INSIDE SLANT
When more than 65,000 fans show up for a glorified scrimmage, signs point to great expectations for Florida heading into the 2009 season.
That's why Florida coach Urban Meyer didn't take many chances when the Gators wrapped up the spring with their annual Orange and Blue scrimmage. None of Florida's 11 starters on defense played, save for a brief cameo from free safety Major Wright on special teams. Starting quarterback Tim Tebow played just one half.
"We're where you want to be," Meyer said. "We can't lose our edge. If we didn't have all those minor dings, you would have seen a hell of a team jog out there today. We envision this is it, where we want to be."
Meyer said that offseason conditioning and fall practices will be important for Florida to heal and keep from becoming complacent. Many project Florida to repeat as Southeastern Conference and BCS champions because the majority of starters on all sides of the ball (11 defense, seven offense, three special teams) are returning from a 13-1 team.
"We just have to be careful," Meyer said. "We'll have the most difficult offseason that Florida has ever had. Then we'll have the most difficult training camp they've ever gone through. We're going to make it so hard that they have a hard time picking up the Street & Smith magazine telling them how good they are."
Florida will count on its returning leaders -- Tebow on the offensive side and senior middle linebacker Brandon Spikes on the defensive side -- to keep the underclassmen in line.
"We'll force it on them," Tebow said. "Our goal is to make it like that for everybody. You want to make guys hurt."
NOTES, QUOTES
--UF backup quarterback John Brantley is looking like a more-than-capable heir apparent to senior Tim Tebow. Brantley capped an excellent spring by completing 12 of 18 passes for 214 yards and three touchdowns. Florida coach Urban Meyer said after the game that the strong-armed Brantley, a redshirt sophomore, is "starting to look like an SEC quarterback."
--Florida's depth at safety could be as good as any program in the country. Incumbent starters Major Wright and Ahmad Black are back, with five-star recruit Will Hill and Dorian Munroe as the backups. Munroe was projected to start last season before missing the year with a torn ACL. "If you have four starters, that's great," Munroe said. "You can't take a day off or someone will pass you."
--Florida coach Urban Meyer said that sophomore Jeff Demps, sophomore Chris Rainey and incoming freshman Andre DeBose will compete for the slot receiver/playmaking position vacated by the departure of Percy Harvin to the NFL draft.
SPRING MOVERS:
WR Frankie Hammond -- The redshirt freshman receiver capped an excellent spring with four catches for 131 yards and two touchdowns in the spring game. Hammond has shown good hands this spring and the ability to generate yards after the catch with his speed and elusiveness. After redshirting last season, look for Hammond to get significant playing time in 2009.
LB Jon Bostic -- A true freshman, Bostic enrolled at Florida in January in order to take part in spring drills. Bostic, a middle linebacker playing behind senior Brandon Spikes, expected he was going to redshirt this season. But after capping a strong spring with four tackles in the Orange and Blue game, Florida coach Urban Meyer said Bostic is in contention to battle for a starting job on the outside this fall.
C Sam Robey -- Robey made the most of an injury to returning starting center Maurkice Pouncey, putting together an excellent spring and taking the majority of snaps with the first team. In fact, Robey's strong spring may allow Florida to move Maurkice Pouncey back to left guard in a projected starting offensive line that would include Mike Pouncey (right guard), Carl Johnson (left tackle) and Marcus Gilbert (right tackle.)
DT Omar Hunter -- After a disappointing first year on campus, Hunter had made the most of his opportunities this spring. Hunter dropped 25 pounds (to 305 pounds) and has been more active this spring both getting to the quarterback and stopping the run. A five-star recruit from Buford, Ga., Hunter was forced to redshirt his first year because of elbow, back and ankle injuries. This fall, Hunter could wind up in the defensive tackle rotation with starters Lawrence Marsh and Terron Sanders.
DT Jaye Howard -- The redshirt sophomore took advantage of the numerous injury problems on Florida's defensive line this season by getting to the quarterback and stopping the run. Howard arrived at Florida at 270 pounds. Now at 305 pounds, Howard is versatile to play both tackle and end positions.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "He's a legitimate football player. We have a lot of confidence in him, and feel terrific about him. The exclamation point came out there for him today." -- Florida offensive coordinator Steve Addazio, on backup quarterback John Brantley's performance in the spring game.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL2009 OUTLOOK: Florida has all of the pieces in place to repeat as national champions. The Gators return all 11 starters on defense from their 2008 season and seven starters on offense. Quarterback Tim Tebow returns for his third year as a starter, giving Florida one of the best leaders and best players in college football under center. The key will be finding a dynamic playmaker on offense to replace receiver Percy Harvin and to build continuity on the offensive line following the loss of starting tackles Phil Trautwein and Jason Watkins.
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: New offensive coordinator Steve Addazio experimented with some I-formation packages in practice, though both quarterbacks (Tim Tebow and John Brantley) went out of the shotgun for the entire spring game. Look for Florida to rely heavily on junior tight end Aaron Hernandez and sophomore receiver Deonte Thompson in the passing game until more playmakers emerge in the offense. Running back Emmanuel Moody had a strong spring until being sidelined the final week with a hand issue. Moody, Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps should figure prominently in the running game.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: With all 11 starters back, Florida's defense is both deep and athletic. Last year, Gator defenders played with a chip on their shoulder because they felt overshadowed by Florida's high-octane offense. That won't be the case this year. Senior middle linebacker Brandon Spikes will enter this season a Butkus Award candidate. Up front, the Gators should get some solid pressure on the quarterback with returning defensive ends Carlos Dunlap and Jermaine Cunningham. Florida's secondary is deep enough to sustain injuries to any four of its starters and not miss much of a beat. Redshirt freshman cornerback Adrian Bushell had a solid spring and could push incumbent starters Joe Haden and Janoris Jenkins for playing time.
SCOUTING THE SPECIAL TEAMS: Senior kick returner Brandon James, who sat out the spring with a broken foot, is among the best punt and kickoff returners in the Southeastern Conference. The kicking game is strong with junior punter Chas Henry back and senior placekicker Jonathan Phillips back for a fifth year of eligibility. Phillips made 12 of 13 field goals last season and booted a 52-yard field goal in the spring game.
ROSTER REPORT:
--Junior OL Maurkice Pouncey had shoulder surgery to repair a labrum issue and will be out three months,
--FB Steven Wilks suffered a torn ACL during the final week of spring drills and could be out for the 2009 regular season,
--DT Lawrence Marsh is expected to undergo surgery for an abdominal issue, but should be back in time for fall drills.
--Freshman TE Desmond Parks suffered a dislocated knee cap during spring drills and is out indefinitely.
Previous Report: 03/26/2009
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