Only three practices into preseason camp in shorts and helmets,
it's far too early to judge where the Florida Gators are physically. But
UF coach Will Muschamp seems to like where they are mentally.
“I'd like to compliment
our players on the retention from the spring,” Muschamp said Monday.
“It's very evident in our first three days on both sides of the ball,
the retention we have from the spring, which is a credit to our players
and the job they did this summer.
“We are far ahead, after three practices, (of) where we thought we would be at this point. Not just on defense, but on offense.
“Only
three practices, don't get ahead of ourselves here, but we are far
ahead mentally than I thought we would be at this point.”
Muschamp
said the players already have shown a good grasp of new offensive
coordinator Brent Pease's scheme, and the players on both side of the
ball seem comfortable with what they're doing.
“I
would say in the spring is when they started getting a full
understanding of what to expect,” Muschamp said. “You start to see those
(adjustments) happen and the coaches don't have to coach it after every
single play.
“Right now, we're starting to have a pretty good grasp of what we're trying to do. That's what I see.”
Even though it's early, Muschamp said team chemistry also appears strong.
“It's
certainly better than it was a year ago,” he said. “A lot of that has
to do with the staff being here a year, there's a little bit more
understanding of what to expect.
“There
are a lot of things that are a little — I don't want to use the word
easy, because nothing's easy — better. Talk to me after practice 18 and
then we'll see how close we all are.”
Muschamp
expects to find out more about his team later this week. The Gators go
into full pads Wednesday and will hold their first scrimmage Saturday.
