UM’s Coley ‘excited to go back’ to FSU
CORAL GABLES — James Coley has seen the Miami-Florida State rivalry from a couple of different perspectives.
As a little boy, he grew up a few blocks from the Orange Bowl, where so many games ended in historic fashion.
He later watched games as a student at Florida State.
In 2008, he took a job as the Seminoles’ tight-ends coach and recruiting coordinator. During his time in Tallahassee, he moved up the coaching ranks, to become the Seminoles’ offensive coordinator in 2010.
But for all his success landing some of the nation’s top prospects, FSU coach Jimbo Fisher always was the one calling the offensive plays. When Miami offered him the chance to mold an offense, Coley, 40, returned home to South Florida and joined Al Golden’s staff as the team’s new offensive coordinator.
Now as the No. 7 Hurricanes head to Tallahassee for a Saturday-night showdown against the No. 3 Seminoles, Coley will experience this storied rivalry in a new way — as Florida State’s rival.
“I don’t know. I’ll tell you afterwards. It’ll be different,” Coley said when
ward, the Gators spent the open week getting back to basics. Coaches emphasized technique and fundamentals, and also pared down the playbook and decreased the demands on Florida’s linemen.
Offensive coordinator Brent Pease said coaches could reduce the amount of communication on the line and give each player a specific gap to protect. In addition, quarterback Tyler Murphy might move around the pocket more to buy him time to throw.
“I’m not giving the whole game plan, but you’ve just got to take off some [of the line calls],” Pease said. “You’ve got to change the pocket form a little bit. You maybe move the quarterback and help the linemen out with where the spot is they have to protect.”
Beyond the philosophical changes, personnel moves could becomingat offensive tackle.
Massive junior- college transfer Trenton Brown (6-8, 361) has been working with the first-team offense and could replace Tyler Moore. Moore has struggled with pass protection and penalties, including two flags for false starts during a four-snap span at Missouri.
Garcia, who started the first six games at left guard, opened the Missouri game at left tackle in place of D.J. Humphries, who had two false-start penalties and allowed a sack on Florida’s final drive at LSU. By the end of the Missouri loss, Garcia had replaced Moore at right tackle.
Amid all the o-line upheaval, Florida recorded 391 total yards the past two games.
“If we can’t move anybody up front, at least in the run game, then it’s going to be hard to produce,” Pease said. “They’ve got to be the foundation of what we’ve built the whole thing on.”
The Gators’ creaky foundation has limited the effectiveness of Murphy.
He suffered a shoulder injury at LSU and practiced once — the Friday prior to the Missouri game— during the past two weeks. Prior to Monday, Murphy had thrown roughly 30 passes in 14 days.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a quarterback do that, sit out all week and then only throw one day,” said receiver Trey Burton, a former quarterback. “I don’t how he does it.”
Murphy, who had 47 yards of total offense at Missouri, has no choice.
Redshirt freshman Skyler Mornhinweg, Murphy’s backup, has never played a snap and has significantly less seasoning than Murphy did when he replaced injured starter Jeff Driskel.
For Murphy to remain under center and the Gators to stay in the SEC East race, the offensive line must improve.
“It’s not too late, you know, it’s definitely make or break right now,” Garcia said. “We’re trying to get back to Florida football. We are disappointed with what we’re doing so far.
“We’re just trying to get back on track.” having a good grasp of what’s going on and having a plan for each series, the adjustments that we make and obviously going with his gut in terms of what he sees.”
And as they prepare to meet as rivals, Coley’s previous boss says there are no hard feelings.
Instead, he’s confident Coley’s career will only get better.
“He’s added to what they’ve done and they’re very well-coached all the way around the board…Coley’s done a great job,” Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher said.
“I always said that Coley is a great offensive mind. I think he’s a very good coach and a great recruiter and he’s got a great future in this business.”