Week 1 of Spring football for the Florida Gators is in the books, and questions still surround the installation of the new offense.
But first-year head coach Jim McElwain said he is pleased with how the players are adjusting.
"There’s a heck of a lot more formations, motions shifts, different personnel groups, so that’s a lot of the stuff that still needs to go in," McElwain said, "but they’re adapting and communicating and I feel pretty good about it."
The Gators will be running more of a pro-style scheme, but that doesn’t mean they will be taking things slow when it comes to calling plays.
McElwain said the offense needs to improve upon getting plays off faster.
"Create the chaos," McElwain said. "Play when your mind seems tired, when your body seems tired and you’ve gotta understand you can overcome if your mind will let you. ... Those are some of the things that we’re teaching, not only physically but obviously in our mental conditioning aspect of what we do in our program."
One of the biggest question marks for the team heading into Spring was at wide receiver. With the exception of Demarcus Robinson, the production at the position has been inconsistent. But McElwain said so far the receivers have stood out to him most out of all the positions on both sides of the ball.
"They’re eager and willing. And that’s something to be said about that, is when you’re eager and willing, you’re gonna have a chance to be successful," McElwain said. "And that group has probably showed me more out of all the groups on the field out of anybody."
In the past five seasons in Gainesville, the Gators have had four different offensive coordinators. With offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier now at the helm, the quarterbacks will have to go from the shotgun to under center — a transition that is more challenging than some people may realize.
"It’s a learning curve, a steep one right now for them. They weren’t under center last year, so we’re starting from that," Nussmeier said. "Talking about getting in a stance, proper hand placement to take a snap. You’re talking about things that if you don’t focus on little things, they become major issues."
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Demarcus Robinson extends for an overthrown pass during Alabama's 42-21 win against Florida at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
