10:03 pm | August 11, 2018 | Go to Source | Author: Robbie Andreu
The Florida Gators would have to rank their first official camp practice a success Saturday.
The offense and defense both had good moments and big plays, the team got a lot of work in on individual drills and special teams — and no one got hurt doing the two-hour practice in the late-morning heat at the UF Recreation Sports Fields.
Members of the media were invited to watch the practice.
We’ll offer observations from the three major phases of the practice — individual drills, seven-on-seven and 11-on-11.
Drills
- UF’s lack of depth at cornerback is obvious. Cornerbacks coach Charlton Warren had only seven CBs to work with, and three of them were walk-ons.
- The running backs looked good catching the ball out of the backfield. Lamical Perine and Jordan Scarlett both showed good, soft hands and looked natural catching the ball.
- Slot receiver Kadarius Toney is tough to cover because of his quickness, but nickel Chauncey Gardner-Johnson suffocated him on a pass in the flat. Toney got zero separation and Gardner-Johnson broke up the pass.
- Cornerback Marco Wilson intercepted a Feleipe Franks pass over the middle.
- Brian Edwards broke up a deep pass intended for Van Jefferson.
- Jaylin Jackson, the preferred walk-on from Tampa, looked really quick running his routes, and showed good hands. He’s on the small side, but that doesn’t seem to deter or limit him.
- The Gators worked on a lot of special teams, spending time on kickoff returns and punt returns and punt cover.
- Adarius Lemons, Tyrie Cleveland, Malik Davis and Toney returned kickoffs.
- During the first break, the quarterbacks had to run sprints, with coach Dan Mullen joining in, while the other position players rested. Maybe they did something the coaches didn’t like in the first part of the practice.
Seven-on-seven
- Franks threw a perfect pass over the middle to Jefferson for a 20-yard gain.
- Tight end Lucas Krull had his hands on a pass down the middle, but walk-on defensive back Nick Olerich managed to break it up.
- Freshman quarterback Emory Jones threw a bomb to Jefferson for a touchdown.
- Franks threw a long touchdown pass to Freddie Swain.
- Jones threw a strike over the middle to Daquon Green for a big gain.
- Trevon Grimes beat cornerback Marco Wilson deep and Franks delivered a strike for a touchdown.
- Kyle Trask completed a deep pass to Green.
- Jones threw a long TD pass to Cleveland.
- Green caught a deep pass from Jones.
- Gardner-Johnson had a near interception of a Franks pass over the middle.
- Franks did a nice job of going through his progressions and find Scarlett open for a completion in the flat.
11-on-11
- While the quarterbacks and receivers stood out in seven-on-seven, the defense dominated when all 22 players were on the field.
- Outside linebacker Vosean Joseph sacked Franks.
- A Franks deep pass for Green was broken up by true freshman cornerback Trey Dean III.
- The offensive line struggled throughout in pass protection, getting beat on the edge and up the middle at times.
- Cornerback C.J. McWilliams broke up a pass intended for Jefferson over the middle.
- True freshman defensive end Malik Langham sacked Jones.
- West Virginia transfer Adam Shuler sacked Jones.
- Trask threw a perfect pass over the middle for a completion to Jefferson.
- Gardner-Johnson blew up a wide receiver screen pass behind the line.
- Defensive tackle Luke Ancrum batted down a pass.
- Malik Davis had a nice run up the middle. He does not appear hampered at all by his knee that was operated on last fall.
- Franks hooked up with Green on a deep crossing route.
- Jefferson made a leaping catch over cornerback Brian Edwards on a 50-50 deep ball.
- Jaylin Jackson almost broke a screen pass for a touchdown.
- Redshirt freshman James Houston IV had a big hit on Lemons at the line of scrimmage.
- On a 50-50 deep ball, Gardner-Johnson broke up a pass intended for Jefferson. Gardner-Johnson appeared to have a great overall practice, making plays all over the field.
- Wide receiver Rick Wells caught a deep pass in the flat and appeared headed for a touchdown, but he pulled up with what appeared to be a leg cramp.
- True freshman Dameon Pierce had about a 20-yard run.
- Walk-on defensive back Patrick Moore intercepted a tipped pass.
Overall, it appeared to be a positive practice (not much yelling from the coaches) — and everyone seemed to come out of it fine physically.
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