I would force the issue, lol. Gives Billy some cover. You wouldn’t have Mertz at all, but not sure it matters. Starting DJ won’t remove the heat, but it will surely deflect it. It’s about the only thing the fanbase is excited about at the moment. Don’t take that away from them. I think they’ll be more willing to accept some mistakes from DJ. If Mertz starts and has another Miami like game, the noise will probably not die down again.
We are in a similar situation no doubt but Mertz is not Leak, that we know. Is DJ Tebow, or possibly even better. If he’s 80% of Tebow, start him game one against Miami and we are a much bigger problem for fsu at the end of the year. If we are going to compete with Georgia, Bama, and Texas in the next two years while DJ is wearing a Gator uniform, now is the time to develop him. Don’t do what we did to AR and leave him on the bench for two years. The sooner the better for our future.
I agree with the sentiment. I just don’t see Napier ever doing this. He’s already said the plan is to play both all along. Here’s hoping Lagway gets more looks to see what he can do.
Meh, I think the coach can say he needs another week off to recover without much blowback. People are pining for the alternative anyway. This gives them what they want without it being simply a coaching decision. If DJ stuggles, he was our only option. If he continues to light it up, he keeps the job moving forward.
The thought did cross my mind as many of the talks surrounding concussions are about it taking 14 days to get over.
I still can’t over the fact that Lagway wouldn’t have played at all, vs Miami, had Mertz not gone out with a concussion.
Seems like a plausible way to give yourself some cover for a week, quiet things down a bit, and deflect some heat. Gives you a much better measurement to move forward with than the samford game too.
DJ has stated, on several occasions, how much he likes UF. I don't think it is a given that he leaves if BN is let go. The article quotes his news conference where BN stated they both would play. He never directly said that Mertz would start, in fact he avoided talking about who would start.
I agree. Concussion takes the decision to start Lags out of your hands. You don’t have to worry about throwing a true freshman to the wolves if he’s the only option. You don’t have to worry about replacing him for poor performance as there’s really no #2. Hell Raiola is starting as a true freshman for Nebraska and is doing well.
Want I want doesn’t nor should it matter. DJ is just the better player. That’s just my opinion but I feel fairly certain. I’m wrong a lot and it’s not my job but if it was, I’d have a badass oc that was smarter than me and I’d force him to start DJ.
I'm more concerned with the recruiting class and Wilson ditching the program if Napier continues to let Wilson be taken out of the game by defenses like we saw against miami and the first half of Samford. Lagway if he can continue to spread the ball around as defenses get tighter on him could hedge against that with or without Napier.
You can completely overhaul a roster in one offseason nowadays. No counters limits, you can take as many transfers and as many high schoolers as you want. I hate the roster turnover as much as you, but it’s part of the game now. The kids can and do leave even if the coaches stay the same.
I would think DC would focus on Wilson and the other receivers would have lesser coverage. Spreading the role around should make it easier on Wilson. Focusing on him should get him tighter coverage.
