if we started tomorrow there’s a good chance that’s how it would be and James Wilson (left guard) is right there as well,” Meyer said.

PATCHAN’S DIET: Patchan, who has gained more than 25 pounds since the spring, follows a very strict diet that is grounded in Kosher and organic philosophies. When Meyer first met up with Patchan he was a bit surprised at how well Patchan has educated himself in the field of nutrition.

“I’m real close with Matt and his family and he’s a different cat,” Meyer said. “He’s very intelligent and it’s not like talking to someone who doesn’t know what he’s talking about. I thought it was bizarre but I think he’s changed a little bit and I think that’s helped him gain the weight he’s gained.”