Vol67
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Even a former Florida rival is giving Gator quarterback Chris Leak tips on getting better.
Chris Leak's ongoing football education has included a few lessons this summer from the current NFL MVP, who also happens to be a former arch-enemy of the Gators.
Peyton Manning is playing a role in expanding Leak's knowledge.
Indirectly, at least.
Manning has been working with Tennessee quarterback C.J. Leak this summer in Knoxville - and C.J., who talks to Chris on a nightly basis, is passing along the beneficial tips and information to his younger brother in Gainesville.
"Peyton has been there working with C.J. on some things," Chris said Wednesday. "All over the country, quarterbacks help quarterbacks. C.J. has given me some tips Peyton has given him, just reading defenses, how to break defenses down better.
"He's the MVP of the NFL and you're going to listen to him. He's a great player, one of the guys who really studies the game. You try to take as much as you can from him. Passing along the information, that's just my big brother. He's always going to tell me things to help me be successful."
These lessons from Manning will only add to what will be a huge buildup for the Leak vs. Leak, brother vs. brother battle looming on the third Saturday in September in Knoxville, Tenn.
Chis Leak is absorbing the lessons from Manning, but he's not spending any time thinking about a much anticipated quarterback duel with his brother, he says.
"I talk to my brother every day," Leak said. "That's how it's been since he's been in college. It's just brothers talking about what brothers talk about. We know what (the brother vs. brother matchup) is all about. We're really not worried about that. We're going to go out there and try to play our best."
Gaining tips from Manning via his brother has been only part of a typically busy summer for the sophomore Florida quarterback. He's been getting stronger and faster under the tutelage of strength and conditioning coordinator Rob Glass, throwing passes every afternoon to his receivers and backs and watching plenty of video, of course, with the wide receivers and Ed Zaunbrecher, the quarterbacks coach who is spending a lot of one-on-one time with Leak.
"Nothing has changed (since Zaunbrecher was demoted from offensive coordinator and replaced with Larry Fedora)," Leak said. "We go through film and go over different coverages. He just knows so much about different coverages. He knows a tremendous amount, and I just try to soak in as much as I can from him. His intensity as far as coaching me has never changed."
Leak said he and the young receivers - Andre Caldwell and Chad Jackson, in particular - are in more of a comfort zone this summer because they've had a year to work together and everyone has a better understanding of the offense and the timing involved.
"(The workouts) are very organized, so everyone is getting good, quality reps," Leak said. "Things have been great. Everyone knows the system better now, and things are going much smoother with trying to get your timing down. We're all on the same page. Last year, we were trying to learn on the run, learn everything at once.
"We watch film and just go over things we can work on from last year. The receivers know where they are on the field now in terms of awareness and what my timing is. We watch film and then go outside and work on things."
Leak said he spends most nights in his dorm room studying tape. He's trying to get his roommates - Caldwell, Jackson and sophomore cornerback Dee Webb - to do the same.
"Watching film is just relaxing to me," he said. "I have all kinds of tape in my room. I'll be watching tape and they'll be in the other room playing (video games) or watching TV. I'll call into the room and try to explain stuff to them. We're trying to figure out ways to get better. Sometimes I call them in about 10 times and it gets kind of old to them. Sometimes, they stay in there (watching TV)."
Leak said expectations among the players are what they usually are heading into the season.
"At Florida, the expectations have always been to win the national title, win the SEC. It's no different now," he said. "The goals are the same every year no matter what. That's what Florida is all about, winning championships. That's where our minds are right now."
Leak is focused as usual, his attitude positive. When asked if he was concerned about a possible sophomore slump in 2004, he said, "I don't even know what that is."
Chris Leak's ongoing football education has included a few lessons this summer from the current NFL MVP, who also happens to be a former arch-enemy of the Gators.
Peyton Manning is playing a role in expanding Leak's knowledge.
Indirectly, at least.
Manning has been working with Tennessee quarterback C.J. Leak this summer in Knoxville - and C.J., who talks to Chris on a nightly basis, is passing along the beneficial tips and information to his younger brother in Gainesville.
"Peyton has been there working with C.J. on some things," Chris said Wednesday. "All over the country, quarterbacks help quarterbacks. C.J. has given me some tips Peyton has given him, just reading defenses, how to break defenses down better.
"He's the MVP of the NFL and you're going to listen to him. He's a great player, one of the guys who really studies the game. You try to take as much as you can from him. Passing along the information, that's just my big brother. He's always going to tell me things to help me be successful."
These lessons from Manning will only add to what will be a huge buildup for the Leak vs. Leak, brother vs. brother battle looming on the third Saturday in September in Knoxville, Tenn.
Chis Leak is absorbing the lessons from Manning, but he's not spending any time thinking about a much anticipated quarterback duel with his brother, he says.
"I talk to my brother every day," Leak said. "That's how it's been since he's been in college. It's just brothers talking about what brothers talk about. We know what (the brother vs. brother matchup) is all about. We're really not worried about that. We're going to go out there and try to play our best."
Gaining tips from Manning via his brother has been only part of a typically busy summer for the sophomore Florida quarterback. He's been getting stronger and faster under the tutelage of strength and conditioning coordinator Rob Glass, throwing passes every afternoon to his receivers and backs and watching plenty of video, of course, with the wide receivers and Ed Zaunbrecher, the quarterbacks coach who is spending a lot of one-on-one time with Leak.
"Nothing has changed (since Zaunbrecher was demoted from offensive coordinator and replaced with Larry Fedora)," Leak said. "We go through film and go over different coverages. He just knows so much about different coverages. He knows a tremendous amount, and I just try to soak in as much as I can from him. His intensity as far as coaching me has never changed."
Leak said he and the young receivers - Andre Caldwell and Chad Jackson, in particular - are in more of a comfort zone this summer because they've had a year to work together and everyone has a better understanding of the offense and the timing involved.
"(The workouts) are very organized, so everyone is getting good, quality reps," Leak said. "Things have been great. Everyone knows the system better now, and things are going much smoother with trying to get your timing down. We're all on the same page. Last year, we were trying to learn on the run, learn everything at once.
"We watch film and just go over things we can work on from last year. The receivers know where they are on the field now in terms of awareness and what my timing is. We watch film and then go outside and work on things."
Leak said he spends most nights in his dorm room studying tape. He's trying to get his roommates - Caldwell, Jackson and sophomore cornerback Dee Webb - to do the same.
"Watching film is just relaxing to me," he said. "I have all kinds of tape in my room. I'll be watching tape and they'll be in the other room playing (video games) or watching TV. I'll call into the room and try to explain stuff to them. We're trying to figure out ways to get better. Sometimes I call them in about 10 times and it gets kind of old to them. Sometimes, they stay in there (watching TV)."
Leak said expectations among the players are what they usually are heading into the season.
"At Florida, the expectations have always been to win the national title, win the SEC. It's no different now," he said. "The goals are the same every year no matter what. That's what Florida is all about, winning championships. That's where our minds are right now."
Leak is focused as usual, his attitude positive. When asked if he was concerned about a possible sophomore slump in 2004, he said, "I don't even know what that is."
h34r: 