Urban pleased with scrimmage

[TheTodd]

Urban Meyer turned his troops loose for a hard hitting scrimmage on Wednesday morning and came away pleased with the effort and performance overall. Despite numerous injuries that have many Florida football players sidelined, Meyer thought the defense really showed up strong and some young players and players making position changes were able to show what they could do.

“[It was a] very good scrimmage,” Meyer told the media shortly after returning to the stadium from the practice field. “I was looking for some guys to make some plays and obviously there are some guys doing well and Justin Williams went out there today and intercepted two balls at safety. Good things happen to good people and he is a good person. I think our safeties played very good , I think our defense played very well running around to the ball and really controlled things for a while.”

Williams is a sophomore that switched from wide receiver to safety and this week. He is expected to be an immediate contributor. Williams helped lead the defense on a day when Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Tim Tebow watched mostly from the sideline and helped his young backup quarterbacks with their duties. Meyer was pleased with the way sophomore Cam Newton and redshirt freshman John Brantley played.

“We didn’t play Tim a whole lot, we let the two young quarterbacks kind of run the show,” Meyer said. “We did do a situational two-minute at the end and Tim did very well in that.”

Meyer loves the talent of the two backup quarterbacks and believes they will both be utilized this season. He hinted today that Cam Newton and his 6-5, 240-pound body could be a big weapon in short yardage and goal line situations this season.

‘[They were] sporadic, but [they are] very good players,” Meyer said of Newton and Brantley. “They are both very good players. Cameron is a guy that played for us last year and we had him actually live in the red-zone today…maybe [he will] take some of the burden off of [Tebow].

“The perception of why you run Tebow is because he is a good runner ... [that is] correct. The other perception is that every time you empty the backfield and run Tim, you remove a defender from the box. When he turns around and hands the ball off, the quarterback is doing nothing but taking up space … that is why we do direct snaps, that is called the ‘single wing’ and has been around since the 1920’s.

“Brantley looked like a deer in the headlights and then finished real strong. Once the cobwebs got knocked out of him, he finished strong ... he had some great plays. We have one more scrimmage before Hawaii.”

With all of the returning experience compared to last season, Meyer is ready to start preparing for that season opener against Hawaii. He already has a good grasp on his roster and a good idea who will contribute.

“Now we break into scout team this afternoon and we will try and put in the Hawaii game plan and try and get going,” Meyer said. “When you have some returning starters like we do … last year obviously we were trying to just get guys lined up and play. We are more advanced this year we have a lot of guys that have played football this year so it is time to hit the accelerator. I think we are kind of set on who is playing, so now it is just accelerate and go.”

Another player that has seen a position change and now appears ready to shoulder some burden of the offense is wide receiver Brandon James. The dynamic kick returner is a magician in space, disappearing before tacklers can get to him. He is beginning to really make a statement at receiver after moving over from running back in the early part of spring drills.

“Brandon James did very well today at receiver,” Meyer said. “I am very proud of him, his approach to life, and his approach to being professional. That’s what these kids are ... these kids are professionals. They go to school and they play football. That’s their jobs. He is much improved. In the two minute drill he made a play and won the two minute drill.”

* * *

The defensive line may still be the biggest question mark on the entire team but there is one player in the middle of the line that has really started to solidify himself as a starter. Sophomore Lawrence Marsh is 6-5 and 300 pounds and playing at nose guard. According to Meyer he has a very good and consistent fall so far.

“Lawrence Marsh … I have a history of saying nice things about someone and then they don’t do such good things,” Meyer said with a smile. “The good thing about Lawrence Marsh is he has showed signs before. This is practice 12 and he has been consistent throughout, that is the sign of a good player.”

* * *

At running back the Gators are looking for someone that can make plays and the early returns on Chris Rainey, Emmanuel Moody and Jeffrey Demps are that the Gators likely have a trio of game breakers, guys that can score from anywhere on the field.

“Chris Rainey is full speed and had some real nice runs,” Meyer said. “Jeff Demps is doing well … Demps has a lot to learn but he is a tremendous asset. He is fast, he plays fast, and he’s tough, so he will play for us…Moody is battling a thigh contusion but he showed his toughness and went a little today. Mon (Williams) did okay. That position is going hard right now.”

* * *

THE INJURY FRONT: The Gators are seeing injuries like they haven’t seen before and although there are a handful of very serious season ending injuries to some, most of the injuries are day-to-day or week-to-week varieties and guys seem to be on their way back. Meyer commented on several.

“Louis Murphy (senior wide receiver) is out of the boot and jogging, but did not practice,” Meyer said. “Sam Robey (freshman center) had a dislocated knee cap on Tuesday. It sounds worse than what it is. He will be back in several weeks. Jermaine Cunningham (junior defensive end) went today. Matt Patchan (freshman defensive lineman) is getting close. Omar Hunter (freshman nose tackle) is getting close. Jason Watkins (senior offensive tackle) is back after a minor concussion. Ryan Stamper (junior linebacker) has a little groin injury but is doing well. Dustin Doe (junior linebacker) went half the scrimmage. He has a pulled hamstring.”

* * *

One of Meyer’s chief concerns as a leader and head coach is that the young men he coaches come to school with the purpose of earning a degree. Football after college is not inevitable and so getting a college degree is something he wants every one of his players to achieve before they leave. He understands that universities “use” football players today, but that doesn’t mean that the players cannot also use the university to achieve a better future.

“One of the worst things that happen in college athletics is that players get used,” Meyer said. “It is a terrible thing. The only way that happens is when a player allows that to happen. When a player goes to a place like the University of Florida and leaves without a college degree, then he’s been used. It is our job to present that and the family’s job to assist with that. So, we challenge them all the time.

“Phil Trautwein is a perfect example, in December he is going to leave with a Master’s Degree, so a year ago at this time we were looking at a guy that was not prepared for the National Football League. He was a guy that was a good leader but not a great leader. Now he has prepared himself to be a great leader and have a great year. He will have a Master’s Degree and then go on to play professional football. THAT is called using Florida.”

* * *

The freshman ritual and rite of passage will probably continue this evening. When the true freshmen lose the black stripe from their helmet it is supposed to signify their first acknowledgement as a Gator in the eyes of the football staff. According to Meyer, no stripes were removed this morning, but “we probably will after we watch film.”

[apexgator]

Thanks for posting this Todd.