Satchel Paige once said, "Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you." For these five Florida Gators, the start of football practice on Thursday is a chance for them to make amends for shortcomings in the past. If they take a look back, they'll see lots of young, motivated talent that wants to be on the field hot on their heels. For these five guys, time is running out and it's time to prove something.
1. EMMANUEL MOODY: I'm always reminded of that line by Roseanne Rosanadana from Saturday Night Live: "It just goes to show you it's always something. If it isn't one thing, it's always something else." That's Emmanuel Moody's Florida football career. There is no question that he has the size, the speed and the talent to be a great one but it seems that every time he gets going he dings an ankle or a shoulder or a toe ... something. He's a senior and this is a contract year. If he comes up big, he can get a big NFL contract. Even better, if he comes up big, the Gators have a back who can put the fear of God into defensive coordinators. If he spends the year nursing one injury after another, he won't get drafted. The Gators will do fine, however. They're loaded at tailback and maybe the fact that there is so much competition will motivate Moody to have the year we've been expecting since he transferred from Southern Cal. His numbers for two years in and out of the lineup with injuries are pretty darn good --- 195 carries, 1,254 yards (6.4 per carry) and six touchdowns.
2. EARL OKINE: He's got the size (6-7, 284), the body and the speed to be a great player. He got mono as a freshman and took a redshirt. Last season, he just never got it all together and wound up with two (count'em) tackles for the whole season. Now that Carlos Dunlap has moved on to the NFL, Okine could be that big, imposing defensive end whose mere presence is a nightmare for quarterbacks simply because he keeps his feet moving and his arms high. There have been whispers that Okine doesn't play with a lot of energy. With all these high profile youngsters on the defensive line, Okine needs to (a) play with a lot of energy and (b) make a move up the depth chart or else risk being buried forever.
3. JUSTIN WILLIAMS: If you don't watch what goes on with the kickoff team, you've probably missed Justin Williams. He's a valuable contributor on the special teams, but he's never gotten into the regular rotation as a receiver. Now that he's a fifth year senior, it's time for him to make his presence known. He's another one with outstanding speed and good size (6-1, 205). He showed last fall in mopup duty (six catches, 50 yards, two touchdowns) and again in the spring that he can catch the ball and do something with it after he makes the catch. It will be hard for him to become Florida's go-to receiver this year but he's good enough to become a contributor. He needs to catch at least 20 passes this season.
4. LORENZO EDWARDS: He's a fine leader, a great teammate and a terrific special teams player. This year, he's got to become a serious contributor in the linebacker rotation. He's a senior with only 43 tackles in his career. He's got the kind of size (6-1, 240) and strength to be a serious player against the run and enough speed to cover a tight end, but it's time to put it all together. He's had three years of special teams while watching the defense from the sideline. This year, it's time to get in the game and make some plays.
5. DUKE LEMMENS: He hustles. Lord, the guy hustles. Any time he's in the game, just watch and you'll see he's running hard to the football on every single play. The problem is, he arrives right after the play is made. The knock on Lemmens is that he doesn't get to the football often enough to make a play. His numbers for three years on the job are 23 tackles. He's a senior this year and the Gators are inexperienced at defensive end. It's time for him to show up and make some plays.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
Five burning questions about Florida's defense
In three days, the post-Tim Tebow era of Florida football begins as the Gators begin their preprations for their September 4 season opener with Miami of Ohio. Here are five burning questions about the defense that have to be answered before the Gators take the field for game one.
1. WILL THIS BE A TRANSITION YEAR FOR THE FLORIDA DEFENSE?: Any time you lose an outstanding coordinator such as Charlie Strong, there is going to be a certain amount of transition. Charlie had his way of doing things and it was quite successful. Due to his extensive pro background, Teryl Austin's way of doing things will be different, so there is going to be a certain amount of transition but judging from what we saw this spring, it's hard to imagine there will be too many bumps in the road. Austin has the benefit of working with Dan McCarney (defensive line) and Chuck Heater (co-defensive coordinator/safeties), coaches who are grounded in the college game and who know Florida's personnel inside and out. Austin isn't very vocal but he has a way of getting his point across. Don't expect any wholesale changes but look for a gradual integration of his new ideas to go with some of the old ones, and look for McCarney and Heater to perhaps have a little more input into the way things are done. Also, watch at how the linebackers respond to D.J. Durkin, another new staffer. In the spring, I really liked the energy I saw from this position.
2. ARE THE GATORS MOVING FROM A 4-3 TO A 3-4 BASE DEFENSE?: With teams like Alabama going from a power-I to a spread without changing personnel, it puts a tremendous amount of heat on opposing coordinators to have the right personnel in the game at all times. That's why you're seeing more and more teams gravitate to a 3-4 base using strong, fast, athletic guys on the outside who are as comfortable with their hand on the ground as a defensive end as they are playing in coverage as a linebacker. Timeouts are precious and you can't burn one every time a team shifts from a conventional formation to something exotic so you better have the players in the game who can handle multiple responsibilities. I believe one of the reasons Urban Meyer hired Teryl Austin from the Arizona Cardinals was his familiarity with adjusting the 3-4 to go against any formation or scheme. In the NFL, you've got a 47-man roster so it's impossible to make wholesale substitutions. Therefore, you better have a scheme and personnel that can adapt on the fly. The Gators will still run their share of 4-3 this year, but I think by midseason, we'll see more 3-4 than 4-3.
3. WHO'S GOING TO PLAY THE CORNER OPPOSITE JANORIS JENKINS?: Judging by what I saw in the spring, I think we'll see a lot of Moses Jenkins and Jeremy Brown. Moses Jenkins is an experienced and valuable special teamer without a lot of experience on the field with the defensive unit while Brown has missed two seasons because of a back injury. Before he was hurt, Brown was ahead of Janoris Jenkins on the depth chart (spring of 2008) and Janoris went on to start at corner for a national championship team. Moses Jenkins is that big corner (6-2, 188) that you need to go against the big wide receivers that are so abundant in the SEC like A.J. Green, Julio Jones and Alshon Jeffery. Moses is also a senior and I would love to see him rewarded for his patience by turning the opportunity for playing time into a stellar season. I've got similar feelings about Brown, who has to be so frustrated that he's been unable to contribute his first two years on campus. If he can stay healthy, he's got a chance to be really good. Watch out for freshmen Jaylen Watkins and Joshua Shaw. Although they often looked like a lost ball in the tall grass during the spring, they've had the entire summer to get used to the scheme and speed of the athletes they'll be defending in the college game.
4. WILL THE GATORS FIND A WAY TO GET JON BOSTIC AND JELANI JENKINS ON THE FIELD AT THE SAME TIME?: If and when the Gators are in a 3-4, we'll see a lot of Jenkins and Bostic on the field at the same time. Jenkins has such speed that in the 3-4, he could slide to the outside and stay with tight ends and most running backs. Bostic is a beast against the run, so he's going to be on the field a lot. Bostic is a prototypical middle linebacker but he has the range to play the weak side, too. Jelani Jenkins is a plug and play guy. Plug him in and he'll find a place to play. I like Florida's situation at linebacker with Brandon Hicks, A.J. Jones and Lorenzo Edwards providing veteran leadership for youngsters with speed and talent such as Neiron Ball, Michael Taylor, Darrin Kitchens and Gideon Ajagbe.
5. CAN RONALD POWELL BE AN IMPACT PLAYER FROM DAY ONE?: I saw Lawrence Taylor in high school and then watched him make an almost effortless transition from defensive tackle to defensive end as a freshman at North Carolina. When I see the film on Ronald Powell, I see a player of comparable size (6-4, 248) and speed along with that instinctive ability to find the football and destroy whoever has it. Powell is the perfect fit for that hybrid end/linebacker that the Gators will need to run the 3-4. I think Powell and William Green are going to be perfect fits for that role and I think they will provide the kind of pass rush that will make life hell for opposing quarterbacks. Even though there is tremendous pressure on him to produce from the beginning, I think Powell has the right skills and mindset to make it happen instantly.
1. WILL THIS BE A TRANSITION YEAR FOR THE FLORIDA DEFENSE?: Any time you lose an outstanding coordinator such as Charlie Strong, there is going to be a certain amount of transition. Charlie had his way of doing things and it was quite successful. Due to his extensive pro background, Teryl Austin's way of doing things will be different, so there is going to be a certain amount of transition but judging from what we saw this spring, it's hard to imagine there will be too many bumps in the road. Austin has the benefit of working with Dan McCarney (defensive line) and Chuck Heater (co-defensive coordinator/safeties), coaches who are grounded in the college game and who know Florida's personnel inside and out. Austin isn't very vocal but he has a way of getting his point across. Don't expect any wholesale changes but look for a gradual integration of his new ideas to go with some of the old ones, and look for McCarney and Heater to perhaps have a little more input into the way things are done. Also, watch at how the linebackers respond to D.J. Durkin, another new staffer. In the spring, I really liked the energy I saw from this position.
2. ARE THE GATORS MOVING FROM A 4-3 TO A 3-4 BASE DEFENSE?: With teams like Alabama going from a power-I to a spread without changing personnel, it puts a tremendous amount of heat on opposing coordinators to have the right personnel in the game at all times. That's why you're seeing more and more teams gravitate to a 3-4 base using strong, fast, athletic guys on the outside who are as comfortable with their hand on the ground as a defensive end as they are playing in coverage as a linebacker. Timeouts are precious and you can't burn one every time a team shifts from a conventional formation to something exotic so you better have the players in the game who can handle multiple responsibilities. I believe one of the reasons Urban Meyer hired Teryl Austin from the Arizona Cardinals was his familiarity with adjusting the 3-4 to go against any formation or scheme. In the NFL, you've got a 47-man roster so it's impossible to make wholesale substitutions. Therefore, you better have a scheme and personnel that can adapt on the fly. The Gators will still run their share of 4-3 this year, but I think by midseason, we'll see more 3-4 than 4-3.
3. WHO'S GOING TO PLAY THE CORNER OPPOSITE JANORIS JENKINS?: Judging by what I saw in the spring, I think we'll see a lot of Moses Jenkins and Jeremy Brown. Moses Jenkins is an experienced and valuable special teamer without a lot of experience on the field with the defensive unit while Brown has missed two seasons because of a back injury. Before he was hurt, Brown was ahead of Janoris Jenkins on the depth chart (spring of 2008) and Janoris went on to start at corner for a national championship team. Moses Jenkins is that big corner (6-2, 188) that you need to go against the big wide receivers that are so abundant in the SEC like A.J. Green, Julio Jones and Alshon Jeffery. Moses is also a senior and I would love to see him rewarded for his patience by turning the opportunity for playing time into a stellar season. I've got similar feelings about Brown, who has to be so frustrated that he's been unable to contribute his first two years on campus. If he can stay healthy, he's got a chance to be really good. Watch out for freshmen Jaylen Watkins and Joshua Shaw. Although they often looked like a lost ball in the tall grass during the spring, they've had the entire summer to get used to the scheme and speed of the athletes they'll be defending in the college game.
4. WILL THE GATORS FIND A WAY TO GET JON BOSTIC AND JELANI JENKINS ON THE FIELD AT THE SAME TIME?: If and when the Gators are in a 3-4, we'll see a lot of Jenkins and Bostic on the field at the same time. Jenkins has such speed that in the 3-4, he could slide to the outside and stay with tight ends and most running backs. Bostic is a beast against the run, so he's going to be on the field a lot. Bostic is a prototypical middle linebacker but he has the range to play the weak side, too. Jelani Jenkins is a plug and play guy. Plug him in and he'll find a place to play. I like Florida's situation at linebacker with Brandon Hicks, A.J. Jones and Lorenzo Edwards providing veteran leadership for youngsters with speed and talent such as Neiron Ball, Michael Taylor, Darrin Kitchens and Gideon Ajagbe.
5. CAN RONALD POWELL BE AN IMPACT PLAYER FROM DAY ONE?: I saw Lawrence Taylor in high school and then watched him make an almost effortless transition from defensive tackle to defensive end as a freshman at North Carolina. When I see the film on Ronald Powell, I see a player of comparable size (6-4, 248) and speed along with that instinctive ability to find the football and destroy whoever has it. Powell is the perfect fit for that hybrid end/linebacker that the Gators will need to run the 3-4. I think Powell and William Green are going to be perfect fits for that role and I think they will provide the kind of pass rush that will make life hell for opposing quarterbacks. Even though there is tremendous pressure on him to produce from the beginning, I think Powell has the right skills and mindset to make it happen instantly.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Five burning questions about Florida's offense
The post-Tim Tebow era of Florida football begins Thursday when the Gators begin the countdown to the September 4 season opener with Miami of Ohio. Here are five burning questions about the offense that have to be answered before the Gators take the field for game one.
1. WHAT KIND OF SUMMER DID JOHNNY BRANTLEY HAVE?: It's the Johnny Brantley Show now and the Gators will only go as far as he can take them. He's got the arm and the smarts to be a truly gifted quarterback, but if he's going to be the next big thing in Gainesville he has to be THE man when he steps in the huddle. That means JB needs to be coming off a summer in which he not only led by example but showed the moxie to get in the face of a teammate who's dogging it on a hot afternoon if necessary. If he's made that stride from quiet leader to one who when he speaks everybody listens, then he will have total command of the huddle and that means you can expect a truly explosive Florida offense.
2. IS DEONTE THOMPSON READY TO BECOME THE GO-TO GUY ON THE OUTSIDE?: Deonte has the speed (sub 10.3 in the 100 meters) to go with the size and strength it takes to be one of the most feared receivers in the country and now is his time to take the next big step by showing what he can do on the field. We've seen glimpses of what he can do in the past two years when he's played a secondary role but now the expectations are different. Now he is expected to be the leader of the receiving corps. He's got a lot of young guys looking up to him to set the example so if he shows up primed and ready to go from day one, the entire receiving corps will follow his lead.
3. WHO'S GOING TO PLAY RIGHT GUARD?: Four of the five positions on the offensive line are set with Mike Pouncey at center, Carl Johnson at left guard, Xavier Nixon at left tackle and Marcus Gilbert at right tackle. That leaves right guard as the only unsettled position and we can expect a three-way battle for the starting job in August. Mo Hurt and James Wilson have starting experience and they've been in the system long enough (this is Hurt's fifth year; fourth for Wilson) but both of them have a history of injuries. Can they hold up for an entire season? And then there is Jon Halapio, the big sophomore of Tongan descent. He's built like a concrete block and he has that nasty streak that offensive coordinator/line coach Steve Addazio likes. There's no question these three guys have the talent to play the position well, but line play goes beyond talent. It's all about the chemistry and for that to happen, one of the three has to distinguish himself as the starter in August. If that happens, the Gators will have the best offensive line in the Southeastern Conference.
4. CAN JORDAN REED TO A REASONABLE IMITATION OF AARON HERNANDEZ?: The Gators are going to use the tight end, particularly now that they're transitioning from an option-first team to a pass-first team. Aaron Hernandez gave the Gators tremendous production last year and while it might be unreasonable to expect redshirt freshman Jordan Reed to equal those numbers (68 catches, 850 yards, five touchdowns), he needs to give the Gators something in the neighborhood of 35-40 catches for 500-600 yards. If he can do that, then the Gators will be able to do some serious damage in the middle of the field. When Reed is on the field, he can also take wildcat snaps and from what we saw of him in the spring, he's a real threat to pick up big yardage any time he has the ball in his hands.
5. CAN CHRIS RAINEY GIVE THE GATORS A PERCY-LIKE THREAT IN THE SLOT?: The Gators went from an average of 1,400 yards and 12 touchdowns in the slot the previous three seasons with Percy Harvin to 350 yards and one touchdown last year when Brandon James had to play the position by default due to the injury to Andre Debose. James was a great return guy but just not cut out for every play duty. Rainey, who has a half-dozen runs of 50-plus yards in his two years at tailback, moves to the slot where he has the ability to be that hybrid running back/receiver who drives defensive coordinators nuts. We got a glimpse of Chris in the Sugar Bowl when he produced more than 200 all-purpose yards. If he can catch the ball consistently, he could put up All-American numbers. And, if Debose is back 100 percent after missing all of last year, the Gators could do some serious damage with a double slot.
1. WHAT KIND OF SUMMER DID JOHNNY BRANTLEY HAVE?: It's the Johnny Brantley Show now and the Gators will only go as far as he can take them. He's got the arm and the smarts to be a truly gifted quarterback, but if he's going to be the next big thing in Gainesville he has to be THE man when he steps in the huddle. That means JB needs to be coming off a summer in which he not only led by example but showed the moxie to get in the face of a teammate who's dogging it on a hot afternoon if necessary. If he's made that stride from quiet leader to one who when he speaks everybody listens, then he will have total command of the huddle and that means you can expect a truly explosive Florida offense.
2. IS DEONTE THOMPSON READY TO BECOME THE GO-TO GUY ON THE OUTSIDE?: Deonte has the speed (sub 10.3 in the 100 meters) to go with the size and strength it takes to be one of the most feared receivers in the country and now is his time to take the next big step by showing what he can do on the field. We've seen glimpses of what he can do in the past two years when he's played a secondary role but now the expectations are different. Now he is expected to be the leader of the receiving corps. He's got a lot of young guys looking up to him to set the example so if he shows up primed and ready to go from day one, the entire receiving corps will follow his lead.
3. WHO'S GOING TO PLAY RIGHT GUARD?: Four of the five positions on the offensive line are set with Mike Pouncey at center, Carl Johnson at left guard, Xavier Nixon at left tackle and Marcus Gilbert at right tackle. That leaves right guard as the only unsettled position and we can expect a three-way battle for the starting job in August. Mo Hurt and James Wilson have starting experience and they've been in the system long enough (this is Hurt's fifth year; fourth for Wilson) but both of them have a history of injuries. Can they hold up for an entire season? And then there is Jon Halapio, the big sophomore of Tongan descent. He's built like a concrete block and he has that nasty streak that offensive coordinator/line coach Steve Addazio likes. There's no question these three guys have the talent to play the position well, but line play goes beyond talent. It's all about the chemistry and for that to happen, one of the three has to distinguish himself as the starter in August. If that happens, the Gators will have the best offensive line in the Southeastern Conference.
4. CAN JORDAN REED TO A REASONABLE IMITATION OF AARON HERNANDEZ?: The Gators are going to use the tight end, particularly now that they're transitioning from an option-first team to a pass-first team. Aaron Hernandez gave the Gators tremendous production last year and while it might be unreasonable to expect redshirt freshman Jordan Reed to equal those numbers (68 catches, 850 yards, five touchdowns), he needs to give the Gators something in the neighborhood of 35-40 catches for 500-600 yards. If he can do that, then the Gators will be able to do some serious damage in the middle of the field. When Reed is on the field, he can also take wildcat snaps and from what we saw of him in the spring, he's a real threat to pick up big yardage any time he has the ball in his hands.
5. CAN CHRIS RAINEY GIVE THE GATORS A PERCY-LIKE THREAT IN THE SLOT?: The Gators went from an average of 1,400 yards and 12 touchdowns in the slot the previous three seasons with Percy Harvin to 350 yards and one touchdown last year when Brandon James had to play the position by default due to the injury to Andre Debose. James was a great return guy but just not cut out for every play duty. Rainey, who has a half-dozen runs of 50-plus yards in his two years at tailback, moves to the slot where he has the ability to be that hybrid running back/receiver who drives defensive coordinators nuts. We got a glimpse of Chris in the Sugar Bowl when he produced more than 200 all-purpose yards. If he can catch the ball consistently, he could put up All-American numbers. And, if Debose is back 100 percent after missing all of last year, the Gators could do some serious damage with a double slot.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Kadji leaving changes the dynamics for UF hoops recruiting class
With Kenny Kadji electing to transfer from the University of Florida, one more scholarship has been freed up, changing the dynamics of Florida's 2011 recruiting class. With Mike Rosario sitting out due to transfer rules and Bradley Beal (6-4, 190, St. Louis, MO Chaminade Prep) solidly committed, the Gators now have room for three more in the class. Ideally, the Gators would take one big, one long wing and one combo guard, but the versatility of Dorian Finney-Smith (6-8, 185, Portsmouth, VA IC Norcum) could change that equation.
Finney-Smith, who is playing with Boo Williams Summer League at the AAU Nationals in Lake Buena Vista, is the most versatile player in the country. He plays the point on offense for his high school team and when he does a turn with BWSL as the lead guard, the offense simply takes off. Defensively, he can play either the small or power forward and despite his skinny frame, he's a terrific rebounder and doesn't get pushed around.
Finney-Smith has seven or eight schools on his radar but insiders say it's a decision that will come down to Virginia Tech and Florida. In Virginia Tech's favor is that Finney-Smith is a Virginian. In Florida's favor is the fact that Finney-Smith and his older brother (who plays at Old Dominion) are long time pals of Gator center Vernon Macklin.
If Finney-Smith chose to be a Gator, UF could still elect to take a long wing such as Adonis Thomas (6-6, 211, Memphis, TN Melrose) or Sam Thompson (6-7, 190, Chicago, IL Whitney Young). Thomas is a take it to the rack wing who can take the contact, finish and get the free throws. Thompson is the best wing defender in the country not to mention the best leaper (50 inch vertical). Thomas has Florida, Memphis, Arkansas and Mississippi State on his radar. Thompson has it down to Florida, Oregon State, Ohio State, Kansas and Georgetown.
The combo guard that the Gators have been following closely is Kedren Johnson (6-4, 215, Lewisburg, TN Marshall County). He's got a streaky outside game but he handles, distributes and plays lights out on the defensive end.
With Cody Zeller (6-10, 210, Warsaw, IN) more or less out of the Florida picture (he's pretty much down to Indiana, Butler and North Carolina), Florida's big man recruiting efforts center around these four: Johnny O'Bryant (6-10, 248, Cleveland, MS), Rakeem Christmas (6-9, 225, Philadelphia, PA Academy of the New Church), Mikael Hopkins (6-9, 215, Hyattsville, MD DeMatha Catholic) and Amir Williams (6-10, 225, Beverly Hills, MI Detroit Country Day).
O'Bryant and Adonis Thomas are determined to play together in college. The one school they seem to agree on is Florida so it is a distinct possibility the Gators could come up big with this dynamic duo.
Florida was the first to offer Christmas, who also has Texas, Oklahoma and FIU on his radar with Kentucky trying to elbow its way in.
Florida trails Syracuse and Maryland for Hopkins and the Gators are having to make up an incredible amount of ground with Williams, who was once thought to be a lock for Michigan or Michigan State.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Beal says he's solidly Gator; Rivers says he's still wide open
LAKE BUENA VISTA --- The shootout of superstars Bradley Beal (6-4, 190, St. Louis, MO Chaminade Prep) and Austin Rivers (6-4, 198, Winter Park, FL) never materialized Tuesday night in the championship game of the AAU Super Showcase. Beal never could get into any kind of an offensive rhythm and Rivers was all to content to be a contributor and not the one carrying the weight of his team's expectations on his shoulders.
ESPN had the marquee matchup it wanted with Beal and Rivers, the top two shooting guards in the country, but it was clear almost from the beginning that Rivers' Each One Teach One team had energy to spare while Beal's St. Louis Eagles seemed to be playing on dead legs as they played their eighth game in four days. Rivers scored 24 points, 10 from the foul line, and actually played a secondary role in the second half as he spent most of his time handling the ball and distributing to teammates. The scoring load was taken up by Trevor Lacey (6-3, 215, Huntsville, AL Butler) who hit his first 10 shots en route to a 24-point performance as Each One Teach One routed the Eagles, 77-60.
Beal missed his first six shots before he got one to fall and finished the game 5-15 from the field for 12 points.
"This was the worst game I've ever played," Beal said. He admitted his legs were a bit dead after playing a non-stop schedule the past two months that included three weeks overseas while winning the MVP and leading the USA team to the FIBA 17-and-Under World Championship, but quickly added, "That's not a good excuse. I just didn't play very well and I needed to for us to win."
* * *
Beal, who is committed to the University of Florida, has been the subject of one rumor after another in recent weeks, most of them claiming he is waffling on his Florida commitment and seriously thinking about switching to Kansas. Nothing could be further from the truth, Beal said following the loss to Each One Teach One.
"I'm a Gator, it's solid," he said, adding that he hears "a new rumor every week. I guess people don't have anything better to do than start a rumor about me I'm a Gator."
* * *
Rivers, the one-time Florida commitment who has opened up things to include five schools --- Florida, Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky and Kansas --- seems to be at the center of attention for the Duke recruiting effort. In addition to two Duke assistants at the Tuesday night game, former Dookie Grant Hill was there in a Duke pullover shirt. He was seen chatting with Rivers post-game.
Yet for all the efforts by Duke, Rivers said he's not close to making a commitment to anyone and that he's going to give all five schools on his list careful consideration before he makes his final choice.
"It's still the same five schools," he said. "I like all five of them and I'm going to take my time before I make up my mind. You only go through this one time in your life so you really should think it over pretty good before you make up your mind."
Rivers said he will take some official visits in the fall before he makes a commitment anywhere.
* * *
Florida coach Billy Donovan and assistant Rob Lanier were at the Beal-Rivers matchup game. Prior to that, they were seen taking in Omar Calhoun (6-4, 185, Middle Village, NY Christ the King), a 2012 combo guard who is playing for the New York Gauchos, and Michael Frazier (6-3, 185, Tampa, FL Plant), a scoring guard with serious elevation, who is playing for Florida Elite, coached by Buchholz head coach Bob Horydoski.
* * *
Wednesday, the Florida coaches will be looking at Dorian Finney-Smith (6-8, 185, Portsmouth, VA IC Norcum), who is playing for Boo Williams Summer League, and Johnny O'Bryant (6-10, 248, Cleveland, MS), who plays for the Jackson Tigers.
* * *
With the transfer of Kenny Kadji, the Gators have one more scholarship to give for 2011. That could open the door for the Gators to sign one big, one tall athletic wing and perhaps a combo guard. The Florida class could perhaps look like this: O'Bryant or Amir Williams (6-10, 225, Beverly Hills, MI Detroit Country Day), Adonis Thomas (6-6, 211, Memphis, TN Melrose) or Finney-Smith, and Kedren Johnson (6-4, 215, Lewisburg, TN Marshall County).
ESPN had the marquee matchup it wanted with Beal and Rivers, the top two shooting guards in the country, but it was clear almost from the beginning that Rivers' Each One Teach One team had energy to spare while Beal's St. Louis Eagles seemed to be playing on dead legs as they played their eighth game in four days. Rivers scored 24 points, 10 from the foul line, and actually played a secondary role in the second half as he spent most of his time handling the ball and distributing to teammates. The scoring load was taken up by Trevor Lacey (6-3, 215, Huntsville, AL Butler) who hit his first 10 shots en route to a 24-point performance as Each One Teach One routed the Eagles, 77-60.
Beal missed his first six shots before he got one to fall and finished the game 5-15 from the field for 12 points.
"This was the worst game I've ever played," Beal said. He admitted his legs were a bit dead after playing a non-stop schedule the past two months that included three weeks overseas while winning the MVP and leading the USA team to the FIBA 17-and-Under World Championship, but quickly added, "That's not a good excuse. I just didn't play very well and I needed to for us to win."
* * *
Beal, who is committed to the University of Florida, has been the subject of one rumor after another in recent weeks, most of them claiming he is waffling on his Florida commitment and seriously thinking about switching to Kansas. Nothing could be further from the truth, Beal said following the loss to Each One Teach One.
"I'm a Gator, it's solid," he said, adding that he hears "a new rumor every week. I guess people don't have anything better to do than start a rumor about me I'm a Gator."
* * *
Rivers, the one-time Florida commitment who has opened up things to include five schools --- Florida, Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky and Kansas --- seems to be at the center of attention for the Duke recruiting effort. In addition to two Duke assistants at the Tuesday night game, former Dookie Grant Hill was there in a Duke pullover shirt. He was seen chatting with Rivers post-game.
Yet for all the efforts by Duke, Rivers said he's not close to making a commitment to anyone and that he's going to give all five schools on his list careful consideration before he makes his final choice.
"It's still the same five schools," he said. "I like all five of them and I'm going to take my time before I make up my mind. You only go through this one time in your life so you really should think it over pretty good before you make up your mind."
Rivers said he will take some official visits in the fall before he makes a commitment anywhere.
* * *
Florida coach Billy Donovan and assistant Rob Lanier were at the Beal-Rivers matchup game. Prior to that, they were seen taking in Omar Calhoun (6-4, 185, Middle Village, NY Christ the King), a 2012 combo guard who is playing for the New York Gauchos, and Michael Frazier (6-3, 185, Tampa, FL Plant), a scoring guard with serious elevation, who is playing for Florida Elite, coached by Buchholz head coach Bob Horydoski.
* * *
Wednesday, the Florida coaches will be looking at Dorian Finney-Smith (6-8, 185, Portsmouth, VA IC Norcum), who is playing for Boo Williams Summer League, and Johnny O'Bryant (6-10, 248, Cleveland, MS), who plays for the Jackson Tigers.
* * *
With the transfer of Kenny Kadji, the Gators have one more scholarship to give for 2011. That could open the door for the Gators to sign one big, one tall athletic wing and perhaps a combo guard. The Florida class could perhaps look like this: O'Bryant or Amir Williams (6-10, 225, Beverly Hills, MI Detroit Country Day), Adonis Thomas (6-6, 211, Memphis, TN Melrose) or Finney-Smith, and Kedren Johnson (6-4, 215, Lewisburg, TN Marshall County).
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Meyer and Saban agree: something must be done about agents
HOOVER, AL --- Urban Meyer and Nick Saban might be as different as night and day when it comes to football philosophy, but the two most powerful football coaches in the Southeastern Conference stand in total agreement when it comes to unscrupulous agents using cash, cars, gifts and promises to lure college football players into signing representation agreements before their eligibility has expired. Speaking at SEC Media Days at the Wynfrey Hotel Wednesday afternoon, both Meyer and Saban agreed that something has to be done to halt this gathering storm that threatens to shake college football by its collective lapels.
Meyer calls the problem "an epidemic" after a week in which allegations have been flying, first from Chapel Hill where North Carolina coach Butch Davis is dealing with a firestorm that involves the mainstays of his outstanding defense, to South Carolina, where Steve Spurrier has to deal with allegations that his all-star tight end might have gotten some illegal benefits and then to Georgia, Alabama and Florida. Then there is the aftermath of the Southern Cal NCAA probation brought on by 2004 Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush receiving illegal benefits from an agent while he was still playing football at USC. Just Tuesday, USC fired athletic director Mike Garrett and returned its copy of Bush's Heisman Trophy. The Heisman Foundation is contemplating the possibility of stripping Bush of his 2004 award.
There is little question that these are not just isolated incidents but instead a foretaste of problems to come unless the NCAA and the NFL work hand-in-hand to bring about significant changes. Both Meyer and Saban believe there has to be some form of punishment for agents that cross the line although they disagreed on who should handle it.
Meyer, whose All-American center Maurkice Pouncey, was accused of accepting $100,000 in cash from an agent-runner back in December before the Sugar Bowl, believes uniform laws that are enforced in all 50 states would be a good place to begin.
"I understand there's 36 to 38 states in the country that have a significant penalty out there for a predator that's out there waiting to get involved," Meyer said. "Obviously, that has to happen. There's no plea bargaining or anything. If someone violates that law, they need to be punished to the extent of the law. Or the NFL --- like Coach Saban mentioned --- has to get involved and not allow them to be agents."
Saban, who has coached in the NFL, believes that the way to deal with the problem is to hit the agents who break the rules where it hurts the most --- in the wallet.
"If you make these guys do what they're supposed to do or they can't get paid in that profession, it's going to change what he does," Saban said. "I'd change. I can't speak for what you'd do, but I certainly would."
Saban believes the NFL Players Association, which empowers agents and determines which ones can work, is the agency that has to take action immediately.
"They could fix it," Saban said. "It could get fixed. You have a standard of behavior and conduct that we have as coaches --- that you have as professionals in what you do --- and they should have as professionals in what they do. If they don't meet that conduct they can't make a living doing that. It would straighten it out now. The NFL can do that."
Whatever is done, Meyer says there has to be punishment for the rules breakers and that includes both agents and those who willingly break NCAA rules.
"If you're allowed to go do things that you're not supposed to do without punishment, you're going to continue doing it," Meyer said. "As a matter of fact, you're rewarded for it. That's not just talking about agents. It's talking about violations of NCAA rules. If there's a law or rule in place, you punish it to the full extent if you can. That has to happen with the agents."
Not all agents are bad. Most, in fact, follow the rules and maintain a standard of ethics. As Florida basketball coach Billy Donovan has stated several times in the past, a good agent is worth his weight in gold because that agent is about educating his client and going about his business the right way.
Saban praised the good agents Wednesday, saying that it's not fair to the ones that follow the rules when unethical types break the rules. And what drives agents to unethical behavior?
"I don't think it's anything but greed that is creating it right now on behalf of the agents," he said. "Agents that do this --- I hate to say this --- but how are they anything better than a pimp? I have no respect for people who do that to young people ... NONE. I really mean, none. How would you feel if they did that to your child?"
* * *
Meyer said that redshirt sophomore wide receiver Frankie Hammond Jr. is no longer on scholarship. Hammond, who was arrested for DUI, will have a chance to come back to the Florida football team, but he will have to pay his way and earn a spot on the team as a walk-on.
"There will be playing time taken away from him," Meyer said. "He'll be on probation like other players that have made mistakes. If he does something again, it will be probable dismissal."
* * *
Meyer said that his chief lieutenants --- Steve Addazio and Chuck Heater --- will continue to assume a greater role in the day-to-day football operations. Addazio, in particular, will have a greater role as the associate head coach.
* * *
Meyer, who said he is "recharged and ready to go," said it was a little bit strange to take time away during the spring, something he's never done before. However, the time away from football was productive.
"You know, you get very humbled when you realize your oldest kid is in college --- she's not home any longer --- and you have another one getting ready to go [to college]," Meyer said. "You want to spend as much time with them as you can. I'm at that age when you want to spend as much time as you can with them and we did that. It was a great offseason."
* * *
Asked if he celebrated when Lane Kiffin and USC were hit with probation by the NCAA, Meyer just grinned and said, "I'll let the commissioner (Mike Slive) handle that one."
Meyer calls the problem "an epidemic" after a week in which allegations have been flying, first from Chapel Hill where North Carolina coach Butch Davis is dealing with a firestorm that involves the mainstays of his outstanding defense, to South Carolina, where Steve Spurrier has to deal with allegations that his all-star tight end might have gotten some illegal benefits and then to Georgia, Alabama and Florida. Then there is the aftermath of the Southern Cal NCAA probation brought on by 2004 Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush receiving illegal benefits from an agent while he was still playing football at USC. Just Tuesday, USC fired athletic director Mike Garrett and returned its copy of Bush's Heisman Trophy. The Heisman Foundation is contemplating the possibility of stripping Bush of his 2004 award.
There is little question that these are not just isolated incidents but instead a foretaste of problems to come unless the NCAA and the NFL work hand-in-hand to bring about significant changes. Both Meyer and Saban believe there has to be some form of punishment for agents that cross the line although they disagreed on who should handle it.
Meyer, whose All-American center Maurkice Pouncey, was accused of accepting $100,000 in cash from an agent-runner back in December before the Sugar Bowl, believes uniform laws that are enforced in all 50 states would be a good place to begin.
"I understand there's 36 to 38 states in the country that have a significant penalty out there for a predator that's out there waiting to get involved," Meyer said. "Obviously, that has to happen. There's no plea bargaining or anything. If someone violates that law, they need to be punished to the extent of the law. Or the NFL --- like Coach Saban mentioned --- has to get involved and not allow them to be agents."
Saban, who has coached in the NFL, believes that the way to deal with the problem is to hit the agents who break the rules where it hurts the most --- in the wallet.
"If you make these guys do what they're supposed to do or they can't get paid in that profession, it's going to change what he does," Saban said. "I'd change. I can't speak for what you'd do, but I certainly would."
Saban believes the NFL Players Association, which empowers agents and determines which ones can work, is the agency that has to take action immediately.
"They could fix it," Saban said. "It could get fixed. You have a standard of behavior and conduct that we have as coaches --- that you have as professionals in what you do --- and they should have as professionals in what they do. If they don't meet that conduct they can't make a living doing that. It would straighten it out now. The NFL can do that."
Whatever is done, Meyer says there has to be punishment for the rules breakers and that includes both agents and those who willingly break NCAA rules.
"If you're allowed to go do things that you're not supposed to do without punishment, you're going to continue doing it," Meyer said. "As a matter of fact, you're rewarded for it. That's not just talking about agents. It's talking about violations of NCAA rules. If there's a law or rule in place, you punish it to the full extent if you can. That has to happen with the agents."
Not all agents are bad. Most, in fact, follow the rules and maintain a standard of ethics. As Florida basketball coach Billy Donovan has stated several times in the past, a good agent is worth his weight in gold because that agent is about educating his client and going about his business the right way.
Saban praised the good agents Wednesday, saying that it's not fair to the ones that follow the rules when unethical types break the rules. And what drives agents to unethical behavior?
"I don't think it's anything but greed that is creating it right now on behalf of the agents," he said. "Agents that do this --- I hate to say this --- but how are they anything better than a pimp? I have no respect for people who do that to young people ... NONE. I really mean, none. How would you feel if they did that to your child?"
* * *
Meyer said that redshirt sophomore wide receiver Frankie Hammond Jr. is no longer on scholarship. Hammond, who was arrested for DUI, will have a chance to come back to the Florida football team, but he will have to pay his way and earn a spot on the team as a walk-on.
"There will be playing time taken away from him," Meyer said. "He'll be on probation like other players that have made mistakes. If he does something again, it will be probable dismissal."
* * *
Meyer said that his chief lieutenants --- Steve Addazio and Chuck Heater --- will continue to assume a greater role in the day-to-day football operations. Addazio, in particular, will have a greater role as the associate head coach.
* * *
Meyer, who said he is "recharged and ready to go," said it was a little bit strange to take time away during the spring, something he's never done before. However, the time away from football was productive.
"You know, you get very humbled when you realize your oldest kid is in college --- she's not home any longer --- and you have another one getting ready to go [to college]," Meyer said. "You want to spend as much time with them as you can. I'm at that age when you want to spend as much time as you can with them and we did that. It was a great offseason."
* * *
Asked if he celebrated when Lane Kiffin and USC were hit with probation by the NCAA, Meyer just grinned and said, "I'll let the commissioner (Mike Slive) handle that one."
Dan Mullen zings Nick Saban
HOOVER, AL --- Dan Mullen bristled Wednesday afternoon at SEC Media Days when he was asked a question regarding an earlier comment by Alabama head coach Nick Saban that the spread offense has its drawbacks when preparing players --- quarterbacks in particular --- to play in the National Football League.
Here is the question and the transcript of Mullen's response:
You're one of the leading practitioners in the SEC of the spread offense. Coach Saban referred to it being both difficult to defend, but also it had drawbacks when it comes to preparing people for the NFL. How do you counter those when you were recruiting? How do you keep that offense evolving?
COACH DAN MULLEN: I'm not going to knock him. I don't know his personal record. I've coached the spread offense and I have a lot of more first-round quarterbacks drafted than he has in his career as a head coach. Develop them for the NFL, I don't know. In the last six years, I've had two of mine get drafted in the first round.
I think it does develop those players pretty well to get there. Amazing, one was a five star recruit and one was a one star recruit. When you develop players as a coach, you develop players. One came to me, I guess, somebody in here probably rated him a five star, a superstar player. Somebody rated him as a one star. When I got him, I must have done a great job of coaching him to be a first pick in the draft.
I think that's very overrated for that. I coached the NFL Rookie-of-the-Year, I think, last year, too, was in the spread offense, Percy Harvin. So I don't know. I guess statistically a lot of coaches like to say that. But factually, if you check the facts, I think the spread offense is developing the players for the NFL at a little higher rate than other offenses.
Here is the question and the transcript of Mullen's response:
You're one of the leading practitioners in the SEC of the spread offense. Coach Saban referred to it being both difficult to defend, but also it had drawbacks when it comes to preparing people for the NFL. How do you counter those when you were recruiting? How do you keep that offense evolving?
COACH DAN MULLEN: I'm not going to knock him. I don't know his personal record. I've coached the spread offense and I have a lot of more first-round quarterbacks drafted than he has in his career as a head coach. Develop them for the NFL, I don't know. In the last six years, I've had two of mine get drafted in the first round.
I think it does develop those players pretty well to get there. Amazing, one was a five star recruit and one was a one star recruit. When you develop players as a coach, you develop players. One came to me, I guess, somebody in here probably rated him a five star, a superstar player. Somebody rated him as a one star. When I got him, I must have done a great job of coaching him to be a first pick in the draft.
I think that's very overrated for that. I coached the NFL Rookie-of-the-Year, I think, last year, too, was in the spread offense, Percy Harvin. So I don't know. I guess statistically a lot of coaches like to say that. But factually, if you check the facts, I think the spread offense is developing the players for the NFL at a little higher rate than other offenses.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)