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August 5, 2009

Mark Wheeler
GatorBait.net Assistant Editor

It has finally arrived - Gator football is back in session with the start of fall practice. Bright and early Thursday morning Florida will hold their first two-a-day practice out at the practice fields in preparation for the season ahead. Can the Gators retain supremacy atop the SEC East and make a run at their third national title in four years? Follow the team this season as we find out the answers. GBN will be there every step of the way with daily practice reports, photo galleries, notebooks, interviews, video features and much more.

Here are a couple of lists for Gator fans to look over while you wait for our first live practice reports from the field to be posted in the Alley starting at around 6:30 Thursday morning.

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TIME TO SHINE: If the Gators are to successfully compete for a National Championship, these five players will need to bring their 'A' game.
1. Tim Tebow, Sr., QB: It takes but one word to describe this selection - 'Duh'. Despite the fantastic spring performance turned in by backup quarterback John Brantley (though it needs to be noted, he faced defensive backups a lot of the time) and the entire two-deep returning on defense, this season hinges on the health status of the most dynamic player in college football. End of story. If he remains healthy and performs as well as expected, the Gators will be almost impossible to beat. If he doesn't, though they will still be good, it's a whole new ball game.
2. Brandon Spikes, Sr., LB: Because there are so many experienced players returning on the talented defense, his role as a leader maybe isn't quite as significant when compared to Tebow on offense, but still, Spikes is the heart and sole of the defense and one of the nation's leading play makers to boot. He's gotten a little bigger in the off-season, it will be interesting to see if he has shed some of that extra weight, and if not, how well he carries it.
3. Aaron Hernandez, Jr., TE: He was up and down last season. He wasn't there for the Hawaii game, but returned for the Miami contest and went on a mini run where he was very active in the offense before seeing his production fall off during the middle portion of the season. Then at the end, he reemerged in the offense. Not only can he get down the field in the intermediate passing game, he has become a weapon in the option offense with his ability to make plays off of the shovel pass underneath when the defense is focusing on the option pitch to the outside.
4. David Nelson, Sr., WR: Halfway through last season he looked like he was one year away from finishing up what was basically a nondescript career as a Gator. However, then something happened. A light clicked on, and he started to contribute to the team on the field rather than just be a good guy off of it. Yes he came on in a big way at the end of last year, but to have success this season, he'll have to take it to the next level. There's a big difference in being able to work yourself free to get open when you are on the field with Percy Harvin and Louis Murphy, compared to doing it when they aren't around and you draw one of the opposing teams better players in coverage. If this season results in Nelson at least matching his career numbers to this point (21 catches, 5 touchdowns), he will have done his part.
5. Marcus Gilbert, Jr., RT: His inclusion on this list isn't to in any way insinuate that he is the best offensive lineman on the team. Yes he has a chance to be a better than average right tackle - but there's still a couple of guys on the offensive line who are better players. To understand why he made the list, simply reread what is said about Tebow above. At his size, if he sees that contact is about to happen, he is able to lower his shoulder and give just as well as he gets. What the Gators need to worry about is Tebow taking a blindside hit while in the pocket. Since Gilbert is responsible for his safety on the backside, that makes him as important as any player on the team.

IT'S THEIR TIME: Though these five players have performed to a certain extent over the years when called upon, none of them have been considered top notch performers thus far. This fall these Gators will all get an opportunity to make their mark.
1. Riley Cooper, Sr., WR: There's no doubting that he has shown the ability to be a big-play receiver in the Florida offense. He is averaging a touchdown roughly every three times he catches the ball (9 touchdowns in 30 catches), while picking up almost 18 yards per reception. Those are impressive numbers by any standard. At the same time, because he is one of the more physical skill positions on the team, he has been a big asset in the running game. What he hasn't done to this point is be a consistent part of the passing game. That will need that to change this year.
2. Carl Johnson, Jr., OL: It might not be fair to include him in this list of players who have yet to prove they can be top notch performers when, in fact, he held down a starting job on what might have been the best offensive line in the nation last season. While he has done more than anyone else on this list, heading into his junior season, there's still question marks as to where he fits in on the line. He looks more comfortable on the inside, but if he can get his weight in the 330-335 range, there's no reason to think that he can't hold down the left tackle position. If he is much heavier than that, it limits him somewhat setting up against outside speed rushers.
3. Emmanuel Moody Jr. RB: If you were to compare expectations coming in with actual production, to this point, Moody has had somewhat of a disappointing career. From not having the offense down pat at first, to showing a tendency toward getting banged up, there hasn't been a whole lot of positives to date. Even his 417 yards and 7.2 ypc average from last year are diminished somewhat because most of those yards were piled up in junk time when the game was already out of reach. With Harvin gone, more carries will be available. It will be interesting to see how many Moody can claim.
4. Matt Patchan, Soph., LT: You would be hard pressed to find a player in recent Florida history who seems to be as snake-bitten as Patchan when it comes to non football related scrapes and bruises (that is if you consider a gunshot wound a scrape or a bruise). Physically he is starting to put on the necessary weight to compete at offensive tackle. If he can get his technique down, he is strong, athletic and determined enough to be an enforcer on the line.
5. Carl Moore, Sr., WR: Yes he came in last year with the high expectations that go hand-and-hand with the five-star accolades he received coming out of junior college. No, he isn't a burner or a big-play, stretch the field, type of receiver, but a successful season from him would be a good 20 catches while working the underneath patterns in the Gator's passing attack.

IMPACT FRESHMEN: With what very little Florida lost from last year's team, there are very few available openings on the depth chart to members of this past signing class. However, these five could push for limited playing time.
1. Andre Debose, Athlete: He's been super hyped up - and rightfully so - but it's unrealistic to think he (or any freshman for that matter) can single handily replace what Percy Harvin has been able to contribute the last two years. If he can approach 500 yards total offense (Harvin put up 700 as a freshman), that will be asking more than enough of him.
2. Jon Bostic, Linebacker: Over the spring he showed exactly why he was deserving of his Rivals100 ranking coming out of high school. He's big enough to man the middle and fast enough play on the outside. He of course isn't going to beat out Spikes in the middle, but he could give Brandon Hicks and A.J. Jones a run for their money on the strong-side if needed out there.
3. Desmond Parks, Tight end: After an amazing physical transformation his first couple of months on campus (he gained over 25 pounds), his spring was cut short with a knee injury. Because he is one of only two scholarship tight ends on the roster, if he is able physically, he'll have a chance to play some.
4. Jelani Jenkins, Linebacker: With what the Gators are returning, there's really not an expectation that a freshman linebacker, even one who was rated as five-stars, can get on the field without having gone through spring practice. However, with the status of Dustin Doe up in the air, Jenkins might sneak in there, and should at the very least see some special teams action.
5. Mike Gillislee, Running back: With several of the backs concentrating on the Percy Position, there are only three true scholarship tailbacks on the roster. With the injury history of Moody and Chris Rainey, the third guy in line, Gillislee, might be pressed into action at some point if other moves aren't made - namely putting Jeffrey Demps and Brandon James at tailback.

FALL SUPRISES: While these five may not have done much so far, if there are going to be some pleasant surprises this fall, it wouldn't be at all shocking if they came from this group.
1. James Wilson, Soph., OL: He's battled injury after injury while in Gainesville. A year ago, he was thinking of transferring out, but stuck around and actually looked like he was about to make a move up the depth chart, but he has had some summer health issues to deal with. If healthy, he could be someone to watch out for at left guard.
2. Dorian Munroe, Sr., S: Back during the last two games of the 2006 season, when he stepped in for Tony Joiner, he looked like he was well on his way to an All-SEC type of career. However, he didn't do a whole lot in 07 and then sat out all of last year with a knee injury. He returned over the spring and was listed as a co-starter. He has the ability, and if he can stay healthy he has the chance to be a contributor.
3. Frankie Hammond Jr., Fr., WR: Because Cooper made his decision public to come back for one more year, combined with everyone anticipating the arrival of Dubose, Hammond Jr. is being overlooked somewhat. He's a youngster with a ton of upside and could be a huge surprise coming out of camp.
4. Jaye Howard, Soph., DT: Last year the Gators starters on the inside - Terron Sanders and Lawrence Marsh - were solid but unspectacular. Howard tore it up this past spring and has a burst off the ball to go with great strength. While the two above are better against the rush, Howard has displayed an ability to get to the quarterback.
5. Justin Williams, Jr., WR: While he hasn't done much outside of special teams and was able to show very little over the spring, believe it or not, Williams has some talent. He's not a burner by any stretch of the imagination, and doesn't possess the greatest set of hands, but he deserves inclusion here because of how hard he has worked, the type of teammate he has been and the fact that if he makes a big jump forward, it might be the feel good story of the year for the Gators.

BATTLE ROYAL: 3 Position Battles to Watch
1. Percy Position: During his appearance at the Jacksonville Gator Gathering Urban Meyer first stated publicly that the three players competing for the Percy Position would be Demps, James and Debose. Interestingly enough, according to Meyer, Rainey wouldn't factor at the position.

The winner is... While the position was a big part of the offense and centered on one player while someone with Harvin's unique talent was available, here's betting that the carries are a spread around a little more this time around. Demps may get the majority of the touches, but watch for Debose to be a factor as well. Though James is a special teams phenom, he has done very little with his limited opportunities out of the backfield thus far.
2. Starting Running back: Judging by their participation level over the spring, this job is wide open. Rainey had more chances and yardage last year, but when healthy (and it hasn't been easy for him to remain so), Moody might be a better overall package of size (for blocking purposes) and speed out of the backfield. Taking Demps out of the equation, means that Gillislee has a chance to be the third guy. The guess here though is that Demps would see action at tailback well before Gillislee sees the field as a freshman.

The winner is... If someone is the starter, it is likely in name only as the coaching staff has shown a tendency over the last four years to spread the ball around among their backs rather than have a work horse (unless of course you count Tebow). Manuel and Rainey have a chance to be a thunder and lightening type of combination from the tailback position while Tebow handles the short yardage situations and Demps and Debose get their touches from the Percy Position.

3. Safety Spots: Over the spring, who lined up with the starters depended on the day of the week. One day it would be Ahmad Black and Major Wright while the next it would be Will Hill and Munroe. If there's no injuries, this might not be sorted out until the season is underway.

The winner is... It's hard to imagine Hill not locking down one of the spots before very long. He's too big, too fast, too instinctive and too athletic to waste away on the sidelines. On the other hand, Black (size) and Wright (coverage) have a knock on them. If Munroe plays to his late 2006 form, he could be the second best of the bunch. In the end, it's likely some combination of Hill at one spot a majority of the time combined with the other three some way or another until something (injury, bad game, bad practice, bad play) sets them apart.

THE TERRIFIC TEN: Top 5 players on Offense/Defense
Offense
1. Tim Tebow
2. Maurkice Pouncey
3. Aaron Hernandez
4. Mike Pouncey
5. Jeffrey Demps
Defense
1. Carlos Dunlap
2. Brandon Spikes
3. Janoris Jenkins
4. Ryan Stamper
5. Jermaine Cunningham




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