Spring Primer: Gators Offense

Gators head coach Dan Mullen during his first team meeting with the Gators on the day he arrived. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)

Spring Primer: Gators Offense

Sunday, March 11, 2018 | Football, Scott Carter

A look at the side of the ball Florida fans want to see improve drastically under new head coach Dan Mullen.

By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Gators open spring practice on Friday and for the third time in eight years, a new coach is in charge of the Florida football program. The newness this time around has a much more familiar face than with Will Muschamp (2011) and Jim McElwain (2015).

Dan Mullen has nine seasons of experience as a head coach in the Southeastern Conference and prior to his stint at Mississippi State, he spent four seasons as Florida's offensive coordinator.

"I think there's certainly an advantage in having some knowledge and comfort from having been here before and understanding the expectations,'' Mullen said. "The familiarity can help the transition."

Florida fans hope so, nowhere more than on offense. Mullen left his mark on the Gators as a highly successful offensive coordinator and now seeks to do the same as head coach.

STORYLINES

46810 — Feleipe Franks started eight games a season ago for the Gators. (Photo: Kelsi Bevington/UAA Communications)

1. Another spring camp, another quarterback battle for the Gators. Redshirt sophomore Feleipe Franks has the edge in experience with eight starts a season ago. Early enrollee Emory Jones figures into the mix and redshirt sophomore Kyle Trask and redshirt freshman Jake Allen will try and prove they can challenge for the job under a new coaching staff. Mullen also plans to take a look at receiver Kadarius Toney in wildcat packages. A lot of options in Year 1. Mullen and quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson now hope to see production.

2. A popular topic every spring is which players have made strides in the offseason conditioning program and which appear to have spent too much time at the local pizza joint. The interest in the Gators' conditioning this spring is unusually high because of the coaching change and implementation of a more intense approach in the weight room under Nick Savage. Does any strength coach in the country have a more appropriate surname? The Gators have been going hard since January and based on various social media posts from players, Savage's program has challenged them. The position group to watch the closest is the offensive line. As the late, great Keith Jackson might say, the big uglies up front are the ones who make or break an offense.

3. Mullen has a history of developing quarterbacks and adjusting his offense to fit the quarterback's strengths. Since Florida's group of quarterbacks offers a variety of skills, Mullen and his staff are in the discovery phase of what works best with the talent on hand. While they will work from a base system, a large emphasis will be identifying strengths at the position to build around over the summer and into fall camp.

42218 — Running back Jordan Scarlett is back after missing the 2017 season. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)

Jordan Scarlett was Florida's starting tailback in 2016 and led the team with 889 yards rushing and six touchdowns. Scarlett was primed for a big junior season until it was announced prior to the season opener that he was suspended indefinitely in connection to a credit card fraud case that ensnared nine players total.

Scarlett missed the season but was reinstated in January and has participated in spring workouts. The 5-foot-11, 206-pound Scarlett is a tough runner who separated himself at the position by the end of his sophomore season. While his role remains uncertain under Mullen, if healthy, look for Scarlett to factor prominently into the offense.

NEWCOMER ALERT

52122 — Freshman quarterback Emory Jones enrolled early and will compete this spring. (Photo: USA Today Sports)

A freshman from LaGrange, Ga., Jones was heavily courted by Ohio State and Florida State right up until the early signing period in December. However, Mullen and Johnson connected early with Jones while they were at Mississippi State and that played a pivotal role in the Gators landing the 6-foot-3, 195-pound quarterback.

Jones is an athletic talent who can beat defenses throwing or running. His biggest obstacle this spring is to get acclimated to the college game and a more complex offensive system that he ran at Heard County (Ga.) High. As the new quarterback in town, he's already a fan favorite. Now comes the part of finding out what he can do at the collegiate level.

INJURY ISSUES

45691 — The Gators hope sophomore running back Malik Davis can be at full speed by the start of the season. (Photo: Tim Casey)

Sophomore running back Malik Davis (knee surgery) is the most prominent offensive player not at full speed entering spring camp. Davis continues to rehab from a season-ending knee injury against Georgia that spoiled another otherwise promising freshman season. He averaged 6.7 yards per carry and finished second on the team behind Lamical Perine with 526 yards.

Starting guard Brett Heggie (knee) and starting center T.J. McCoy (leg) ended last season out with injuries. Heggie is not expected to be at full speed until fall camp. How much McCoy is able to do remains unclear.

POSITION TO WATCH

42003 — Offensive lineman Martez Ivey opted to return to school for his senior season. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)

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.

READY TO SHINE

46408 — Tight end C'yontai Lewis caught only seven passes last season. (Photo: Tim Casey/UAA Communications)

Redshirt senior tight end C'yontai Lewis stands 6-foot-4, 235 pounds. He's considered a capable blocker and caught 18 passes in 2016. Lewis had only seven catches for 42 yards and a touchdown last season.

Whatever the reasons, Lewis was not involved in Florida's offense as much as most expected a season ago. He definitely passes the eye test and was one of the eight Gators teammates voted to the team's offseason leadership council. Lewis is among a position group that also includes Moral Stephens, Kemore Gamble and true freshmen Kyle Pitts and Dante Lang. Perhaps tight ends coach Larry Scott and Mullen's offense can bring out the best in Lewis.

MYSTERY MEN

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The availability of transfer receivers Trevon Grimes and Van Jefferson during the 2018 season remains unknown. Grimes (Ohio State) and Jefferson (Ole Miss) joined the program in January. Mullen reiterated during his recent speaking tour that the Gators continue to wait on a ruling from the NCAA.

Still, the Gators will get an idea of how they fit in during spring practice. Grimes (6-4, 202) is an impressive physical specimen who spent half a season with the Buckeyes last season before returning home to Florida for family medical concerns. Jefferson (6-2, 195) adds immediate experience to the roster with 99 career receptions in two seasons with the Rebels. If they are ruled eligible to play immediately, both should be immediate contributors.

DID YOU KNOW?

52123 — Florida's lack of offense in recent seasons provided punter Johnny Townsend with plenty of work. (Photo: Tim Casey)

In Mullen's four seasons as Florida's offensive coordinator from 2005-2008, the Gators averaged 373.4 yards per game in 2005, 396.1 in 2006, 457.2 in 2007 and 445.1 in 2008.

Meanwhile, in this decade the Gators have yet to average the number of total yards per game in Mullen's least productive offense at UF. The closest they have come was in 2014 (367.6 ypg) when Kurt Roper spent his only season as Florida's offensive coordinator.

QUOTE OF NOTE

47022 — Dan Mullen is back with the Gators after nine seasons at Mississippi State. (File photo)

"We'll base ourselves, obviously, out of a spread offense, which is something I believe in. But my definition of a spread offense might be different than others. I want to spread the field to make sure you defend sideline-to-sideline the entire field. I want to make sure you defend all 11 guys that are out on the field and I want to put as much pressure on the defense as possible." – Mullen on his offensive philosophy