Sunday, July 24, 2011

Out With The Old, In With The New


“It’s an exciting time to be a football coach. We’re all undefeated right now.”
After a disappointing 2010 season, coaching changes and team chemistry- Florida has a lot on their plate for 2011


       With that, Florida’s new head coach Will Muschamp took to the stage of Media Days. After Urban Meyer’s highly publicized coaching conclusion at Florida, Muschamp headed to Gainesville in December. After what he calls a “productive spring”, he’s eager for the season to start.
       “We had a good five-week offseason into spring,” he said. “I feel comfortable with our talent level. We do have some deficiencies as far as our as far as our numbers are concerned. I am concerned about that.”
        Despite his concern on the roster, he knows its tough getting sympathy in this league.
        “I don’t think anybody is feeling sorry for the Gators, for sure.”
         This off-season, Muschamp wants to create a blue-collar hard working mentality and says the team has identified playmakers on both sides of the ball. Both wide receiver Deonte Thompson and sophomore defensive tackle Dominique Easley have gained attention with their explosive spring practices by both players and coaching staff alike.
          For defensive end William Green something the Florida lacked last year was teamwork, something that is not going unnoticed this year. New team chemistry has both young and veteran players excited to share space on the Gainesville gridiron.
         “I told all the younger guys, ‘Are you going to go the distance? Are you with us or not?’” Deonte Thompson said. “We are a close knit team- everything is more ‘team’ this year.”
       As a new comer, Muschamp’s chemistry with the team is also evident. The initial comparison fans, media and even players look at is to his predecessor. Some players say they are similar, but others divulge greater differences in the two “great leaders”.
        “[Muschamp’s] a great coach, great defensive coach,” Florida quarterback John Brantley said. “Great intensity and he’s brought that to the team. We needed that, that giddy up.”
     “All the coaches interact with us a lot, Muschamp works out with us sometimes,” Thompson said. “I think the worst thing you can do as a leader is be something your not,” Muschamp said. “I’m a defensive coach.”
      Muschamp’s presence is not the only highly coveted addition to Florida’s coaching staff for 2011. Offensive mastermind Charlie Weis will take to the feild and Dan Quinn will help Muschamp’s defensive mindset as defensive coordinator. Weis, whose extensive resume with the Patriots and Dan Quinn’s history with the Dolphins combine to usher in close to 40 years of NFL experience.  
    “Since day one, seeing Weis’s track record- I’ve been jotting down as much as I can,” Florida QB John Brantley said. “He’s great.”
      Florida’s ties to proven NFL coaches got even more obvious this spring when Patriots head coach Bill Belichick attended Florida’s pro day. He watched some practice then spoke to the team.
     “What a presence he has within a group,” Muschamp said.
       But Belichick’s presence reached the University of Florida even before he physically visited campus, by way of Nick Saban. Once upon a time Saban coached under Belichick and Muschamp coached under Nick Saban while the two were at LSU. When asked what influences he took from Saban, praise was not short-lived.
      “I think more than anything, total program management, philosophically, what you believe offensively, defensively and special teams being tied together on both sides of the ball for what you what you want to be,” he said. “Having accountability, responsibility. All those things to me are traits of good football teams, certainly some things that reemphasize to me what was important. I had a great working relationship with Nick. He’s very smart, detail oriented, very organized in what he wants to do, the vision he sees for his program. That’s a credit to him.”
         Last year an 8-5 record had the Gators longing for better days. Like other SEC teams faced with a disappointing 2010 season the Gators hope to use the feelings of last year’s defeat as motivation.
        On the field, Florida looks to perfect the pass rush. For players, the stream of studying film “hasn’t really taken a break.” Recent years remember Florida as a constant favorite, but this year the expectations have eased, putting them in an unfamiliar underdog mentality.
       “We have a chip on our shoulder about how we played last year,” Green said.
       “We love it [being the underdog],” Thompson said. “We don’t need it…we have lots of young guys that are hungry.”
       “Being the underdog it does make it easier cause you’re not being hunted.” Green said.
       Florida may not be hunted yet, but teammates say quarterback John Brantley is improving with this year’s Gator offense, aiming for a “balanced” identity.
      “We have a more pro style offense, and you can see Brantley has his confidence back,” senior wide receiver Deonte Thompson said. “It’s a big difference, coming in very confident with 7x7 drills, he controls the huddle, more verbal.”
       “I think we’re going to surprise people this year,” Green said. 

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