Jones: Gators make progress in spring but have long way to go

GAINESVILLE – Saturday, the Orange blew out the Blue in the University of Florida's annual spring game, 31-6. Which means absolutely nothing.

It's college football's version of spring training in baseball. It's a chance to get a clue where you are before the real season. And the truth about a Gators program that was so bad that Will Muschamp is now the defensive coordinator at Auburn and Jim McElwain now sits in his old office?

Muschamp probably needs to shut up. And McElwain, well, he probably can cut with the jokes. If you've watched the mess that stumbled around Florida Field the past two years, neither is really that cute.

The day Muschamp was fired, he declared the next coach had no excuses.

"They've got a deep and talented roster, so don't let that new guy tell you he ain't got any players," Muschamp said. "I can tell you that right now. There are some good football players in that locker room."

Which begs to ask? Then you are basically admitting the talent was there for Florida to win, it's just that you should never be a head coach? If it's not the players, after all, who's to blame? The media?

Of course McElwain was about as dumb in declaring: "I believe I can win with my dog Claribelle."

Soon after came reality. Spring camp. Oops.

Former Florida Gators coach Ray Graves dies at 96

Florida is so thin at offensive line, with just seven scholarship players, the Gators almost had to change the format of Saturday's spring game. McElwain said depth issues were "probably the reason we're here."

And earth to McElwain, even Claribelle would probably run away in fear if she saw the Alabama defensive front coming after her with that completely unproven O-line he has right now. None of the five first-teamers in Saturday's contest has ever started an SEC game.

Muschamp responded, because he sounds more and more like a child who just can't let it go: "(McElwain) said he could coach a dog and win. Heck, (does) he like the dog better than his players?"

Earth to Muschamp, Claribelle probably has more speed than some of the so-called "skill" position players he left behind.

Poor offense absolutely destroyed the Muschamp tenure at UF. That is why McElwain is here. And after watching Saturday's spring game, there were some signs of potential improvement, which you are foolish to declare until an SEC defense stands on the opposite side in the fall. Treon Harris has a year under his belt. Will Grier redshirted and matured. That's the quarterback battle.

Combined they were 13 of 18 for 224 yards and one TD on Saturday. Receiver Demarcus Robinson caught four passes and he's got a big-time upside. There's some real, live tight ends on campus. But here's the truth. This team has a serious, serious talent deficit. By October, with less than 60 players in spring camp but some freshmen coming in to help, Claribelle may need to suit up.

McElwain talked about a lack of attention to detail and unforced errors on offense. He mentioned Harris has a lack of urgency near the end zone, and didn't like Grier's reaction to receivers dropping balls.

"There's so much more to do," McElwain said. "There's so many lost opportunities and getting your guys to understand the attention to detail, the focus of the communication and the mindset to go win this play."

Early enrollees star in Florida State's spring game

Translation? Florida is not a very good offensive team right now. Will it be in the fall? Seriously doubt it. It's easy for some goof who bought a $20 T-shirt to declare the Gators will be good again in 2015.

Here's your reality. There are few comparable offensive tools that were at Florida in 2006 and 2008 when it won national titles. And that's Muschamp's fault. He can talk about a locker room full of talent. He's a fool to believe that collection that took the field on Saturday was already prepared to win big.

McElwain? He's got his own issues. Like realizing this could be a lot rougher than he expected.

He talked Saturday about the freshmen coming in and how quickly they need to contribute.

"It's kind of like I told them," he began. "They're going to Disneyland right now. Somebody gave them the Fast Pass to the Matterhorn and they ain't standing in line. They're coming in and taking valuable reps right off the bat."

Reminded that he's in Florida and Disney World has Space Mountain not the Matterhorn, McElwain responded: "Space Mountain. That's right. That first one was Disneyland."

If Muschamp thinks that squad that took the field on Saturday is an SEC contender, then he's from outer space. If McElwain thinks it's funny to talk about dogs, he better take a look at the wide receiving group UF has produced in recent years.

And Will, in case you're listening, here's what Grier had to say about what you left behind: "The main issue is depth."

So here's a novel idea to both. Just coach. You want to be cute? Win some games where you are at. McElwain should feed Claribelle and his talent pool. Muschamp can yell and scream and strut around Auburn but stop talking about Florida. You failed, you were fired, move on.

After watching Saturday? Don't fool yourselves, Gators fans. There are some more rough days ahead.

And Muschamp? That's just as much your fault as anyone who stepped on campus in the last two years.

And McElwain? Cut out the dog jokes. In Gainesville they are not amused when you don't win and blame that loss on somebody else. You get fired that way.

Contact Jones at djones@floridatoday.com or follow on Twitter: @DaveJonesSports.