Injuries, players lined up in unfamiliar positions, a mountain-sized tackle and a performance so poor it was replayed over and over again on Michael Sam’s draft highlight tape. All are unfortunate parts of Florida’s 2013 season, specifically its offensive line.
The offensive lineman is one of the most unique positions in all of organized sports. No position group is as much of a determiner of offensive success without ever touching the ball — in fact there are rules expressly preventing them from touching the ball or even going down field. At its best, the offensive line under Will Muschamp is the sloberknocking group that bludgeoned LSU and Florida State late in crucial 2012 victories. At its worst, UF’s line acts like a revolving door allowing Missouri to rack up six sacks en route to a 36-17 loss.
Former center Jonotthan Harrison started every game last season — one of two UF offensive linemen to do so. In his place at the center position steps Max Garcia. The redshirt senior from Norcross, Ga. started seven games at left tackle and five at left guard. He’s the man tapped to replace Harrison, a bastion of consistency who had started 25 straight times at the position dating back to 2012.
“I wish I would have known I would have been playing center you know after he was gone. I would have paid attention a lot more,” Garcia said in jest. “He was always a hard worker, he was always just really locked in and focused. You could really always tell in his face, in his demeanor and the way he approached practice.”
For Garcia, the main thing he’s focused on is approaching the position with confidence, whether the protection he calls is right or wrong, it’s important to call it with confidence to get his linemates behind him and on the same page.
Now in his third position at Florida, Garcia is used to change, he’s now on his third offensive line coach in his five-year collegiate career after the departure of Tim Davis from UF earlier in the spring. With Davis out, in steps Mike Summers, formerly of USC.
To a man, every offensive lineman available at Florida media days described him as a technician, and a product of the old school. He talks to the team about three-a-days and the old way of doing things, yet still can connect with players over 25 years his junior. And like every veteran coach, he’s full of stories about the way things used to be done.
“He told us one today about a quarterback that was apart of his team and wanting to get the best out of his players, Garcia said. “He said a coach took the quarterback down to a lake and drowned his head in the water and the guy started freaking out and started fighting the coach and stuff like that, and (Summers) was like ‘that’s the kind of instinct that we need to have.’”
When Summers isn’t doling out anecdotes he’s drilling his linemen on technique. Redshirt junior Trip Thurman has been through two shoulder surgeries, and says Summers has helped him with hand placement more than anything else.
“I think a lot of issues that I’ve had with my shoulder was my hands were outside. If I can keep my hands outside I can be more powerful and more efficient in my blocking,” Thurman said. “I never pictured having two surgeries when I came here obviously, so it’s definitely something that I’m never taking for granted again. . . . There were times when they thought I wasn’t going to ever play again because my shoulder was so bad, so I’m taking every advantage I can.”
Under Summers, the Florida offensive line looks to improve its consistency, stay healthy and make a 180 degree turnaround from last year. If they don’t, the Gators run the risk of drowning just like they did in 2013.
D.J. Humphries blocks an Arkansas defensive lineman during Florida’s 30-10 win against Arkansas on Oct. 5 in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
