Written By Bob Redman aka Hollywood Bob
The Florida Gators moved Spring Practice No. 11 into the indoor practice facility on Thursday. The weather was bad earlier in the day, but by practice time, it was nice out. I am really not sure why that was the move. Regardless, they were able to get some things accomplished thanks to the big structure.
I believe this Thursday, we are starting to see the evolution of one group on the field that has been needed for a few years.
Let me first get started with just a few individual notes that I got from practice on Thursday. The notes were hard to come by with the skill positions on offense — more on that later. A source did tell me that tight end Keon Zipperer (Sr.) did make a couple of downfield catches on the day. That jibes with tight end coach William Peagler saying that Zipperer had his best practice of the year and that he was on the attack Thursday.
Center Kingsley Eguakun (RJr) may get my best player of practice vote from the notes I did receive. He dominated a few times in the half line drills on Thursday. He has probably been the most consistent offensive lineman this spring, according to the notes from my sources.
Staying on the offensive line, it seems that right tackle Kamryn Waites (RFr) is coming along quite well. He is an intimidating presence at 6′ 8” and 357 pounds. As someone that has really only played the game for three years, though, he still has a lot to learn.
The physical part of the game is becoming more natural for Waites. With his long reach, he also has the strength to “eat guys up,” according to one source. The biggest thing for Waites moving forward is handling the mental part of dealing with stunts, games and blitzes and blocking the right guy when those things happen.
I was told that the offensive line got the best of the defensive line when they ran the ball. The defensive line really put pressure on the quarterbacks when they dropped back to pass it.
One observer has noticed that OLB/ JACK Brenton Cox is becoming more and more engaged with what is going on. From talking to others from a year ago, that was an issue while he was dealing with his foot injury. Everything I have heard about Cox so far is that he is having a great spring and is the best player up front so far on defense.
I think the biggest observation I got from sources about Thursday is the play of the secondary. One source told me that the quarterbacks and receivers were not connecting and the receivers just were not getting to the ball. Then, the other source made it clear that the secondary was really playing lights out. That has been the observation as the spring has progressed.
We have heard the secondary guys of late in post-practice interviews talk about communication. I know they do some things to emphasize that differently than the last staff. It seems to really be paying off. These defensive backs covering well and getting to the right places are oftentimes moving the receivers out of their routes, hence the quarterbacks and receivers not connecting.
I did not hear of any interceptions from practice, but nevertheless, they are playing good defense on the back end.
The last note I have is an individual one: Fenley Graham (RSo) was returning kicks and punts Thursday. I am here for that.
There is a scrimmage Saturday, and I look forward to hearing about that and passing things along.