At this point, the Gators only have one QB out of five who have taken college snaps. The other 4 are Freshmen and the other one is a Redshirt Freshman. With the schedule we have, getting the other four QB's snaps is not going to happen. As I stated in a prior post, the Gators are going to need blowouts (hopefully in our favor) to get any of the other 4 QB's snaps. Here are some factors on the backup QB's getting snaps: One of the factors on who is going to get snaps is which of the 3 Freshmen are going to take a Redshirt this year? Actually, we could see two of them taking a Redshirt. Lagway will not be one of them. Lagway has yet to play a down of college football. However, his credentials are substantial. Mertz's is a Redshirt Senor, thus he is gone after this season. This is a good reason to get the backups some snaps. The Gators will need at least one QB to be ready this year to step up if Mertz has to sit out a few plays or at the worst, he get injured.
Lagway has a very unique set of skills for a quarterback and weighs 240 lbs. He will most definitely see the field in certain situations. It would be incompetent of Billy not to get him that experience, as it is going to be 100% Lagway's team next year.
Obviously the Leak/Tebow partnership is legendary. Why is this so? I want to suggest that it worked not because of the change of pace aspect, but because Tebow was just that freaking good. I think if we were to go back to watch the first half of that season, I think we would see that 1) Tebow almost never threw the ball, and yet 2) the defense almost never stopped his running short. Dude averaged over 5 yds/carry that season, I believe. If Lagway is that good, then he should play, regardless of anything else. However, few players are that good.
I stand correct. Earlier today, I did not see him on the 2024 rooster. A few minutes ago I saw him there (oversite on my part). He is a Redshirt Junior. His 2022 stats look good, but I wonder what happened to lose the starting job after the opening game in 2023 opener and got demoted. However the team only won six after that and average 20 points per game. Then again he could be another option. Especially with the number of snaps he had two seasons ago. He could have a lot of drive to set his record straight.
What happened? He had been injured in his starting year, had some turnovers (with a very high completion percentage, go figure), got all new coaches, high turnover of offensive starters for the year, and got new competition who turned out very good with maybe higher upside. Overall an incredible third string to fall into our lap because he wanted to go to school here.
I knew about the injury, but not about the turnover in coaches and players. That situation can get a lot of players lost in the shuffle. I hope he gets a chance to step up and show us what he can do.
That would be great, but he might be able to get us some difficult yards if they stack the line, thinking he going to run it, only to see him pass the ball over their heads... Teams will play him differently than they will against Mertz, and that uncertainty can be to our advantage... with creative play calling.
Tebow did throw a bit that year and kept defenses honest. I’m not sure DJ wants to run the way Timmy did. It’s not great for your health. I think he could run obvious short yardage plays but we will see.
However he ends up being utilized in '24, the fans will second guess it. As mentioned, put some packages together for him, get him some reps to help develop that amazing talent he brings to the table. Do so without throwing him to the wolves. We want his confidence to increase, not get trashed by weekly maulings by sec defenses he has never faced before.
Against P5 competition, Tim went 6 for 12, for 77 yards. Meyer let him pass more against UCF and Western Carolina. His role was that of a wildcat quarterback. I see Lagway as more or less the same. Let him throw the ball versus Samford. Of course, if Graham goes down, he'll be thrust into the role Leak was put into in 2003...
Tebow was brought in in obvious passing situations . That’s plenty to do with why he only threw a few passes a game. I’m questioning whether or not DJ is a guy you expect to take that kind of risk of contact.
