GATOR GRIDIRON
ROGER FRANKLIN WILLIAMS
In the aftermath of a less than stellar offensive showing in last Saturday's Orange and Blue game, it is easy to overlook a number of positive elements that the Gators will take into the fall.
First, it should be noted that large swaths of key Gator players did not even participate in the spring game due to a variety of factors, especially injury. For example, RBs Jeff Demps, Mike Gillislee, Mack Brown and Mike Blakely all missed the game. The offensive line was decimated by injuries by the time the Orange and Blue game came around and veteran defensive standouts Janoris Jenkins and Jaye Howard missed the entire spring due to surgery.
Based on Saturday's performance, the defense, especially the DL, offers great potential for 2011. Highly touted rising Sophs Sharrif Floyd, Dominique Easley and Ronald Powell capped off an impressive spring with excellent performances in the spring game with DT Floyd dominating. Add Omar Hunter and Jaye Howard, who both missed Spring practice, and you have a D-line that has the talent and potential to be dominating in 2011. The secondary, with Sr Janoris Jenkins, already one of Florida's all-time best DB's, returning to go along with 2010 starting CB Jeremy Brown and speedy, hard-hitting new starters Matt Elam and Josh Evans, should be strong. The linebacking corps needs to step up their 2010 performance, but on the positive side, Jonathon Bostic in the middle and outside LB Jelani Jenkins bring experience as returning starters. Add the fact that Head Coach Will Muschamp is a former SEC caliber (at Georgia, but we'll not mention that) starting Safety who comes to the Gators as HC because of the reputation he earned as one of college football's best D-Coordinators at places like Texas, Auburn and LSU and the Gators might just have the recipe for an outstanding 1980's style defense.
No comments:
Post a Comment