Although defensive end Jermaine Cunningham and linebacker Ryan Stamper did not practice Tuesday, Coach Urban Meyer said he expects both to play Saturday when the Gators face Ole Miss (12:30 p.m., Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Raycom-TV). Those are the only casualties from Florida’s 30-6 win over Tennessee last Saturday in Knoxville and Meyer says they are both expected to play.
Cunningham suffered a knee injury early in the game but he played the rest of the way while Stamper suffered a sprained ankle. They were held out of practice Monday, also.
“They’re probable,” said Meyer after a tough two hour practice that he said was “not real crisp but the effort was good.”
Cunningham’s knee is a hyper-extension. He had an MRI that came up negative Monday.
“We MRI’d it,” said Meyer. “There’s no cartilage damage, no ligament damage. [It was on a] play that happened earlier in the game when he tried to tackle one of those backs in the open field so he played the rest of the game. I think he’s going to play.”
RUNNING WITH THE ONES: Freshman cornerback Janoris Jenkins, who had a brilliant game against Tennessee, is running with the first unit this week although Meyer said it won’t be until Wednesday or Thursday before it’s determined if he will start Saturday against Ole Miss.
Against Tennessee, Jenkins dislodged the football from Monterio Hardesty on Tennessee’s first possession of the game, a fumble that was recovered by Stamper. That led to a Florida field goal. Near the end of the first half, Jenkins intercepted a Tennessee pass in the end zone to snuff out a scoring threat.
Meyer has been saying since August that Jenkins makes plays nearly every single day in practice.
“He just makes plays on the ball,” said Meyer. “He’s a very talented guy who still at times is immature. He’s one of those guys with very good ball skills. He could play receiver for us. He’s very good with the ball in his hand. He’s running with the ones.”
UPDATE ON HERNANDEZ: Aaron Hernandez had some problems Monday but apparently he’s doing okay.
“Yesterday he had his knee swell up because of an infection because he cut it,” said Meyer, who indicated all is okay and there won’t be any missed time by his sophomore tight end.
GETTING THE TIMING BACK: Now that the Gators are working on their third week of practice with their starting unit intact, the timing is starting to come back and the Gators are looking much better. Meyer said he’s starting to see some improvement in all areas.
“We have to get a lot better on offense but there’s a lot of positives,” said Meyer. “Our offensive line is playing very well. We had a good physical day today. Having Percy back full time is obviously a bonus along with Jim Tartt. It’s starting to come together a little bit.
OLE MISS THREATS: The Gators are very aware of the top offensive threats for Ole Miss, quarterback Jevan Snead and do-everything back Dexter McCluster. Snead has thrown six touchdown passes which is tied for the lead in the Southeastern Conference while McCluster is used in the “Wild Rebel” formation, which means he takes direct snaps in the shotgun formation.
At one point, Snead was committed to play football for Florida, but he de-committed after Tim Tebow committed to Florida. He went first to Texas and then transferred to Ole Miss where he is in his first year as a starting quarterback.
“He’s got a great arm,” said Meyer. “We recruited that guy when I was at Utah. He’s got a rocket for an arm and a quick release but he’s not a runner. He and John Brantley (Florida redshirt freshman quarterback) … they have a quick release. John is similar similar to him.”
McCluster is being used the way the Gators sometimes use Percy Harvin and the way that Ole Miss Coach Houston Nutt used Darren McFadden at Arkansas. McCluster will line up at tailback, wide receiver and quarterback.
“A lot of people are doing that with the direct snaps and they did it at Arkansas,” said Meyer. “It’s single wing football but we do a little bit of that as well.”
How effective is the direct snap?
“That’s real stuff,” he said. “You saw the NE Patriots had a hard time with it and teams have hard a hard time with us.”
GREAT ASSISTANT COACHES: Meyer said he has complete trust in his coaching staff. The new additions of Vance Bedford (corners), Kenny Carter (running backs) and Dan McCarney (defensive line) have blended in together to form a coaching staff that Meyer says is hard working and effective.
“Everybody is following the plan and we all work together,” said Meyer. “They are very professional. They go about their business and they work extremely hard. When everybody breaks into the meeting rooms if they’re not carrying on what we say, what I say, what the program is all about then you’re going to see a group that doesn’t follow the plan. Something must be going on very well in those meeting rooms because there are guys doing what they’re asked to do.”
IN HINDSIGHT: Meyer said that he probably should have used Brantley at quarterback some in the fourth quarter against Tennessee. With Cam Newton slowed by a sprained ankle, Brantley was available but didn’t get into the game even with Florida way ahead.
“In hindsight probably [should have put him in]” said Meyer. “I don’t think very well in those situations. I want to get the W and get the hell out of there especially in that kind of place.”