McElwain Press Conference Blog: No starting quarterback named
When Florida head coach Jim McElwain met with the media on Monday the biggest question of the off-season - who will be the Gators starting quarterback - was still unanswered.
That will be the case going forward as well
McElwain offered up that the Gators have a plan in place at quarterback, but it won't be announced before the game.
The following are the highlights from McElwain's press conference:
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* Take Five: Florida Football Camp Breakdown
* Breaking down each and every defensive player
* Breaking down each and every offensive player
* Robinson, Miller, cited for possession
* Freshmen Report: Predicting who plays in defense
* Freshmen Report: Predicting who plays on offense
* 10 things we've learned from fall camp
* Handicapping Florida's quarterback battle
* On the Mark: Five thoughts on the seven suspensions
* GET TWO MONTHS OF FREE ACCESS
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* Florida is in game prep and looking forward to the trip to Dallas. Thoughts are with the people in Texas who effected by Hurricane Harvey
* It is important for Florida's young players to be focused and do what they have been trained to do. CJM believes that in the first game it is more about what you do and how your players go about preparing/playing rather than the opponent.
* He said that though Michigan has a lot of new players starting, they have tape on those players.
* Defensively Michigan does a great job on first and second down getting opponents behind the sticks.
* McElwain said that Florida needs to be able to take advantage of their special teams, not just in kicking, but in creating field position in returns.
* Florida is going to Dallas on Friday and will visit the stadium then. It gives the players a chance to look around - maybe take some pictures.
* For more on the quarterbacks, McElwain said that Florida has a quarterback plan in place, but they aren't going to announce it. The staff is excited about it, but they are leaving it unannounced to keep Michigan guessing.
* On the injury front cornerback C.J. McWilliams is out and tight end Kemore Gamble is highly questionable. He will get his foot looked at tomorrow. Safety Quincy Lenton came back at the end of last week and was moving well. Linebacker Kylan Johnson is still iffy. He went through some of Friday's practice. Florida expects him to be able to play.
* He talked briefly about the two new transfers - defensive tackle Marlon Dunlap (North Carolina) and offensive lineman Jean Delance (Texas) . They will help in practice this year as they sit out and will be eligible to play next year.
* McElwain said that Michigan will be preparing for read option plays and quarterbacks standing in the pocket, but the telltale will be what Florida can do up front along the offensive line.
* What happens at quarterback on Saturday, may not be what happens next week. CJM believes Florida will evolve at the position.
* Wide receiver James Robinson won't play this weekend after his most recent brush with the law. McElwain said it is disappointing, but that is part of growing up. McElwain said he isn't giving up on him.
* Offensive lineman Tyler Jordan has had a really good camp. His ability to play all five spots is invaluable. He is a guy Florida is really counting on. CJM said he is a guy who has really picked it up.
* In the return game, with receiver Antonio Callaway out, Brandon Powell and Dre Massey will handle punt returns and Tyrie Cleveland will handle kickoff return duties.
* McElwain likes his team. What they have done in the off-season and in camp.
* No matter how he is asked or how the question is shaped, McElwain won't give any further detail into what is going on with the quarterbacks.
* When asked if anything concerns him, McElwain replied that as a coach, what doesn't concern you? He thinks that how Florida responds after a Michigan big play is what will be telling.
* After another question about quarterbacks, CJM joked that the Gators will open at Wildcat with Kadarius Toney. He said there is your starting quarterback right there.
* After getting off to a slow start in fall camp compared to spring camp, defensive tackle Taven Bryan really picked it up and finished by having a good camp. CJM called him an incredible athlete who is still learning to play defensive line. Michigan will be a big test for him and Florida needs him to come up big.
* He said that safety Nick Washington is Florida's glue in the secondary, really the defense in general. He has been a really good influence on the young defensive backs.
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