Spring Practice info: another spring in the books for UF football

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Acecustis

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(continued):

POSITION TO WATCH
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Of course, this should be prefaced with after quarterbacks. Isn't that the case every spring when there is a quarterback battle? The offensive line figures to be a competitive battle with potential for a makeover despite six starters from a season ago returning.

Martez Ivey (left tackle), Heggie (left guard), McCoy (center), Tyler Jordan (right guard/center), Fred Johnson (right guard) and Jawaan Taylor (right tackle) provide new offensive line coach John Hevesy a strong foundation.

However, the offensive line continued to struggle a season ago despite McElwain's optimism in the unit at the start of the season. Ivey made a smart decision by opting to return to school. He's a talented player yet to fulfill his potential. Taylor is steady at the other tackle spot.

Redshirt sophomore Jean DeLance, who sat out last season after transferring from Texas, and redshirt junior Noah Banks, a transfer from Iowa Western College, are two newcomers to keep a close eye on this spring.

We will need Banks and DeLance, along with TJ Moore, to be ready to go and play major snaps. An offensive line that doesn't have Fred Johnson or Tyler Jordan in the two deep is instantly improved.
 

BMF

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No argument on your last point. It just feels like he’s been here forever.

Agree. Didn't he sign w/ Muschamp? And again, not sure why he'd not come back. It's not like he's going to the NFL. Maybe his injury was too severe to play 100%? He should have moved over to the DL last year, especially when RDJ was suspended (after being moved to DL in the spring).
 

Swamp Donkey

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Fred Johnson or Tyler Jordan in the two deep is instantly improved.
Fred is doing work, he just isnt talented.

Jordan.... I just don't get it. At one point he looked like a future Superstar and was arguably the best lineman as a true freshman. he's been in a free-fall since then.
 

MJMGator

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Fred is doing work, he just isnt talented.

Jordan.... I just don't get it. At one point he looked like a future Superstar and was arguably the best lineman as a true freshman. he's been in a free-fall since then.
It’s the excellent coaching he received while here.
 

BMF

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It’s the excellent coaching he received while here.

I'm guessing the entire OL, including Ivey are having a culture shock w/ the S&C changes....and they're about to get their fat asses handed to them in a few days by Hevesy. The weak, soft non-sense is about to get weeded out. Andrew Mike will probably just walk off the field....
 

williston_gator

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@GatorsScott: #Gators newcomer unis:
QB Emory Jones (14)
RB Iverson Clement (24)
RB Dameon Pierce (29)
ATH Amari Burney (30)
DB Trey Dean (35)
OL Noah Banks (55)
OL Chris Bleich (67)
WR Trevon Grimes (81)
WR Van Jefferson (87)
 

BMF

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@GatorsScott: #Gators newcomer unis:
QB Emory Jones (14)
RB Iverson Clement (24)
RB Dameon Pierce (29)
ATH Amari Burney (30)
DB Trey Dean (35)
OL Noah Banks (55)
OL Chris Bleich (67)
WR Trevon Grimes (81)
WR Van Jefferson (87)

They updated the roster on floridagators.com, but only w/ the jersey numbers. No new weights/sizes. So lazy...
 

williston_gator

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They updated the roster on floridagators.com, but only w/ the jersey numbers. No new weights/sizes. So lazy...
@NickdelaTorreGC: Heaviest on the team goes to big TJ Slaton — 6-4, 349. #Gators

@NickdelaTorreGC: #Gators early enrollee Amari Burney listed at 6-1, 224.
 

BMF

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williston_gator

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@RyanYoungSEC: #Gators also waiting for ruling on Ole Miss WR transfer Van Jefferson's eligibility.
 

BMF

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@RyanYoungSEC: #Gators also waiting for ruling on Ole Miss WR transfer Van Jefferson's eligibility.


This is such BS on the NCAA's part. There are several Ole Miss players that transferred waiting on this news. This impacts the player and the new program that they transferred into. On that note, it would be funny to see the QB that transferred to Michigan get denied!
 

BMF

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Spring Preview: UF has the numbers to be solid at linebacker
GatorBait.net previews a linebacker position that has plenty of options heading into the spring.

Florida-Gators-Football-Spring-Preview-UF-has-the-numbers-to-be-solid-at-linebacker-116154279

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida players are returning from spring break this week after taking a bit of time off between a grueling stretch of strength and conditioning and the beginning of spring practice. With spring ball set to begin on Friday, GatorBait.net takes a look at each position to provide you with our three top questions, how we think the depth chart will turn out following spring ball and more.

___________
Linebacker
___________

THREE KEY QUESTIONS

*** Which defensive ends end up playing linebacker full-time?

The biggest questions surrounding the defense all pretty much boil down to who fits where in the new 3-4 scheme. Florida had gotten small on the defensive line under coach Jim McElwain, opting largely for more athletic, speedy defensive ends. While that could create issues in the new scheme at end, it should be a boon to a linebacker position that was desperately in need of some more playmakers. Expect CeCe Jefferson and Jachai Polite to get some run as outside linebacker edge rushers. How much they play there, though, will determine how good the linebacker position will be next fall.

*** Will the new scheme make it easier on the linebackers?

One thing Florida's linebackers struggled with a year ago was gap discipline, though in fairness the line often did a poor job holding up front to keep linemen off of them at the second level. With a new 3-4 scheme, Florida's linebackers will be tasked with flying around. It's a one-gap scheme, so they will still have some well-defined gap responsibilities, but the addition of a fourth stand-up linebacker should allow the players to see the game coming downhill a bit more. It could help a group that often struggled quickly recognizing how plays were developing up front.

*** Will Florida employ a hybrid defensive back as the fourth linebacker?

As we hit on with the overall size of the defense, Florida is a bit on the smaller side right now. But that could allow some scheme flexibility in being able to get guys on the field that can play both nickel and linebacker. The Gators have several that could fit that mold, from Kylan Johnson to Amari Burney. Those type of guys could be a perfect fit for the fourth linebacker spot. They have the ability to stand up in the box against the run while also working in coverage against tight ends or slot receivers.

___________

HOW WE PROJECT THE POST-SPRING DEPTH CHART

Rush End:

CeCe Jefferson, SR
Jachai Polite, JR

Middle Linebacker:

David Reese, JR
Ventrell Miller, RFR
Rayshad Jackson, RJR

Middle Linebacker:

Vosean Joseph, JR
Nick Smith, RFR
James Houston, RFR

Outside Linebacker:

Kylan Johnson, RJR
Jeremiah Moon, RSO
Amari Burney, FR
Lacedrick Brunson, RSO

Explanation: The depth chart actually looks pretty good at linebacker, though the depth certainly leaves some concerns. There are plenty of bodies, though. Between Jefferson and Polite, Florida should be set at rush end, while there are plenty of hybrid options to help on the opposite side. What will be key for the position is getting contributions from the three redshirt freshmen. If any of them can push for a starting role, this unit looks a whole lot better.
___________

WHAT WE WANT TO SEE

Bottom line, one of Houston, Miller or Smith needs to have a big spring. Johnson, Joseph and Reese all have solid experience at this point, but all have relatively limited upside, with the possible exception of Joseph if he can be coached to be more consistent in gap discipline. Will Reese benefit from being in a system that should put him in pass coverage less?

We're also pretty interested in seeing how the hybrid linebacker role ends up shaping up. Florida could well end up running with a system that looks more like a 3-3-5 nickel type defense than a traditional 3-4 based on the availability of guys that can run and cover from that linebacker spot. Whether Florida's coaches opt to play it that way or try to stick with four bigger bodies at linebacker to ease the transition as they begin to recruit bigger bodies on the line of scrimmage will be interesting.

---------------
 

BMF

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Mullen explains plan for "aggressive" offensive installation
Florida coach Dan Mullen explained how he plans to install the offense in his first spring with the Gators.

https://florida.247sports.com/Bolt/...r-aggressive-offensive-installation-116189185

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida will begin spring practice on Friday and once again all eyes will be on the offense. A third new head coach goes into his first spring knowing massive strides must be made on that side of the ball.

So how exactly will Dan Mullen go about installing things in his spread option system?

"We've talked about it. We have an installation plan in place," Mullen said Tuesday. "It's probably pretty aggressive offensively."

Florida plans to install base looks of its offensive plays this spring. From there, the Gators can add different wrinkles to each set of plays.

Mullen will be careful not to overload his players early on, though, particularly the quarterbacks.

"Sometimes I'll cut back as we go," Mullen said. "But we're going to have a lot of our concepts in in the spring. What I mean by that is offensively we'll have the concepts. Now there might be 10 different ways for us to run a certain play, whether formationally, motioning this way, shifting. And we might only put one in so that they understand the concept."

Essentially, once players have the basics down, Florida can start to add more and layer more onto the base concepts.

"What we'll do is kind of mix and match and take different pieces," Mullen said. "We're going to run this play out of this formation and motion. Well that covered the play concept, the formation and that motion. So even though there's five different things we can run out of that formation and motion, we're only going to run the one and mix and match the concepts that way so there's not too many calls so they can get comfortable with the calls that are in."

At the end of spring, the goal is to have an offensive system in place that the players know and understand. It won't be overly complex at first, but if run properly, it should be functional.

At this point, functional would be a massive step in the right direction after nearly a decade of offensive incompetence at Florida.
 

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