Great! That is the best message we could get coming out of spring practice - because - heading into spring practice - I thought that the play of backup QB was the weakest link on this team.
The second thing was finding a RB. I was proud of Chris Scott leading all rushers. He's our "Rudy". I still don't know why Moody did not play - but now the coaches can tell Moody - pull your head out of your butt - or else we'll play Chris Scott. Chris Scott averaged - was it 6.5 yards? - behind a poor offensive line. Imagine what happens when the Pouncy's get back in there. OR put Chris Scott at fullback and you have one hell of a FB - who can block, run, and catch. Chris Scott makes up for losing K Moore at RB.
The official stats say - Chris Scott averaged 6.5 yards per carry with the orange (1st string offense - actually 2nd string since our first string OL is out with injuries). But "only" 4.7 ypc with the Blue (2nd string offense? - actually 3rd string ).
I don't care that Chris Scott is not as fast as rainey or demps. All he has to do is be able to run between the tackes and gain at least 3.4 yards per carry. I am not convinced that rainey and demps can run between the tackles. I agree that rainey and demps are more likely to break a long run/catch once they get out in space - its that getting them out in space - that is the problem.
WR - We have enough talent out there - all competing against each other - I don't think it is a concern. It makes me mad that we are having to count on playing a true freshman (A Debose) next season - no disrespect intended. If we are having to count on true freshmen - we have a lot of room for improvement. What is the deal with all these 4 and 5 star WRs we have had in development? Do we need a new WR coach?
We've got the deep pass working (fast WRs and great QBs). We have incredible athletes that can take a short pass the distance. Now if we can just find a RB - other than Tebow - that can run between the tackles - we are set. Hopefully Moody will stop being a head case or Scott can be the man.
DTs - we now seem to have plenty. I guess we are actually a little short of DEs now that some of those DEs grew into DTs. But we can move LBs up or even a big safety like Will Hill or Dee Finley.
Being the greedy SOB that I am - I'm thrilled that no other team wants to hire Charlie Strong as a head coach. He has another year and he is going to throw some many little twists into that defense and showing no mercy on offenses. I can't wait to see what he does to Tennessee.
Now we have 90 - 100 days to split hairs over which of the WRs run their routes the crispest. Or which of the safeties will be feared the most (Wright's OB hit is a big hit on Utube). Or which lineman can eat the most big macs at once.
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [gatornews] [OrlSentinel] John Brantley's play overshadows Tim
Tebow at Gators' spring game
From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
Date: Sat, April 18, 2009 9:23 pm
To: [email protected]
John Brantley's play overshadows Tim Tebow at Gators' spring game
GAINESVILLE - When a quarterback's post-game media attention trumps the crowd surrounding Tim Tebow, you know that quarterback had a monster day.
John Brantley took ownership of Saturday's Orange and Blue Game in the same way Coach Urban Meyer hopes he does the starting quarterback job in 2010.
The Gators backup -- a talent 75 percent of the teams around the country wouldn't mind having as a starter right now -- threw for 265 yards with three touchdown passes and two rushing scores in the Orange team's 31-21 win over the Blue team in front of an announced crowd of 65,000 in The Swamp.
After concluding his low-key interview, Tebow said into the microphone "Here's John Brantley," mimicking Ed McMahon introducing Johnny Carson.
Saturday was Brantley's introduction of sorts after limited action in 2008 and missing last year's spring game with a broken knuckle. Brantley switched from the Orange team (the backup squad) to the Blue-team starters after Tebow skipped the second half.
"Incredible arm, incredible vision," starting center Sam Robey said of Brantley. "He's going to be a helluva quarterback."
Having Tebow for another season gives Brantley the luxury to hone his quarterback management skills, something Meyer and Tebow remind him of constantly. The best managerial move Brantley made all day was throwing to redshirt freshman wide receiver Frankie Hammond, who finished with 131 yards receiving.
The big arm is apparent, but Brantley's next progression is having memory loss and not sulking.
"They remind me of it every day," Brantley said. "Just forget a bad play and move to the next. (Meyer) knows I can get frustrated easily."
Tebow knows his 6-foot-3, 220-pound successor won't barrel over defensive linemen like the Heisman Trophy winner does, but Brantley showcased an adequate scrambling style Saturday with 23 yards. The performance was enough for Meyer to call Brantley "like Alex Smith" in his spread attack.
Tebow, who completed 7-of-9 passes for 83 yards and a score in one half of play, said he lends positive encouragement to his understudy.
"I've gone through a lot, so rather it's just (telling him) you might need to show more intensity out there, or maybe 'Hey, go have fun,'" Tebow said.
Meyer knows Brantley won't win the game running the ball, but he's worried more about Brantley's lack of poise turning into poison.
"(He has) to be able to command the huddle," Meyer said. "Manage the game and not pout when he has a bad play and it takes him two series to get it out of his system. That's his history here. It's because he cares."
He's cared for more than a decade, ever since grasping the history of his father, John Brantley III, a former Gators quarterback in the late 70s. A successful spring has given Brantley the confidence to quarterback the team he's always loved.
"I just wanted to live my dream," Brantley said. "I have dreamed about this since I was 6-8 years old."
Read Jeremy Fowler's blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/swampthings and e-mail him at [email protected]
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2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions
2008 National Football Champions |
Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996),
Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us
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