Over the next 75 days, GatorCountry will preview the players that make up the 2013 Florida Gators football team as we inch closer and closer to the season.
Each day we will count down using the player whose jersey number corresponds with how many days there are left until Florida kicks off against Toledo in the Swamp on August 31
Today we take a look at redshirt junior offensive tackle Chaz Green.
History
Green was a highly rated offensive tackle out of Tampa Catholic high school. Green was an Under Armour All-American and chose Florida over schools like Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Ohio State, South Carolina, Tennessee and Southern Cal.
Green started his career at Florida by taking a redshirt. Things picked up for Green his second year on campus where he started and played in nine game on his way to being named a 2011 Freshman All-American. Things were looking up and it appeared that Green was going to solidify the Gators’ need at right tackle.
Then came his redshirt sophomore season. Green played in 11 games including 10 starts, but couldn’t return to the form we saw him play at in the previous season. Green dealt with nagging injuries throughout the season and missed all of spring ball this year following offseason surgery.
Player Evaluation
Strengths
At 6’5, 304-pounds, Green has ideal size for the right tackle position. He is very athletic and has good feet to seal the edge against the pass rush. Green has active hands in his blocking technique and can deliver a very solid punch in both run blocking and pass protection. He is able to drive defenders off of the line as a run blocker and plays with good leverage.
Weaknesses
Green’s biggest weakness has to be his injury history. His injuries last season caused his production to drop and even forced him to miss several games. He lost his starting position for a period of time last year while coming back from an injury. He needs to also play with consistent energy and effort.
Too many times last season Green and Jon Halapio would get their protections mixed up on simple stunts from defensive linemen and that led to Jeff Driskel getting sacked and running for his life for most of the year. You would expect Green and Halapio to have better communication having played with each other for the better part of two seasons.
What to Expect
After missing the entirety of spring practice, Green’s starting spot at right tackle is up in the air. Tyler Moore filled that role during the spring and Trenton Brown arrived on campus fro Summer A with his sights set on a starting tackle spot.
If Green can return to the form we saw him play at when he was a redshirt freshman the job is his. If he continues to struggle with injuries and his performance suffers from that, he could end up watching games from the sideline.
I think Green starts the season as the starting right tackle but Florida has several players who are ready to step in if Green isn’t getting the job done early.