Is the 2023 Roster Still Better than What Billy Inherited?

Your observation restates my point. A current 2022 starter being asked to assume a subordinate role b/c they were recruited over (either via portal or HS) is an opportunity for distraction, even if they were not in 2022. This is made worse by the previous several regimes loyalty to upperclass players despite younger players being better

Lastly, just because someone started in 2022 doesnt mean they are capable in 2023, just that they were the best of the talent limited group last year.

Remember NIL changes the roster turnover picture because its impossible to pay every player what they think they are worth. Teams will poach select players, every position has a dollar ceiling. Trying to satisfy every demand is an exercise in futility.

Our path forward is to stock the roster with quality classes for balance and depth this requires time. Living off the portal is the Juco model and its not sustainable and dilutes the team culture with free agents who blow up NIL resources.

 

That's exactly my point. In this case being unable to retain starters required a visit to the portal where replacements were obtained for OL and at Safety. Its anybody's guess if they cost more or less than retaining the starters. Considering that all the players left before we obtained replacements from the portal, its unlikely that they were asked to assume a subordinate role.

 

I wonder who the players were that were rumored to be hung over for the bowl game?

 

Conjecture on your part wrt to timing. Without the benefit of 1st hand knowledge about coachability, perceived ceiling, desire to conform, off field dedication, athlete’s perception of worth etc.

There are many aspects to discuss but the hand wringing about roster management is down the pecking order 1 year in. BN appears to have a short list when it comes to replacing positions and hasn't to date replaced departures with projects or reaches unlike previous staffs

 

Turn it around doesn't equal undefeated or beating UGA

There is a pretty big gap between finishing with a losing record and undefeated/UGA.

For example, Tennessee finished with 11 wins in year 2 with a harder schedule and less talent. They played UGA, Bama, and Clemson.

I don't even expect the 'turn around' to be at Tennessee's level. But 9/10 wins is pretty reasonable proof of a turnaround when nearly all successful coaches make a similar jump in year 2.

 

Probably the best way to spin it is that Napier is a normal, well-adjusted adult and does not have any strange personality disorders that seem to afflict a notable subset of football coaches. Napier may fail, but he is going to do it in a very boring way and will not gloriously flame out like many in this position before him.

 

If we had Trask maybe. Tennessee had their best qb since…..

 

But to Tennessee and Heupel's credit, they didn't have Hooker in the Orange Bowl and the replacement Joe Milton threw for 251 yards and 3/0.

 

The future qb looked nice for sure.

 

We put a lot of hope into his history with Bama but we were warned by a member here that maclewein's offensive prowess was overstated and supported that fact with his first 2 years at Colorado which were underwhelming. Mac's success here was all due to Champs defensive recruiting. At least Napier is young and has already brought multiple systemic changes to the program.

 

CSU was coming off three straight 3-win seasons when McElwain arrived. His first year he won 4, his second year he won 8 and his third he won 10. It's not like he walked into a powerhouse.

 

Whats your point? Look at the offensive statistics. His offenses were in the 90s and 80s his forst two years at Colorado state against a mountain west schedule. They improved his 3rd year considerably to finish 2nd in the daunting mountain west. Mullen came in and immediately improved the offense that Mac left behind. Mac's florida teams would have won titles with napiers offense.

My comment was in support of saying maclewein didn't have a stellar record prior to being hired by florida. Napier has at worst as good a track record if not considerably better up to their hiring at florida. Neither had head coaching experience in an elite conference.

 

Hooker took a huge leap. AR in 2022 was better than Hooker in 2021 believe it or not.

Regardless it is the coaches job to get talent and develop talent especially around their expertise (Heupels is offense). Tennessees offense won't take much of a step back.

 

Q: I wonder who the posters were that were rumored to be hung over by the end of the bowl game?

A: All of us!

 

When we win more than 6 games, we can revisit this comment.

 

Ha, ha...the only thing about my post that wasn't conjecture was the timing. It doesn't take much effort to look up what the timing was for our starters entered the portal. A big slew of them that entered immediately after the last regular season game, and then a smaller handful after the Bowl game. Most portal replacements did not commit to the Gators until weeks later.

 

I have a feeling that by the end of next year we're going to be revisiting a lot of comments, either way.

 

Hooker wasn't even the starter at UT at the outset of 2021...and by the end of that year he was playing head and shoulders better than AR ever played.

 

Doesnt mean we hadnt already identified areas needing improvement and were actively moving towards that objective.