"One major boost for this younger line is that new offensive line coach Frank Verducci, who brings in eight years of NFL experience, *won't be leaving its side much.* Unlike former offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Steve Addazio, Verducci won't be concerned with coaching the line and an entire offense."
I said it alot. and yes Im going on broken record on you guys.. but find me one OC in any major D-1 program... who was also the (only) O-line coach and they were successful. OC-QB connection makes sense... dude callin the plays up top working directly with the dude calling and running the plays on the field... but the O-line... they need attentiona nd when you gotta gameplan and make adjustments in the game and coach up a line... your not going to do well.. and (in my opinion).. the last two years proved that - especially so last year. Yes.. Addazio had to play HBC for a short period too... i get it... but you cannot be effective as a OC.. if you also have to coach up the O-line. You watch.. young or not.. the O-line will be the most improved unit on the entire team this year. They will have some growing pains.. no doubt.. but they will be the most improved. Woody On Thu, Mar 31, 2011 at 1:24 PM, Shane Ford <[email protected]>wrote: > Young Florida offensive line adjusting to changes > > > > Florida center Jonotthan Harrison blocks for quarterback John Brantley at a > recent spring practice. (Photo courtesy of UF Communications) > > > By Edward Aschoff > Gainesville SUN Staff writer > > Published: Thursday, March 31, 2011 at 12:00 p.m. > Last Modified: Thursday, March 31, 2011 at 12:28 a.m. > > > > > > > > > > > > Last year, Florida's senior-laden offensive line was supposed to be one of > the Gators' biggest strengths. A Pouncey twin remained, two former Army > All-Americans resided there, making the line the backbone. > > > > Instead, missed assignments, early snap issues and injuries turned > Florida's veteran line into more of a liability than a strength for the 8-5 > Gators. > > > > This spring, that experience is gone. There are no seniors and only the > right side of the line — rising junior tackle Xavier Nixon and rising > redshirt sophomore guard Jon Halapio — has any real game experience. > > > > Fresh faces litter Florida's new line, including redshirt freshman Chaz > Green, who began spring as Florida's starting left tackle. Though he missed > a month last season because of hernia surgery, Green was able to work out > for most of the season in practice with the guys he's lining up next to. > Though they weren't all starters, Green said the youngsters grew as a unit > while watching the first-teamers last fall. > > > > "We're a young group, but we're a close group, too," Green said. "We can > pull between each other. We have a real good chemistry." > > > > That chemistry will go a long way for a line now having to cope with > learning a new system after getting comfortable with the spread offense. > > > > Halapio, who started seven games at right guard last season, said technique > and the blocking scheme have all changed in Charlie Weis' pro-style offense. > Halapio said one major difference is that each lineman is now required to > know what the quarterback and the skill position players are supposed to do > and what they are thinking at all times for every play. That means knowing > when and where each critical hole will open up on plays, making for quite > the mental workload. > > > > "I feel like I'm starting over again," Halapio said. "I just got into > college. > > > > "Everything's different from last year." > > > > One guy really having to adapt to starting almost completely over is > redshirt sophomore Jonotthan Harrison. The 6-foot-3, 300-pounder's only > start came in last season's Outback Bowl, where he lined up at left tackle. > With the coaching change, he entered spring as the starting left guard, but > was recently moved to center. > > > > Playing some center in high school, Harrison was "shocked" but "excited" > about the move, even if it does come with the added responsibility of > calling assignments for his line mates. > > > > "Centers are required to make more of the IDs and everything now, so I'm > getting used to that," Harrison said. > > > > Redshirt freshman Ian Silberman has moved from backing up Nixon at right > tackle to left guard, Green said. > > > > One major boost for this younger line is that new offensive line coach > Frank Verducci, who brings in eight years of NFL experience, won't be > leaving its side much. Unlike former offensive coordinator/offensive line > coach Steve Addazio, Verducci won't be concerned with coaching the line and > an entire offense. > > > > Halapio, Harrison and Green all agreed that having their own position coach > was an upgrade, but were also happy with the job Addazio did with them. > > > > Though it is in the very early stages, Florida's young linemen seem to be > pleased with how they and the rest of the offense has looked thus far. There > will be stumbles that will no doubt carry into the season, but the outlook > from players has been nothing but positive, which adds much-needed > confidence to the unit. > > > > "As an offense as a whole, we're looking real good," Harrison said. "We're > going to be amazing. I feel like this all is going to mesh together as soon > as we get used to playing with each other and everything, especially with > the young O-line." > > > > -- > GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! > 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions > 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 -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 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
