Interesting conversation with a former college coach

We can manufacture 8 wins if we address our needs in the portal- adding linebackers, and Offensive linemen as well as a decent class.

Napier can't slow walk it. He needs results next year-the portal. He'll also need to continue to recruit stellar HS talent-special teams effort and an OC would add to wins.

We need a small block-the-kick size guy! Like a James...

Go Gators.

 

Oh I have every idea of how good Mertz has been in our games. It’s a good perspective I can agree with and obviously wait for the fruition

 

Responding to the original post, the tape reviews have consistently shown that the linebackers struggle with mistakes and with tackling. No question a couple of those guys needed another year of development before they were ready to start. Just have to be patient.

 

The two transfers at LB haven’t contributed much. We need to scour the portal again this year.

 

Surprised no mention of DBs. Time after time, including 4th and 17, there is no one contesting the catch. Often there is no Gator in sight when the reception is made; then multiple tackles are missed. LB play may be poor, DB play is abysmal. They are not that young; certainly not in the 11th game.

 

I'd like to know how UCLA got so good on D with supposedly less than stellar recruiting. Those guys looked great yesterday against USC and their Heisman Trophy winning QB.

 

Last nights game was a good example of how much fun you can have while suffering from anxiety and a near heart attack! That was something else. Even though we let that one slip away, it shows promise on offense. We were basically moving the ball at will...

The defense will eventually get there. And our offense will only get better.

Napier is doing it right. It's just: Cue Petty "The waiting, is the hardest part..."

We have only one, maybe two games left. So I'm already mustering up the hatred towards the Miami game next year. (Not hard to do!)

Go Gators.

 

Could it be Chip K has been there 5 seasons?

 

Thought he was an O guy, not D. They do supposedly have a hot shot young DC but their players looked bigger, stronger and faster than ours even though their recruiting classes have been way worse than ours. Even DM's. Maybe they have a much better strength and nutrition program. Confusing.

 

The D is a reflection of stability and maturity in the program for players CK has got 4th and 5th year players because they didnt reset after a couple of seasons and you are seeing the benefits of continuity with players in the program

 

Well, if that's the case we don't have to be that concerned about getting top 10 recruiting classes I guess.

 

Never said we dont have to get top 5/10 classes. Said mature players come from stability in coaching leadership. Better quality players come from higher rated players. Mature 20-21 yr olds are more physical on average than 17-18 yr old freshmen.

BTW usc isnt a juggernaut this year under LR, what UCLA did to them was impressive

 

We need to accept the fact that under the Mullen-Grantham tenure, the UF defense fell a part. The opening opinion for this tread gave us great insight on the moving parts of a defense. The turnover and attrition of defensive player (before Napier) depleted the moving parts.

When Napier took over we did not have a top tier nor a middle tier defense.

We are now in the second year of Napier's rebuild of the defense. Also, in the first year of a new DC (Armstrong). Hopefully the current players will continue to grow and the new ones next year (signees and portal) can step in and be impact players.

We definity need to wait for next season to see some growth/upward trend.

 

Some have characterized last year as year zero for Napier. Considering the roster turnover and infrastructure deficits, perhaps less than zero in some areas.

Well see more positives in recruiting, portal and staff but doubt we'll be competitive in the upper tier of the SEC until 2026.

Perhaps even one of our last few coaches could have engineered a couple of more wins this year but we know the cost of their fundamental problems. We're still seeing it.

I like the fight in this team and expect a good game Saturday.

 

I also expect a good game but another close loss. Hopefully my expectations are wrong again like they were against USC and UT.

 

USC is still 3rd in scoring O and around 10th in the nation in total O. According to the website 2023 UCLA Bruins Football Depth Chart | Ourlads.com the UCLA D starters (with their recruiting profile) are as follows:

https://247sports.com/Player/gabriel-murphy-46049411/high-school-207818/
https://247sports.com/Player/jay-toia-46055340/high-school-217294/
https://247sports.com/Player/gary-smith-46050732/high-school-210384/
https://247sports.com/Player/laiatu-latu-46049534/high-school-208050/
https://247sports.com/Player/darius-muasau-46057520/high-school-221101/
https://247sports.com/Player/oluwafemi-oladejo-46047057/high-school-200566/
https://247sports.com/Player/kain-medrano-46056886/high-school-219683/
https://247sports.com/Player/john-humphrey-46079589/high-school-228752/
https://247sports.com/Player/kamari-ramsey-46078830/high-school-227906/
https://247sports.com/Player/kenny-churchwell-46036749/high-school-186711/
https://247sports.com/Player/devin-kirkwood-46078801/high-school-227873/

If these were the main guys playing Saturday they were great. Their rankings in the composite in HS were as follows:

1321
191
1506
128
3178
808
1420
391
169
768
253

Pretty sure that group would not even be close to the top 10 and pretty sure the starting O wouldn't be either. but I didn't check on them. They must have a heck of strength and nutrition program. NTM great D coaches.

 

Dude just look at our smaller guys 1 year removed from high school and most we play or even ucla they are bigger. The had 6Sr 1Rs Jr 2Rs So 2 Rs Fr nobody right out of HS. You cant deny that coaching turnover leads to attrition of players and turning coaches in 3-4 years means minimal kids for your system that a stable program yields combined with endless reps. Is it really that hard. Maybe i should have said it was a rivalry game, better?

 

The point is you don't have to have a bunch of top 100 players to be good if you have good coaching and strength/nutrition program AND you can keep them around. I really think that part of our problem is we recruit too many prima donna types that just want to get to the pros ASAP without working hard. And don't really care about the school or winning. If you can get a plethora of those types to come like the mutts and gumps you can tell em to pound sand if they don't get with the program, but most schools (like us) don't have that luxury. I'll be pleasantly shocked if we have a D as good as 2023 UCLA in year 6 of the BN era. For various reasons not the least of which is not being able to keep guys around for 3-4 years in the portal era.

 

We are in complete agreement although i would like more highly rated guys that pass whatever test coach has for chemistry. Many here will have their heads explode with the idea that top 7-20 recruiting classes wont win big maybe not. Lets see how nil impacts the stockpiling of talent at 3-4 schools it should dilute product a little and the expanded playoff format will negate the need for perfection during the season

Good thoughts from your post

 

I read several articles on him and no mention of his speed which probably means he lacks it