Orange & Blue Debut Primer: Gators Put a Cap on McElwain's First Spring Camp
Saturday, April 11, 2015 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – They won't be on campus until late summer, but Florida head coach Jim McElwain has a message for the six offensive linemen the Gators added on National Signing Day.
“As I've explained to them, it's not like you're going to stand in line at Disney World,” McElwain said Thursday. “You're in the fast-pass line. You're on the ride right now.”
For the past four months, McElwain has been on his own whirlwind ride since taking over Florida's football program.
The Gators conclude their first spring camp under McElwain on Saturday afternoon with the annual Orange & Blue Debut spring game at Florida Field.
The lack of depth at offensive line has been one of camp's major storylines, but despite having only six scholarship offensive linemen healthy, the Gators plan to make Saturday's exhibition resemble a game rather than a glorified scrimmage.
There will be four 12-minute quarters using a running clock except for the final two minutes of each half. A 12-minute halftime is scheduled. And following regulation, there will be an untimed overtime period.
McElwain is determined to get as much as possible out of Saturday's showcase in his debut at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
“We're still working out some of the details because of the depth and how we're going to have to maybe trade some jerseys as we move along,'' he said. “But they're trying to work as much as we can to get a lot out of Saturday.”
To help you prepare for the Orange & Blue Debut, here are five things to watch:
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Sophomore Treon Harris started five games as a true freshman. (Photo: Tim Casey)
THE QUARTERBACKS
Treon Harris, Will Grier, Skyler Mornhinweg and Jacob Guy will be the guys in the white jerseys Saturday.
Harris and Grier have competed this spring for the starter's job. McElwain said this week that Grier has an advantage because Harris missed multiple practices and a scrimmage while mourning the loss of a close family member.
Mornhinweg is considered third on the depth chart and Guy, a walk-on from Pasco High in Dade City, Fla., has caught McElwain's attention because of his strong arm and size (6-5, 224).
Regardless of what happens Saturday, this competition figures to extend well into fall camp between Harris, a sophomore who started five games last season, and Grier, a redshirt freshman who was Parade Magazine's National Player of the Year his final season of high school.
What McElwain and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier hope to see Saturday is good decision-making and a lack of turnovers. Facing a talented defense behind a rag-tag offensive line and in an offensive system they are still learning, the quarterbacks face a difficult challenge.
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OFFENSIVE CHANGES
In reality, only a fraction of McElwain's offense has been installed. He mentioned recently that the team is using about 15 to 20 percent of the system that he ultimately wants to have in place.
So expect to see the Gators run a base system in which they can communicate effectively and be efficient against a defense that returns a talented secondary and defensive line that features senior Jon Bullard, redshirt junior Alex McCalister, junior Joey Ivie and redshirt sophomore Caleb Brantley.
The Gators are not only short of players in front of the quarterback. Kelvin Taylor and Adam Lane are the only scholarship running backs healthy this spring and will get the majority of the reps.
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UNTESTED LINEBACKERS
The Gators lost two starters from a year ago in Michael Taylor and Neiron Ball. And injuries to Antonio Morrison (knee) and Jarrad Davis (knee) have caused depth issues this spring.
However, the extra reps for the young group of Alex Anzalone, Daniel McMillian, Matt Rolin and Jeremi Powell should pay dividends when Morrison and Davis return.
Linebackers coach Randy Shannon has been impressed by the play of Anzalone and McMillian. While Anzalone (photo, left) played a reserve role a season ago, McMillian has made significant strides in spring camp to position himself for playing time in the fall.
Meanwhile, Rolin is finally back on the field after missing the past two seasons due to injuries and Powell is vying for more playing time after contributing mostly on special teams the past two seasons.
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PATCHWORK O-LINE
If he could have, McElwain would have certainly offered NFL hopefuls D.J. Humphries, Max Garcia, Trenton Brown, Chaz Green and Tyler Moore an opportunity to stick around after Tuesday's Pro Day and play in the spring game.
They formed the heart of last season's offensive line. Instead, you'll see a lot of new faces – several of them walk-ons -- taking the reps up front.
Offensive line coach Mike Summers and linemen Davie Sharp, No. 78, and Cam Dillard.
The two most experienced returning linemen – fifth-year senior Trip Thurman and redshirt sophomore Roderick Johnson – won't play Saturday because of injuries. Thurman is taking spring off from contact to nurse a chronic shoulder injury, and Johnson suffered a stinger-like injury during a recent scrimmage and is out indefinitely.
So, that leaves David Sharpe, Travaris Dorsey, Kavaris Harkless, Cam Dillard, Andrew Mike and Antonio Riles healthy among the scholarship linemen on the roster. The Gators will mix in several walk-ons into the lineup Saturday to fill in the holes.
If there are any 300-pounders on campus who know how to block, it's not too late to stop by the football offices for a tryout. OK, just kidding. Well, sort of.
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FRESH IDENTITY
Truth be told, spring games usually don't provide significant revelations in the big picture or direction of a program. While there is a new coaching staff in place, the Gators' roster will have more options when fall camp opens in August with the addition of the 2015 signing class.
The biggest revelations often come in the smallest details in spring games. Which players look more confident or in better shape? How do McElwain and his staff interact and communicate? Which quarterback has the better footwork or better grasp of the offense?
Those are things that are easily overlooked but could provide signs for the future. McElwain arrived with head-coaching experience and a plan that produced results at Colorado State. Over the past few weeks he has developed a relationship with his new team in a practice setting.
Next up for the Gators is to develop an identity that leads to wins on Saturdays. On this Saturday in early April, it's a chance for coaches to evaluate in game-like conditions, players to have some fun in front of fans, and for Gator Nation to be introduced to the latest chapter in the program's history.
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INJURY REPORT
These players are out: LB Antonio Morrison (knee), LB Jarrad Davis (knee), DL Jay-Nard Bostwick (personal reasons), RB Mark Herndon (knee), WR/RB Brandon Powell (foot, precautionary), DL Bryan Cox Jr. (hip), DL Thomas Holley (hip), WR Chris Thompson (excused), TE Jake McGee (leg, precautionary), OL Trip Thurman (shoulder), OL Roderick Johnson (stinger).
