Gators Football Notebook: Helmets, Shoulder Pads, More Work
Saturday, March 21, 2015 | Football, Chris Harry
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The question was put to Florida coach Jim McElwain and the answer was not surprising. Not at all.
How much is the difference in the offense McElwain's staff is teaching the Gators during spring drills versus what the team was running during Will Muschamp's four seasons and three offensive coordinators?
“Quite a bit,” McElwain said.
The variances will start with an actually center-quarterback exchange and go from there, but with base principles woven in that are the same in most offenses. Obviously, after just three days of spring ball -- with Friday's workout the first in shoulder pads and helmets -- the Gators remain in incremental install mode, with sparse numbers to work with on the offensive line and a competition at the quarterback.
In other words, things are just getting going.
UF, though, is about where it's expected to be.
“'We've had three days of install,” McElwain said. “There's a heck of a lot more formations, motions shifts, different personnel groups, so that's a lot of the stuff that still needs to go in. But they're adapting and communicating and I feel pretty good about it actually.”
Added offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier: “Anytime you install a new offense, there's a large transition. The idea is to give them a lot of information, put them in a situation where they're forced to think and try to play fast. Then you go back and reteach and they'll get it. You continue to build from there.”
McElwain has seen enough progress to be encouraged, but just as important in the process are the mistakes. They addressed live on the field, but each player now has an iPad and access to downloads of practices and cutups.
“So there's really no excuse for not seeing it all,” he said. “They can [review] it on their own time. They don't have to be in the building to take a look and get better. And as they begin to move forward, the preparation is the key to success. It's just continually an evolution of teaching and a way of doing things.”
That includes tempo. The McElwain way is brisk, with no wasted time. "Create chaos," is how he put it and that means fighting through fatigue. Friday's practice actually ran three minutes over the planned time, thanks to what he called some "do-overs." Doesn't sound like such a big deal, right?
Wrong.
"As I explained to them, you know that 'my bad," deal?" McElwain said. "Guess what? In life, you don't get a second chance. You get one chance to do it right. There aren't any do-overs. So the importance of understanding [is] do it right the first time. Those are lessons that help carry you through more than just the game of football.
MORE QB FODDER
Not exactly earth-shattering news here, folks, but the first day in shells didn't bring about any developments on the depth chart.
And, yes, both quarterbacks are progressing.
Don't expect to hear too much praise -- or too much criticism -- when it comes to the duel between incumbent sophomore starter Treon Harris and redshirt freshman Will Grier.
Updates will be mostly generalities. Like this one.
“It's a learning curve, a steep one right now for them,” Nussmeier said. “They weren't under center last year, so we're starting from that [and] talking about getting in a stance, proper hand placement to take a snap. You're talking about things that if you don't focus on little things, they become major issues. We started from the basic premise and we're doing a really good job of being eager, wanting to learn and studying extra. Like anything, it's going to take a little time.”
EXTRA POINTS
The team will practice again Saturday, but there are no plans to have any sort of scrimmage. “Be a lot more heavy laden with some situation work, especially on third down,” McElwain said. “We'll get our stacks and bunches in [Saturday] and then red personnel group, so there's a ton of install going still as we're rolling forward.”... The lack of numbers on the offensive line (just seven available) will be an issue throughout the spring, but it's one the coaching staff understands and will deal with. “It forces you to practice a little bit different,” Nussmeier said. “You have to monitor the amount of reps those guys are taking. We've modified and done things a little differently than we would traditionally do them." ... Third-year sophomore linebacker Matt Rolin, who's missed the last two seasons with injuries suffered during training camp, is moving around well for a unit that also is down in numbers, what with juniors Antonio Morrison and Jarrad Davis sidelined and rehabbing from knee injuries. “Because of the depth at linebacker, he's not short on reps, as a lot of those guys. So he's getting plenty of opportunities to get himself on film and trigger and go make plays,” McElwain said of Rolin, who tore an anterior cruciate ligament last August. “I haven't noticed any thing holding him back.”
