o-line gets praise
Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 8:09 am
September 3, 2007
Adam Gorney
GatorBait.net Assistant Editor
The stress fracture in Phil Trautwein's right foot will keep him sidelined for quite a while, maybe all season, but Florida's offensive line played well in the first week against Western Kentucky.
"(Center) Drew Miller, it was good to see him come out and play the way he did," coach Urban Meyer said at Monday's media luncheon. "A new position, the apex of the offense. He's the guy who made all the calls. Our tempo was an eight out of 10. Steve Rissler did a really nice job for us last year. That guy sets the tempo of the game, sets the huddle, gets to the line of scrimmage. We made a big deal out of that and Drew was really improved.
"(Left guard) Jim Tartt graded out a champion. He's 100 percent healthy for the first time at Florida. His shoulders are fine and he's playing very well for us."
Redshirt junior Jason Watkins was one of the most improved players in preseason camp. He and fifth-year senior Carlton Medder started at the tackle spots. Freshman Maurkice Pouncey got the call at right guard.
Meyer said Saturday after Florida's 49-3 win over Western Kentucky Pouncey was one of the best freshmen offensive linemen he's seen. He reiterated that statement Monday. The Gators return to action at 6 p.m. Saturday against Troy at Florida Field. It will give Pouncey another opportunity to develop, this time against a defense without such complicated schemes.
"(Pouncey) did not grade a champion," Meyer said. "He was very close though. For the first time out for an offensive lineman facing a defense, a 3-4 scheme, which is a pain in the butt, he did fairly well. (Western Kentucky) didn't overmatch us with personnel but schematically that was a hard one to prepare for.
"Troy is the opposite. Troy has better personnel, but they sit there for you. There's not a whole lot of stuff going on. This one is going to be much better for him. Now he can just come out and play the game."
The offensive line also did a fine job of protecting sophomore quarterback Tim Tebow, who completed 13 of 17 passes for 300 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for a score. Tebow's 300 passing yards were the most by any SEC quarterback in the first week.
Maybe the two hardest hits Tebow took all game were late-hit penalties on the Western Kentucky sideline. On the second late hit, sophomore offensive lineman Cody Hughes stood up and gave Tebow a shot. Tebow hit the Western Kentucky bench on the first penalty.
"I was surprised a guy stands up on the bench and takes a little shot at your quarterback," Meyer said. "I was disappointed in that. I thought (Tebow) did a hell of a job getting out of bounds. Couple times he stretched out and tried to get a couple extra yards. He was doing exactly what we taught him to do. If it's third-and-1, get the first down but he gained some great yardage and he stepped out of bounds twice. That's two more times than he ever did that in his life."
At running back, junior Kestahn Moore ran 16 times for 91 yards and two touchdowns. Asked if freshman Chris Rainey would see more action against Troy, Meyer said Rainey would as a threat in the option and in the passing game but at 5-foot-9 and 156 pounds, he's not ready to block out of the backfield.
Meyer intimated one of the reasons Florida went after running back Emmanuel Moody, who must sit out this season after transferring from Southern California, is to have another true tailback. Moody is listed at 5-foot-11 and 205 pounds.
"Chris is dynamic," Meyer said. "He did an excellent job holding up the gunners on punt. (He) didn't do quite an excellent job on smacking the punter on the first penalty of the game. He's dynamic with the ball in his hands and he loves the game of football. He's called me 10 times already. He loves football. I love that guy. He's not a tailback right now. He can't play tailback. He's a scooter. Brandon (James) is a lot stronger than he was last year. Brandon can play tailback. Chris Rainey can't at this point."
Extra points from the luncheon
Meyer said the coaching staff is not convinced freshman Jerimy Finch, who had a solid play on special teams to pin Western Kentucky deep in its territory, will stay at linebacker. He might return to safety at some point after being moved to linebacker in fall camp. Meyer called Finch a playmaker.
*** Florida lost the coin toss and Western Kentucky chose to receive, but if Florida wins the toss against Troy, Meyer said the Gators will probably take the ball. That was the plan heading into the opener. Co-defensive coordinator Charlie Strong feels Florida should always play defense first, Meyer said.
*** There is still no word from the NCAA Clearinghouse on freshman defensive tackle John Brown's academic status.
Adam Gorney
GatorBait.net Assistant Editor
The stress fracture in Phil Trautwein's right foot will keep him sidelined for quite a while, maybe all season, but Florida's offensive line played well in the first week against Western Kentucky.
"(Center) Drew Miller, it was good to see him come out and play the way he did," coach Urban Meyer said at Monday's media luncheon. "A new position, the apex of the offense. He's the guy who made all the calls. Our tempo was an eight out of 10. Steve Rissler did a really nice job for us last year. That guy sets the tempo of the game, sets the huddle, gets to the line of scrimmage. We made a big deal out of that and Drew was really improved.
"(Left guard) Jim Tartt graded out a champion. He's 100 percent healthy for the first time at Florida. His shoulders are fine and he's playing very well for us."
Redshirt junior Jason Watkins was one of the most improved players in preseason camp. He and fifth-year senior Carlton Medder started at the tackle spots. Freshman Maurkice Pouncey got the call at right guard.
Meyer said Saturday after Florida's 49-3 win over Western Kentucky Pouncey was one of the best freshmen offensive linemen he's seen. He reiterated that statement Monday. The Gators return to action at 6 p.m. Saturday against Troy at Florida Field. It will give Pouncey another opportunity to develop, this time against a defense without such complicated schemes.
"(Pouncey) did not grade a champion," Meyer said. "He was very close though. For the first time out for an offensive lineman facing a defense, a 3-4 scheme, which is a pain in the butt, he did fairly well. (Western Kentucky) didn't overmatch us with personnel but schematically that was a hard one to prepare for.
"Troy is the opposite. Troy has better personnel, but they sit there for you. There's not a whole lot of stuff going on. This one is going to be much better for him. Now he can just come out and play the game."
The offensive line also did a fine job of protecting sophomore quarterback Tim Tebow, who completed 13 of 17 passes for 300 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for a score. Tebow's 300 passing yards were the most by any SEC quarterback in the first week.
Maybe the two hardest hits Tebow took all game were late-hit penalties on the Western Kentucky sideline. On the second late hit, sophomore offensive lineman Cody Hughes stood up and gave Tebow a shot. Tebow hit the Western Kentucky bench on the first penalty.
"I was surprised a guy stands up on the bench and takes a little shot at your quarterback," Meyer said. "I was disappointed in that. I thought (Tebow) did a hell of a job getting out of bounds. Couple times he stretched out and tried to get a couple extra yards. He was doing exactly what we taught him to do. If it's third-and-1, get the first down but he gained some great yardage and he stepped out of bounds twice. That's two more times than he ever did that in his life."
At running back, junior Kestahn Moore ran 16 times for 91 yards and two touchdowns. Asked if freshman Chris Rainey would see more action against Troy, Meyer said Rainey would as a threat in the option and in the passing game but at 5-foot-9 and 156 pounds, he's not ready to block out of the backfield.
Meyer intimated one of the reasons Florida went after running back Emmanuel Moody, who must sit out this season after transferring from Southern California, is to have another true tailback. Moody is listed at 5-foot-11 and 205 pounds.
"Chris is dynamic," Meyer said. "He did an excellent job holding up the gunners on punt. (He) didn't do quite an excellent job on smacking the punter on the first penalty of the game. He's dynamic with the ball in his hands and he loves the game of football. He's called me 10 times already. He loves football. I love that guy. He's not a tailback right now. He can't play tailback. He's a scooter. Brandon (James) is a lot stronger than he was last year. Brandon can play tailback. Chris Rainey can't at this point."
Extra points from the luncheon
Meyer said the coaching staff is not convinced freshman Jerimy Finch, who had a solid play on special teams to pin Western Kentucky deep in its territory, will stay at linebacker. He might return to safety at some point after being moved to linebacker in fall camp. Meyer called Finch a playmaker.
*** Florida lost the coin toss and Western Kentucky chose to receive, but if Florida wins the toss against Troy, Meyer said the Gators will probably take the ball. That was the plan heading into the opener. Co-defensive coordinator Charlie Strong feels Florida should always play defense first, Meyer said.
*** There is still no word from the NCAA Clearinghouse on freshman defensive tackle John Brown's academic status.