Let's discuss the offensive line

Swamp Donkey

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OL is of course the heart of the offense. No offense, passing or running, looks good with a bad OL. We are replacing almost all of ours, so I thought it would be nice to break this out of the other threads.

In spring practice so far it looks like we are running with:

1s
Stone- Heggie- Buchanan- Bleich- DeLance


The center situation sucks.
 
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Swamp Donkey

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Practice Notes: Tempers flare as Franks keeps edge, D-line stars

THE OFFENSIVE LINE STILL HAS A LONG WAY TO GO

We'll say this: The first-team offensive line probably isn't quite as far behind as we expected early on this spring. That's the good news.

The bad news is right now Florida sure as heck better stay healthy because the second-team offensive line is pretty close to a disaster. Having said that, there is plenty of time for those guys to develop and it's not at all unexpected right now given the fact that essentially three true freshmen are starting on that unit right now, as well as one redshirt freshman.

The first-team offensive line has actually looked quite decent at times in run-blocking, which is great news. If Florida can rely on the run game, at least, it should allow the offense to be pretty functional.

Right guard Chris Bleich had a really nice block in space at the second level today on a run up the middle, sealing off Brad Stewart to the outside for a big gain on a Franks keeper.

The tackles actually were relatively sound in pass protection for the most part on Saturday as well, though Jean Delance and Stone Forsythe are still occasionally beaten off the edge. Delance was beaten once today by Jabari Zuniga for an easy sack.

But both units really struggled with interior pressure on the pass rush on Saturday. The second-team offensive line made the offense virtually inoperable with its inability to pick up interior tackles and linebackers coming free on the blitz; twists and stunts are really confusing the second-team unit right now.


.....

4) On the second team late in practice, Ethan White continues to flip from left guard to left tackle, while T.J. Moore flips from right guard to right tackle. Both are cross-training for a few snaps each practice there.

5) Center Kingsley Eguakun moved into the second-team unit some today in 11-on-11 work. Backup center Tanner Rowell has struggled through the spring snapping the ball.
 

Swamp Donkey

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Don't expect UF O-line to be finished product by end of spring

Florida has about six to seven guys that have at least some actual playing experience. One of them, versatile lineman Noah Banks, hasn't practiced this spring with a vertigo condition that caused him to collapse at practice during bowl prep in December. It's unclear if or when he might be able to return.

The others -- Stone Forsythe, Brett Heggie, Nick Buchanan, Chris Bleich, Jean Delance and Richard Gouraige -- have done OK so far in practice but have had their struggles. The second-team unit? That's another story, one that Mullen is willing to admit is a bit of an adventure right now.





That whole article is good also. Click on it if you havent already.
 

Gatorraid81

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Sure there is going to be some growing pains, but ultimately we should be better in the long run. We seem to be more talented in that area now than we've been in awhile.
 

maheo30

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I'm not worried. According to Will Sammon, Houston Underwood is getting reps with the 2nd team. We are all good. Hevesy has this.
 

Swamp Donkey

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Yeah, in the long run, but in the long run we are all dead and the Earth is a frozen snowball.
alexandria-ocasio-cortez-AP-620x413.jpg
 

ThreatMatrix

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I’ll be worried until I’m not. We started poorly last year and didn’t know what we were lacking until KY.
 

maheo30

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The o-line isn't like other positions. Even with poor recruiting, a highly ranked freshman at RB, WR and CB can come in and contribute right away. It'll take a few cycles to fill the roster with quality o-linemen. Even then, it will take a season or two for them to develop. McElstain really screwed us over in that area.
 

Gator Fever

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Its all on the Tackles probably and whether they can pass protect decent. They need to have it down by the opening game.
 

Theologator

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Love this guy. Key point that’s a great takeaway no matter what you’re doing or who you’re trying to coach in life, business, etc.: Pursue improvement every day. If you can make even just a little each day, then over time you’ll transform.

Also happy that the issues appear to be the sorts of things you can coach, technique, assignments, etc. Size, strength & effort aren’t problems (except the EE’s are obviously maturing but on schedule.)
 

LagoonGator68

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Hevesy isn't worried so why should we be. He expects to have 8 ready to play and a grad transfer is coming in the summer.

These guys have had a year to learn the scheme and 2 years under Savage....excluding the 3 EE's of course. White being able to contribute will be a bonus if it happens. It's not like we're using a Fordham grad transfer who can't bench 225 even one time and taking all comers from the student body.....lmao....
 

Renard904

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I'm nervous about the early games. These guys badly need experience.
I wholly expect us to struggle early. Hopefully we can win these early games while the O-line is developing. I think they'll be dominant in the second half of the season. We just have to survive the first 3-5 games. Mullen's system is fairly simplistic for O-linemen. So there shouldn't be much of a hurdle athletically. The gains will need to be mental in nature.
 

Concrete Helmet

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A couple of takeaways I see from this.
I don't believe we will have an elite pass blocker on the roster at least for another year or so. The good news is that the 1st defense isn't over running our 1's right now as defense usually has the upper hand in early Spring and Fall practices. Franks will have to make a little quicker decision to bolt from the pocket if sh!t isn't looking good a second or two after the snap. No, I'm not wanting him to be our leading rusher but 2nd and 4 or 5 is a playcaller's dream compared to 2nd or 3rd and 16...In the early season this will be a priority. It's also good news to see they are run blocking reasonably well which means their physical conditioning(strength) is there.

Second is we need the emergence of a Freshmen....Not to become a starter but to motivate some of the upperclassmen who aren't starters to be better players anyway. As a Redshirt Sophomore, Junior or such, nothing would motivate me more than seeing the Coach's heap praise all over a true Freshmen and watch them give some 1st and 2nd team reps to him instead of me....iron sharpens iron.
 

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