Moody back at practice

[TheTodd]

The Florida Gators went through what Urban Meyer called a “good, hard day” of practice Friday morning as they prepared for their first full-scale scrimmage on Saturday. Saturday’s scrimmage will be 37 plays with plenty of situational work, a chance Meyer says to “ID the young players” that are close to game-ready.

Friday’s good news was that tailback Emmanuel Moody was able to go through his first day of practice. He’s been sidelined with a sprained ankle. Defensive end Justin Trattou (sprained foot) and wide receiver Carl Moore (back) are close to returning to practice. Meyer said that cornerback Jeremy Brown was able to practice in a limited role.

There was also bad news on the injury front. Third year sophomore wide receiver Paul Wilson, who has struggled with injuries since he came to Florida, will not be able to play football again. Wilson, who has had a dislocated knee cap, torn hamstring and broken wrist since arriving from Lakeland in January of 2007, re-broke his foot and doctors have advised him to give up football.

“I was counting on him for special teams,” Meyer said. “He’s had some tough injuries. He had the wrist issues, he had a couple leg issues. He’s a great kid. The foot that re-broke because of what receivers have to do as far as planting and pushing off. He’s been advised not to play football. We wish him all the best. Obviously we’re going to play for school. He’s a medical hardship. That’s real tough on him because he wanted to play.”

Meyer said it’s a tough blow since Wilson is one of those kids who work hard and never cause a minute of trouble.

“You hate to say it like this but it’s true, there are certain kids you just like better than others,” Meyer said. “You don’t want to say it, but it’s true. The guys that really put in the hard work, go to class and live their lives right and take care of themselves, all the things that Paul Wilson does. A guy like that deserves a chance to live his dream but at the end of the day there are a lot of things worse than getting a degree from the University of Florida.”

OFFENSIVE LINE: Meyer said that the offensive line play is improving although Matt Patchan was held out of practice Friday.

“Matt Patchan had a minor concussion so he didn’t practice this morning but he should be back tomorrow,” Meyer said.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Meyer identified a group of receivers that are playing at a high level in practice but said it’s time for some of the young guys to step it up. Asked who is picking it up in practice, Meyer said, “(Riley) Cooper, Deonte Thompson, David Nelson, Brandon James and Aaron Hernandez … behind them there is a group of guys where somebody has to surface and they haven’t done that yet.”

Freshman Andre Debose is getting a lot of work with the first unit at the Percy position but he’s being brought along slowly.

“(Andre) Debose is coming on but he’s still got a long way to go,” Meyer said. “The expectations are high for him.”

Eventually Debose will be expected to run the football on jet sweeps, option pitches and reverses but right now Meyer has the talented Sanford freshman working almost exclusively at wide receiver.

“We haven’t done him in that dual role yet,” Meyer said. “I want to do that fairly soon but he has to get the receiver part down.”

Also working at the slot are Brandon James and Jeff Demps. Both of them are also working at tailback. James, in particular, has really stood out at practice.

“We had him at running back yesterday pretty much exclusively so he’s going to be that guy that bounces around along with Demps,” Meyer said.

On the outside, Thompson, who caught 18 passes for three touchdowns last year while backing up Louis Murphy, has stepped things up.

“He’s about where we need him to be,” Meyer said. “He just has to continue to improve but he’s one of our top guys. He had a great summer and he’s playing very well right now.”

Riley Cooper, who missed all the on campus work in the summer while playing baseball, reported to camp in very good shape and he’s surprised Meyer with his level of play.

“I was worried that he would pull a hamstring or a hip flexor, some issue that he would have with his body but he picked right up,” Meyer said. “We were smart; we didn’t throw him right into the fire right away. We let him work into it and he’s doing great. Of all the previous camps and previous years he’s been with the Florida Gators it’s not even close to where he is right now. His attitude is tremendous. Really glad he’s back, I mean really, really glad.”

Meyer attributed Cooper’s improved play to “maturity,” adding that Cooper “realizes it’s his last call. He’s really determined to be one of these guys who has to make a decision in both sports. If he goes now, he could be a fine, fine player for us this year.”

HADEN’S ROLE IN THE OFFENSE: Meyer is serious about using Joe Haden in a limited role on offense but how much time Haden sees in that capacity has everything to do with the development of a third corner.

“We’d like to have that option available,” Meyer said. “We’ll worry about that as we get closer. A lot of Haden’s use in the backfield will be if we develop one more corner. Jeremy Brown’s getting close and Wondy (Pierre-Louis) has had a good camp.”

The critical question for Meyer is rest.

“He’s going to be worn out a little bit,” Meyer said. “Can we rest him a couple of series? If we can we’ll play him on offense as well.”

ON THE DEFENSIVE SIDE: Meyer said the defense continues to stay ahead of the offense. He praised the play of Haden and Janoris Jenkins at cornerback and also safety Will Hill.

Strong safety Ahmad Black, who missed the first couple of days of practice, also drew Meyer’s praise.

“He had a really good day today. He’s back to full speed, running with the ones and doing a good job.

Meyer said that linebacker Lerentee McCray is not going to be moving full time to defensive end.

‘We’re just playing around,” Meyer said. “It’s way too early. I don’t know where that came from. He’s going to work on some pass rush like (Brandon) Spikes does but that’s way down the road. He’s just one of those unique, strong, gifted athletes a little bit like Spikes. It’s like the Percy position on offense so now we’re creating one of those spots on defense. That’s a dual-purpose buy that everybody wants. Everybody wants those kind of guys.”

DOE’S SITUATION: Dustin Doe remains suspended from the team until he gets his legal situation cleared up. Doe was cited earlier in the year for driving with a suspended license, then on one day a few weeks ago was stopped twice by the same policeman and was arrested the second time because he was again driving with the suspended license.

“Coach Strong has been handling that situation and we’re waiting for some legal advice,” Meyer said. “We’re going to do the what’s best for the Florida football team and for Dustin Doe.”

SPIKES THE LEADER: Meyer thinks that people around the country who see Spikes with the tattoos and dreadlocks often form an opinion based on a stereotype. He thinks people should know the real Brandon Spikes.

“If you cut Brandon Spikes open, which we have, he’s got a heart of gold,” Meyer said. “My family knows him. I bet there are some people across this country that when they see him they slap a stereotype on him and that’s not true. He is a great young guy. I love that guy to death. He’s got a great heart. He helps a lot of people. He stands for the right thing and that’s a team first attitude.”

Meyer credited Spikes’ leadership for some of the improvement by the defensive line a year ago.

“I think the reason our D-line played so well without taking away from Coach (Dan) McCarney is that Brandon Spikes demanded that with his relentless effort on the field and that raised the level of play,” Meyer said.

[annarborgator]

Sucks about Paul Wilson.