Notebook: O-line catches heat

<p>Florida’s first day in shoulder pads wasn’t exactly what coach Urban Meyer was expecting.</p><p>“I thought we’d be better today, but I think the heat and the shoulder pads kind of threw us off a little bit,” Meyer said after Monday’s practice. “Every practice matters and we’ve got one down right now and we need to get that one back.”</p><p>One concern was the play of the offensive line. While the team as a whole struggled, it was the o-line that caught most of the ridicule from its coach.</p><p>“The message was, yeah the shovel pass is kind of cute ... but what are we? We’re an offensive line and when we don’t come out and play very well, then we’re not very good,” Meyer said.</p><p>For all the attention All-American quarterback Tim Tebow receives, Meyer said he wouldn’t be where he is without the play of the line. With such lofty expectations laid out for the Gators, Meyer said they’ll need solid play up front offensively if they want to meet them.</p><p>“I love Tim, but Tim’s on every magazine and when Tim’s on every magazine there should be five guys right behind him standing there because Tim’s nothing without those five guys,” he said. “We’ve got to get back to that and they know that, they just need to be told that.”</p><p>The Gators featured three seniors on its line last year. Each displayed veteran leadership was essential to Florida’s national title run in 2008.</p><p>Now, Florida has three returning starters in juniors Mike and Maurkice Pouncey and Carl Johnson. Meyer said he’s relaying on the Pounceys to take over as leaders on the line and described Johnson as a “survivor” who he hopes can step into a leadership role.</p><p>Florida’s official start to fall camp didn’t go as planned, but neither Meyer nor players were ready to panic.</p><p>“We had some things on both sides of the ball that weren’t perfect, but it’s first-day jitters,” defensive tackle Terron Sanders said. “Coming out tomorrow, we’ll come out sharper. We’ve got some new people on the offensive line who haven’t had a whole lot of experience or a whole lot of snaps.</p><p>“It’ll change. We’ve got to keep working and not give up on anybody.”</p><p> </p><p><b>Hoops help Nixon</b></p><p>Freshman Xavier Nixon was one of the most ballyhooed offensive linemen coming out of high school, and since his arrival he’s been one of the most talked-about freshmen.</p><p>Meyer said Monday that Nixon’s got the technique and the size (he’s up to 300 pounds after signing at 265 pounds), but it could be his basketball background that has helped him develop into one of the most athletic linemen Meyer has seen.</p><p> “When I went and watched him play basketball, you could see the athleticism,” Meyer said. “He’s probably the most advanced of the freshmen. There’s a chance he’ll play this year.”</p><p> </p><p><b>Meyer talks CI</b></p><p>Meyer spoke briefly about former Gator tight end Cornelius Ingram, who will miss his rookie season with the Philadelphia Eagles after re-tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.</p><p>Meyer said he’s talked to Ingram since his MRI on Saturday revealed the tear and that Ingram said he thinks he aggravated his knee around the time of the NFL Combine in February.</p><p>Meyer said this setback shouldn’t derail Ingram’s NFL aspirations.</p><p>“He’s going to be fine,” he said. “He’s going to have a great career.”</p><p> </p><p><b>Injury update</b></p><p>Meyer said junior safety Ahmad Black (back) practiced Monday, however, senior receiver Carl Moore (back), junior running back Emmanuel Moody (ankle) and redshirt freshman Jeremy Brown (back) didn’t practice. … Junior defensive end Justin Trattou has a sprained left foot, Meyer said.</p>