holding the line
Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 6:51 am
Florida's starting offensive line is doing well. The second group, however, still needs a lot of work. And they need to start showing progress quickly. That's what coach Urban Meyer said after Tuesday's practice as fifth-ranked Florida prepares for No. 22 Tennessee at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Florida Field.
"You walk in your place of business, everybody has a job and there (are) some guys who don't quite work as hard as the other guys," Meyer said. "The difference in football, tough sport, violent sport, is now if somebody doesn't do their job, now there's a chance somebody will be free and hit the quarterback...and that happened in practice (Tuesday). It's not a starter. It's a guy who has more interest in other things than to protect the quarterback's backside."
Even without senior left tackle Phil Trautwein, who is sidelined with a stress fracture in his foot, Florida's starting offensive line has protected sophomore quarterback Tim Tebow well through two games.
But those games were against Western Kentucky and Troy, two teams whose pass rushes cannot compare to what the Gators will face in conference play. Depth on the line is a concern.
"This is now the SEC and Tennessee," Meyer said. "The 2s have to be accountable and right now they're not. Some are but a good chunk are not... First five guys are good. Second five guys aren't real good. That's part of the discussion we just had out there. I'm not sure how bad the second five want to be good. Mike Pouncey does and Maurice Hurt does, but there (are) other guys that need to get going. It's got to get going fast."
The defensive line also has to continue its development. Meyer said after Florida's 49-3 win over Western Kentucky he was concerned about the interior push. Tennessee features junior tailback Arian Foster, who finished with 125 yards and two touchdowns on 23 attempts Saturday in the Volunteers' 39-19 over Southern Mississippi.
In Tennessee's opener, a 45-31 loss at California, Foster had 89 yards on 13 carries. Sophomore tailback Montario Hardesty rushed for a touchdown. Tennessee can also throw it. Senior quarterback Erik Ainge completed 32 of 47 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns with an injured thumb against the Golden Bears. This past weekend, Ainge threw for 276 yards and two scores.
"I read somewhere where (Tennessee is) going to run the ball on us and I'd do the same thing," Meyer said. "They have a good offensve line and obviously excellent running backs and we are not up to standard yet. We're getting closer at the defensive line position. The defensive line has to step up."
Meyer said he has been pleasantly surprised with the progress of freshmen defensive ends Duke Lemmens and Justin Trattou, who had Florida's first interception last week against Troy. There are no plans to move freshman defensive end Carlos Dunlap to defensive tackle.
"They're doing a really good job," Meyer said. "Duke Lemmens had shoulder surgery and his body, I was walking by and I pointed to the weight room. I had to show him the weight room because it looks like he never lifted before but those two kids have been really good players for us. We are getting more out of them than I thought."
Sophomore cornerback Markihe Anderson had a minor setback in Monday's workout but he is expected to be "full go" this weekend. Anderson has been hampered with a strained knee. Meyer said redshirt freshman cornerback Jacques Rickerson has started to do good things.
Sophomore Riley Cooper and junior Louis Murphy are the favorites to replace fifth-year senior wide receiver Andre Caldwell, who vacates his starting job this week with a sprained knee. Cornelius Ingram, Jarred Fayson and David Nelson are also expected to contribute.
"You walk in your place of business, everybody has a job and there (are) some guys who don't quite work as hard as the other guys," Meyer said. "The difference in football, tough sport, violent sport, is now if somebody doesn't do their job, now there's a chance somebody will be free and hit the quarterback...and that happened in practice (Tuesday). It's not a starter. It's a guy who has more interest in other things than to protect the quarterback's backside."
Even without senior left tackle Phil Trautwein, who is sidelined with a stress fracture in his foot, Florida's starting offensive line has protected sophomore quarterback Tim Tebow well through two games.
But those games were against Western Kentucky and Troy, two teams whose pass rushes cannot compare to what the Gators will face in conference play. Depth on the line is a concern.
"This is now the SEC and Tennessee," Meyer said. "The 2s have to be accountable and right now they're not. Some are but a good chunk are not... First five guys are good. Second five guys aren't real good. That's part of the discussion we just had out there. I'm not sure how bad the second five want to be good. Mike Pouncey does and Maurice Hurt does, but there (are) other guys that need to get going. It's got to get going fast."
The defensive line also has to continue its development. Meyer said after Florida's 49-3 win over Western Kentucky he was concerned about the interior push. Tennessee features junior tailback Arian Foster, who finished with 125 yards and two touchdowns on 23 attempts Saturday in the Volunteers' 39-19 over Southern Mississippi.
In Tennessee's opener, a 45-31 loss at California, Foster had 89 yards on 13 carries. Sophomore tailback Montario Hardesty rushed for a touchdown. Tennessee can also throw it. Senior quarterback Erik Ainge completed 32 of 47 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns with an injured thumb against the Golden Bears. This past weekend, Ainge threw for 276 yards and two scores.
"I read somewhere where (Tennessee is) going to run the ball on us and I'd do the same thing," Meyer said. "They have a good offensve line and obviously excellent running backs and we are not up to standard yet. We're getting closer at the defensive line position. The defensive line has to step up."
Meyer said he has been pleasantly surprised with the progress of freshmen defensive ends Duke Lemmens and Justin Trattou, who had Florida's first interception last week against Troy. There are no plans to move freshman defensive end Carlos Dunlap to defensive tackle.
"They're doing a really good job," Meyer said. "Duke Lemmens had shoulder surgery and his body, I was walking by and I pointed to the weight room. I had to show him the weight room because it looks like he never lifted before but those two kids have been really good players for us. We are getting more out of them than I thought."
Sophomore cornerback Markihe Anderson had a minor setback in Monday's workout but he is expected to be "full go" this weekend. Anderson has been hampered with a strained knee. Meyer said redshirt freshman cornerback Jacques Rickerson has started to do good things.
Sophomore Riley Cooper and junior Louis Murphy are the favorites to replace fifth-year senior wide receiver Andre Caldwell, who vacates his starting job this week with a sprained knee. Cornelius Ingram, Jarred Fayson and David Nelson are also expected to contribute.
