That looks like a high school All American team. The sad thing about those players is most have transferred and are sitting the bench at their new school.
Bad evaluations combined with low recruiting effort. He took the low hanging fruit to prop up his classes. Way too many guys tgat had red flags from tge beginning.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy when a recruit flips to our side, however, when they flip to another school I am not really mad about it. I feel as though had they stayed not being “all in” they would have caused more bad than good. It’s not that they themselves are bad or good, it’s that them being here under duress isn’t good for them or the Gators. In that sense, I’m glad they left. That’s what I mean when I say I only want players who want to be here. It’s more that I don’t want the problems associated with unsure commitment as opposed to demanding loyalty from 18 year olds.
100%. Billy is pulling substance. Blue chip guys with grown-man mentalities ready to come in and work, not just some fringe hood ornaments. If that doesn’t buy him time, then maybe we have no concept of buying or time.
I think an honest conversation about how much time is enough to judge a rebuild. We are almost done with season two, but the calls for Billy’s job by some started as early as last season. That’s just not enough time to install and implement a system and recruit/train enough players to mature in it.
Thank you for your explanation. Reading this made me think of a summer job I had after high school building apartments north of Orlando. The original general contractor was paid bonuses for how quickly he got apartments up. He got multiple buildings raised very quickly and made his money but then people learned that the buildings had no proper foundations and we’re standing on sand. When I started working there, we had to go in and dig out under these apartment buildings by hand, so that foundation footers then could be poured. When Billy says the process is more important than wins and losses, I see it as a similar situation. Some coaches could come in with glitz and glamour and maybe make a splash for a year or two and then it starts to crumble because there’s no foundation. We’ve seen that with previous coaches. Jesus said that the house built on sand cannot stand. To stand the house needs a solid foundation. I believe Billy is trying to put in place a solid foundation and build something that will last. Something that all Gator fans will be a proud of. We’ll just have to disagree on this.
That was well done and I will concede you are correct that he did not hit on any of these guys. Napier appears to be hitting on his top ranked guys ( plz hit on OL sweet baby Jesus) lots of young fellas playing.
Pre-NIL I would agree, but a lot of recruits are making business decisions. Unless they realize as @Wanne15 points out that they need to make a mid-contract business decision. The ones that realize that they need to develop and get on the field to show what they can do to the league will still work hard, even if they are not at their first choice school if $$ were no factor.
I still think we are a ways away from being able to effectively evaluate that. Perhaps so (and I truly hope so), but we aren't there yet.
I think you misunderstand my position and it truly is about perception. I absolutely believe in building a solid, sustainable foundation, and I wish I could snap my fingers and make it happen. I'm also a realist and I think that in order to have the time to do that he must recognize that fan expectations can very much determine his trajectory and thus his ability to build it. Saying that fan expectations are "not his job." doesn't bode well for the appearance of demonstrating his understanding of group dynamics.
I don’t think these big recruits left because they are worried about getting on the field. If it’s about making the pros, I don’t think people who are likely starters are worried about not being able to go pro. Florida still puts a lot of guys in the league regardless of record.
My comment was in regards to your term of recruits being "all in." I believe that a more accurate term these days might be "bought in." Players still have an incentive to perform in order to become everyday starters (if they can or have the will to) even if they aren't "all in."
If we ever get where we can hold our own on the line of scrimmage with Alabama, and Georgia, we will find out if Billy Napier can coach.
I think 3 years to show progress and improvement giving us a clear path of making the 12-team playoffs in year 4.
He’s well aware of the noise and the expectations. He’s just not a guy that’s going to throw players and coaches under the bus, so it may look like he doesn’t care or has no urgency. His urgency is making changes in the background and I’m sure changes are coming this off-season. As far as this year (and last year for that matter) goes, the lack of depth has really handcuffed his ability to bench players for poor performance/execution/effort. I think we will see more of that next year…although he did kick Cox off the team last year and put Kamari in the doghouse this year. The lack of urgency in playcalling and clock management is something to watch for. Overall there's too much paralysis of analysis going on instead of just playing to win.
Because Lagway isn’t likely starting until year 4, I say year 4. Need to see Billy with his hand-picked QB. I like Mertz a lot, but Billy’s guy really is DJ.
i wonder how they will incorporate Lagway into the O next year especially if Mertz takes ANOTHER leap during spring. Will they try and sprinkle packages in or will they have Lagway #2 but try and redshirt him unless Mertz struggles or gets injured.
I think that’s a question many of us have. I’d like to see DJ get some work in blowouts (wishful thinking… I know) but generally, I just want him to hold a clipboard next year and then 2025 just kill it as the starter.
