Florida O-line improves after timid practice
Posted: Wed March 24, 1999 at 4:55 p.m. EST
Independent Florida Alligator (U. Florida)
GAINESVILLE, Florida (U-WIRE) -- After drawing the ire of Steve
Spurrier on Monday, the UF football coach said the offensive
lineman gave a more spirited effort Tuesday.
"They're doing a little better," Spurrier said. "Everybody's
trying. Good attitude on this team."
Much of the work in Tuesday's practice was with the running
game, a main focus of the Gators this spring.
The Gators averaged 115.8 rushing yards a game last season, the
second lowest total since Spurrier arrived in 1990. UF averaged
103.2 rushing yards a game in 1992.
And Spurrier again was unimpressed with the lines' play on
Monday.
"They need to play more aggressively," Spurrier said.
"The game's moving too fast for most of our guys. They need to
pick up the pace. Our blocking isn't going to get any better
this year if our guys don't pick up the pace."
Running Marks
Running back Chuck Marks made the most impressive play of the
day with a 75-yard TD run.
Marks took a handoff, broke through the line of scrimmage and
sprinted down the sideline. With three Gators coming over to
tackle him, Marks cut back as all three went by him.
The redshirt freshman finished the play while a large applause
erupted from the spectators.
Marks is just getting back to form after he tore his anterior
cruciate ligament last spring.
Cracking the books
A few UF players missed practice to attend classes, Spurrier
said.
Offensive lineman Cooper Carlisle, tight end Kirk Wells and
defensive lineman Thaddeus Bullard all missed practice.
"You know this isn't a football factory," Spurrier joked. "This
is academia. We never had that problem at Duke. We never had one
player miss a practice because of class."
Don't call me Jevon
Sophomore linebacker Alex Brown has drawn comparisons to former
Gator Jevon Kearse with his ability to play at strongside
linebacker as well as defensive end.
And with only three defensive ends practicing this spring, Brown
has taken reps at both positions.
However, Brown - who was Kearse's backup last season - wants to
make one thing clear. Don't call him the next Jevon Kearse.
"I really don't like comparing myself to (Kearse)," Brown said.
"It really bothers me when people do that. I don't hate
anything, but that's probably the closest thing that I really
dislike.
"I'm nothing like Jevon. All I am is another athlete out there
trying to make himself better. Being compared to Jevon is a
total miscue. I'm nothing like Jevon and I wish people would
stop saying that. I'm the first Alex. That's what I am."
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