Mullen: Development stunted by virus
GAINESVILLE — The Florida Gators return 11 starters from an 11-2 top-10 squad expected to push for the school’s first SEC title since 2008.
It’s a good starting point, but coach Dan Mullen already feels like he’s running out of time before the Sept. 26 season opener at Ole Miss.
The cancellation of spring practices, a 10-day delay to the start of training camp and the reduction of practice time from six to five days a week hinders a program whose bedrock is developing players and teaching Xs and Os.
“Listen, you’re not going to make up the development you lost in the spring, and that’s one of the biggest tragedies for these players in their careers,” Mullen said Monday following Day 1 of camp. “We’re a developmental program. We coach guys. We develop them to — we hope — a very, very high level, and one of the tragedies is that they’re missing a good deal. They missed development in the spring; obviously they cut down the amount of things we can do in training camp with the shortened hours. I don’t know why we came up with that but the league wanted to do. So all of those things leave; that’s not great for the player development.
“But we’re going to coach our guys as hard as we can. Our guys like to be coached. That’s why they come to Florida: they want to be coached and developed to be great players, and I know football is important to our guys, so we’re going to work hard with what we have to get them coached up to the highest level possible.”
Monday’s absence of four potential starters compounds the challenge ahead. Receivers Trevon Grimes, Jacob Copeland and Kadarius Toney, along with defensive end Zach Carter, skipped the opening practice, and their return is uncertain.
Mullen did not address the decisions, but said he would not be surprised if he had some players and even coaches choose to “opt out” for the 2020 season.
Carter’s father told Rivals.com his son is concerned about the potential dangers of COVID-19. Earlier this month on their Twitter accounts, Copeland and Toney discussed the merits of skipping the season due to health concerns.
The Gators return All-SEC tight end Kyle Pitts but lost four senior receivers who combined for 132 catches, 1,901 yards and 16 touchdowns. Grimes is the leading returning wideout with 33 catches in 2019 while Toney and Copeland are explosive playmakers capable of scoring from anywhere on the field.
QB Kyle Trask, the SEC’s leading returning passer, was counting heavily on all four returners but also will push to develop chemistry and timing with a crop of young receivers, including highly touted freshman Xzavier
Henderson and talented sophomore tight end Keon Zipperer.
Mullen said the Gators also are waiting to hear on the eligibility waivers for Penn State transfer Justin Shorter, a former five-star recruit, and Texas transfer Jordan Pouncey of Winter Park.
Meanwhile, Carter was expected to play a key role on the front seven of the Gators’ vaunted defense.
Coordinator Todd Grantham will have to replace sacks leader Jon Greenard and top cornerback C.J. Henderson from a unit that led the SEC sacks and red-zone defense. The Gators like to rotate at least 25 players to reduce fatigue and increase productivity, but fostering depth could be a challenge.
Mullen is not focused on what might have been but rather what lies ahead.
“We are where we’re at,” he said. “Our job is to every day be the absolute best we can be each and every day, and that’s what we’re worried about. Could we have been better? I don’t know. That’s irrelevant to me.
“We are where we are and it’s our job to make sure we’re the absolute best we can be today, and if we’re that good today we can be a little bit better tomorrow and that’s the attitude you have to take.”
The SEC will leave most decisions on stadium attendance up to the league’s members, but face coverings will be non-negotiable.
The league’s fan health and safety guidelines will require face coverings for fans entering and leaving the stadium and in situations where social distancing cannot be maintained. The SEC also will mandate athletics staff and stadium workers wear face coverings at all times.
UF has not decided how many fans will be allowed to attend games in the Swamp. On Monday, fellow SEC East member Missouri announced it would allow no more than 25% capacity.
The SEC said institutions can determine the number of fans based on applicable state and local guidelines, policies and/or regulations.
Among other attendance protocols are the following:
■ Plexiglass barriers must be installed at all points-of-sale. If not, concessions staff shall wear a face shield plus a mask. Lines at points-of-sale must permit physical distancing among fans.
■ ”Grab and go” food/beverage options should be considered.
■ All tickets must be digitally scanned.
■ Each institution must have a documented plan outlining procedures to disinfect the stadium and work with guests who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms.
■ Each school can decide whether to stage team walks — like the Gator Walk — to the stadium. Everyone attending including players and staff must wear masks.
■ Tailgating will also be a decisions made by each institution.