Urban Meyer was not a happy head coach after the Gators stumbled and sputtered through a rather lifeless practice in Wednesday’s afternoon heat.
“We didn’t have a good day,” Meyer said. “We’ve got to get a little better. Today wasn’t very good.”
The Gators paid for lackluster effort by having to run windsprints after practice.
“It was a disappointing practice today,” Meyer said. “There was a lack of intensity. When people talked about the Gators, it was relentless effort to the football. That comes from leaders, that comes from Ray McDonald, those kind of players. The common theme is those are older players with leadership value.
“Right now, we’re expecting some of our young leaders to pick up and go. We’re a young team. In certain areas, we’re real young still.”
Meyer said the leadership and relentlessness were missing on defense.
“We’re probably a little bit behind, but compared to last year, we’re a little bit ahead (on defense),” he said. “There are some players I’m awful pleased with on defense. (Junior linebacker) Dustin Doe had a good summer and it’s carried over into three practices. Where we are for a University of Florida Gator defense, we’re behind.”
It was a long practice (almost three hours), and some of UF’s young defensive linemen (especially the tackles) seemed to have problems handling the extended workout in the heat. That’s why the Gators had to do some extra running when it was over.
