Work In Progress: O-Line Readies for SEC 'Glass-Eaters & Fire-Breathers'
Wednesday, September 23, 2015 | Football, Chris Harry
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Mike Summers is in his 36th season as an assistant coach, the last 15 years working almost exclusively with offensive linemen.
Before coming to Florida in 2014, his employers were -- in chronologic reverse -- USC, Kentucky, Arkansas, the Atlanta Falcons, Louisville, Ohio U, Oklahoma State, University of the South, Oregon State, Northern Illinois, Texas A&M and Kentucky again. That's a lot of stops, a lot of linemen and a lot of circumstances.
But even Summers can't recall a state as unique as the Gators faced entering the 2015 season armed with a group that could claim just 10 combined starts at the FBS level; with all 10 from one guy.
“I don't know that I've ever been in a situation where we've had this few returning players and had to work with a group of younger players and have them in such vital positions,” Summers said Wednesday. “But I'll follow that up by saying I don't know if I've ever been more enthused about coaching a group of guys than I am with this group. Their spirit to be Florida Gators, their competitive edge to want to make us a good offensive line, has been there. They want to be coached.”
He smiled.
“So for this to be No. 36 for me and a lot of people think that it's old hat or routine, it's been anything but.”
Basically, Summers was handed fifth-year senior Trip Thurman -- and his 10 starts, all coming last season -- and a bunch of unknowns. The start of fall practice showed 19 offensive linemen on the UF roster, including six true freshmen. As the Gators (3-0, 1-0) head into Saturday's Southeastern Conference slugfest with Tennessee (2-1, 0-0), Summers appears to have settled into an eight-man rotation up front that includes three true freshmen.
In fact, the rookie trio of tackles Martez Ivey and Fred Johnson, plus guard Tyler Jordan, played a couple series together during UF's 14-9 win at Kentucky last weekend.
What was going through Summers' mind as he sent out a unit that was 60 percent freshmen for an SEC opener?
“That's probably something that can't be aired in public,” he said.
Summer was quick to walk that back. He did, after all, go with the three willingly in a game that was very much in the balance; and on the road.
“To be honest with you, I was excited about that; that they have given our coaching staff enough confidence that we can put them out there in that situation,” he said. “They did a good job while they were out there. What we're trying to do is build a foundation for the future. Whatever that means right now, these guys are going to be our future, so as much as we're going to play them, and as much as they're going to contribute right now, that's only going to mean we'll be that much better down the road.”
That road figures to put all of them, at some point Saturday, up against the Volunteers. Tennessee has yet to play an SEC game, but they did take on and fall against then-No. 19 Oklahoma in overtime at home in Week 2. The Vols rank 12th in the league in total defense (394.7 yard per game), including eighth against the run (158.0 ypg) and 11th against the pass (189.0 ypg), but that doesn't tell a truly accurate story of their skill and talent level.
“They're young up front, but they're playing a lot of guys who are making plays,” Florida coach Jim McElwain said.
On the offensive line, UF has gone with a starting lineup of sophomore David Sharpe (left tackle), Thurman (left guard), sophomore Cam Dillard (center), sophomore and converted defensive tackle Antonio Riles (right guard) and Fordham senior transfer Mason Halter (right tackle).
The three freshmen have been shuttled in at various times, with the 6-foot-5, 305-pound Ivey, the No. 1 offensive tackle prospect in the nation when he signed in February out of Apopka (Fla.) High, making his collegiate debut against Kentucky -- a good debut, according to Summers.
Above: True freshman left tackle Fred Johnson (No. 74), who played one year of offensive line in high school, has drawn praise from Florida coaches. Below: Guard Trip Thurman (No. 63) is the offensive line's lone senior and only player with FBS experience, while true freshman Martez Ivey (No. 73) figures to become a fixture at left tackle for the Gators. (Photos: Tim Casey)
To say the unit is a work in progress is an understatement, but that's the phrase most easily tossed around. Most appropriate, too.
“Every day, there are challenges of just trying to work from a perspective of their vision [for] what we're doing -- it's really broad,” Summers explained. “Block this guy on this play; this is a zone play; this is a power play. We've been trying each week and each day to dial that vision down into a real narrow, specific, attention-to-detail effort so that it's not just about learning the plays. It's about how to run the plays.
“The younger you are, the less experience you have, the less of those details you pay attention to. You're more concerned about, 'OK, I've got this guy.' But at this level, just knowing who you have doesn't mean you're going to get them blocked. Footwork, landmarks and all those things are constantly preached.”
In the opener against New Mexico State, the Gators cranked out 606 yards of offense, including 222 on the ground against the undermanned Aggies. The going got tougher in Week 2 against East Carolina, which limited UF to 373 yards, but the Gators managed 168 on the ground.
The numbers fell back against against the Wildcats: 245 total yards, just 120 rushing. The pass protection for quarterback Will Grier was adequate at times, but not nearly what it needs to be.
“We've got to have consistency. We've got to keep chugging, keep working on it each day,” Riles said. “We've got to be able to take control of the game and do it ourselves. We've got to continue to gel as a group and an offensive line; work on what we need to work on. We'll see what happens.”
Continued improvement -- building on the experience each week presents -- is what needs to happen. Summers has been struck with pleasant surprises throughout his brief time with the unit. Example: He raved about the progress of Johnson, the 6-6, 305-pounder who started just one year on his high school team in West Palm Beach.
He hopes to rave more.
About all of them.
But remember: Seven of the eight players in the rotation had never -- as in never -- started a football game at the major college level. If they thought Kentucky was a grind, wait till they get a load of Tennessee.
Or Ole Miss next week. Or at Missouri the week after. Then LSU. Then Georgia.
“We're going to start playing some real D-linemen – glass eaters and fire breathers,” McElwain said. “You're going to have to get off the ball, play with pad level and get your second step in the ground; snap your hips. Part of that comes just with experience. Doing it over and over and over and over.”
Now comes the next opportunity for growth. McElwain talks constantly about taking advantage of every opportunity because there are only so many.
Especially for guys who have had so few.
“I've still got a good enough memory to remember spring practice, so I feel really good about where we've advanced to at this point,” Summers said. “Also, in saying that, we're not close to where we need to be. So there's a lot of work left to be done.”
