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Gators see opportunity in spring football game

 
Treon Harris (3) will be battling Will Grier for the Gators starting quarterback position during today’s spring game. The Gators have been hampered with injuries on the offensive line.
Treon Harris (3) will be battling Will Grier for the Gators starting quarterback position during today’s spring game. The Gators have been hampered with injuries on the offensive line.
Published April 11, 2015

GAINESVILLE — In the end, Florida coach Jim McElwain felt strongly that he needed today's annual spring game to be just that — a game. So despite a seriously depleted offensive line, the Gators will do their best to make the Orange and Blue game more than just a glorified practice.

"We're going to do everything we can to create some game-like situations, different offense, different defense working as a same unit," McElwain said. "We're still working out some of the details because of the depth and how we're going to have to maybe trade some jerseys as we move along. But there again trying to work as much as we can to get a lot out of (today) as our last opportunity obviously as a team to get after it before we get together this summer and go through what they do at that time. … We've got a lot of work to do, but we're going to be pretty darn good."

Florida has been hampered all spring with injuries and lack of numbers on the offensive line. If the season began today, the Gators' lineup would include five offensive linemen who have never started, after starting tackle Rod Johnson was injured this spring. The situation was so precarious offensive line coach Mike Summers jokingly said, "Every time there's a pile, I turn and look the other way and then look at the huddle."

But those low numbers have brought opportunity to get more reps and experience, and a serious bonding among the unit, Summers said.

"The thing about this group of guys is they care about each other and care about the team," Summers said. "They fight their way through tough times, and that's how you build the foundation of a football team."

However, the 12:30 p.m. game will be about more than the offensive line. Treon Harris and Will Grier are battling for the starting quarterback position, the Gators are searching for playmakers at wide receiver and are working on installing a new offense.

Regardless of the format, McElwain said he feels good about the offense and the overall improvement. He sees today as one final opportunity to get better before organized practices cease for the next four months.

"It (today) helps some guys, another opportunity to play in The Swamp, compete," he said. "We're going to try to work. We're hanging on from the O-line standpoint, believe me. We're going to try to go 12-minute quarters, actually have two teams and have as much a competitive game (as possible), using some of the special teams, but not live. Try to create an atmosphere that way, and create some situations, including hopefully finishing with some overtime and work as we go with the Orange vs. the Blue. We're still kind of piece-mealing those groups together right now. Yet I think we'll be able to go, we'll have a good competitive game as much as we can."

Contact Antonya English at aenglish@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_Gators.