Trickle down effect for first scrimmage

[TheTodd]

The first scrimmage of August created a buzz that started with Coach Urban Meyer and trickled down through his assistant coaches and players. Nobody could be happier with what he saw than safeties coach Chuck Heater. He has fewer experienced players and less depth than any position coach on the staff, but his young guys are starting to show they can make plays.

Heater has his hands full this year with only four scholarship players at the position, only one of which played safety for the Gators last year. Sophomore Major Wright started at free safety last year and he’s joined by three newbies --- sophomore Ahmad Black, who played corner last year; converted wide receiver Justin Williams (third year sophomore); and true freshman Will Hill. All three have done some things that could be called encouraging so far.

Wednesday was Williams’ first real chance to show what he could do and he responded with two interceptions in the scrimmage.

“He has some real talent,” Heater said. “He is trying to figure it out so you don’t see it in terms of his speed and all but he has great numbers in terms of training, running and jumping. Those are the kind of guys that can come over and help you. He did a great job with two interceptions so that is a step in the right direction.”

He still has plenty to learn and a lot of adjustments to make but Heater thinks he might have a keeper.

“This was the very first day,” Heater said. “We kind of threw him in the water to see if the guy can function. Right away he was functional, so now it is a matter of doing all the stuff to build on it. But, athletically you have to be able to back pedal and move and do all those things. From day one he did that. Now it is a matter of developing it and getting some confidence. He’s a big guy. You put him out there with Will physically … those are good looking dudes, but they have to go play.”

Heater’s other safeties had a good day.

“I think Will Hill made a couple of plays today,” Heater said. “He was out a couple of days [with a concussion]. He moved around and made a couple of plays. Ahmad Black is a pretty good player, a pretty consistent guy. He has done a nice job in there. We have to keep moving forward but I like what I see.”

Black is all of 5-9 and 185 pounds, but Heater thinks he has found his natural position even if he isn’t ideal size.

“He came in as a corner and even though his size is what it is, he is more natural inside,” Heater said. “He pulled a hamstring real early (last year) and it was hard for him to go as hard as he needed to go. He had to learn to play faster and harder. The development has been to play faster. He has always been a real natural functional football player. He bends his knees, tackles the ball carrier and that is big. Now the rest of the fall he has to play fast and hard. He is really a great kid.”

Williams’ move was a necessity since it will be at least the second game before Bryan Thomas (cyst removed from knee) can step on the field. Williams at least gives the Gators a two-deep but he might prove to be a natural at the position.

“We are going to have to develop a two deep,” Heater said. “We plan on playing in January around here so we have to think that way. You have a third [safety] because he is one play away and then a fourth because he is two plays away. You always have to have that mindset because of the reality of the game. There is no way you go through a season with just two guys.”

Last season the Gators had a logjam at safety and often a third safety played in the nickel package. Heater said the nickel should be played exclusively by corners this year.

The corners have been a positive starting with a good spring practice. That momentum has carried over into August. Heater hands the credit to cornerback Coach Vance Bedford for the improvement and for the development of youngsters like true freshman Janoris Jenkins.

“Vance has done a great job with him,” Heater said. “He is a playmaker guy … he has a good sense about him, good football instincts and awareness and has had a nice football camp.”

Heater says experience will be a real factor this year. He says experience breeds confidence and that’s another area where Bedford has made a big difference.

“You have a year of confidence,” he said. “You play more assertive, aggressively, more confidently. I think Coach Bedford has done a great job with them too. He has brought a new perspective out there and a different voice. I think it is all positive. It’s just development of the guys. Wondy-Pierre (Louis) was just thrown in there. He had good days and not so good days. Joe Haden was a pretty good player for us throughout the entire season for us. Markihe Anderson got hurt. We are trying to get [him] back. It was a mish-mash of effort last year so all of that and now if we can stay healthy. I think we are developing a new identity on defense. We had little personality last year because guys were just trying to get lined up. I think now we are establishing a personality and have the confidence that breeds from that personality.”

* * *

Offensive coordinator Dan Mullen was happy with the play of his quarterbacks Wednesday. Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow sat out all but the two-minute drills, allowing the coaches a chance to see what the backups can do. John Brantley and Cameron Newton have a way to go but Mullen saw progress from both of them.

“It was a good day seeing some guys make some plays out there,” Mullen said. “Both Cam and Johnny got a lot of reps today. They both did a good job. I was pleased to see Tim come in and did the two-minute drill and took us down the field twice. There is a lot of positives, but we will check out the film and get into the details of what happened [later] today.

There is still no indication who will be the second team quarterback when the Hawaii game rolls around (August 30).

“Tim is the starter…but all three are getting the same number of reps,” Mullen said. “All three are competing against each other.”

While Tebow sat out the scrimmage, Mullen says he’s doing things every day in practice to make himself a better quarterback.

“Decision making … speed and decision making,” Mullen said, indicating those are areas where Tebow has improved. “We don’t need to go out in scrimmages and work on Tim improvising and making plays. That is what he does very well. We need to work on how fast he makes decisions and get the ball out of his hands so he doesn’t have to make plays unless he has to.”

As for Newton and Brantley, they will be brought along with the hope both will be ready to go.

“Both of them are constantly developing as a quarterback and managing the offense,” Mullen said. “They are honing their skills. They both have slightly different skill sets. We utilize what they aren’t great at and improving it instead of focusing on all the things they do well.”

* * *

With injuries to his three top receivers, Mullen has been working the running backs hard, trying to get them to step things up to take up the slack.

“The running backs did a nice job,” he said. “Emmanuel Moody has been dinged up for a few days but came back and made a couple of nice plays today. I think there was good balance and saw each one of them do some good things. Kestahn Moore did some good things running the ball. Jeff Demps and Chris Rainey got the ball in the open field. We had a good spark out there.”

What pleases Mullen is that his running backs have become the big playmakers in the absence of some veteran receivers.

“With some of those guys out, some of your big play people are Moody, Jeff Demps, and Rainey,” Mullen said. “Those guys still have big play ability so we are kind of leaning on those people a little more.”

Fumbling the ball was an issue last season. It wasn’t the number of fumbles as much as it was the timing and consequences. Fumbling was the albatross for Moore and late in the season, he found himself sidelined during key situations.

Ball security has been the watchword in the offseason and Florida’s offensive staff is very happy that the running backs have made protecting the ball priority number one. So much competition at the position means they are really going the extra mile when it comes to ball security.

“It certainly keeps the focus on that because they know there are a couple of good guys in there that can do something when they get the ball in their hands,” Mullen said. “So, if I get pulled out I don’t know when the next time I get put back in is. Kenny (Carter, running backs coach) has done a great job with emphasizing ball security and really taking care of the football.”

* * *

Cornelius Ingram is out for the year which means it is imperative for senior Tate Casey to step up and be a factor in 2008. Mullen likes what he sees of his fifth year senior so far.

“Tate has done a nice job improving his game,” he said. “I think he looks the best since we have been here, he just has to keep going. Aaron Hernandez has been doing a real good job. The thing that hurts now is there is no depth. There is nobody behind those guys. That is what makes you nervous.”

Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy are still nursing injuries and the absence of Florida’s top two wide receivers has been felt. Still, Mullen is starting to see some other guys make their mark.

“There are some guys stepping up,” Mullen said. “There are still playmakers. Brandon James has really stepped up and done a really good job of stepping in for Percy. It has really allowed guys like Riley Cooper and Carl Moore to come in and be playmakers. David Nelson has been really steady and we can count on him to play any position on the field.

“Deonte (Thompson) probably had the play of the day today with a block. He picked up a blitz coming in and hit a linebacker and gave Johnny Brantley another second to complete a pass. That was a big time play Deonte made. He is kind of getting to where we were hoping he was when we got him. He is starting to really develop and get into his game a little bit.”

Mullen admits that the offense isn’t at full speed just yet and until Harvin and Murphy return it won’t be quite the same. He believes that the lost time will not affect either of them all that much.

“The nice thing is that a lot of the guys that are out have played a bunch of football, so I think when they come back, their adjustment to get back on the field is quicker than those guys that haven’t played a lot of football,” Mullen said. “They can catch up in a hurry. I don’t think we are where we want to be right now, but it is nice to see we are really developing some depth with the other guys. There is focus and commitment. When one of the guys go down then the next guy jumps right in and goes as hard as they can and that is really all we ask from our guys.”

There is no need to rush Harvin along in his recovery from heel surgery. Mullen knows that Harvin will get himself ready to go full speed. It’s not like practices have been unproductive.

“He walks through things,” Mullen said. “He gets some stuff done. When he is healthy he will be going. I know he runs fast so I don’t need to see him run fast, we just need to keep his game in tune with what he has to do and not see him going full speed all the time.

“I think with a premiere athlete, if he doesn’t feel right, then there is no need for him to push it because we know what he can do. He just needs to be mentally prepared for the game, he knows what he is doing assignment wise and then we will be good to go.”

* * *

The injury bug has hit the offensive line usually that is a bad sign because of chemistry issues. The Gators have used the down time by two or three players to develop some quality depth across the line.

“What we would like is to get them all healthy at one practice,” he said. “We get five out there a day, and then next day one of them will be gone and the other will be back. It has allowed them to grow and develop, and that unit is something we want to focus on. With that experience guys will be ready to play. In our mind if someone is ready to play we are going to play them. It will keep our guys fresher as the game goes on. You can go hard and get tired and another guy can come in for a series. That depth will help us for the rest of the season.”

* * *

Ingram’s loss will be felt as much in the locker room as on the field. Keeping Ingram involved is a necessity for the Gators this season, even if he can’t play.

“Our team responds to him,” Mullen said. “Anyone that is ever around CI, just his personality brings everyone around him up. He being around everybody on this team is still a critical thing for our team right now. He can really bring up a lot of spirits. Whenever he walks into the room he really brighten ups a room. That is CI and his personality.

“For our team, especially with the young guys, they need that. They need to see a guy that has really worked throughout his career, a guy with a real presence about him. When a guy is into being into the team and made a commitment to the team and the program like CI has, he wants to do whatever he can do to help us win. For CI right now that is to be a leader with his personality and help them develop and help them through any tough times they have.”

* * *

Charlie Strong had a defensive coordinator’s worst nightmare last season. Everywhere he looked he saw youth and inexperience, which led to a few defensive beatings. With a year under their belts, the young guys are playing much better and Strong sees the lights coming on for quite a few of his troops.

Wednesday was a good day.

“What was good was seeing Lawrence Marsh making plays, Brandon Spikes making plays and we were just pleased with their effort,” Strong said.

Marsh has all but locked down a starting spot for game one.

“We are still competing there, but when you think about it he has moved ahead,” Strong said. “When you look there at that position it is he and Troy Epps and he has done a good job.”

Another bright spot has been strong side linebacker A.J. Jones. Strong believes Jones is just playing the game better now because he knows what he is doing and he’s in shape to do so.

“What has helped A.J. is he has gotten a lot bigger and stronger,” Strong started. “When you look at A.J. last year he was probably 180 or 190. I always teased him. He came up to me and said, ‘Last season coach I was just trying to learn what you were telling me.’ Now he is trying to make plays and he has learned the defense.”

There is no this is Brandon Spikes’ defense. He was first team All-SEC last year when he made 131 tackles. Strong has asked Spikes to step it up as a better leader.

“One thing that has been key for Spikes is last season he played and played well, but didn’t feel like it is his responsibility to be the leader of the team,” Strong said. “Now he has taken that role. He is a better football player and for us to be a defense he has to play well, and has to be vocal, and has to lead our team. He is so vibrant and guys follow him and he knows it. As Spikes goes, our defense will go.

“We played so many young guys last season. We would tell them that they had to fit this block and then go make a play. Then they would fit the block, but when they got there they didn’t know what to do. That is why I told Spikes that he made so many plays because these young guys didn’t know what to do. When you play a lot of young guys that happens, because they really have to get in just to know how to play the game and they didn’t know how to play the game.”

Depth at linebacker is not a concern this year for the first time in many years. Behind starters Spikes, Jones, and Dustin Doe, Lorenzo Edwards, Ryan Stamper, Brandon Hicks, John Jones, and Lerentee McCray are working hard to earn some playing time. Edwards is injured so he has to get healthy to get back in the hunt for playing time.

“Right now Lorenzo Edwards is injured and he was coming along very well,” Strong said. “But, he is playing the position right now where there is A.J. Jones, Spikes, Stamper, and Hicks. In order for Lorenzo to play he will have to make a move. He pulled a hamstring and should be back later in the week.

The defensive line was a constant headache last season but this year, Strong sees talent, depth and more experience than he had to work with last season.

“(Jermaine) Cunningham came back today, we didn’t play him because we scrimmaged and we didn’t just want to throw him into a scrimmage right now,” Strong said. “This evening we will practice again and he will get a chance to go out there. What is great about our defensive front is we probably have anywhere from about eight guys that will play, we are going to rotate guys and keep going and going.

“Marsh is coming along, (Carlos) Dunlap has a lot of ability and continues to get better each day. Duke Lemmens really goes and didn’t have a chance to go because of an injury. He has a hamstring. William Green is a young guy that will be hard to keep off the field.”

Although mostly of the minor variety, the defense has had to suffer through its share of injuries. Strong closed his meeting with the media listing the only five defensive starters that aren’t getting treatment from the trainers.

“Marsh is healthy, Spikes is healthy, Dunlap is healthy, Ahmad Black is healthy, Wondy is healthy,” Strong said. “The others have one ailment or another.”

* * *

Marsh says maturity and better practice habits have everything to do with his improved play. For the first time in his Florida career, he is starting to live up to the hype.

“I am just practicing harder making more plays and growing up a little bit,” Marsh said. “I know what I am doing. I have played three positions on the defensive line and starting to learn the nose guard position real good. I am just trying to get better every day.”

Whenever Marsh needs some inspiration, he knows exactly who to look to.

“Carlos Dunlap is a very good player,” he said. “He keeps us upbeat and is a fan favorite. The coaches love him and in the locker room he keeps us laughing, motivated, and keeps us going. He is fast like a linebacker, he hits hard like an inside guy and plays hard all the time.”

* * *

Ahmad Black may not have prototypical size for a safety but he understands how to play the game. Last year he played corner, but now that he’s back to his natural position of safety, he’s showing that he can make plays. The consummate team player, Black heaped the praise on his teammates after he turned in a good scrimmage Wednesday.

“I did pretty [well] … actually I did real good,” Black said Wednesday morning. “To be honest they didn’t get the ball back there. The defensive line played incredible. I am sure there are a couple of things they didn’t do right because we didn’t watch film yet, but from my perspective they were in there on the quarterback. Any knock downs or interceptions we get are probably because of them because of getting pressure on the quarterback.”

There was absolutely no chemistry or support group with the defensive backs last season because they were so young. Everybody was treading water and too busy trying to learn their assignments to look out for one another. This year, Black says the camaraderie and the unit as a whole will be a lot different.

“It is coming on really good,” Black said. “We are getting back there … gelling. Major (Wright) and I are becoming closer and closer we are always together. All the corners are together. All of us are roommates, so we are always together.”

[annarborgator]

If I had to pick the 5 defensive guys I'd like to be most healthy right now, those 5 are definitely all in my top 8.

[IHateUGAlyDawgs]

If I had to pick the 5 defensive guys I'd like to be most healthy right now, those 5 are definitely all in my top 8.

I know what you meant, but that is still funny to me.

[annarborgator]

[img]{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_lol.gif[/img] Is it wrong that I thought about that post so much? I agonized over 7/8/9. One thing I've learned--hedge your bets and qualify every statement where possible.