10/5: Addazio defends Brantley, Pouncey, option

Florida Gators offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Steve Addazio along with redshirt senior left tackle Marcus Gilbert, redshirt senior defensive tackle Terron Sanders and senior punter/kicker Chas Henry players spoke to the media Tuesday as the team took a final look back on its crushing loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide and ahead to its match-up against the LSU Tigers at home on Saturday.

BRANTLEY IS “GREAT” AND READY TO PLAY

With Las Vegas odds-makers pulling down the LSU-Florida line for Saturday’s game due to redshirt junior quarterback John Brantley‘s “questionable” status, his health was a topic of conversation on Tuesday. Even though Brantley said Monday that his rib injury was “nothing major” and that he was just “a little sore…just like every game,” concerns arose. Addazio did his best to squash those rumors, saying Brantley was “doing great” and would be starting as scheduled this weekend.

POUNCEY THE “BEST OFFENSIVE LINEMAN IN AMERICA”

Questioned Tuesday about senior center Mike Pouncey’s status on the interior of the line and whether or not moving him out of that role has been considered, Addazio was slightly agitated when considering his response. “Change for what? Absolutely not. Are you kidding me? We’re talking about a first-round draft pick, the best offensive lineman in America and a phenomenal football player and the leader on this football [team],” Addazio said. “Unequivocally [that concept has] never even entered the realm of possibility.” He was also asked whether or not Pouncey is more talented as a guard. “When you say ‘play better,’ are you talking about actually playing the game? He grades out a Champion every week. Absolutely not. […] You won’t want to play against him.”

Pouncey’s snaps have also been an issue of contention with fans and the media, but Addazio noted that they are much better than publicized. “I went through the film like a fine-tooth comb for us and we had one low, one wide, one high out of 60 whatever-odd plays there were. You don’t want any. You never want any. But that’s no different from last year at any given point. It really isn’t,” he said. “I know there’s a lot of focus on that right now … but that’s just the truth. You don’t want any, but there’s no more. There was opening day, we all know that. From that last game? That’s all there was.”

THE OPTION REMAINS EFFECTIVE AND WILL BE USED

Another point of contention after Saturday’s loss was the offense’s continued use of the option with Brantley as a less-effective signal caller in the formation comparative to former Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow. Addazio, like head coach Urban Meyer insisted that the option is effective and will continue to remain a part of Florida’s offense. How big of a part, however, remains to be seen.

“You’re not going to major in it. We’re always going to operate percentage-wise a little differently based on who our guys are,” Addazio said. “Right now, just so you know in the option game right now with John Brantley, we’re averaging five yards [per] carry. You need to know that. That’s a fact. You need to have an element, an option, in your game so you can keep the defense balanced and keep the defense honest and it’s a part of who we are. That won’t change.

“How many calls…that’s going to be dictated by what we see and what’s happening. You take that element out, however many snaps that element is, you take that out and they no longer have to line up their pressures, their blitzes and you’re in a whole different kind of ball game. As Coach [Meyer] spoke about, that’s a part of who we are. That won’t change. […] It’s like everything else: Get a little better, operate a little better. The element is there, the element will always be a part.”

QUOTES (After the break…)

Addazio on the pick six: “It was a poor decision.”

Addazio on the team’s mood after the loss: “Great. It was great after the game in the locker room. Great. It’s great. It’s right where it should be. It’s a team that is not happy about what happened, wants to get back to practice and get going. It’s a really good attitude on this football team. Really good.”

Addazio on not having his offensive line healthy during practice last week: “It is what it is. […] To their credit, those guys are tough guys. They were rock and roll, ready to go on game day.”

Addazio on how many days all five starters practiced together: “None.”

Addazio on freshman running back Mack Brown playing: “Mack’s getting ready to rock and roll. He’s one of those four guys. Yes, if there are injuries or that exists or as Mack grows. He’s one of those four for sure.”

Gilbert on the team coming back from the loss: “We’ve been down this path before – ’06 and ’08. I think we’ll bounce back and rebound and become a stronger team.”

Gilbert on offensive struggles: “Injuries and different players playing different roles. It’s kind of hard to adjust. I think as the season rolls on, a lot of players will take a better approach to their positions. We’ll do a much better job.”

Sanders on LSU’s two quarterbacks: “That is something that’s been a challenge. They’re definitely going to come out and use both of them. I feel like as long as we contain No. 9 and cause No. 12 to throw, I feel like we can control the game.”

Sanders on LSU vs. Florida: “I love this game. Aside from the Florida-Georgia game, this is probably one of my favorite games to play. LSU, with the exception of ’08, has always come out and play us tough. They had that one win against us in ’07, so we know that they’re going to come out and try to change the outcome of what has been the last few years. This is one game that I always look forward to because LSU always comes out. They try to do something different to surprise us. It’s definitely a good test for us, and it’s going to be a big test for us come Saturday to see how we rebound from a loss like last week.”

Henry on his field goal range: “Anywhere in between 50. When I start getting around 50 then I start trying to push a little more.”

Henry on punting vs. kicking: “It’s a little bit different, something you gotta get into. It’s more of using your hip flexors and things like that, your hamstrings with punting.”

Henry on his overall performance: “It was definitely one of my best days. I’m just trying to do whatever I can to help the team. That’s what my job is, and if I can do it well, hopefully that translates into helping our team out.”