Many are predicting, due to the brutal schedule, that the Gators should hope for something like a 6-6 season. What will the Gators have to improve in order to do better than .500? Personally, I think the defense has to step it up, cause turnovers, and make stops. I am hoping for a better defense. We shall see. But, the offense has to move the chains. I don't think Mertz will be the problem of the offense; nor the RB's. I expect better things from the TE. Can the OL pass and run block? The OL will likely determine just how well goes the 2024 season. GN, your thoughts?
Pretty sure the defense and special teams will be improved. QB play (esp with DJ in the mix) will be stronger. I think it will come down to the OL performance and CBN situational awareness (and no trick plays at the wrong time please!).
O-Line play and defense (especially tackling). I think the O-Line play will be better with George moving inside. He was just too slow to play tackle. He is a big guy who is built to play in a phone booth. I hate that we lost Mazzccua but George is a great replacement.I think the two replacement OTs and Barber are good enough to hold down the outside. On defense, tackling is a HUGE problem. Has been for a while. When you have safeties bouncing off WRs (mizzou), that's a game changer. Watching the missed tackles against KY was horrible. We were two plays away from going from 5-7 to 7-5. A chip shot FG against Arky and a 4th and 17 against Mizzou. Make those two plays and this offseason is a lot different. We would be preseason ranked and the talk of the town. We are what our record says we are and Billy needs to own it.
I won't be surprised by a 7-5 record if the OL and defense play better. The WR development will likely determine if the record is better.
Yes, the defense was out of position and it showed against UK! We were badly schooled in that game. The common denominator for most of the season-'on both sides of the ball--execution! Hopefully, we will see something different in 2024.
No bowl and he gets fired IMO 6-6 with a bowl win and he likely sees 2025 8+ wins and he might get COY It's going to be all about the D!
The D, I believe, will be the difference maker. But, the Gators are going to need to bring their A game offensively and defensively! It starts in practice--practicing with an attitude--bringing that mentality to game day. Who has seen Joey Slackman practicing like a badass? Harris notices the difference with Slackman in the video below and comments on it! Every damn Gator football player needs to watch Slackman and bring nothing less every single play! I'm telling you, there are some new coaches, Harris and Chatman, that aren't playing around. They're teaching fundamentals, which have been lacking in the past!!! I am starting to get freaking excited!!!
Explosive plays. More on O, MUCH LESS on D. Do that and we should have a pretty darn good season barring things outside our control, such as injuries to key players.
I think most have touched upon it already. We need; 1. a big improvement in LB and Safety play. Tackling and consistency. Its ok to misread a play occasionally, but don't give up and, for goodness sake, don't just dive at ball carrier's feet. Wrap up and make the tackle! 2. Stay Healthy! While I think every position group is better than last year with better depth, we need our 1st and second stringers to be available and not on the sideline in a boot. 3. Its cliche', but we need to be positive in the turnover margin. Easier said than done though.
Will need to be much better on the offensive and defensive lines. Coaching will need to be improved across the board. Can't continue to get out-coached by Norvell, Stoops, et al.
More to the point about missed tackles, princely had a 4th down sack that ends the arkansas game if he just makes the tackle...
Trick plays usually work: When all components of the offense are working (blocking, running routes, hitting the hole, and more). The offense is consistent with making 3rd downs (moving the chains). And when the defense is not looking for it. Trick plays will work if the Gator O-line and the rest of the team gets their act together.
