AM850.com

Now that the Orange and Blue football game is over, Gator football fans will have a few months to debate how well their team will do when the 2008 season rolls around.

In the meantime, with all that time between now and then, let's chew on some observations from this year's Gator spring practices.

Let us start with the basic question; can one really tell anything from spring football practice? The answer is... sometimes. Through the years, some players have done well in the spring or in the spring game, but then for whatever reason that effort did not translate to success where it counted...on the field of play in a regular game.

Ok, so understanding that not every spring practice can tell us how well a team might do in the regular year, I do think there are some things we can take from the Gator spring practices this year...

** There Are Offensive Playmakers Galore. Clearly, if this unit stays healthy and the offensive line does its job, this will be an offense with a ton of playmaking ability. Chris Rainey was spectacular in the spring game and was solid throughout the spring in his second year in the system. Although wide receiver Deonte Thompson didn't have a great spring game, you could see in practices that he has big play potential and should be in the offensive mix.

And before being hurt, you could see wide receiver Carl Moore was a nice player and why the Gators went after a rare junior college guy to play this position. It may take him a while to learn the system but he should be in the mix as well.

We haven't even mentioned guys like Cornelius Ingram, Percy Harvin and Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Tim Tebow yet...get the idea at how good this offense can be? And even though one tailback did not emerge from the spring, I would think head coach Urban Meyer has to feel better about the position with Kestahn Moore, Mon Williams and newcomer Emmanuel Moody playing better; and that says nothing about when guys like Harvin, Brandon James and Rainey get their hands on the ball from that position. Tailback by committee could be a good thing.

The one thing Urban Meyer has preached is that you have to wait your turn; that's what was so frustrating to the coaching staff when Jarred Fayson decided to transfer; he just wasn't willing to bide his time and wait for his chance. Guys like Rainey and Thompson are now getting their chances after a sometimes difficult waiting process but that patience could start to be pay dividends soon.

One concern; the play of quarterback Cameron Newton. For some reason, he still does not look comfortable in this offensive system and he looks to have difficulty with his accuracy in throwing the football. If John Brantley can ever stay healthy, I think he has a great chance to be the number two quarterback.

** The Defense Should Be Better. If nothing else, this unit should be better because it is a year older. But the truth is we may not really see how much better it is if at all until the regular season starts. But one guy that stood out this spring is defensive end Carlos Dunlap; he was almost unblockable at times and was spending as much time in the Gator backfield as the running backs were. He could be poised for a breakout season as a rush end.

The linebackers will have another year of experience and one hopes guys like Lorenzo Edwards and Brandon Hicks can become quality backups. The secondary, a terribly young and not very deep spot on the team a year ago, hopes to be better with veterans Joe Haden, Wondy Pierre-Louis, Jacques Rickerson and Markihe Anderson a year older. In practices, the corners seemed to be making more plays on the ball and covering better and one hopes that will translate to the real stage this year. Newcomers Janoris Jenkins and Moses Jenkins could also push for early playing time.

But the key spot for me will be at defensive tackle, a position that now has a lot of bodies but that still in my view is an area that must prove its worth. Brandon Antwine was hurt all spring, Torrey Davis has been in and out of the doghouse with the coaches and missed some spring time. Lawrence Marsh has shown flashes but not when it counts and Terron Sanders is coming off an injury.

It was painfully obvious last year that when you got past Javier Estopinian and Clint McMillan at defensive tackle, the drop off was significant. Estopinian is back, and so is the ever improving Justin Trattou, who can play inside and outside and is a budding star. Can John Brown, who didn't see the field last year, make an impact? Meyer absolutely gushes when he talks about incoming freshman DT Omar Hunter, and the hope is Troy Epps will see the field right away as a junior college transfer.

In Florida's system, the defensive tackles must disrupt things up front and take on blockers so the linebackers can roam free unimpeded by blockers to use their speed
to make plays. We may not see the likes of Marcus Thomas or Joe Cohen there yet, but at least there are more bodies and true competition now at this critical spot.

** Special Teams Can Be Good. Caleb Sturgis has a tremendous leg and now must prove he can hit field goals under pressure in the SEC. Chaz Henry is an excellent punter and a field position changer. And we all know what Brandon James can do on punt returns! Still, this is a unit that can get better, especially in kick return coverage and in kickoff returns.

Florida will be rightfully ranked in the preseason top 10 of every major poll based on the talent that is coming back. But like with most teams, a key injury here or a problem there could spell the difference between winning an SEC title or a return trip to a State of Florida bowl game again.

We certainly will have enough time to talk about all of this stuff. SEC Football Media Days isn't until July...how many more days until the start of fall drills?