Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain spoke with the media on Monday following practice to give an update on fall camp.
McElwain went over injuries, discussed the quarterback battle, and spoke on the status of Antonio Callaway more than ever before.
Gator Country brings you a notebook packed full of what Jim McElwain said.
Injuries:
- Antonio Riles went down with a leg injury in practice, no indication on if it is serious or not.
- Chris Thompson pulled himself out in the middle of practice with hip discomfort that doesn’t seem serious.
Practice Notes:
- Mac said, “Yesterday (Sunday) in pads we really did a heck of a job up front and I mean there was some really good competition.”
- Today Mac wanted to get the players out in the elements for practice.
- Mac said the execution at practice today was not great at all.
- Mac said, “It was a great learning experience to understand you can’t allow external distractions, in anything you do, hinder your performance.”
- Mac said the guys are playing with really good energy.
- “Glad I wasn’t throwing the ball today because it became very heavy,” Mac said.
- Two-a-days will begin tomorrow.
Antonio Callaway:
- Mac said, “You know, obviously I’m not happy about any of it.”
- He said the situation has been handled very well.
- “I haven’t been updated on anything new or where it’s at,” said Mac.
- Mac said, “When we were made aware of whatever it was, immediate action was taken.”
- “It’s one of those deals, there is really nothing to handle until something happens,” Mac said.
- “You never doubt how hard he plays and goes hard in practices, and he is one of those guys that loves to play the game,” said Mac on Callaway
- Mac said he hasn’t noticed anything different from Callaway from a leadership standpoint.
Offensive Line:
- Riles was having a really good camp before he went down with injury.
- Mac on the offensive line: “Some guys that are not afraid to step up, and you know kinda, let the defense take it to them. I think Martez Ivey is one of those guys.”
- Mac wants more guys on the offensive line to step up and not be passive.
Quarterbacks:
- Mac said it is too early for people to assume Luke Del Rio is the starter.
- “We’ve had two practice in underwear, two practices in some shoulder pads, and one in a torrential downpour. So yeah, I don’t think it’s fair,” said Mac.
- Mac on Del Rio: “I’d say the last two practices he made a couple mistakes that were unacceptable for the way that we expect the position to be played.”
- Mac said he is more worried about better play on the offensive line, being more consistent at receiver, and giving running backs opportunities to make plays than he is about the quarterback situation.
Defensive Backs:
- Mac on Joseph Putu: “You can tell not having the summer that even some of those other guys had, things are going pretty fast for him.”
- He said Putu has to catch up on the learning curve.
- “Chris Williamson has been doing pretty good too, a guy we really haven’t talked much about,” said Mac.
- Mac said the biggest thing for them is figuring out the nickel spot.
- He said Duke Dawson and Daniel McMillian have been taking reps at nickel in practice.
- Mac said he thinks Nick Washington has taken his position at safety.
- “He’s so much surer of what he’s doing and he’s communicating with the other guys.”
- “I think we’ve got some real interchangeable parts there (at safety),” said Mac.
- Mac said Jeawon Taylor and Quincy Lenton have been doing good.
- “We need to continue to work depth at corner as we’re going,” Mac said.
Defensive Line:
- Mac said Brantley is controlling his emotions better.
- “We’re a better team when he’s (Brantley) on the field,” said Mac.
- Mac said, “I’ve been proud of the way he’s stepped up. He did a great job this summer. He’s going to be a force to block.”
- Mac on Cece Jefferson: “He has been playing both spots and he is a guy that you love being around him.
- He said he is a little worried about Jefferson’s weight, because he weighed only 267 yesterday.
Standard for Year Two:
- Mac said they are trying to establish a standard for this years’ team.
- He said they are working on the mindset of the young guys not to accept mediocrity.