Notebook: Kurt Roper talks offense

Thursday was coordinator day for the media as both of the Gators coordinators talked about their respective side of the ball and offensive coordinator Kurt Roper was his usual self with a lot to talk about.

Some of the key points of emphasis were the importance of the spring game, the installation of the offense this spring and the developments of junior quarterback Jeff Driskel this spring in his offense.

GatorCountry will have a lot more from Roper and his press conference but here’s a quick notebook on the keys of the presser.

• The spring game is no different than any other game as Roper wants to see guys lining up correctly and plays being made in the offense.
• Roper wants to see good-on-good in the spring game because you want to see good matchups and your starters competing against each other.
• After 15 spring practices Roper thinks the guys know who they are offensively and the direction the offense is trying to go.
• Roper believes that Jeff Driskel is a guy that has the skills to be a successful quarterback in the SEC from a physical standpoint.
• Driskel’s experience of knowing coverage’s and fronts is very helpful and it helps him understand the offense better.
• The tight end position is going to be an important position this coming year and Roper has seen flashes out of everyone.
• Valdez Showers and Latroy Pittman have done well playing the slot receiver role this spring.
• Roper said he encouraged Jeff Driskel to lose 10 pounds to get him down to the 230-pound range because that’s big enough to run the ball.
• Driskel has shocked Roper in how well he can move after his surgery and he hasn’t shown any kind of limp so far.
• Roper says you have to build your offense around pass protection for less than three seconds.
• Max Garcia is a good football player and Roper credits him for moving inside to the center position.
• Trenton Brown gives the team good depth and Trip Thurman and Chaz Green have  done good job at guard this spring.