Notebook: McElwain shares standouts from Friday’s scrimmage
During Florida head coach Jim McElwain’s Tuesday press conference, his first time meeting with reporters since last Friday afternoon, one of the biggest topics of discussion was who and what stood out to him in last Friday night's scrimmage.
McElwain was pleased with Florida’s situational work in the second scrimmage of camp but unhappy with the number of turnovers that the Gators committed.
“We had some turnovers, which we’re obviously not excited about as far as the ball security piece,” McElwain said. “We had three of those in the scrimmage. We’ve got to get better at that. We kind of misjudged throws that were thrown into coverage rather than take what the defense gives us in two of those cases.
As far as the standouts that first came to McElwain’s mind, he mentioned junior slot receiver Dre Massey and the Florida running backs. Massey scored a touchdown in last Friday’s scrimmage, which was held before the Gators practiced Saturday, held a walk-through on Sunday and then took Monday off for classes. Massey notched two scores in the first scrimmage.
“Some guys that kind of really showed up, Dre Massey. I thought our running backs really did a nice job as well. (Jordan) Scarlett,” McElwain said. “Lamical Perine really showed up. Some of the young guys got a lot of reps in the scrimmage.
“I think the thing about [Massey] is his versatility to do a lot of different things. Everything from punt, to throw, to handle it carrying it out of the backfield. There’s a lot of different things and he’s one of those guys that you can use in a lot of different situaiton. That’s been a good thing.”
When asked whether Perine, a true freshman running back, has potentially worked his way into his way into the playing rotation, McElwain replied, “No doubt about it.” Perine scored in Friday's scrimmage.
“As we talk too, I want every one of these guys' mindsets that they're playing. They don't need to step in to, 'Well, I'm redshirting and not getting any better,'” McElwain explained. “None of those things will be determined until after the fourth game anyway, so moving forward, I tell you what, he's a guy that runs with great pad level. He's slippery in there. I mean, guys bounce off him, and he's really strong, he's got a great stiff arm and he's done some really good things."
McElwain was also pleased with the performance on recently named starting quarterback Luke Del Rio.
"He definitely had a little bounce and that was good to see,” McElwain said. “A good part is kind of getting back to there, I talked about the ball security piece, but we actually had some really good explosives - both in the run an the pass game - and that was good to see. It was really good to see from a run standpoint getting into the second level and running through an inside arm tackle and getting some explosive runs that way. And we were able to put the ball down field. I thought we did a pretty good job in that standpoint, and Luke was a big piece of that."
On the defensive side of the ball, McElwain pointed to redshirt freshman defensive end Jabari Zuniga and freshman linebacker Vosean Joseph as two players who stood out to him last Friday.
“I thought Jabari Zuniga is doing some really good things as are some other guys up front,” McElwain said. “Vosean Joseph is really showing up every time we go out there. That’s really good news from that standpoint, some of the young guys.”
Florida will hold its Tuesday and Wednesday practices this week in the evening and in the afternoon on Thursday. The Gators will take Saturday off, “stretch a strut a little bit” on Sunday and then begin UMass prep next Monday.
For McElwain, he views this week as crunch time for a couple of battles at certain positions.
"I think narrowing down kind of wideout rotation a little bit and where that's going to fit, I think is going to be big,” McElwain said. “Finishing up this week, I think at the D-line, kind of looking rotation-wise how we're going to make sure we stay fresh and which of those parts go in there. With CeCe (Jefferson) going a little bit inside obviously, but still being able to play some on the outside in some of our rabbit stuff. So I think that those are kind of the big pieces to me as far as kind of solidifying how we're going to do the rotation."
INJURY UPDATE
Running back Jordan Cronkrite will miss the next few days of practice but likely return Thursday after getting “a little banged up” in Friday’s scrimmage, McElwain said.
[RELATED: Alley Insider on Cronkrite’s injury]
Junior wide receiver C.J. Worton (foot) also remains sidelined. “Should be back hopefully at the end of this week, but we'll see on that,” McElwain said.
Redshirt sophomore offensive tackle Kavaris Harkless (hamstring) will return to practice Tuesday, while fellow redshirt sophomore tackle Andrew Mike (hamstring) still remains out. “No really return on that,” McElwain said of Mike.
Meanwhile, redshirt freshman wide receiver Kalif Jackson (knee) is still rehabbing his injury and hasn’t been practicing.
"He's here,” McElwain said. “He's still rehabbing and doing that stuff. He's there every day in the training room and they're working him through the workouts there that he can do to maintain his stamina and the different things he needs to do on that leg."
McElwain added that sophomore offensive tackle Martez Ivey and redshirt junior linebacker Alex Anzalone, who have each returned from shoulder injuries this fall, have both continued to look good.
MCELWAIN AVOIDS TOPIC OF TABOR
If you followed Jalen “Teez” Tabor on Twitter this past weekend, you witnessed an account that was constantly generating headlines. After buying shoes for a homeless man, Tabor dissed redshirt sophomore tight end C’yontai Lewis publicly following their practice altercation that led to their suspensions for the season-opener against UMass.
“Be careful who you call friends cause they really be enemies,” Tabor wrote. “This man out here messing up his so called friends future … Got JC (Jackson) kicked out and now I’m suspended.”
Lewis replied, “When coach told me to stay off social media and handle this situation with CLASS, that’s what I did. Get over it bro and lets go win a RING.”
Soon after, Tabor deleted two of the tweets and then deactivated his account, @_31Flavorz, altogether.
When asked about Tabor’s good deeds, and then his spat with Lewis, McElwain deflected to the team and then played the oblivious role.
“We’ve got a lot of guys who give up themselves for the benefit of others. That, I think, that’s pretty cool,” McElwain said.
A reporter later asked McElwain about Tabor leaving Twitter, and McElwain replied, “I don’t have any thoughts. About rating practice or camp, I guess. I don’t, I’m confused. I really don’t know what you’re even asking.”
Tabor’s Twitter account has generated plenty of controversy over the past year. However, it was something Florida began to embrace prior to his suspension for an altercation with Lewis. Tabor held a Periscope Q&A with fans via his Twitter account during SEC Media Days and then interacted with fans via Twitter during his UF-promoted media tour through New York City later in July.