On Monday, after Florida’s first scrimmage of the fall, Gators head coach Jon Sumrall met with the media.
JON SUMRALL
Sumrall on Saturday’s scrimmage: “I thought the scrimmage on Saturday got a lot of good work. 127 total plays. 50 with the first group, 43 with the second, and I think that leaves 34 with the third group. Still moving people up and down at all positions, ones, twos, threes. Some guys at the end.” “Certain guys that were on a rep count like Jadan Baugh or Dallas [Wilson], or some of those guys got to their rep number, and then they went and conditioned on the south end zone by our locker room as we continued the scrimmage. But really good work. Started minus 25, played out. Had a red had a had a backed up period, a red zone period, a two-minute period, a lot of different situational things.” “Procedurally, you know, was displeased with we have two false starts at wide receiver. That’s unacceptable. Only had one interception at quarterback, but as a whole had three or four others that the ball was in jeopardy of being intercepted if our defensive guys had caught the ball a little bit better. Might have had a couple more. We got to do a better job there. The one interception we did have was a really good play by Cormani [McClain], but in a third down situation. But lot of good work.”
On the offensive line: “Still mixing and matching some of the o- line combinations. We’re going to hone in on how we’re going to rotate probably top eight more this week a little it. And then next week will be my game week, and you’ll kind of start to act like we have a game next week. But I liked the flow of what we did. Some good, some bad, a lot to clean up.
Injury Update: “Injury report. I’ll kind of give you guys an update of where we are, and if I miss somebody that you want to know about because I haven’t talked to you on a week and there’s somebody that probably was out a week ago that I haven’t thought about it’s been back the last couple days or Saturday some guys were out. I’ll start with VB3 [Vernell Brown III]. He was withheld Saturday. He practiced today full go. That was more precautionary nature. Had a had a bone bruise in his foot, got stepped on in Thursday’s practice. Friday when we looked at Thursday when we looked at it decided hey let’s hold him Friday and then just as we got full information on Friday could have if we were playing a game probably would have pushed it and played but didn’t want to take him out of a boot to go play on a scrimmage day that I felt like we didn’t need to do something stupid there so he’s he was back full go today. Guys that have been out that are back to practice that were limited maybe in some capacity today but practiced: Kamran James took team reps today. Maybe not a full capacity of team reps, but took them. Jaylen Lloyd, Javion Toombs, did some individual and special teams work today, not 11-11 work yet, but he’ll be close to being back. Duke Clark took Indy today. Probably could have done team, but just out of an abundance of caution, probably going to wait till tomorrow or the following day to put him back in teamwork. [Kendall] Guervil I think is gonna have a shot to return to play, but we’re just kind of making sure we’re thorough there. Jordy Lowery was the only injury Saturday’s practice. A little soft tissue deal. Played 12 or 13 plays before it happened. Really frustrating because, honestly, his arrow was up off of training camp in the spring. He looked like a new guy that transferred and was swimming a little bit at times. And this training camp I’ve been he’s been a pleasant surprise. So disappointed for him. It’s not going to be a terribly long-term deal, but a soft tissue deal that we’ll just have to see how he responds.” “Dijon [Johnson] has been doing individual certain things today. He was full go and he will be full go all week and he’ll be live in the scrimmage Saturday. So we maybe could have pushed the gas there last week but same type deal. It’s like, hey, the ramp up process for him is important. And so, talking with the medical staff, just felt like, you know, ramping him up more this week to build up to Saturday scrimmage, but he went full go today Looked good. He’s he’s looked really good. He’s had a great attitude, played a lot of snaps, veteran, like where he’s at mentally. He’s in a good spot.”
Special Teams: “[Patrick] Durkin did not kick. He’s back today. Similar type deal as VB. Probably if it was a live Saturday could have gone. You know, he needs to continue to get work. Nobody’s arrived, but he was 25 of 28 last year on field goals with a I think three over 50. It was really good to watch Liam Padron kick. You know, he went, I think, I I don’t think, I know exactly, when he went nine for 10 on field goal Saturday and in the scrimmage setting he went three of four. He missed the first one but then made the next three. One of them being a 50 yarder. So to know that we’ve got another guy that’s capable that maybe he hadn’t kicked in a bunch of games or anything, but he he’s got the ability, that’s encouraging because I think we know we got in Durk there. Alec Clark has done a great job punting and holding.”
Quarterback play on Saturday: “And then the quarterbacks, I like a lot of what both have done. I know you guys are going to want to talk about the quarterbacks, I’m guessing. So I like what both have done. Neither one is like just light years ahead of the other. They’re both doing really good things. The one thing they both have to continue to work on is who’s going to operate the best at the line of scrimmage play. Like we cannot forget motions and shifts and then protect the football and then just lead. But they’re both doing a great job. They’re both supporting each other. They’re both competing with each other. Do both of them want to start? Yes. But they’re doing it the right way in the competition with each other. and they have each other’s back and I like where we’re at there. I’m not announcing anything today there in case you want to know.”
On Redzone execution: “Well, there’s a couple offensive things that stall and there was a couple of blown coverages, too. You know, you guys were there. two of the passing touchdowns we gave up on Saturday, we just decide not to cover anybody. Like I can throw those. Like it drove me crazy. Like if it’s okay to get beat on a play, it’s not okay to just give them plays. We can’t beat ourselves. And so Florida beat Florida on defense a couple times Saturday, which was really frustrating. But and then offensively, we got to get touchdowns down in there. We can’t we can’t kick at field goals. But we’ll continue to do that. We got red zone a little bit uh today at times. We’re going to continue to get red zone throughout camp. We got redzone seven on seven today. But it’s an area where I think when I go back and look at teams that are successful, they offensively score touchdowns and defensively keep them out of the end zone. We got to do a better job there. Both sides.”
Sumrall on the offensive line: “You know, I think I’ll say this. I love the fact that we were at 11 o’clock roughly for a start going 127 plays. It was it was steamy in the stadium. I mean, I like that. I wish it could have been just a little bit hotter. Like just a little bit hotter. All right. But I think we we had we saw these guys have to fight through some of that which I’m grateful for. Some guys are elevating. The challenge there is consistency. Like we have to be dialed in and we have to be detailed in assignments, fundamentals, technique. And then we’ve got to strain all the time; non-negotiable up there. And so some guys are getting better. I think Egan Boyer is taking some steps forward. You know, Emeka Ugorji looked good at times at tackle. You know, Bryce Lovett’s unbelievably talented. Unbelievably talented. We just got to get him to keep going all the time. But he’s got giftedness. You know, all those guys, TJ Dice is getting better. Need Caden [Jones] to continue to step up, and play like a veteran and we’re challenging him every day. The interior, I think probably played cleaner and better all training camp. I feel pretty comfortable with who we are and where we are. Tackles are the biggest question.”
The tackles struggling because they are moving around: “I’d say that there’s something to that. There’s also something to right now the playbooks the volume is really big like we’re not paired down in a game plan mode that affects everybody on the offense, the quarterbacks, the o-line, you know. I think when the call sheet is that substantial, the volume of plays that you could get called and you have to go execute, that’s a lot. And then you the other side of it is the amount of volume of defense Brad [White] has. And I mean, we’re given some front pictures that like good luck. Like I feel sometimes I look out there and today we’re in a front pitch on second down. I’m like, Brad, are you trying to like make these guys just quit? because it’s such a challenging picture that he gets pre- snap. And so the line’s getting challenged in a lot of ways. And so they’re growing. When we start to, you know, a week from now, we’ll start to act like we’re in a game week. It’s my game week. We’ll start to like streamline like, okay, who are we a little bit? What are we going to be? How does it look? I do think in the first couple games you’re going to see us play a few different rotations for no other reason. It’s got nothing to do with who we play. It’s because we got to figure out who we are. And I’m still not completely sure yet. I mean, I have some ideas, but until you go do it against somebody else, wear a different color jersey, you don’t ever really know. And so, we got to put some guys in those situations.”
On Tramell Jones Jr.: “I think they’ve both earned what they’re getting. I think Tremell’s grown a ton. The biggest growth that he’s got to continue to make is like operating at the line of scrimmage with shifts, motions, those sort of things. And so, you know, we have we can’t have a motion call and not bring a guy in motion. But he’s making plays. He’s very comfortable in the pocket. He’s got great energy. He’s got good touch on the football. When things are right, they’re right. He’s got a bright future, man. I’m fired up about him. I really am. And so I know everybody thinks that like [Aaron] Philo’s the starter because he came with Buster and all this and yeah, he had a head start. Both guys are doing good things and we we need both of them to get ready.
On whether Jones Jr. gained ground on Philo: “You know what I’d say has happened in this training camp different is, I and I’m going to be very transparent with you, and in the spring I think Philo was way ahead because of understanding the offense and Tramell was significantly behind. I think they’ve both taken some steps up. Tramell probably had more upward mobility, room to grow because he’s learning the offense. So, I think they’re both playing really good football. I’m not going to sit here and say like one guy’s way ahead because I think they’re both doing good work. And I do feel like we’re in a position where nobody’s going to take the snap game one, snap one, because the other guy’s done a poor job. It’s going to be because he’s probably just executed at a little bit higher level, whoever it is. And it’s not, but we’re at a place now where both guys are playing good football.”
Sumrall on Philo throwing a touchdown after throwing an interception: That was the most impressive thing to me of his scrimmage, was a bad play and then followed it up with really good football afterwards. And that’s the quarterback position. You’re going to throw a pick, the whole crowd’s going to boo, and what do you do next? That says a lot about you. So, because like, in full disclosure, he had one other throw and Tramell had a couple that could have gone bad, too. You know, on the tight end over route, we threw it right into the coverage one time as well and just didn’t get picked because the linebacker covering it had hands like a snake. And so we But if we we when you have a bad play at quarterback, you got to respond. It ain’t always going to go good.”
On the linebackers: “I’ve been really pleased with the depth of the inside linebacker room, the growth there. Ty Jackson, Myles Johnson, all those guys, you know, like I keep like truthfully in training camp, I’veprobably seen 44, talking about Miles Johnson, effort plays more and I’m like, whoa, he’s getting better. And then Ty, man, you talk about physically gifted, man, getting way better. So the depth there stepping up.
On the safeties: “I think the safety room is unique because you look at guys like Bryce [Thornton] and DJ [Coleman], really, really, really good football players, like a lot of snaps, veteran experience, and then behind them, you look and you got some really talented guys, like Lagonza [Hayward] or maybe [Cam] Dooley, less time on task, less veteran, less proven. And then you have another guy in that room like Alfonso Allen Jr.; who’s just really steady as well. Kind of complements like the top guys in that room; I mean he just does the right thing a lot and does it really well. So I think across the board defensively it’s kind of different in each room.”
On the defensive line: “Right now the d-line, I like the rotation we got. I feel pretty good about the way that looks. Kam James being back makes it even look better. I mean that’s a group that right now can play with some depth. I think each room is just a little bit different as you go. But the guys that have to make the most adjustments are the linebackers and the safeties. Those are the guys that when the picture changes, they have to they have to adapt more. And so those guys have to be smart football players.”
On linebacker Ty Jackson: “We came in and you could watch him in the winter conditioning. You’re like this guy’s talented. Reminds me of Jamon Davis when I got to Kentucky and I was like who’s that guy? And they’re like well he hadn’t played at all. And I’m like well he looks pretty good. That’s Ty Jackson. And then Jamon became the 19th pick of the NFL draft. I’m not saying it’s gonna be Ty but he’s played on kickoff. He’s played a little bit of special teams. hasn’t been a major contributor defensively really.”
On the running game: “Short yardage, I think we gotta improve. If it’s third and one and fourth and one, we should never get stopped. We got to get better there. That first drive I was absolutely freaking pissed, just to be honest. I’m like if it’s fourth and one, that should be 100% conversion for us. We didn’t get it the first drive. That started our ones off negatively. Like, and now you may say, well, are you going to go for it there? Well, some we will, you know, and if you go by the analytics – not that we’re always going to pay attention only to the analytics – but fourth and one, the analytics would tell you to go for it from every part of the field. Doesn’t matter where you are. Now, we don’t do that, but if we’re outside our 35, a lot of times if it’s fourth and one, like, let’s go. And so, we got to convert that one. I was frustrated with that. I thought at times we ran it well. I thought our defense did a good job stressing us, too. But Jadan’s [Baugh] a good football player. We know what we got in him. He is really had a solid training camp and I’m excited about him.”
On the plan for this week: “We’ll pare down how many guys are repping at certain spots a little this week, and then as we turn the page a week from now, like next Sunday, so we’ll scrimmage Saturday night, 7:45 p.m. because that’s what time game one is. Then our staff meetings on Sunday will be the mirror image of what they will the Sunday after the FAU game. Same meeting time. So I’ll meet with the offense at the same time, the defense the same time, the full staff the same time. We’ll watch the tape as a full staff. and special teams the same exact rhythm this Sunday. And then we’ll turn the page and we’ll go into mock game week next Monday, which is like Monday’s a run through, Tuesday’s a full gear practice, Wednesday’s shells, Thursday’s a walk through, Friday’s a run through, and then Saturday we’ll do a mock game. So, as we get in a mock game week, we’re going to act like we got a game next Saturday. Because I want our guys to understand, it’s important to me that they understand the flow of the week and how you prepare and ramp up for the game. I’m not comfortable game one going all right it’s game week now here’s what we do I want them a week ahead there will be some things we do a little different my game week like we’ll still still do a touch more good on good work and a touch less scout team work but the rhythm of meetings practice I want them to feel it and we’re also going to have to at that point start to pair down who’s getting reps how much reps and then we’ll start to also pair down call sheet stuff a little bit about how do we get game ready?
More on the scrimmage: “The tackling on Saturday, you know, for a first scrimmage, not bad. Some space tackling I didn’t love in the perimeter. One of the touchdowns we gave in the past game, the the effort on tackling was poor with a couple of DBs at times. There were two of them in particular that I was ready to lose my mind on. I’m not going to name names and but there was two DBs whose effort on touchdowns I was really disappointed in but for the most part scrimmage one was pretty good. You know the two things I think that I thought stood out scrimmage one that proved we still have to work at efficiency where the two procedure penalties on receivers. Should never have the receivers should never jump off sides. I’m not okay with the lineman doing it either but a receiver should never do it. And then just play clock. We had three delay games that you know we got to continue to work on. But as far as the defense went, I felt like most of the tackling was decent for a first scrimmage, to be quite honest.”
On tight end Heze Kent: “He’s doing a really good job. I’ll say this about Heze, we challenged him, and he’s responded. He still has a long way to go, but he’s growing. There were times on Saturday that he looked fatigued, but he’s trimmed down quite a bit. He’s lost a ton of weight. He’s put in a great deal of work. He’s shown a great deal of discipline to get his body right to where he can play tight end. I basically told him when we broke spring practice, I gave him the ultimatum of some sort of two or three different goal weights by different timelines or he could play either offensive line or who knows and he can make the decision and he’s decided he doesn’t want to play offensive line or not by losing the weight. Now, we’re not done with the weight stuff, but he’s, I tell you, he’s impressive, man. He’s got, maybe, I’m not just saying this, this is the truth, he may have the best ball skills on our team.”
On Evan Pryor: “I’d say Evan’s a smart kid. You know, he’s got some slashing running style ability, a little bit different than Jadan. Different body type for sure. A little bit different run style. Has good ball skills, can catch the ball out of the backfield.”
On the running backs: ” I like the depth of that room. Landon Montgomery’s done a good job. Byron Louis has gotten better. Montgomery is kind of the one where I feel like he’s kind of the forgotten guy in that room. He’s good on kick return. He’s sturdy. He’s physical. He plays a little bit bigger than he is. He’s a hard tackle. I like that room right now. I think we got good players in there.”
On Bryce Lovett: “Uber talented athletically, has changed his body. He has an ideal tackle body and is good enough to go in and play guard. One of our best shorts goal line plays last week in our live period was him at right guard and moving the line of scrimmage. He can be as good as he wants to be, man. Bryce has the ability to be as good as he decides to be. It’s up to him. He’s changed his body. He cut out all the fast food and the junk he was eating and he looks like a different athlete. I just want to see him play to his capacity. If he maximizes his potential, the sky’s the limit. He can be as good as he wants to be.”
Video courtesy GatorVision | Caden Alvis contributed to this report | Transcript courtesy YouTube
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