The
talk among the players and coaches during training camp has been that
the Gators are going to be a much-improved team in Will Muschamp's
second season. Well, it's about time to find out. The opener is only a
week away now.
“I
think we've improved tremendously,” Muschamp said Friday. “I've told
our guys we're not going to talk about it (anymore). We need to line up
and do it. Talk is cheap. We need to go line up and play.
“I
can sit here and tell how I feel. At the end of the day, we'll be
judged on Sept.1, and how we perform and then the following weeks from
that on every Saturday.”
The last time the Gators performed in The Swamp, they made a mess of things in a 21-7 loss to arch-rival Florida State.
Citing
that game, Muschamp said several times over the summer that UF needed
to put on a good performance for its fans in the opener. So, don't
expect the Gators to hold back anything on offense or defense against
Bowling Green.
“No,
we're going to play,” Muschamp said. “I don't think you hide things. I
think you go out and play the game. That's what we need to do.
“We need to continue to show improvement as a program, and that's what we plan on doing.”
Offensive
tackle Matt Patchan, who has been injured for much of his career,
likely will miss the opener with a strained pectoral muscle, Muschamp
said.
“He
will probably be out the first game,” Muschamp said. “He strained it
Saturday, the day after the scrimmage. We tried to work him back in
Monday and it was sore. We needed to take off some contact, but that's
where we are.”
Muschamp said starting tight end Jordan Reed, who missed several practices with a sprained knee, is back to 100 percent.
“He's
practiced going back to Monday. Monday night we cleared him,” Muschamp
said. “We were going to do some partial stuff with him and he ended up
feeling pretty good and he got most of every snap Monday.
Muschamp
said there's a chance that true freshman offensive tackle D.J.
Humphries (sprained MCL) will return next week in time for the opener.
“We're
hoping to get (him) back, possibly Tuesday or Wednesday,” he said. “He'
really flexible in his movement and doing that stuff, so we feel pretty
good.”
Muschamp
said injured Buck linebacker/end Ronald Powell (ACL surgery) has moved
to the final phase of his rehab. There still is no timetable for his
return.
“He's
started his last phase, of cutting, or part of his last phase, I'd
say,” Muschamp said. “He hasn't put pads on or anything yet, but he's
cutting and changing direction.”
Also
on the injury front, Muschamp said cornerback Jeremy Brown (wrist) will
be re-evaluated Tuesday to determine his status for the opener.
Muschamp
said Mack Brown and true freshman Matt Jones continue to be in a tight
battle to claim the No. 2 tailback position behind senior Mike
Gillislee.
“Right
now, Mack and Matt will both play at the running back position and
we'll see how that separates them in the first ball game,” Muschamp
said. “Omarius Hines will get some opportunities there, and Chris
Johnson.”
In
another tight position battle, Muschamp said the coaches still have not
decided who will start at cornerback, where four players (Marcus
Roberson, Jaylen Watkins, Loucheiz Purifoy and Cody Riggs) are vying for
two positions.
“Those
will be game-day decisions,” Muschamp said. “We've got some guys
playing at a high level, but as much nickel and dime as we play, they're
all starters to me.
“I
know how important it is to write the guy's name on the first line. The
first three games last year we were 75 percent nickel and we're getting
into some dime looks this year.
“You're
talking about the first three games (Bowling Green, Texas A&M and
Tennessee) probably close to 90 percent of the time we're going to have
five or six defensive backs on the field.”
On the offensive line, Muschamp said senior James Wilson is the starter at left guard.
In
an attempt to find out if any UF players are suspended for the opener,
Muschamp was asked if anyone was not going to play for non-injury
reasons.
Muschamp's answer was quick and succinct.
“No,” he said.
Muschamp
said three walk-ons — defensive back Tim Clark, running back Scott Peek
and defensive tackle Cole Gilliam — have been awarded scholarships.
“They're
guys that have been in our program and done a good job academically and
represented our program the right way,” Muschamp said. “Any time you
have an opportunity to reward those guys, it's always good.”
Muschamp
said talented wide receiver Andre Debose still needs to find the
consistency that has eluded him for most of his UF career.
“He
needs to be more consistent as far as his assignments are concerned,
finishing plays down the field, and continue to work at those things,”
Muschamp said. “He certainly has the ability, but you've got to do it
all in the game. You can't just talk about it.”
