Gators Notebook: Running game gets boost by Burton's return; Sturgis remains perfect
Sunday, September 11, 2011 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Gators unveiled more offensive looks in Saturday night's 39-0 win over UAB than in their season-opening win against FAU.
They also unveiled more running backs once speedster Jeff Demps left the game in the first quarter after he got “banged on the shoulder'' according to head coach Will Muschamp.
One of the backs helping pick up the slack was sophomore Trey Burton, a fullback/receiver who also took snaps in the shotgun on Saturday reminiscent of UF's spread-option attack under Urban Meyer.
“It felt real good,'' said Burton, a quarterback in high school. “It felt like back in high school. I enjoy that stuff.''
After playing sparingly in the opener against FAU due to an unspecified injury, Burton rushed six times for 46 yards on Saturday -- including a 5-yard touchdown run right before halftime that gave the Gators a 25-0 lead. He also teamed with freshman fullback Hunter Joyer in the backfield a few times to form a jumbo package when compared to the one that usually features Demps and Chris Rainey.
Hunter weighs 242 pounds and Burton is listed at 229. Demps and Rainey are both under 200 pounds.
Burton says the formation is called the “big regular.'' The Gators also ran Rainey out of the wildcat on Saturday, showing various formations with the SEC opener on Saturday against Tennessee coming up.
Burton hopes to continue playing a key role in the running game.
“Most importantly, it gives Demps and Rainey a breather, which will help us during the season," Burton said. "I'm thankful to get the opportunity to get some carries at halfback in this offense. I think Hunter and I really enjoy playing together and it's working really well."
While Rainey, Joyer and Burton all scored touchdowns, so did running back Mike Gillislee, who gained 79 yards on 11 carries. Gillislee's 13-yard scoring run in the third quarter accounted for Florida's final points.
“He adds value to our team because he is different than what we have,'' Muschamp said. “Mike can give us tough drive up the middle.''
JOYER'S SCORING DEBUT
Joyer's first career carry was the Gators' first touchdown on Saturday, a 3-yard run that gave the Gators a 13-0 lead late in the first quarter.
Joyer is the fourth Gator since 2008 to score on his first career carry. Burton did it a season ago as did Jordan Reed.
Former Gators defensive tackle Javier Estopinan is the other player to do it. After multiple knee surgeries, Estopinan was rewarded with a carry during the Gators' rout of The Citadel in 2008.
STURGIS KEEPS KICKING
Kicker Caleb Sturgis has been perfect since his return from a back injury that cost him the final nine games of last season.
Sturgis made field goals of 24, 35 and 28 yards on Saturday and is now 5-for-5 on the season. He has also made all nine extra-point attempts.
Saturday was the fourth time in Sturgis' career he has hit three field goals in a game.
“I'm getting to where I want to be,'' Sturgis said, noting he continues to take close care of his lower back. “I can always improve.''
CLEANING UP NEXT
The Gators were flagged nine times for 55 yards on Saturday. They also struggled inside the red zone early in the game, forced to kick field goals rather than celebrate touchdowns on three of their first four drives' inside UAB's 20-yard line.
Muschamp was not pleased by either and said they will be heavily emphasized in practice this week preparing for the SEC opener against Tennessee.
“It's demoralizing for an offense to kick field goals in the red zone,” Muschamp said. “If they make a good play defensively, we can live with that. But when you shoot yourself in the foot, that's what you can't do.
“That's what we did tonight.”
Due to the absence of Demps and Reed, who left the game due to a hamstring issue after catching two passes, Muschamp said there were communication problems on offense at times that helped contribute to some procedural penalties. There was also a holding call on right guard Jon Halapio that wiped out a Chris Rainey scoring run.
In the red zone, Muschamp added that the substitution patterns were not in sync early and that played a factor in the lack of production.
“You're never going to walk out of a game knowing you did every single thing right,” senior quarterback John Brantley said. “The first two games we've been able to fix the little bugs and clean everything up we needed to. This game, we need to clean it up and get ready for Tennessee.”
FANS OF FLOYD
With sophomore defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd sidelined for the second consecutive game due to an NCAA ruling on his eligibility, Gator fans took to Facebook on Saturday to rally around Floyd. They created a Floyd fan page that urged fans to cheer his name at the start of the second quarter.
It was difficult to hear in the press box, but Floyd is certainly not lacking for support from his coach or teammates.
“One of our brothers was down and we had to step up,'' Brantley said. “We definitely missed him.''
Muschamp released a feisty statement in his support of Floyd on Thursday night that received a lot of support from Gator fans on the Internet. The NCAA announced on Wednesday that Floyd would be suspended for two games as a result of impermissible benefits he received to finance unofficial college visits during high school.
Burton appreciated of Muschamp's public support of Floyd.
“He has our back," Burton said. "We knew from Day 1 that he had our back, especially with something like that. It's comforting."
SWAMP NUGGETS
The Gators are averaging 490 yards of total offense after two games, a 140-yard increase from a season ago. Florida had 468 total yards against FAU and 512 against UAB … Rainey is the only player among FBS schools to lead his team in both rushing and receiving after two games … Punter David Lerner made his debut Saturday, averaging 29 yards on two punts; Florida did not punt in the season opener and Lerner's first kick of the season was a 32-yarder in the second quarter that was downed at UAB's 11 … Prior to Lerner's punt, the Gators had scored 54 points, totaled 41 first downs and made eight trips into the red zone – scoring on seven of those … Receiver Robert Clark (hamstring) and cornerback Jeremy Brown (knee) did not dress due to injuries … The announced attendance Saturday was 87,483, short of a sellout for the second consecutive week after a 137-game sellout streak; UAB returned 3,800 tickets … Senior defensive end William Green started in Floyd's spot for the second consecutive week.
