The importance of this game can't be overstated

Yes it does. Winning this game would be huge for Napier

 

Tommy, sure it is a must win for this season, to mean anything, but in the greater context of Napiers employment, I agree with Skink.

 

I know Mertz is new and all, but I hope he realizes how important beating TN is!

 

I was just referencing that we have not lost to all three rivals in a single season since that year. It's just coincidence that the last time that happened was when we had zero win's. It is interesting that we literally had to have a season where we did not win one game to NOT beat a rival.

But I'm with you, my expectations are low, and I have been giving my time and treasure to the Gator Nation for 30+ years so the love is there, I just don't like losing to rivals.

 

I was under the assumption that they wanted to win every game.

 

Well he says all the right things about the rivalry, but he’s no Tebow and wasn’t born a Gator.

 

I heard Mertz hates Vols more than cheese.

 

Napier is learning much more than the portal. I wasn't talking about the portal. He thought he was good enough to be his own OC. He isn't. Also the style of offense he wants is an old outdated offense that doesn't work anymore. He also is learning that you can't just bring every coach from the sun belt to the SEC and that you need a special teams coach. What works in the Sun Belt doesn't always work in the SEC. The OL recruiting isn't good enough either. I suspect the 2nd OL coach will be let go after this season and Billy will hire an OC to replace him.

 

This is all false. His offense works at the highest level and run by the Niners and Chiefs. His assistants, some worked with him at Bama and some have NFL experience.

Of course there’s a learning curve for learning how the new school is and CBN has been transparent about all of this. This on top of the changes in college football is what you’re seeing him having to adapt to.

Napier has been honest about not targeting the same guys from ULL as he is at UF so that’s why we see Kelly and Riley having better success at their respective schools that first class. CBN had to establish a lot of new relationships with prospects Year 1.

You’re talking in absolutes and the world doesn’t work that way. There are plenty of successful schools without a dedicated special teams coach. Let’s wait until season's end before we start micromanaging the guy we put in charge.

 

Sure, but it’s still major talent given to Napier. Maybe it was squandered due to Mullen playing games in 2021 or Napiers scheme in 2022? Regardless it’s still elite talent.

Does it all concern you that we had a top 5 pick at QB who is starting (and performed well) in the NFL on day 1 that seriously underperformed talent at UF? Napier will likely never have a QB as talented as AR. If that isn’t enough, then what is?

Sure more time in system, an OC, no Mullen, etc will all improve production. But it was literally MAX talent at the most important position. Fault Mullen for helping screw it up but you can’t fault the talent acquisition.

 

This is false. The route trees the 49ers and Chiefs run are infinitely more modern.

It’s a similar formation. But after the snap…not that similar

 

At some point he has to win, no?

No wins vs a rival in 2 years and 2 losing seasons and his seat will be scorching.

But it doesn’t have to be UT. An 8 win season with a W vs FSU is sufficient.

 

I suspect I speak for many of us who are reluctant to say it – like the emperors new clothes – that AR completely let us down last year.
AR had/has all of the measurable talents.
He had no experience when he started last year.
When he had a sniff of success on that first game, but then got dinged with a minor knee injury, he went into “NFL $$future” protection mode, and never balled out the rest of the year.
To insinuate his lack of production was related to insufficient coaching or game planning is complete horseshit.
Plug Tim Tebow into that role last year and I think we would have seen an entirely different outcome.

 

Certainly not speaking for me. Equating struggles with accuracy to a lack of effort is ridiculous. Their are numerous examples of players with all the tools in the world who have trouble controlling them. Even more examples of players going to different systems and excelling because it better suits what they are good at. The talent around Tim was undeniably better and the system he ran was built for a Tim Tebow, it's not apples to apples.

 

It’s only different because they are option routes and the young wideouts aren’t up to speed yet.

 

Great post.

 

Yep . . . our buddy @Skink gets to scream and enjoy being in The Swamp tomorrow night. I wish I could have gone! Glad he gets to enjoy it!

 

Speaking of revisionism. The heart and soul of the 2006 team was Zook's recruits, starting with the quarterback. The major Meyer recruit was Percy and RFN ( an original Zook recruit). After 2006, your point is valid.

 

Besides the character attack that I’ll ignore it grossly mischaracterizes our O last year.

We were a top 25 O because of AR. Most people cannot comprehend the impact a running QB has on the offense. It opens up serious lanes for RBs. Factor in we had no legitimate NFL talent at WR and TE and it makes a top 25 offense pretty solid.

I mean people are thinking Mertz is balling (he’s maximizing his ability), we have the same RBs, much better WRs and 2023 < 2022 on offense.

Napier didn’t run AR enough. You can’t say it was due to AR as we have years of Napier as an OC with mobile QBs. It’s who he is. He likes mobility but doesn’t tap into much. It was not an ideal fit. And let’s not forget AR was a new starter in 2022. If Mullen didn’t botch it in 2021 with EJ, AR would have been far better in 2022.

Trust me AR gave it his all.

 

I noticed that too.