I can’t argue with much here — except he’s had 3 years not 4. Obviously your question comes down to our definition of “succeeding as a play caller”. As much as we’d like to see better, he did succeed in winning 8 games this past season, including back to back upsets. His play calling also is being blamed for the loss to Tennessee. Any more debacles like that and it’s either hire an OC or you’re gone, right? But if he goes 9-6 this season with another dumb loss or two that he should have won, do you fire him? If we fire him we don’t get our money back and we don’t get 2 lost years back. I’m tired of going backward every 3-4 years. Again, I think he can learn and improve from his mistakes. I agree he has to, but I think he can. He’s doing so many other things right.
DJ threw two bad interceptions in the bowl. You can blame tgat on Napier i guess. If DJ learns to have tge ability to see those guys, playcalling may look better and we may have 14 extra points in those games in the future. I know Napier wouldnt carry the blame if a Brady threw those two balls.
I’m almost glad he threw those INT’s against Tulane. It’s part of the learning process and if I’m right about DJ he is a player who will learn from his mistakes. Better get those two picks out of his system against Tulane than against LSU or any of the games that follow this coming season.
Excellent comments. I've posted about the same thing. Tulane played a deep cover 2 and dropped their LB into zone coverage. This took away what Lagway liked to do. As a true Fr. he tried to force his passees and paid the price with two first half INTs. What I really liked is the growth already started in the 2nd half of the game. Lagway and CBN made adjustments at halftime. Lagway took the underneath stuff and had a much better 2nd half. Off to a good start. I'm really looking forward to see what he does in spring. I'm expecting a big jump in Lagway's efficiency.
Even Nick Saban, the likely GOAT, with his top-shelf defensive prowess had really good DC’s who ran & called his defense. Beyond that he fully understood just how important it was to have a strong well oiled offense that could score points. Both are a must to consistently win big games and championships. Just look at some of the OC’s he hired. Jimbo Fisher Major Applewhite Jim McElwain Mike Locksley Brian Daboll Bill O’Brien Lane Kiffin Steve Sarkisian Fisher & Applewhite are former HC’s. Jimmy Mac just retired as a HC and the others are current HC’s. One name not on that list as a former Saban OC, Billy Napier. Billy has only had Billy as his OC, and the results speak for themselves. It’s mind boggling that he still refuses to go out and hire an upper tier OC, like Nick did many times over.
Well YEAH, the board, at times seems obsessed, on wanting to exercise ex post facto fan punishment on Napier and the program in general. I get it, its a message board. I am just old fashioned in accepting the fact Napiers the coach and Scott S will be in charge going into 2025 Accordingly I prefer to dwell on the positives headed into the season and there are, IMO, more Gator positives to dwell on than since the 2019 season. This is also a,reason I enjoyed the amateur status of the sport, the media and fans of the NFL are obsessed with the business aspects of the game, something I personally don't find appealing, from the fan perspective, at the College level. .
Sounds nice but i doubt those coaches with that much stature would take a job workinh for Napier. Tgats not a knock on Napier but a nod toward the clout tgat saban had.
I find only one flaw with your post. Nick Saban should be labelled the GOAT* rather than the GOAT. *Outstanding coach who reset the bar on "creative player procurement" and forced College Football to be completely turned on its head.
Its hard to throw deep to those speedy receivers when two are sitting on the sideline setting up a wr screen and the other is running a 6 yard curl on the same side to bring the linebacker and safety into the play. TE...what's that? PS...its 3rd and 17.
DJ is the biggest factor by far good or bad. Hes carrying the load , hes the qb. Nobody is as important or has more influence on the outcome than the qb.
Great qbs win at every level regardless of who the coach is. Gret coaches win at tge highest level when they have that qb.
