Spot on. Evidently, most of the posters on this board think only offense matters, and could care less about defense, given how they obsess about every little thing the offense does and every play Napier calls. Our defense was embarrassingly, historically bad. They broke records (in a bad way) going back many decades. I think the broke one record going back 100 years! It was the worst defense I have ever watched in my 50 years of following Gator football. They couldn't do anything right, and seemed afraid to tackle, to hit people. I watched one player throughout the season, and he appeared to be deliberately avoiding contact. Really. Thankfully he entered the portal--for the second time. I wonder why? Aside from our mediocre offensive line (which we need to fix), our offense was pretty good. They scored enough points to win most games. Urban won his second Natty only scoring 24 points with a stud offensive line, Tebow and Harvin. Can you imagine how many more points our O would have scored if our D had ever gotten a stop and given them the ball back? Nah... no reason for the keyboard offensive geniuses here to contemplate THAT!! We need a better offensive line clearly, but we really, really need to shore up our defense. At present, it is pathetic, and is the reason we had a losing season. Defense wins championships. We have no defense.
I don't hate our current offense and agree it's not what lost us games this year. HOWEVER, I don't think our current offense / coaching is going to win us games we otherwise wouldn't on talent alone. Assuming defense was working well for us, I think we'd probably be in a situation like Georgia for many years, good but not winning championships. So I'm not advocating for a new offensive coordinator and major changes on the offensive side of the ball, but if it happened with an offensive coordinator that brings something a little extra, something unique and fresh to the SEC, something that not only uses our current roster well but helps put a few extra points on the board due to nothing more than innovative / smart play calling alone... well, GREAT! I will say that if Napier does get an OC with this level of respect and positive PR, drops an offensive coach or two, brings in another really strong defensive assistant to replace Bateman, and a hotshot hire in Strength & Conditioning, frankly he will have made so many changes that he most certainly would have to be given through 2025 to see the outcome. I mean, at that point, what could people blame Napier for other than the hires themselves? I think a change would be good for the football program (if a superstar coordinator) AND good for Napier's career and buying himself a little more time with coaching configuration 2.0.
I just have a dislike for sideways behind the line. Occasionally, sure. Otherwise, no. Just me I guess. Especially with our team. We struggled against any good D. Not just the line. I have no idea id we get an OC. I hope so, but my Christmas wish list is long and the lack of Christmas spirit is crashing the sleigh. Hoping for a strong showing this year. Portal progress vs portal potty. Go Gators!
Oh, I agree. While I am convinced our D is a really serious problem, having a good OC wouldn't hurt a thing. It will be one less thing for Billy to worry about.
I would like an OC for play calling, not necessarily whole sale changes to the offense. I'm not a big fan of two backs. If so, I would want EW3 to be one of them, as he avoids negative plays behind the LOS best of any of them. I would rather the extra coach go to defense. We need a new culture there that has been lost for years. Shore up the OL, and the offense is great with a qb like Mertz.
Agree 100% on play calling. Like the offense but CBN seems to go into a shell and get very conservative during the game. The best drive was the first drive in many games. Suggests he knows offense, but might not always feel the flow. Seemed like the bigger the underdog we were, the better the game he called….. nothing to lose mentality.
In regards to feeling the flow, it seemed as if our first one or two drives of a game were our best. The mix of run and pass along with the rhythm in which the plays were executed felt like we knew what we were doing. Then, it was like CBN would decide that it worked and we can't do that again for the rest of the game. Yes, he'd throw in the double reverse pass (or something like it) somewhere in the second half but it always seemed as if it was being run in slow motion and resulted in a loss on the play.
Napier seems to be an intelligent person, but one that needs to take his time to think through things. A slow, methodical processor of information. In my opinion, that’s why his scripted drives are usually pretty successful but the on the fly decisions tend to go awry.
Quick little video but states that it needs a QB that can distribute but doesn’t have to be a runner.
I suppose that everyone has noticed that UGA and UA, to name two premier SEC/National teams, do not run tricky offenses. They built programs that allow them to recruit the studs they need to execute balanced offenses exceptionally well. They also play exceptional defense. That involves a process, of course.
