5 Takeaways from the Florida Gators spring game
For the first time as the Florida Gators head coach, Billy Napier led his team Thursday out onto Steve Spurrier-Florida Field in front of fans.
The Blue team (which consisted of the first-team offense) dominated the game, winning 34-0. The orange team (comprised of the first-team defense) had a sloppy first half, something Napier pointed out afterward.
“The orange team turned the ball over, the orange team had more penalties,” Napier said. “The blue team took care of the ball and played with poise and discipline. We’re going to look at this tape and it’s going to be a microcosm of every football game we play next fall.”
Here are five takeaways from the Florida Gators spring game:
Anthony Richardson looks as good as advertised
When Cam Newton left Florida, went to Blinn, Auburn, and then New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony, there wasn’t a single Gators fan surprised. I’m not going to say Anthony Richardson is Newton or that he should be the Heisman favorite, but I won’t be surprised if Richardson is in the conversation by November.
In the limited time that the media had to view portions of practice, Richardson’s accuracy was off at times. He had ups and downs throughout different periods. When the lights came on Thursday night, however, Richardson was ready for the stage.
Like Roger Clemens in his prime, Richardson was flicking fastballs on the money to receivers. He finished the game with 207 passing yards on 18-of-24 passing (75 percent) and three total touchdowns. He added 22 rushing yards on six carries, while it should be noted that quarterbacks were non-contact.
Richardson has been hyped as the future, to bring the Gators out of a decade where they have a 69-44 record. It’s only a spring game, so we won’t crown him Messiah yet. But Thursday night, he was everything that everyone thinks he can be in the future.
Ain’t no QB Battle for the Gators
Gators Online has maintained that there was a sizeable gap between Richardson and Jack Miller. That was evident on Thursday night. Also evident from the quarterback snaps overall is the gap between Miller and the rest of the room.
Let it be clear. This is Anthony Richardson’s team. Jack Miller didn’t come to Florida to sit the bench but that’s where Richardson has put him.
Miller ran the second-team offense and didn’t have a good game going against the second-team defense. Miller finished 13-of-23 (57 percent) for 121 yards, no touchdowns and one interception.
Chain Gang turned over
After the first touchdown of the game, receiver Ja’Markis Weston came to the sideline and TV cameras caught him with a chain on his neck.
When Donovan McMillon intercepted Miller in the end zone, a chain was placed around his neck. Twitter exploded. After years of poking fun at rivals Miami and Florida State for their turnover and touchdown gimmicks, suddenly Gators fans were staring in the mirror.
After the game, when asked about that, Napier looked perplexed.
“Turnover chain,” he asked. “Nobody ran that by me. That won’t be happening.”
Napier has a connection with Spurrier
The Head Ball Coach sat down with Gators Online for a podcast on Thursday afternoon. Steve Spurrier recalled how at halftime of every spring game they would hand out awards. It could be anything from hustling at practice, being a good student, or for your play on the field.
Saturday, shortly after the clock hit double zeros to signify halftime, the Gators stayed on the field. Staffers ran out a table that had dozens of trophies on it and Napier began handing out awards to his players.
It may have confused some at the time, but if you’re doing something Steve Spurrier did during his time in Gainesville you can’t really take any flack for that.
Montrell Johnson can play
Louisiana transfer Montrell Johnson made the claim quickly in his post-game press conference.
“I was under recruited in high school,” he said.
Uh, yeah. Credit Napier for finding Johnson and getting him to UL over bigger offers. Then, credit Napier for helping Johnson pack his bags and book a flight to Gainesville.
Johnson was a workhorse on Thursday night. The rising sophomore has a baby face and braces but inhabits the body of a third-year NFL running back. He was the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year as a freshman and has quickly assimilated to the SEC.
He’s on a mission to show every Power 5 coach that they missed on a great running back.
