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By ANTONYA ENGLISH ,BRIAN LANDMAN, ALEX ABRAMS, BRUCE LOWITT, and Times wires
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 16, 2001
UF offense sluggish in scrimmage
GAINESVILLE -- Even two quarterbacks couldn't make the Florida offense look good in the team's first scrimmage Wednesday night.
Quarterback Brock Berlin, taking the field with the first string, was 7-for-20 for 82 yards and two interceptions. Rex Grossman was 5-for-12 for 33 yards and one interception.
"Obviously our defense got the best of our offense tonight," coach Steve Spurrier said. "Our quarterbacks were not very good tonight and the receivers weren't very good. The position I coach wasn't very good. But we'll get better."
Along with the offensive struggles, Several players were injured during the 90-minute scrimmage: wide receiver Reche Caldwell (sprained ankle, will be re-evaluated today), linebackers Bam Hardmon and Marcus Oquendo-Johnson (bruised thigh), defensive tackle Ronald Dowdy (shoulder), linebacker Dwright Jackson (lower back sprain), defensive tackle Tron LaFavor (strained hamstring) and offensive lineman Mike Degory (ankle). Center Zac Zedalis' high ankle sprain will keep him out seven to 10 days. Robert Cromartie injured his shoulder and will be re-evaluated today.
Linebacker Reid Fleming has been moved to fullback. Andra Davis intercepted a pass and returned it for 67 yards. Former basketball player Major Parker registered a sack.
TALLAHASSEE -- Florida State coach Bobby Bowden didn't want to take chances with his injury-riddled receiving corps when his team began contact drills Wednesday.
The handful of healthy receivers wore blue jerseys, telling the defense to keep hands off.
"We're trying to get through the day with no unnecessary shots," he said. "It's not good this early in the year because they need it, especially those young guys."
Veterans Atrews Bell and Talman Gardner continued to nurse mild hamstring strains and might be out until Monday. Robert Morgan tore two ligaments in his left knee Tuesday, including the anterior cruciate ligament, the joint's main stabilizer, and will be out for the season. It provides an opportunity forfreshmen Craphonso Thorpe and P.K. Sam and sophomore walk-on Joey Kaleikini.
KICKER'S JOB: Brett Cimorelli said he does not expect to kick field goals and extra points this season. "X will definitely be kicking the field goals this season," Cimorelli said, referring to newcomer Xavier Beitia.
CORAL GABLES -- The Hurricanes scrimmaged to end their two-hour workout, with quarterback Ken Dorsey going 5-for-6 for 96 yards.
A 25-yard pass to tight end Jeremy Shockey was the biggest pass play. Shockey was the leading receiver with two catches for 50 yards.
Dorsey threw one interception, to reserve cornerback Al Marshall.
"It was a pretty good first scrimmage, although there is plenty we need to work on," coach Larry Coker said. "I was encouraged with our passing game on offense, although I wish we had executed a little better in goal-line situations."
McDOUGLE OKAY: Defensive end Jerome McDougle was set to be released from Doctor's Hospital in Miami after a final test on his heart, Dr. John Uribe said. McDougle collapsed Tuesday during practice in 90 degree heat. "Once he was cooled down he was fine," Uribe said.
TAMPA -- Sophomore Chris Iskra caught a 15-yard Marquel Blackwell touchdown pass and ran a reverse 4 yards for another score in South Florida's first scrimmage, 15 days before its Division I-A debut at Northern Illinois.
Blackwell completed 11 of 22 passes for 109 yards and Kevin Patullo was 3-for-5 for 61 yards, 40 on a pass to freshman running back Charlie Ross, who limped off with a slightly injured right knee.
"For a first scrimmage we did some good things," coach Jim Leavitt said. " ... Our punt team wasn't very good at all. We would have had two or three blocked."
Freshman Clenton Crossley led rushers with 32 yards on six carries. Defensive back John Niller picked off Patullo for a touchdown. Santiago Gramatica kicked 34- and 36-yard field goals after being wide right from 48.
Senior running back Derrick Rackard sat out with a pulled quadriceps. "We have two or three running backs who are going to play all year long and Derrick is always going to be in our plans," Leavitt said.
ORLANDO -- Two rushing touchdowns were all the offense could muster in a 90-minute scrimmage. Alex Haynes scored on a 1-yard run and Corey Baker went in from 5 yards out. Coach Mike Kruczek was not pleased.
"You can't score a lot of points if you drop balls in an offense that throws the ball a lot," he said.
INJURY REPORT: Starting center Mike Mabry injured his right knee on the second set of downs. He had his knee examined, and results of the MRI will be available today.
BOCA RATON -- Offensive lineman Joshua Blaylock collapsed during practice, but was alert and oriented while undergoing tests, a hospital official said.
Blaylock, a 6-foot-1, 255-pound freshman, "passed out" during practice at Florida Atlantic, Boca Raton Community Hospital emergency room spokeswoman Gail Pray said.
Blaylock was in stable condition and doctors were performing tests to determine if heat caused him to collapse.