Now that spring practice is in the rear view mirror, GatorBait.net begins a series of updates reviewing what took place over the course of 15 spring practices. Each year, without fail, a couple of players aren't quite able to live up to expectations. Today GBN features the players, positions and coaches who were on fire and misfired this spring.
SPRING REWIND:
# The Hot 11
# Five biggest surprises
# Five biggest disappointments
UP NEXT:
# Reviewing the early enrollees
# On Fire: Before the start of spring football, the last vision the Gator Nation had the UF defense was of a beleaguered bunch that was beaten into submission in the Capital One Bowl as the Michigan Wolverine offense marched up and down the field against very little resistance.
What a difference a couple of months make.
Over the last month the defense topped the offense more often than not as they went on a winning streak - taking home 3-4 straight wins on 'winner-loser' practice days.
There's still some question marks concerning the defensive tackles, but overall the Gators saw improvement across the board - especially at the cornerback position - and area Urban Meyer called the most improved on the team.
On Fire: Some heads turned and eyes rolled when Florida offered and signed seven players from the Lakeland Dreadnaught squad in the class of 2007. The doubters questioned if there were that many players on one team in one class who were capable of contributing on a high level Southeastern Conference football program.
Surely several of them had to be throw-ins taken in order to solidify the chances with a couple of the more highly sought after members of the team.
One year later in it looks as if those who were counted among the Doubting Thomases were skeptical for no reason. With spring ball now in the books, of the seven, two are solid starters (Maurkice Pouncey and Mike Pouncey), while two others (Ahmad Black and Chris Rainey) are considered to be at least co-starters.
Those four were among the top 15-20 performers this past spring. Rainey in particular looks to be a difference maker in the making.
The final three (John Brown, Steve Wilks and Paul Wilson) look to at least be contributors.
Brown and Wilks saw plenty of action over the spring. Brown is in the rotation to be a backup defensive tackle, while Wilks will battle several players including incoming freshman T.J. Pridemore and the tight ends for the opportunity to be a lead blocker.
Wilson was out with an injury, but this past Saturday Meyer said he expects him to be in the receiver rotation and contribute on special teams.
Misfire: During the course of spring football, when one player looks good, it is more than likely at the expense of another player.
Part of the reason the defense won as much as they did was because of the sub par play from the second unit offensive line.
While Florida is solid along the first team line, there are real questions concerning the depth, experience and ability behind them.
When James Wilson sat out and Carl Johnson moved to the first team to take over for Jim Tartt, the backup offensive line at times consisted of two or three walk-ons and players such as Jim Barrie and Corey Hobbs - two young men who are working their way toward being able to contribute, but aren't there yet.
The second string offensive tackles were abused time and again. It wasn't just the walk-on Kyle Newell who was beaten badly - Marcus Gilbert had his issues as well. Gilbert and Johnson actually seemed to be more comfortable inside at guard.
The fact that both Phil Trautwein and Jason Watkins are entering their last year has to have the coaching staff scrambling to find replacements along the recruiting trail and working double time to get the younger guys ready.
Misfire: There's no getting around the fact that it was a rough spring for the quarterbacks in general, and the two vying for the backup job in particular.
In the case of Tim Tebow though he was inconsistent - especially when compared to last spring - he had more ups than downs more good days than bad.
The same can't be said for either Cameron Newton and John Brantley.
While they both had their moments, neither had enough of them to pull ahead of the other in the derby to serve as Tebow's backup.
As a matter of fact, it's doubtful either showed enough to put themselves in a position where the coaches would feel comfortable inserting either in a game against a quality opponent such as Tennessee.
They were that erratic.
On Fire: Believe it or not, Charlie Strong shaves his head. No he didn't pull his hair out while going through drills last spring with only four scholarship linebackers.
What looked like famine last year, now resembles a feast as young linebackers such as Brandon Hicks and Lorenzo Edwards have started making a strong case for playing time.
They aren't alone. Though they suffered through some bumps and bruises during spring ball, both Brendan Beal and John Jones showed that they are capable of being solid contributors as well.
If Jerimy Finch is able to adjust to playing outside linebacker, he's shown that he has the athleticism to be difference maker on the edge.
On Fire: On Saturday evening at the Jacksonville Gator Gathering when asked about the new coaches, Meyer went on and on about how great a job Greg Mattison did for the Gators. Noticeably absent from his reply were both Stan Drayton and Doc Holliday.
Though both were and are incredible recruiters, will they really be missed as far as the X's and O's go?
How little the tailbacks have played and produced over the past couple of seasons has been well chronicled. What hasn't been talked about is the so-so play and development of the safeties. It can't be argued that Kyle Jackson's best season as a Gator was the year before Holliday showed up. Did Tony Joiner really develop much under Holiday's tutelage?
The fact that Jamar Hornsby and Ahmad Black exploded onto the scene this spring under the guidance of Chuck Heater after under-performing under Holliday shouldn't be brushed under the rug.
Part of it could be that in order to have Holliday on the staff as a recruiter, he was hired to coach safeties after having been a receiver coach for much of his career.
Meyer spoke about what a great hire Dan McCarney is, but also praised Kenny Carter and Vance Bedford as well.
McCarney has a different style, but is every bit as good as Mattison, while the other two seem to be upgrades over the coach they replaced (with the understanding that Heater is a better safety coach than Holliday).
On Fire: The best news all spring might have come from a group who combined to be the team's biggest sore spot last year.
The cornerbacks, with a few more months of maturity, experience and even more importantly - regained confidence - were the talk of spring football.
On Saturday night, Meyer praised them as the most improved position group over the spring. It is praise well deserved.
Joe Haden was terrific and right behind him is the likes of Wondy Pierre-Louis, Moses Jenkins, Markihe Anderson and Jacques Rickerson.
Incoming freshmen Janoris Jenkins and Jeremy Brown also looked as if they are going to be able to contribute if needed. However, with five solid guys ahead of them, unless injuries hit, playing them will be a luxury rather than a necessity.
Let there be no mistake, an improved pass-rush also played a part in the improved play of the secondary.
Misfire: If there's a sore spot on the defensive side of the ball it's without a doubt the defensive tackles.
As a whole the group was solid at times, but over the course of 15 practices, they never lived up to their impressive billing.
Players such as Lawrence Marsh and Terron Sanders (maybe the most improved player on the team) played incredibly well at times, but they weren't consistently great.
Troy Epps proved to be a valuable pickup, but has to adjust to the talent level at Florida and bring it on every play.
That leads us to the likes of Torrey Davis and John Brown - two young guys who have all the ability in the world, but weren't able to put it all together over the spring.
Davis in particular had wild swings. He is as good as the Gators have on one play, and then as bad as it gets on the next.
Both Davis and Brown have to learn to play with intensity each snap of the ball and never take a down off.
The main reason Matt Patchan is ahead of both of them on the depth chart is that he's already learned that lesson.
Misfire: Meyer bragged and bragged on the leg (Howitzer) of Caleb Sturgis in both the press conference after the Orange & Blue Debut as well as when he was addressing the Jacksonville Gator Gathering.
There's no doubt about it, Sturgis has a leg. The only problem is (and it's a big one), he isn't very accurate on those long bombs.
Though they are exciting to watch to see if they make it, the truth is though throughout the spring both Sturgis and Jonathan Phillips attempted kick after kick from 50 to 62 yards, they didn't hit a 1/3 of them.
And at the end of the day, a field goal missed wide left from 60 yards is worth the exact same amount of points as a field goal that comes up short from 60 yards - nothing - zero - zip - zilch - nada.
The problem is, when a kicker has the distance, it becomes even more dangerous. A coach is much more likely forgo the punt and roll the dice and try to go for the 60 yard field goal - thus putting your defense on the field at mid field.
Give both credit for their big legs - especially Phillips who has been quiet for his first three years - but at the same time hope that Meyer limit's the long attempts to the last play of a half or a game.
On Fire: With the number of required core courses increasing, it is becoming less likely that you will see these big numbers of early enrollees at UF in the future.
This year the Gators welcomed seven signees in mid-term - five of them from high school.
None of them are perfect.
Earl Okine and Patchan could use some more size and Beal isn't as athletic as you would like, but as a group and individually, they are an impressive group.
They all have a chance to play. The talent is there. It may depend on how healthy the Gators are this fall. There's no need to waste a red shirt year on a play or two here or there.
But the coaching staff has to feel comfortable in the fact that if called upon, each of the five look like they are capable of contributing.