Brantley out 3-5 weeks

IHateUGAlyDawgs · Post by **IHateUGAlyDawgs** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 11:54 pm

from Bob:

It appears that freshman quarterback will be out of action for the next 3-5 weeks. Sources have confirmed that Brantley hurt his non-throwing shoulder about a week ago in mat drills. The time table at that time was 4-6 weeks.

Mat drills have never really been defined as used by the University of Florida but at least part of them is hand to hand combat with another player on the team. In this instance the other player was tight end / H-back Aaron Hernandez.

If the rehab goes as planned, the long end of the rehab should have Brantley back by mid spring practice. If it goes the shorter time, then he may not miss any real practice time.

My opinion: I am not against mat drills for the quarterbacks as I believe they need to make sure they are ready for the rigors of the spread offense run by Meyer. However, and I don't usually question any part of the staff about much, I do believe pairing Brantley up with Hernandez was asking for trouble. There is probably a 50+ pound weight difference between the two and Hernandez is not one to go easy during the drill.

apexgator · Post by **apexgator** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 8:14 am

Yeah, my first thought was when I saw he was paired up with Hernandez was wtf are you putting Brantley up against Hernandez. Then again, it's not like you want to put him up against another qb named Tebow.

radbag · Post by **radbag** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 8:16 am

can't they put guys up according to weight just to make it equitable?

IHateUGAlyDawgs · Post by **IHateUGAlyDawgs** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 8:24 am

if he's gonna play QB in the SEC he's gonna get hit by guys like Hernandez or bigger...why not see if he's man enough to go with it. Injuries are gonna happen sometime.

radbag · Post by **radbag** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 8:31 am

not during practice.

G8Rpmc · Post by **G8Rpmc** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 9:37 am

We saw some film of the mat drills at the Ladies Football clinic. Ugh.... extremely tuff...

I can't believe how much bigger John B. is now. He has a great arm (passing) and I think he will do great things for the Gators, behind Superman and after TT graduates.

Oh...btw, I hate the thought of TT leaving early (which I don't think he'll do) and graduating. I'm gonna enjoy this ride while I can. So much fun watching him play!

I MISS FOOTBALL SEASON!!

TTBHG · Post by **TTBHG** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 10:04 am

if he's gonna play QB in the SEC he's gonna get hit by guys like Hernandez or bigger...why not see if he's man enough to go with it. Injuries are gonna happen sometime.

+131565161316516153613513616516165161616161631

If he can't get hit in practice, he can't get hit in a game. AHern is a beast, but he is a pansy compared to some of SEC LBers. I think Johnny will be great but he's gonna have to toughen up.

BTW, I agree with PMC. I MISS FOOTBALL

IHateUGAlyDawgs · Post by **IHateUGAlyDawgs** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 10:53 am

not during practice.

they happen during practice all the time. FWIW, during the Spring and Fall actual practices he will be protected like a newborn infant - so when else is he gonna get hit?

annarborgator · Post by **annarborgator** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 11:15 am

agree with Hater on this one

radbag · Post by **radbag** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 11:20 am

i don't disagree...but let him get hit all day and all night buy guys his equal to toughen him up

what good is a hurt player on saturdays because he's great at practice?

annarborgator · Post by **annarborgator** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 2:15 pm

There's no chance he will miss a saturday because of this injury. It's February. Champions torture themselves in the off-season. The point of bigger guys is that he NEEDS to know what it's like to take those hits because he's going to take them in the SEC from guys even bigger than AHernandez. Same size = much less challenge.

radbag · Post by **radbag** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 2:19 pm

agreed - but why then do the starting qb's wear yellow shirts so as to show the rest of the practice that contact is to be avoided?

IHateUGAlyDawgs · Post by **IHateUGAlyDawgs** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 3:39 pm

because your QB should be protected in an actual practice...these are offseason strength and conditioning drills...in spring practice Brantley, Newton, and Tebow will all be wearing the non-contact jerseys.

texgator · Post by **texgator** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 9:23 pm

Better it happens now

annarborgator · Post by **annarborgator** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 12:43 am

agreed - but why then do the starting qb's wear yellow shirts so as to show the rest of the practice that contact is to be avoided?

The difference is that in an actual practice run by the coaching staff, the QBs' focus is on execution of the playbook. They need to get the playbook down and it helps to not worry about getting them hurt when they are a half step slow reading the plays. The defense has a decent advantage in practice anyway, at least early. Why let them tee off on the guy? Hopefully you built his strength and toughness in the off-season enough so you don't have to worry about it, but that just means you don't need to take the risk.

But, he can't go without contact for 7 months and be expected to handle it for 14 weeks of a CFB season. So he needs it during S&C. During practice, he thinks about the plays and the offense and he reads the DE without getting killed every other play.

Just my thoughts--definitely don't have much sideline experience or anything.

radbag · Post by **radbag** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 9:54 am

makes sense to me aa .. i've been thru my share of drills and it's more of a writ of passage really...most go 75% in practice anyways for fear of injury...

i've had my share of fumble drills going up against kids 60 pounds heavier....it aint fun and your bound to get hurt...many often do.