TAMPA - Defense and turnovers were the themes on Saturday as USF held its first scrimmage of the spring.
For the majority of the scrimmage, the No. 1 defense faced the No. 2 offense and vice versa. The No. 1 defense did not allow a touchdown.
"Defense did a great job down (near the end zone)," coach Jim Leavitt said of the No. 1 offense not getting in from the 3-yard line. "They went eight snaps and the No. 1 stopped them. That was kind of a big thing."
Tavarious Robinson scored a defensive touchdown, scooping up a bad pitch in the backfield from quarterback Evan Kraky and rumbling 44 yards. Overall, the defenses combined for seven takeaways (five fumble, two interceptions).
Though Leavitt was pleased with the defense, the flip side of that was the offense giving the ball away.
"I'm always upset with turnovers," he said. "You always want to hold onto the ball. But part of that might be the young running backs we've got right now."
Walk-on Anthony Gaines saw the most action among the running backs, rushing for 29 yards on 14 carries, including a 20-yard touchdown on a fake reverse. Redshirt freshman Trae Williams, working with the No. 1 offense, carried eight times for 29 yards.
"Right now we're not nearly good enough at running back," Leavitt said. "That's probably our weakest position."
Quarterback Pat Julmiste (17-of-32 for 164 yards) hooked up with Joe Bain for the offensive highlight. Julmiste hit a streaking Bain down the left sideline and the junior receiver dived for a juggling catch and a 30-yard score. Julmiste also ran for two touchdowns.
Brian Fisher, arrested last week for failure to pay child support, did not participate. Fisher practiced Friday but Leavitt held him out of the scrimmage. When asked if Fisher was suspended, Leavitt said "not right now, no," but did not elaborate.
UF: Zook not pleased at sloppiness, inconsistency
GAINESVILLE - The first official full scrimmage of Florida's spring practice raised the eyebrows of some coaches, but perhaps for the wrong reasons.
Sloppy play that included multiple fumbles and penalties caused coach Ron Zook to question his team's consistency.
"A great player (plays hard) all the time," Zook said. "A good player does it once in a while. A coach's job is to get his players to play up to his potential."
Younger Gators have looked to players such as linebacker Channing Crowder and center Mike Degory for leadership. Zook said the whole team needs consistency, but he pointed out how far Crowder has come.
"The maturity level that Channing has shown is a little bit uncanny," Zook said. "He loves to practice, he loves to play and he's a leader. He is doing the things that you expect great players to do."
In addition to linebacker duties, Crowder also calls signals on the punting unit. He is still adjusting to his new responsibility but Crowder said it is a move he has embraced since the coaches approached him with it.
"It's kind of like being the quarterback of the punt team," he said. "It is pretty much the last line of defense if someone is going to try to block a punt up the middle. I get to be in there and I love to hit. Another opportunity to get to hit somebody is always a great idea."
Another coach who was slightly miffed was running backs coach Mike Locksley. After touting sophomore Skylar Thronton as the team's most physical running back in spring drills, Locksley said Thornton might have regressed during the scrimmage.
"He took a step back probably," he said. "He put the ball on the ground a little bit. He didn't finish some things. But a young back has to learn how to come out and play at the level he played at during the last practice. I sure think that he has the talent."
INJURY REPORT: Receiver Kenneth Tookes injured an ankle but returned. Defensive backs Nick Brooks and Matt Nedeff collided at the goal line during situational drills. Brooks left immediately, and Nedeff followed soon after with a cut lip. Zook said none of the injuries appear serious.
