Lagway and Co aren't on campus yet, but definitely looking forward to that class and beyond! Our rivals and haters would love nothing more than for UF to get into a perpetual coaching recycling program with a firing every 2 or 3 years. Talk about killing a program.
Most of our starters will need to have career best production for us to win 8 games... including 10 of 11 offensive starters ... and the other one (Montrell) will need to replicate what he did last year. It's about the same on defense. That is a lot of players that need to do something they've never done before. I know, I know ... we have a bunch of new starters which makes them unknown, not incapable of doing this. I put $$ on the over for wins on the year. I think our depth is better, there are less weak links (we replaced them with unproven players) and I believe we'll have 4-5 players have All SEC type years. Our OL is the key to 6 wins. Our LB's and secondary will determine if we get to 8 wins.
This is exactly right. We are average right now and average is always on the cusp of not being in a bowl. That is especially true when you are in the SEC and have less margin for error. Napier's job is to show improvement in on-field play and recruiting. As you said, we need to see better coaching decisions, a more consistent defense and must maintain our recruiting momentum. Basically, all parts of the program need to show positive movement. I always want us to win but realize that sustained winning ultimately happens through recruiting. If we don't have a great season this year it won't be a shock, but as long as our recruiting is top 5 and the coaching seems better, we're building towards a better pre-season ranking next year.
Not sure what you mean here... Are you comparing our head coach to the coach that Mertz has last year in Wisconsin? Why would a new offensive line inspire you to expect failure... to expect us to go to a predictable two runs then pass play-calling rut? Napier is better than that kind of predictable play-calling. I do NOT think we will have a problem running the ball or getting short yardage play to work. We will move the ball. An untested O-line doesn't mean we will struggle to run the ball... Hopefully we pass on first down so you don't have to worry about Mertz having to pass the ball on third down.
I think the AP & Coach polls rank the Gators about 28 & 41 respectively. Obviously there are a bunch of questions about this year's team. I wonder why, though, we are not hearing one person or another predict the high end of the spectrum. If the AP poll was correct and the Gators end up around 28th, that would be Probably be 8-5 or 7-6 after the bowl game. Is there nobody out there (save perhaps Shane Matthews) who thinks the Gators can surprise or at least achieve at the upper end of their spectrum?
Been there done tgat and here we are, nowhere to go but up. Napier will get it done. He will either be a good oc or he will hire one. Tgat goes for all the coaches. I don’t get tge feeling that he is a guy that lets his pride get in the way.
True. And with respect to the article referenced in the OP, the writer saw the same thing. What evidence is there beyond hope that anything has changed? None. It’s as simple as this: until the Gators earn good press, they should expect bad press.
Well, I don’t want that either, but there has to be improvement this season for CBN to get the kind of support he needs for long-term program building. If things remain as bad as last year or get worse, then I certainly don’t expect improvement in Year 3. It’s on him to change the perception of this program, and, no, he’s not going to get three more years of performance like the last until the money starts calling for a new direction.
2024 is make it or break it. No coach gets a 3 year honeymoon. If this year is bad, and next year is 6 wins…then he’s definitely gone. I don’t think that’s what will happen but no UF coach will survive 3 straight losing seasons
I pretty much agree but I could see big improvement and still wins six games. If we have a terrible qb this year and next, it’s very likely.
Well they beat USC 2x last year, and oh, wait for it, they beat - OREGON STATE 42 - 16. You may recall OSU, they beat us ...... 30 - 3. I am NOT taking any sides with Utah but they are not exactly Vandy.........oh wait, Vandy, they beat us too.
I got UF winning because I'm a Gator homer but I'm not going to disrespect Utah. Coach W has built up a solid program there. Winning streaks are better than losing streaks, no matter who Utah plays.
If your qb can pass, your receivers are always open. Trask proved they were open when Franks went down. They don’t have to be alone waving their arms to squeeze them the ball.
