Running back steal show at scrimmage
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:53 pm
If you want to see Urban Meyer’s face light up, just ask him about his running backs. After three seasons of band-aids and baling wire at the position, Meyer has so many running backs doing so many things well that he’s trying to scheme up new ways to use them all. If what has happened in August is an indicator, it’s going to be such a productive year that nobody on the recruiting trail will be able to say the Gators don’t use their running backs ever again.
Meyer has been talking up his running backs every chance he gets but after Tuesday’s scrimmage that pitted the number ones against the numbers twos, he was almost glowing when talk shifted to the backs. It wasn’t just one of his running backs that stood out, it was all of them with the exception of Kestahn Moore, held out because of a sore knee. But if you’ve followed Meyer this August, Moore is having a tremendous training camp and factors prominently in the progress at the position.
“I think it’s going to be a 1-2-3 combination … maybe four,” said Meyer after Tuesday’s scrimmage. “Those guys … those are some home run hitters now.”
In Emmanuel Moody, Chris Rainey, Jeff Demps and Moore, the Gators have a tremendous combination of power and speed. Moody, Rainey and Demps are breakaway runners that are a threat to go the distance any time they get the ball. Moore is the consummate all-around back that can run the ball effectively, get out in pass patterns and make all the catches and handle blitzing linebackers or take on a defensive end straight up.
Meyer saw what he’s been looking for Tuesday out of Moody, the Southern Cal transfer that was Pac-10 Freshman of the Year in 2006. Plagued by fumbles in the spring, Moody seems to have resolved that issue in August.
“Moody had a couple of tremendous runs today,” said Meyer. “If he could learn to squeeze that tub with the elbow a little bit more he could have a very productive year.”
Meyer was quick to credit new running backs coach Kenny Carter for the better production from the backs. Carter has been popular with his troops since he arrived just before spring practice and the improved play and better ball security this August is a credit to what he’s doing.
“Coach Carter is doing a good job,” said Meyer, who added that Demps and Rainey both had explosive days running the ball.
Moore’s sore knee is not a problem.
“That’s no issue,” said Meyer. “We had it looked at so we rested him today.”
SCRIMMAGE NOTES: Tuesday’s scrimmage was all about Hawaii, which had an undefeated regular season but lost to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl last year. Even though the Rainbow Warriors lost their head coach (June Jones) to SMU and their record setting quarterback (Colt Brennan) to the NFL, Meyer said he expects Hawaii to be formidable.
“I think they’re a great team,” he said. “I think they’re big and powerful. I coached those kind of players … they’re big old Polynesians that take up gaps on defense and move you on offense. They have a great scheme throwing the ball. I think they led the nation and were number two in the nation as far as yards per play.. That tells you how explosive they are on offense.”
The scrimmage was scheduled to go 50 plays but things were going so well that Meyer extended the hard contact work. He’s given the team 24 hours off to move out of the team hotel and back to their own living quarters. There will be no Wednesday morning practice and they won’t re-convene until 2 p.m. Wednesday so it was important for the Gators to have a good scrimmage.
Meyer said it was better than good.
“A great scrimmage,” he said. “We meant to go about 50 plays and we went about 70.”
Meyer was almost glowing as he talked about the scrimmage. Then he reminded himself that he still has to watch it on film.
“I’ll probably get sick to my stomach but it was a good day,” he said.
In addition to what Meyer called great efforts, the Gators got out of the scrimmage without any injuries. A few dinged up players either participated or were healthy enough to participate and that was good news.
Sophomore quarterback Cameron Newton was out of the ankle boot Tuesday and though he wasn’t at full speed, he did participate in the scrimmage.
“He’s not into running shape but he played today,” said Meyer. “It will be the weekend until he’s back to being Cam Newton but he’s functioning and he actually played pretty good.”
Freshman defensive tackle Omar Hunter, who has been slowed by a sore back, did contact work for two days in a row for the first time in summer camp. Just having him getting ready to go pleases Meyer, who has called Hunter the most important recruit for the Gators since Tim Tebow.
“We’re really excited,” said Meyer. “Omar practiced two days in a row. I’m going to watch film but I noticed him and I like his energy. He wants to play.”
Matt Patchan, whose road to good health was set back by a shoulder wounded in a drive-by shooting this summer and a torn pectoral muscle, has been working hard to get cleared for contact. There was no contact Tuesday but Meyer said Patchan could have participated.
Meyer said, “Patchan did not play in the scrimmage but he’s getting real close and he could have played but we’re being smart.”
Offensive linemen Mike Pouncey and James Wilson, both slowed by sore shoulders, fought through the pain and scrimmaged.
“They both played today and did well,” said Meyer.
Of course, when it comes to injuries and practice, the main question is wide receiver/tailback Percy Harvin, still rehabbing from serious heel surgery. He hasn’t participated in contact drills yet and has spent most of August doing the kind of conditioning work that will have him football ready as soon as possible.
“Percy conditioned again today,” said Meyer. “Pretty up tempo. A lot of conditioning.”
Asked if Harvin will do contact drills next week to prepare for the opener with Hawaii on August 30, Meyer responded, “I think there’s a chance.”
BIG PRACTICE FOR MOORE: One of the highlights of the scrimmage was the continued improvement by junior college transfer Carl Moore, a wide receiver who is starting to become a regular target for Tim Tebow and John Brantley.
“Carl Moore was kind of the guy who stood out today,” said Meyer, who called Moore “a really improved player from the spring.”
Moore was rated the top junior college wide receiver in the nation last year but his spring practice was anything but what you’d expect of someone so highly regarded.
“You all saw what Carl Moore looked like and I was devastated,” said Meyer.
All that has changed in August.
“He’s very Dallas Bakerish,” said Meyer. “You say that name [Baker] with reverance around here because he was such a good player for us. He [Moore] shows some of the same qualities that Dallas played.”
BACKUP QUARTERBACK: Cameron Newton’s ankle injury has opened the door for John Brantley to step up his efforts to become the clearcut number two quarterback. He had another outstanding scrimmage Tuesday. He’s had several consecutive days when he’s looked good.
“his last five days have been phenomenal,” said Meyer. “He throws it now. All the intangibles he’s starting to very much improve on. It’s a really good issue right now.”
BRYAN THOMAS: Third year sophomore Bryan Thomas, who has battled one injury after another since arriving in Gainesville, is due to start practice again when school starts Monday. Thomas had surgery to remove a cyst from his knee in the summer so he was not on the 105-man training camp roster on August 1, meaning he could not practice with the team until school starts.
Thomas has rehabbed and could have practiced earlier except he was not allowed by the NCAA rule about 105 on the training camp rosters.
“We actually tried to bring him in with the 105 when we had a little attrition with the injuries but the NCAA … a rule that does not make sense at all but we were not allowed to bring him in to practice him,” said Meyer. “Someone explained to me … I guess we’re trying to get an advantage having a young guy at practice but he’ll be back with us next week.”
Asked if Thomas can be a contributor at safety where attrition has reduced the Gators to four scholarship players, Meyer said, “I don’t know. He’s been hurt since he’s been here.”
DEFENSIVE TACKLE: Right now Lawrence Marsh is the only standout at defensive tackle, but Meyer said some other players are beginning to step up. He also said the Gators will use a lot of three-man fronts since they will be playing a lot of spread offense, one-back teams.
“We see some guys [at defensive tackle] doing some good things and we’re also going to play some three down,” said Meyer. “That’s one issue that’s yet to be resolved, however, there are some guys close. Omar and Patchan will get involved in that as well.”
The Gators could get some unexpected help from Brandon Antwine, who could start practicing Monday. He’s been out with a severe back injury.
“He’s done with the rehabbing,” said Meyer. “They say he’s coming out to practice once school starts [Monday]. That’s almost a miracle because he had a severe issue with his back. I guess he’s going to come out next week. I hope … I hope.”
The tackle situation will also be impacted by the defensive fronts the Gators use. If the Gators go to an odd front, it will occasionally be a 3-4 but most of the time it will be a 3-3-5 due to the need of an extra defensive back against the spread.
“We’ll see a lot of one back teams,” said Meyer. “When you see two backs and a tight end, we’ll be for sure four down but we’ll play some three-down.”
DE-STRIPINGS: Losing their stripes Tuesday were freshman offensive lineman Byran Jones, freshman fullback T.J. Pridemore and junior college defensive tackle Troy Epps.
Meyer said that Jones has come on strong now that he’s lost some weight, indicating Jones has “lost 20 pounds in 20 days.” Pridemore has become part of Florida’s goal line package and Meyer said he hits so hard he “cements you when he hits you.” Epps is playing his way into the rotation at defensive tackle.
CORNERBACKS: Meyer said the corners didn’t have a particularly great Tuesday but he’s still pleased with their overall progress in August. It’s a position where there is depth to go with that year of experience picked up last year when the Gators had the youngest secondary in the country.
“Joe (Haden) is our best corner right now,” said Meyer. “There’s a chance we’ll move him inside in some nickel situations.”
Meyer said the second corner is junior Wondy Pierre-Louis followed by freshman Janoris Jenkins, junior Markihe Anderson and third year sophomore Jacques Rickerson.
Jenkins has been very impressive lately.
“Janoris seems to make an interception every day,” he said.
Meyer has been talking up his running backs every chance he gets but after Tuesday’s scrimmage that pitted the number ones against the numbers twos, he was almost glowing when talk shifted to the backs. It wasn’t just one of his running backs that stood out, it was all of them with the exception of Kestahn Moore, held out because of a sore knee. But if you’ve followed Meyer this August, Moore is having a tremendous training camp and factors prominently in the progress at the position.
“I think it’s going to be a 1-2-3 combination … maybe four,” said Meyer after Tuesday’s scrimmage. “Those guys … those are some home run hitters now.”
In Emmanuel Moody, Chris Rainey, Jeff Demps and Moore, the Gators have a tremendous combination of power and speed. Moody, Rainey and Demps are breakaway runners that are a threat to go the distance any time they get the ball. Moore is the consummate all-around back that can run the ball effectively, get out in pass patterns and make all the catches and handle blitzing linebackers or take on a defensive end straight up.
Meyer saw what he’s been looking for Tuesday out of Moody, the Southern Cal transfer that was Pac-10 Freshman of the Year in 2006. Plagued by fumbles in the spring, Moody seems to have resolved that issue in August.
“Moody had a couple of tremendous runs today,” said Meyer. “If he could learn to squeeze that tub with the elbow a little bit more he could have a very productive year.”
Meyer was quick to credit new running backs coach Kenny Carter for the better production from the backs. Carter has been popular with his troops since he arrived just before spring practice and the improved play and better ball security this August is a credit to what he’s doing.
“Coach Carter is doing a good job,” said Meyer, who added that Demps and Rainey both had explosive days running the ball.
Moore’s sore knee is not a problem.
“That’s no issue,” said Meyer. “We had it looked at so we rested him today.”
SCRIMMAGE NOTES: Tuesday’s scrimmage was all about Hawaii, which had an undefeated regular season but lost to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl last year. Even though the Rainbow Warriors lost their head coach (June Jones) to SMU and their record setting quarterback (Colt Brennan) to the NFL, Meyer said he expects Hawaii to be formidable.
“I think they’re a great team,” he said. “I think they’re big and powerful. I coached those kind of players … they’re big old Polynesians that take up gaps on defense and move you on offense. They have a great scheme throwing the ball. I think they led the nation and were number two in the nation as far as yards per play.. That tells you how explosive they are on offense.”
The scrimmage was scheduled to go 50 plays but things were going so well that Meyer extended the hard contact work. He’s given the team 24 hours off to move out of the team hotel and back to their own living quarters. There will be no Wednesday morning practice and they won’t re-convene until 2 p.m. Wednesday so it was important for the Gators to have a good scrimmage.
Meyer said it was better than good.
“A great scrimmage,” he said. “We meant to go about 50 plays and we went about 70.”
Meyer was almost glowing as he talked about the scrimmage. Then he reminded himself that he still has to watch it on film.
“I’ll probably get sick to my stomach but it was a good day,” he said.
In addition to what Meyer called great efforts, the Gators got out of the scrimmage without any injuries. A few dinged up players either participated or were healthy enough to participate and that was good news.
Sophomore quarterback Cameron Newton was out of the ankle boot Tuesday and though he wasn’t at full speed, he did participate in the scrimmage.
“He’s not into running shape but he played today,” said Meyer. “It will be the weekend until he’s back to being Cam Newton but he’s functioning and he actually played pretty good.”
Freshman defensive tackle Omar Hunter, who has been slowed by a sore back, did contact work for two days in a row for the first time in summer camp. Just having him getting ready to go pleases Meyer, who has called Hunter the most important recruit for the Gators since Tim Tebow.
“We’re really excited,” said Meyer. “Omar practiced two days in a row. I’m going to watch film but I noticed him and I like his energy. He wants to play.”
Matt Patchan, whose road to good health was set back by a shoulder wounded in a drive-by shooting this summer and a torn pectoral muscle, has been working hard to get cleared for contact. There was no contact Tuesday but Meyer said Patchan could have participated.
Meyer said, “Patchan did not play in the scrimmage but he’s getting real close and he could have played but we’re being smart.”
Offensive linemen Mike Pouncey and James Wilson, both slowed by sore shoulders, fought through the pain and scrimmaged.
“They both played today and did well,” said Meyer.
Of course, when it comes to injuries and practice, the main question is wide receiver/tailback Percy Harvin, still rehabbing from serious heel surgery. He hasn’t participated in contact drills yet and has spent most of August doing the kind of conditioning work that will have him football ready as soon as possible.
“Percy conditioned again today,” said Meyer. “Pretty up tempo. A lot of conditioning.”
Asked if Harvin will do contact drills next week to prepare for the opener with Hawaii on August 30, Meyer responded, “I think there’s a chance.”
BIG PRACTICE FOR MOORE: One of the highlights of the scrimmage was the continued improvement by junior college transfer Carl Moore, a wide receiver who is starting to become a regular target for Tim Tebow and John Brantley.
“Carl Moore was kind of the guy who stood out today,” said Meyer, who called Moore “a really improved player from the spring.”
Moore was rated the top junior college wide receiver in the nation last year but his spring practice was anything but what you’d expect of someone so highly regarded.
“You all saw what Carl Moore looked like and I was devastated,” said Meyer.
All that has changed in August.
“He’s very Dallas Bakerish,” said Meyer. “You say that name [Baker] with reverance around here because he was such a good player for us. He [Moore] shows some of the same qualities that Dallas played.”
BACKUP QUARTERBACK: Cameron Newton’s ankle injury has opened the door for John Brantley to step up his efforts to become the clearcut number two quarterback. He had another outstanding scrimmage Tuesday. He’s had several consecutive days when he’s looked good.
“his last five days have been phenomenal,” said Meyer. “He throws it now. All the intangibles he’s starting to very much improve on. It’s a really good issue right now.”
BRYAN THOMAS: Third year sophomore Bryan Thomas, who has battled one injury after another since arriving in Gainesville, is due to start practice again when school starts Monday. Thomas had surgery to remove a cyst from his knee in the summer so he was not on the 105-man training camp roster on August 1, meaning he could not practice with the team until school starts.
Thomas has rehabbed and could have practiced earlier except he was not allowed by the NCAA rule about 105 on the training camp rosters.
“We actually tried to bring him in with the 105 when we had a little attrition with the injuries but the NCAA … a rule that does not make sense at all but we were not allowed to bring him in to practice him,” said Meyer. “Someone explained to me … I guess we’re trying to get an advantage having a young guy at practice but he’ll be back with us next week.”
Asked if Thomas can be a contributor at safety where attrition has reduced the Gators to four scholarship players, Meyer said, “I don’t know. He’s been hurt since he’s been here.”
DEFENSIVE TACKLE: Right now Lawrence Marsh is the only standout at defensive tackle, but Meyer said some other players are beginning to step up. He also said the Gators will use a lot of three-man fronts since they will be playing a lot of spread offense, one-back teams.
“We see some guys [at defensive tackle] doing some good things and we’re also going to play some three down,” said Meyer. “That’s one issue that’s yet to be resolved, however, there are some guys close. Omar and Patchan will get involved in that as well.”
The Gators could get some unexpected help from Brandon Antwine, who could start practicing Monday. He’s been out with a severe back injury.
“He’s done with the rehabbing,” said Meyer. “They say he’s coming out to practice once school starts [Monday]. That’s almost a miracle because he had a severe issue with his back. I guess he’s going to come out next week. I hope … I hope.”
The tackle situation will also be impacted by the defensive fronts the Gators use. If the Gators go to an odd front, it will occasionally be a 3-4 but most of the time it will be a 3-3-5 due to the need of an extra defensive back against the spread.
“We’ll see a lot of one back teams,” said Meyer. “When you see two backs and a tight end, we’ll be for sure four down but we’ll play some three-down.”
DE-STRIPINGS: Losing their stripes Tuesday were freshman offensive lineman Byran Jones, freshman fullback T.J. Pridemore and junior college defensive tackle Troy Epps.
Meyer said that Jones has come on strong now that he’s lost some weight, indicating Jones has “lost 20 pounds in 20 days.” Pridemore has become part of Florida’s goal line package and Meyer said he hits so hard he “cements you when he hits you.” Epps is playing his way into the rotation at defensive tackle.
CORNERBACKS: Meyer said the corners didn’t have a particularly great Tuesday but he’s still pleased with their overall progress in August. It’s a position where there is depth to go with that year of experience picked up last year when the Gators had the youngest secondary in the country.
“Joe (Haden) is our best corner right now,” said Meyer. “There’s a chance we’ll move him inside in some nickel situations.”
Meyer said the second corner is junior Wondy Pierre-Louis followed by freshman Janoris Jenkins, junior Markihe Anderson and third year sophomore Jacques Rickerson.
Jenkins has been very impressive lately.
“Janoris seems to make an interception every day,” he said.