Gator Knowledge

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Your 2010 Orange and Blue Review

Don't get too excited about the Orange and Blue game from the typically rosy Sun coverage. This is you turn to Gator Knowledge for the real scoop. College Spring games are wildly overhyped, you really can't learn much of anything about a team by watching it play itself. But it's April, I am desperate for football, and it is a fun time so I went. This year it was a little different, rather than splitting up the team they had the staring offense (kinda) play the starting defense (not really) and the backups play the backups. It was a lower key affair than normal - no one really blew up compared to years past.

QB: Of course the biggest issue question going into the game was about John Brantley (12). He looked pretty good. Not spectacular (which isn't realistic given he has never started), but pretty good - honestly he looked better last year. He is a noticeably better passer than Tebow and faster if not a natural ball carrier. Our only other quarterback on the roster right now (another Freshman has committed and will here come fall) is Trey Burton (13). He's a good runner and fast. Passing needs work, but he is a true freshman early enrollee, so I expect he will improve. There is also Jordan Reed (11) who came here as a QB last year, redshirted, and magically transmorphed into a TE. He wasn't much of anything as a TE other than physically big. He played a fair amount as a wildcat QB and wasn't bad at all. He can throw and runs well and with his 250lbs size is a load to bring down. Given that Brantly is not much of a runner he may get some time.

RB: None of our starting RBs played (technically Chris Rainey (3) is a WR now anyway), so most of the work went to Mike Gillislee (23) who did not show me much. He had one great play where he dodged a defensive line in the backfield with a great cut and burst for a bunch of yards. Might have been the play of the (alleged) game. The running back who did look good was Ean McQuay (44) of whom I had never heard before today. Mr. Internet lists him as small sophomore walkon from right here in Gainesville - but also claims he is a DB some of the time. Whoever he is he ran well, breaking some tackles and causing some misses. I'll call him the player of the "game." Sophomore fullback TJ Pridemore (45) still doesn't wildly impress as a blocker.

WR: Carl Moore (9) had the biggest day and looked fairly polished - he used his body well to shield the ball. Andre Debose (4), the hotshot recruit from last year who was expected to replacec Harvin but got hurt, played a bit. You can see the innate talent that gets people excited, but he is raw as hell and more athlete than football player at this point. Justin Williams (7) is a WR again. Redshirt sophomore TJ Lawrence (18) made a few nice plays.

OL: The offensive line was only sporting one starter - tackle (left last year, but I bet right year as we move to a righty QB) Xavier Nixon (73). That is in part because of injuries. I should acknowledge that James Wilson (66) one three guys who started at guard for us at points last year (with Carl Johnson (57) and Mo Hurt (74)) played. Overall the line play was spotty and there was pressure. But given that there is a legitimate chance our starting lineup for Miami of Ohio will be Marcus Gilbert (76), Hurt, Mike Pouncey (55), Johnson, and Matt Patchan (71) - none of whom were on the field - that doesn't mean much.

DL: On defense not one of our starters last year played (which meant I spent a lot time trying figure out who was who and get numbers straight). On the DL especially that is injuries. Lawrence Marsh (90) had surgery on both his hips. Anyway obviously if the OL gave up rush that means the DL generated it which is a good sign. In the press I heard all about how Earl Okine (91) and Duke Lemmens (44) were coming on (about time for the senior Lemmens). In the game Lemmens had a not bad sack. That's it.

??: Now we will pause for a new feature of Gator Knowledge: mystery man of the Gators D. This week's mystery man is #48. Mr. Internet gives two 48s: NT Neiron Ball and LB Jonathan James (both freshman, the latter a redshirt). Because I had bad seats and bad eyes I don't know who it was running around and showing some good instincts. From size I would guess the lineman (although both are listed as 214lbs), from movement I would guess linebacker.

LB: Speaking of linebackers last years big recruits Jelani Jenkins (43) and Jonathan Bostic (52) were both on the field. That's about it. I bet Bostic starts between Brandon Hicks (40) and AJ Jones (16) as he looked a little better. Either way those two vets will make sure the corps is alright - although I would not mind seeing a little more effort out of Hicks occasionally.

DB: In the secondary the big question is who starts at corner opposite Janoris Jenkins (1) or to put it another way who will be the corner that gets thrown at. Based on what I saw it should be true freshman (another early enrollee) Josh Shaw (29) who was head and shoulders above our other DBs. He's far from perfect and will get burned some in his trial by fire, but he made some plays. The only other DB I noticed in a crowd of otherwise nonentities was Miguel Carodine (42), another apparent walkon from Gainesville I had never heard of before (this one a senior). He got badly burned on an early touchdown, but that was the only time he stood out and was on the field a fair amount.

ST: Janoris Jenkins returned a punt. I don't like that - if he goes down the secondary is in trouble.

Bottom line: This team will be a contender for the SEC East, but not really for the SEC title. Probably looking at the Capital One Bowl.

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