Steve Addazio: Preparing For Battle in the Trenches
Tuesday, November 6, 2007 | Football
By: Ben Schlesselman, UF Sports Information
It is a dubious task for anyone when asked to protect sophomore quarterback Tim Tebow. It's among the many responsibilities that third-year Florida offensive line coach Steve Addazio deals with. In the midst of his 23rd year of coaching, Addazio prepares Florida's offensive linemen for war in the trenches. It's teaching the technique and fundamentals required to withstand the relentless play of the opposition in the trenches.
It's also the physical, hand-to-hand combat that he teaches to allow UF running backs to dart through holes in the defense or to allow the quarterback adequate time to see the field and make plays. His voice booms and projects the furthest of anyone across the field. But it's not all football to Addazio because he is also molding boys into men.
Heading into the beginning of the magical national championship run during the 2006 season, Florida's offensive line for the most part was considered a weakness and work in progress. Addazio put on his construction hat and sculpted a stout line that withstood the toughest of tests before the Gators triumphed over Ohio State in the Tostitos BCS National Championship game. He turned those criticisms into praises and deserves due credit for the strides Steve Rissler, Drew Miller, Carlton Medder and Phil Trautwein made, among others.
A year later with only the departure of Rissler and Florida's offensive line has yielded only three sacks in seven games and has allowed the explosive offense to take flight. The line hasn't given up a sack in season-opener against Western Kentucky and rattled off a four-game streak Tennessee, Ole Miss, Auburn and LSU where it didn't allow a sack.
The humble senior Carlton Medder talked about the impact that Addazio has had on and off the field.
“He talks to you about how you lead your life off the field and that will show how you're going to play on the field,” Medder said. “I messed up. I was a mess-up. He came into my life, made an example of me and basically helped turn my life around. He's tough and hard-nosed and he knows what he wants to get out of his players and usually gets it.”
Fellow senior Drew Miller has provided stability, lining up under center for one of the nation's top offensive attacks.
“He's intense and he knows what he wants to develop us into the players he sees in us,” Miller said. “He takes it as a challenge and makes us better people on and off the field.”
Miller has made such a seamless transition from guard to center people wouldn't believe he changed positions. Medder graded a career-high and team-best 94 percent against Troy. Meyer says freshman Maurkice Pouncey is one of the best young linemen he has ever seen and could be among the best the school has seen. Trautwein, despite missing the season to date, is a legitimate All-SEC caliber player.
Redshirt freshman Maurice Hurt stepped in after Pouncey's injury against Tennessee and stabilized the guard position. Freshman Mike Pouncey has seen action on special teams and is being groomed to be a bonafide center to replace Miller. Redshirt freshman Jason Watkins has been about as solid as you can get. Highly-recruited Durham, N.C., native redshirt freshman Carl Johnson has seen more playing time as the season progresses.
The depth across the board is hard to believe especially when you factor in that highly-touted freshman James Wilson, Rivals.com's top offensive guard in the nation a year ago, hasn't seen the field yet while recovering from a nagging knee injury.
Meyer was quick to recognize Addazio in fall practice before Trautwein suffered a stress fracture in his foot.
“The thing about that young guy (Phil Trautwein) is that he's bought into it,” Meyer said. “He developed the way he has in two years and you saw that change because I believe it was resistive to coaching and we've overcome that with Steve Addazio.”
Meyer and Addazio have teamed together to form one of the country's most lethal punt and kick return units and utilized the dangerous Brandon James to exploit his abilities. Florida hadn't allowed a punt return yard until the game against Kentucky.
The motivation factor also comes into play when Addazio preps the team with his renowned pep talks to give them an extra boost or what has become known as “Vitamin Addazio.”
"You've got a group of guys getting ready to prepare themselves mentally," Addazio said. "You've got to help stoke that fire. That's what it's all about. It's a game played with passion."
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