Spring Practice: An Evaluation of the Offense
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 4:10 pm
There is one week left of spring football 2008 and the Florida Gators still have work to do on both sides of the ball and as well as special teams. While the Gators have found numerous answers to some important questions, this final week of practice will tell us just how much improvement is needed and where between now and August 30 when the games begin for real against Hawaii.
With four practices left, here are my opinions of what has been accomplished this spring and what could still be accomplished by Saturday when practice concludes with the Orange and Blue Debut. Here is a position-by-position look, touching lightly on the issues. Once spring practice is over, we can deal with things on a more in-depth basis.
QUARTERBACK:
What I Like So Far: The first week saw a big problem with snaps especially when the quarterback is under center. The under center problem is no longer an issue as far as I can tell but there is still the occasional high snap which is not the fault of the signal caller … Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow actually struggled early in the spring but has been right on for the last four to five practices. I would say that he has even improved the quarterback run game, especially when it comes to the decision on whether to hand off or keep the ball on an inside option play ... Cam Newton has also progressed in this department and he looks really natural running the ball on the keepers now. Newton also seems to have improved his accuracy, especially when rolling out. It’s a different story when he’s pressured but we will get into that just below … John Brantley has progressed as much as can be expected in my mind. I like his aggressive nature for a freshman. He can make all the throws and is doing it now with his non-throwing shoulder still ailing a bit. Brantley has really come on as a runner of late.
What’s Left to Fix: Can we really fix the Heisman Trophy winner? Sure we can. One thing I have seen Tebow do is get frustrated late in a series or drill when he doesn’t have an open receiver and just throw it anyway, often times turning it over to the defense. He has to be the leader and stay away from that … As for Newton, faster checks through his progressions are needed. He often times gets lost when receivers one and two are covered. It is a quick reaction offense, so he has to speed that up. Newton also needs to work on mechanics when under pressure. If someone is in his face and he throws, he loses all of his mechanics on the throw … Brantley is a little too zealous at times and needs to tone it down. I do like the aggressiveness for a freshman, but he has committed more interceptions due to that aggressiveness.
RUNNING BACKS:
What I Like So Far: I have seen nice glimpses from all of them. I do like that they are using Brandon James and Chris Rainey in the reverse Percy Harvin role. Both have shown the ability to catch the ball down field like receivers and both seem to be the best play makers at the position so far … James and Rainey have shown they can run inside, but Kestahn Moore, Mon Williams, and Emmanuel Moody are definitely all suited more for it and have all shown hard running ability … Williams seems to be taking off a bit and Moody as well with both of their carries increasing of late … Steve Wilks at fullback just needs to keep doing what he is doing. He won’t play a lot at the position, but he is a heck of a blocker and will only get better.
What’s Left to Fix: My number one complaint for the backs is we haven’t seen enough of Moody. I was expecting him to get more this spring, and it is slowly coming but not there yet. Lately he has shown a spectacular move every practice, and we need to see more of it … Moore had fumbling issues early in the spring, but they seem to have disappeared as of late … Wilks could gain a little more weight,
WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS:
What I Like So Far: The Gators are getting big plays from Louis Murphy, Cornelius Ingram, Aaron Hernandez, Deonte Thompson, Justin Williams (occasionally), and Brandon James and Chris Rainey when used at receiver. They are getting steady and positive play from Carl Moore, David Nelson, and Riley Cooper … Moore probably has the best hands of the group and has become a steady target for all the quarterbacks … Murphy is definitely a threat deep on any play … Thompson started hot this spring, then cooled and now is hot again. He is an exceptional talent … Hernandez and Ingram are the best pair of tight ends in America and have shown it regularly this spring … Justin Williams has really impressed both with speed and his play making ability … Nelson has been impressive at times, but injuries have sidelined him a great deal.
What’s Left to Fix: Too many drops this spring … I’d like to see a little more fight for the ball. The defensive backs have had more pass break ups and interceptions this spring than I can remember, but some of the blame has to be on the receivers not fighting and coming back to the ball … Thompson needs to keep a steady presence. He was placed in the starting line up from the beginning of spring. He needs to make his presence felt every time on the field … Nelson needs to stay healthy so he can impress more often.
OFFENSIVE LINE:
What I Like So Far: The offensive Line has owned the defense in running drills for most of the spring. The interior of the first line has been especially forceful against the defense … Phil Trautwein dominates when he is out there … Maurkice Pouncey and Corey Hobbs have really done well with snaps since about the third practice … Carl Johnson looked good moving back and forth from left tackle to left guard … James Wilson is really improving while his knee gets better … Jim Barrie has made himself valuable by being able to play different positions at a pretty high level. He has also played some left guard and left tackle … Jason Watkins is invaluable being able to play both tackle positions and maybe the true leader on the line right now … Corey Hobbs came in prepared to play and has done pretty well.
What’s Left to Fix: The second unit, while not bad, is definitely a drop off from the first … Johnson needs to work on technique going against faster players … Marcus Gilbert has shown the least versatility among the scholarship linemen. I have only seen him line up at right tackle … Both the first and second unit have issues with the blitz at times … A healthy Trautwein, Jim Tartt, and now Johnson and Mike Pouncey would be nice. The depth is getting pretty non-existent.
TOMORROW: A look at the defense and special teams.
With four practices left, here are my opinions of what has been accomplished this spring and what could still be accomplished by Saturday when practice concludes with the Orange and Blue Debut. Here is a position-by-position look, touching lightly on the issues. Once spring practice is over, we can deal with things on a more in-depth basis.
QUARTERBACK:
What I Like So Far: The first week saw a big problem with snaps especially when the quarterback is under center. The under center problem is no longer an issue as far as I can tell but there is still the occasional high snap which is not the fault of the signal caller … Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow actually struggled early in the spring but has been right on for the last four to five practices. I would say that he has even improved the quarterback run game, especially when it comes to the decision on whether to hand off or keep the ball on an inside option play ... Cam Newton has also progressed in this department and he looks really natural running the ball on the keepers now. Newton also seems to have improved his accuracy, especially when rolling out. It’s a different story when he’s pressured but we will get into that just below … John Brantley has progressed as much as can be expected in my mind. I like his aggressive nature for a freshman. He can make all the throws and is doing it now with his non-throwing shoulder still ailing a bit. Brantley has really come on as a runner of late.
What’s Left to Fix: Can we really fix the Heisman Trophy winner? Sure we can. One thing I have seen Tebow do is get frustrated late in a series or drill when he doesn’t have an open receiver and just throw it anyway, often times turning it over to the defense. He has to be the leader and stay away from that … As for Newton, faster checks through his progressions are needed. He often times gets lost when receivers one and two are covered. It is a quick reaction offense, so he has to speed that up. Newton also needs to work on mechanics when under pressure. If someone is in his face and he throws, he loses all of his mechanics on the throw … Brantley is a little too zealous at times and needs to tone it down. I do like the aggressiveness for a freshman, but he has committed more interceptions due to that aggressiveness.
RUNNING BACKS:
What I Like So Far: I have seen nice glimpses from all of them. I do like that they are using Brandon James and Chris Rainey in the reverse Percy Harvin role. Both have shown the ability to catch the ball down field like receivers and both seem to be the best play makers at the position so far … James and Rainey have shown they can run inside, but Kestahn Moore, Mon Williams, and Emmanuel Moody are definitely all suited more for it and have all shown hard running ability … Williams seems to be taking off a bit and Moody as well with both of their carries increasing of late … Steve Wilks at fullback just needs to keep doing what he is doing. He won’t play a lot at the position, but he is a heck of a blocker and will only get better.
What’s Left to Fix: My number one complaint for the backs is we haven’t seen enough of Moody. I was expecting him to get more this spring, and it is slowly coming but not there yet. Lately he has shown a spectacular move every practice, and we need to see more of it … Moore had fumbling issues early in the spring, but they seem to have disappeared as of late … Wilks could gain a little more weight,
WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS:
What I Like So Far: The Gators are getting big plays from Louis Murphy, Cornelius Ingram, Aaron Hernandez, Deonte Thompson, Justin Williams (occasionally), and Brandon James and Chris Rainey when used at receiver. They are getting steady and positive play from Carl Moore, David Nelson, and Riley Cooper … Moore probably has the best hands of the group and has become a steady target for all the quarterbacks … Murphy is definitely a threat deep on any play … Thompson started hot this spring, then cooled and now is hot again. He is an exceptional talent … Hernandez and Ingram are the best pair of tight ends in America and have shown it regularly this spring … Justin Williams has really impressed both with speed and his play making ability … Nelson has been impressive at times, but injuries have sidelined him a great deal.
What’s Left to Fix: Too many drops this spring … I’d like to see a little more fight for the ball. The defensive backs have had more pass break ups and interceptions this spring than I can remember, but some of the blame has to be on the receivers not fighting and coming back to the ball … Thompson needs to keep a steady presence. He was placed in the starting line up from the beginning of spring. He needs to make his presence felt every time on the field … Nelson needs to stay healthy so he can impress more often.
OFFENSIVE LINE:
What I Like So Far: The offensive Line has owned the defense in running drills for most of the spring. The interior of the first line has been especially forceful against the defense … Phil Trautwein dominates when he is out there … Maurkice Pouncey and Corey Hobbs have really done well with snaps since about the third practice … Carl Johnson looked good moving back and forth from left tackle to left guard … James Wilson is really improving while his knee gets better … Jim Barrie has made himself valuable by being able to play different positions at a pretty high level. He has also played some left guard and left tackle … Jason Watkins is invaluable being able to play both tackle positions and maybe the true leader on the line right now … Corey Hobbs came in prepared to play and has done pretty well.
What’s Left to Fix: The second unit, while not bad, is definitely a drop off from the first … Johnson needs to work on technique going against faster players … Marcus Gilbert has shown the least versatility among the scholarship linemen. I have only seen him line up at right tackle … Both the first and second unit have issues with the blitz at times … A healthy Trautwein, Jim Tartt, and now Johnson and Mike Pouncey would be nice. The depth is getting pretty non-existent.
TOMORROW: A look at the defense and special teams.