Shane Matthews: Roper reminds me of Spurrier

[Slevin]

Former Florida quarterback Shane Matthews joined 1010XL radio in Jacksonville on Tuesday to talk about the upcoming season for the Gators, and he made a comparison that will have Florida fans downright giddy. Talking about new offensive coordinator Kurt Roper, Matthews compared him to his former head coach. "I love the way he coaches offense and coaches quarterbacks," Matthews said. "The little things he teaches reminds me a lot of how coach (Steve) Spurrier taught the passing game. "Not saying that's what's going to happen, but the last time a guy came from Duke to call plays we did OK. Not saying Roper's going to be that successful, but I like what he's done. I think the players have responded to him and his offense. I think they're excited because he's going to give them an opportunity to make plays in space." Matthews has been around the program a good bit lately, taking the time to sit in on some meetings with Roper in the spring and helping Roper coach up the quarterbacks at Florida's Friday Night Lights event over the summer. He senses a different air around the team coming off a 4-8 campaign, mostly thanks to what Roper has brought to Gainesville. "This team is excited," Matthews said. "I think they're together, pretty healthy right now and actually have a lot of depth." Disgust.

 

[the_alphagator1906]

Former Florida quarterback Shane Matthews joined 1010XL radio in Jacksonville on Tuesday to talk about the upcoming season for the Gators, and he made a comparison that will have Florida fans downright giddy. Talking about new offensive coordinator Kurt Roper, Matthews compared him to his former head coach. "I love the way he coaches offense and coaches quarterbacks," Matthews said. "The little things he teaches reminds me a lot of how coach (Steve) Spurrier taught the passing game. "Not saying that's what's going to happen, but the last time a guy came from Duke to call plays we did OK. Not saying Roper's going to be that successful, but I like what he's done. I think the players have responded to him and his offense. I think they're excited because he's going to give them an opportunity to make plays in space." Matthews has been around the program a good bit lately, taking the time to sit in on some meetings with Roper in the spring and helping Roper coach up the quarterbacks at Florida's Friday Night Lights event over the summer. He senses a different air around the team coming off a 4-8 campaign, mostly thanks to what Roper has brought to Gainesville. "This team is excited," Matthews said. "I think they're together, pretty healthy right now and actually have a lot of depth." Disgust.

I LOVE the Avatar my friend!

 

[GatorJ]

This is consistent with him absolutely hating Pease.

 

[t-gator]

Shane Mathews also said we had the best coaching staff ever assembled at uf when we hired Weiss.

 

[Gator Fever]

Shane Mathews also said we had the best coaching staff ever assembled at uf when we hired Weiss.

And this - Matthews just hated Meyer for the most part.

"Matthews added that whichever quarterback does win the job will be in much better hands than John Brantley was over his final two seasons in Gainesville now that offensive coordinator Brent Pease is in charge. “I think we’re going to be much better in the next few years with Brent Pease calling plays because he’s creative, you’re going to see him trying to get a lot of mismatches,” he said. “Nothing against Charlie Weis, it’s just our quarterbacks in the last three-to-four years have not been coached. There’s no other way to put it – they have not been coached.”
He did not place all the blame on Florida’s coordinators, however, as Matthews also pointed out that theGators have been lacking playmakers over the last few years, which he also attributed to mistakes in recruiting.
“We don’t have playmakers around the quarterbacks either when you look at it,” he said. “Tim had a lot of guys that played in the NFL, and he’s a phenomenal player and was a phenomenal player. When Brantley stepped in, he had nobody around him if you think about it."

 

[oxrageous]

I see Matthews is popping off again.

 

[MJMGator]

At this point, it all just sounds like blah, blah, blah. I'm so sick of all the speculation and ready to see it on the field. Let's do this!

 

[78]

Why do I find it ironic hearing Matthews lament about a recent lack of playmakers?

 

[GatorStud]

Well, Shane's not part of my mental all time list but as long as he is positive around the kids, cool.

 

[-THE DUDE-]

At this point, it all just sounds like blah, blah, blah. I'm so sick of all the speculation and ready to see it on the field. Let's do this!

At this point i don't care if it's fluff it's just a hell of a lot more enjoyable to read some positive things around the UF program than the constant negativity. I understand why there are some negative posters that will refuse to believe anything positive until they see it...but just for me personally I'm just tired of reading negativity. Im ready to see some live action and the improvements in the team this year.

 

[crosscreekcooter]

This. No matter your opinion of Shane Matthews, he at least earned the right to mouth off.

 

[oxrageous]

This. No matter your opinion of Shane Matthews, he at least earned the right to mouth off.

You haven't earned that right, yet you keep doing it.

 

[oxrageous]

At this point, it all just sounds like blah, blah, blah. I'm so sick of all the speculation and ready to see it on the field. Let's do this!

At this point i don't care if it's fluff it's just a hell of a lot more enjoyable to read some positive things around the UF program than the constant negativity. I understand why there are some negative posters that will refuse to believe anything positive until they see it...but just for me personally I'm just tired of reading negativity. Im ready to see some live action and the improvements in the team this year.

 

[Swamp Queen]

Not sure why I expected to read anything positive being the initial post.

 

[NavetG8r]

This. No matter your opinion of Shane Matthews, he at least earned the right to mouth off.

You haven't earned that right, yet you keep doing it.

 

[MJMGator]

At this point i don't care if it's fluff it's just a hell of a lot more enjoyable to read some positive things around the UF program than the constant negativity. I understand why there are some negative posters that will refuse to believe anything positive until they see it...but just for me personally I'm just tired of reading negativity. Im ready to see some live action and the improvements in the team this year.

Not trying to be negative. Just tired of all the predictions, speculation, reports, etc. and ready for some actual GAMEDAYS!

 

[kepler]

Shane is Gator royalty, whatever he says is good with me. I just don't really believe it.

 

[crosscreekcooter]

This. No matter your opinion of Shane Matthews, he at least earned the right to mouth off.

You haven't earned that right, yet you keep doing it.

 

[-THE DUDE-]

Not trying to be negative. Just tired of all the predictions, speculation, reports, etc. and ready for some actual GAMEDAYS!

I wasn't really trying to call you out in saying that...just felt like your post was a good one to respond to

 

[TN G8tr]

He keeps popping off eventually he may get it right. In this case lets hope so.