Article: DJ Lagway Going ‘Right To Work’ After Gasparilla Bowl Performance

The importance of our defensive rebound cannot be overstated.

When you can play tough defense, your offense and QB can have an off day, and you will still win. Thank God we have a defense again.

This game was a great learning experience for DJ, and true to form, he is back at work to improve upon his performance.

DJ improves, our defense plays tough? Great days ahead for the Gators.

 

I not only agree with this, but I will expound on it by saying that depth is NOT a luxury in the SEC, but a necessity to get to the top. We need quality depth on the defense.

And our new and improved defense, with our QB running the offense, is going to be special. I can't wait to see Lagway with one more year of growth and training under his belt. He's already a superstar.

 

A year into his career at UF, DJL has confronted the realities of modern CFB and generally kicked butt. How else to describe 6-1 as an 18 YO FR QB whose one loss occurred against a very, very good team after leaving the game with a lingering injury and the lead. Despite his other-worldly arm talent, size and athleticism, DJ's greatest attribute, IMO, is his champion's heart and the will to win.

 

As spectacular as he already is, there's glaring parts of his game which he can improve on, particularly his passing game and reading the defense between 0-25 yards. I think all his turnovers came from short and intermediate passing plays.

If those are freshman lumps he's taking, then I am all for it. Those will clean up especially with the WR room next year.

 

100%, He must improve his 0-25 yard passing game. There is now 7 games of tape on him and teams will exploit his weakness better in the passing game next year. While DJ showed some flash, the teams run to a solid season was because of the Defense and our group of RBS.

 

What if his interceptions stem in part from over-confidence ? He’s heard “He can make all the throws!” for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But that doesn’t mean he can throw through or around defenders. Just needs a little more discipline I should think.

 

I don't think it's that. Sure he has confidence and that is part of his DNA that makes him great. I think he is still a little green in understanding coverages at this level. Tulane clearly through some stuff at him he wasn't expecting. But he'll learn from it and be even better because of this experience. He isn't one to repeat mistakes often!

 

I have a feeling DJ is gonna take this team a long way. This is about the same level of excitement I had after the 2005 season when Tim Tebow was recruited. Of course we won the following year with Timmy backing up Leak and expectations went through the roof!

 

I read an interview with Drew Brees a few years ago. He said once or twice a season he doesn't see the field as well as he should. Makes throws he would not make if he saw things better. Maybe that is what happened to DJ. If can happen to a hall of fame guy like Brees it happens to most all quarterbacks.

 

Or…a freshman quarterback, playing in his first season, in the toughest league in the world, after an injury, learning how to do his job as he goes…just might throw two picks into horrific coverage ( three defenders within two feet) ..
Just a thought…
Dare I compare our hallowed Danny Wuerffel in his first six games throwing two or three interceptions, in a game, while amassing significant yardage, getting points and wins?
Did I not see that? Did we not have multiple interceptions in a game, in our March to glory in those years? Heck, even the renowned John Reaves set a world interception record against Auburn in 1969, the Year of the fighting Gator?
I forget how many.
PTGS.
POST TRAUMATIC GATOR SYNDROME.
FUNNY how we remember what we want and disregard the rest.
Lagway should have nightmares for several years after those throws..agreed. Interesting that Drew Brees, a quarterback with a stellar college career, AND a stellar, long lived pro career, despite an unimpressive physical list of characteristics, should be so humble as to admit he could, occasionally throw an interception.
Drew Brees resume versus Lagway’s resume:
Lol.
Like comparing the vehicle destruction total of George Patton versus the aftermath of Alfred E. Neuman’s teenage daughter in her very first driving school.

 

Oh yeah. I forgot.
NINE.

 

Very true. I recall one game years back when Dolphins safety Dick Anderson was Terry Bradshaw’s leading receiver. It happens to the best of them

 

That's a great perspective from Brees... and so true. But even on a good day, it makes sense why a freshman QB would find it more comforting to throw downfield... if they have the arm and accuracy to do so - which DJ has plenty of. There's a LOT happening in the underneath (0-25 yd) coverage area.

 

Yep we don't know how much Lagway injury bothered him. I like his style and his poise. Now he has plenty of time to heal. He will also be the unquestionably No.1 qb. If the talent around him comes through we could see some amazing numbers this fall. I can hope can't I?

 

It stems from a blind spot. When defenders drop back into coverage, he throws a pick every 12 passes. In every other formation, he throws one every 26 passes.

 

Generally struggled with the underneath robber defender. I trust he’ll get that cleaned up.

 

I keep remembering that he was in high school last year.

 

Add to your list our strong 2025 RB and WC stables. If HBC will develop a coherent offensive scheme (preferably with an OC), Gators may have the most legitimate preseason hope we’ve had in years.

 

There is a bunch to like about next year's team... mostly in talent. Who knows what is going on behind the scenes in coaching. I think we might see some changes to the postilion coaches, and maybe we land a legit OC while we're at it.

But the players/talent is real, and I am psyched about that.