Week 1: Florida Gators Monday media availability

By Adam Silverstein
August 30, 2010

Game week practice for the Florida Gators‘ 2010 season opener is officially underway and, with their first game coming on Saturday at 12 p.m. against the Miami (OH) RedHawks, coaches and players hit the stage on Monday for their first regular season media availability. OGGOA has compiled some of the key details.

OPENING GAME INJURIES

Senior defensive tackle Terron Sanders (knee), left tackles redshirt sophomore Matt Patchan (wrist) and sophomore Xavier Nixon (knee) will all be out of action for the Gators’ home opener on Saturday. Redshirt freshman tight end Jordan Reed, who is nursing a deep knee bruise, is questionable but not likely to play.

STARTING LINEBACKERS NAMED

Head coach Urban Meyer made it a point to single out redshirt senior linebacker A.J. Jones as the team’s only confirmed starter for Saturday. He did, however, say that two of senior Brandon Hicks, sophomore Jon Bostic and redshirt freshman Jelani Jenkins will fill in the other two spots in the starting unit with those chosen being the players whom play best during the next few days of practice. Whoever is the lone non-starter will still see plenty of time on the field.

WIDE RECEIVER ROTATION REVEALED

Junior wide receiver Denote Thompson and redshirt senior Carl Moore, as expected, are the team’s two primary starters with redshirt junior Chris Rainey taking over the slot receiver role. Meyer announced Monday that redshirt freshman Andre Debose would play the X position and back-up Thompson, while freshman standout Robert Clark – who really impressed during camp – will be the main reserve for Rainey.

FIRST DEPTH CHART RELEASED

OFFENSE
QB: John Brantley – Tyler Murphy / Trey Burton
RB: Jeff Demps / Emmanuel Moody – Mike Gillislee / Mack Brown
FB: T.J. Pridemore – Gerald Christian
WR1: Deonte Thompson – Andre Debose – Quinton Dunbar
WR2: Carl Moore – Justin Williams
WR-S: Chris Rainey – Robert Clark
TE: Omarius Hines – Trey Burton / Jordan Reed
LT: Marcus Gilbert – Kyle Koehne
LG: Carl Johnson – Jonotthan Harrison
C: Mike Pouncey – Sam Robey – Nick Alajajian
RG: James Wilson – Jon Halapio – David Young
RT: Maurice Hurt – Nick Alajajian

DEFENSE
DE: Justin Trattou – Lerentee McCray / Dominique Easley
DT: Omar Hunter – Lawrence Marsh / Brandon Antwine
DT: Jaye Howard – Sharrif Floyd
DE: Duke Lemmens – William Green / Ronald Powell
SLB: A.J. Jones – Neiron Ball
MLB: Jon Bostic / Jelani Jenkins – Michael Taylor
WLB: Brandon Hicks – Lorenzo Edwards
CB1: Janoris Jenkins – Josh Shaw / Jaylen Watkins
CB2: Moses Jenkins / Jeremy Brown – Cody Riggs
FS: Will Hill – Josh Evans
SS: Ahmad Black – Matt Elam

SPECIAL TEAMS
K: Caleb Sturgis – Chas Henry
P: Chas Henry – David Lerner – Caleb Sturgis
LS: John Fairbanks (FG), Christopher Guido (P)
H: Chas Henry
KR: Jeff Demps – Chris Rainey / Mike Gillislee
PR: Chris Rainey – Janoris Jenkins

QUOTES and VIDEOS (after the break…)

Meyer on the defensive end position: “[Justin] Trattou is a high-effort guy. Duke [Lemmens] is kind of an unknown. William Green is going to be very involved. At times we’re going to move [defensive tackle] Jaye Howard to the outside. And then there’s the freshman Ronald Powell that’s going to get in there.”

Redshirt junior quarterback John Brantley on starting his first game: “I’ve waited for three years for this moment to come. I’m very excited.”

Redshirt senior guard Carl Johnson on the 2010 offense’s versatility: “We have weapons. You’ve got to pretty much pick your poison. Do you want us to throw it in on you? Jump-fade it in on you? Do you want us to run it in on you? Or do you just want to lay down and take it? You’re going to get it one way or another.”

Senior tackle Marcus Gilbert on moving to the left: “I started in preseason camp. I’m pretty comfortable with it working on the left side. You know you’ve go a responsibility working on the quarterback’s blind side. Wherever coach puts me, I’m fine. I can play either side of the ball.”

OGGOA will continue updating this story throughout the day. An official team depth chart will be released before Monday is complete.

15 Comments

  1. Gatorbuc15 says:

    Saturday approaches.

  2. Charles says:

    What about Omarius Hines?

  3. Daniel M. says:

    “And then there’s the freshman Ronald Powell that’s going to get in there.”

    Wonder if Urban was referring to THIS Saturday?

  4. Charles- What about Hines? He’ll play a hybrid WR/TE role and will probably be second behind Moore.

  5. Drew 4 Orange & Blue says:

    Interesting on Clark at only 3 stars about to see the field as a frosh…guess Dwyer has some program to give us 3 who will probably all see the field as true freshman…so what’s the scoop on Clark…..does he have 4.4 speed?

  6. zach says:

    Any word on how Gerald Christian is doing?

  7. Mike says:

    When did Hines start practicing at TE? I thought they moved a DE over to TE. Does anyone have Hines’ size numbers?

  8. Timmy T says:

    Can we fast-forward to Saturday? I’m so jacked up and ready to watch some Gator football right now, its crazy.

  9. John says:

    You have Burton/Reed listed as backup TE.

  10. John – Yes, I do, because the University of Florida does as well. Both have been playing TE during practice.

  11. John says:

    Wow, I did not know that. Carry on.

  12. Alex says:

    So is Murphy the number 2 guy at QB? I figured they were going to make him a receiver immediately when I heard they signed him.

  13. No – not yet. The / indicates “OR” the – indicates levels.

    Example:

    QB: John Brantley – Tyler Murphy / Trey Burton

    (1) Brantley – (2) Murphy OR Burton

    WR1: Deonte Thompson – Andre Debose – Quinton Dunbar

    (1) Thompson – (2) Debose – (3) Dunbar

  14. Drew 4 Orange & Blue says:

    Did you have a thread on Plant and Wilder’s beat down last weekend? They got stomped and I assume the Bama QB is out for a while as he got rolled up pretty good!!!!

  15. Rich says:

    Where the hell is Earl Okine?

Join The
Discussion

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Top
WordPress Appliance - Powered by TurnKey Linux