Meyer requires team chemistry
Team chemistry can be the difference between a national championship and a nine-win season, and that's one area Florida coach Urban Meyer plans to work on heavily this spring.
Cell phones and iPods are the biggest stumbling blocks to creating chemistry, he said, because they hinder the interaction between the players.
"Throw your iPod on, come in [to the locker room] bopping your head. Put on your equipment, go out to practice," Meyer said. "Come in and throw on your iPod, punching your cell phone, text people and leave. How are you going to develop any chemistry on the team?
"You see it every day. Just go walk on campus. You see these white things stuck in peoples' ears, and that means, 'I don't have to talk to you.' "
Meyer said the 2007 Gators didn't have bad chemistry, but it wasn't as good as it was on the 2006 team that won the national championship.
He doesn't want to completely ban cell phones and iPods from the locker room - cell phones are not allowed on Friday nights before games - but said he will institute a ban if he believes those items are hurting the team's chemistry.
"I am going to talk to them about being grown men, and let's develop a little chemistry," Meyer said. "I have talked to them about it, and I will go down there and pull them out and encourage communication."
Proposed rule changes
There are several rule changes, including yet more tinkering with the play clock, that will go into effect for the 2008 season, provided they are given final approval by an NCAA panel next month.
At the end of each play, teams will have 40 seconds to snap the ball. That replaces the old rule, which gave teams 25 seconds beginning when the officials marked the ball ready for play.
In addition, after a player runs out of bounds, the game clock will start when the officials mark the ball ready for play. The old rule started the clock at the snap. The new rule would not apply in the final two minutes of each half.
Other potential changes:
Coaches receive another instant-replay challenge if their first one is upheld.
When a kickoff goes out of bounds, teams can choose to take the ball at their own 40-yard line - instead of the 35 - or make the other team kick again.
All facemask penalties will be for 15 yards.
Horse-collar tackles are personal fouls and will result in 15-yard penalties.
No more sideline warnings. Officials can call a 5-yard penalty without any warning.
Meyer doesn't like the clock rules, but he is fine with the others. He said UF will work on the clock rules during the second half of spring practice.
"I'd like to be on those committees that change the clocks, but I am never asked," Meyer said. "I just like it the old way.
"When you talk about changing and screwing up the clocks because of longer commercials or the TV people, I am opposed to that. When you talk about player safety, I am OK with that."
Etc.
Freshman Matt Patchan has been moved from offensive line to defensive line. ... CB Markihe Anderson (bruised knee), WR Percy Harvin (heel), S Major Wright (elevated temperature) and OL James Wilson (knee soreness) were limited or did not practice Wednesday.Meyer's biggest enemy is technology.
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