Controversy? (Now after DJ’s first start)

Hopefully we have a healthy Lagway and an offensive identity for them to thank me for.

We can’t do basic things right now. The OL’s blocking scheme is so bad it makes me wonder if Grantham has a dark cult of assistant coaches he has infiltrated us with. On what planet is the center responsible for the DE? We also can’t play a basic zone on 3rd down. I think we need to just execute the basics and then we will see where our gaps are. I really don’t think it’s personnel. Are we UGA, no we are not, but our athletes are better than the score of the game would suggest.

 

Don't get me wrong, Lagway is the future. But, you have to also remember that he was forced into the game after replacements had begun to fill the Miami positions on both sides of the ball. I also believe that Mertz received the beginnings of a cumulative-hit concussion on the last failed "drive" of the first half. I want Lagway to play as much as possible this year, but, we don't need to "Franks" or "AR" Lagway and throw him to the wolves before he is ready. Injury play is a not as controllable, of course.

 

I saw it posted that when Lagway was in it was not Napier calling the plays. Will see if I can find it.
EDIT: Found it

 

Post in the OGT during games.

 

Mertz can’t throw downfield. Lagway can.
Mertz can’t run. Lagway can.

what is the controversy?

 

We threw the deep ball well. He is a future star in the making have to play langway, hate it for Martz but to me he is better right now.
Threw it where it needed to be.
We got lucky getting this young man.

 

No my eyes saw it. Go by that not coach speak.

 

It did look different when Lagway started. The receivers seemed to run the routes and knew that the ball was fall into their hands. All they had to do was run faster then the safeties and wait for it.

 

DJ is the now and the future. Everybody saw that yesterday. Watching him handle his set of downs and scoring using his mind and legs even Aidan Warner looked like a functional number 2. Thank you for your service and enjoy your NIL money but GM days as the starter are over. Though I got a funny feeling BN's going to try to do a Solomon split it down the middle routine which ultimately leads to everyone's detriment. Though as far as quarterbacks are concerned, in this case believe your eyes.

 

Maybe Mertz will still be in concussion protocol and not practice by Wed, then return and be listed as the backup.

Mullen played Franks over Trask and then Emory over AR, loyal to the older QB. Hope Napier doesn't repeat that, Mertz did not look good against scUM, I think DJ did.

Spurrier said he'd start the better QB regardless of age (Pre-Season interview).

But let's look back to what Nick Saban DID when he had the same situation, turn the clocks back to 2018: "Saban explained his decision to bench Hurts for Tagovailoa, saying the offense needed a spark, which the freshman could provide with his passing acuity."

 

If Graham Mertz is over his concussion protocall then let him start against Texas AM; otherwise, start DJ Lagway as a reward and hope that he will continue to perform well for the Gators.

Even though it was very, exciting to see Lagway make those amazing plays completing deep passes to the receivers, it was only against FCS Samford who was overmatched compared to a top P4 opponent like a UCF or another SEC opponent.

Putting Lagway's incredible performance (450+ passing, 3 TDs) in perspective, let's see if Florida's defense could also similarly play as aggresively/effectively in shutting down their next opponent like they did against Samford. Florida's defense still made an unnecessary roughness penalty (vs CB Marshall who body slammed a Samford receiver to the ground) which extended a Samford drive resulting in their only score (TD) of the evening. That was the same type of undisciplined play that made the Miami game/loss get out of hand so early in that game (UM's first two TD's should have been FG's). Something to watch.


So, I say play both of them (Lagway & Mertz) going forward.

It is going to be a long season; the offensive line seems suspect again with pass protection and I don't want to see either quarterback take an unnecessary beating throughout the game. To lessen the pressure on either QB, Florida may have to play both players.
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Florida will need Mertz's previous experience in the SEC/Big10 to go up against AM's aggressive defensive front. I believe that Mertz could be better in making the quick checkdown throws to the TE's/RB's/WR's while avoiding the turnovers like last year. In the second year at Florida, Mertz may be better at changing plays against certain type of defenses.

Mertz also has experience playing on the road so that will be important in some upcoming road SEC games: i.e,

Mississippi St who played well on the road against Arizona State (L: 23-30)
Arizona State 30-23 Mississippi State (Sep 7, 2024) Final Score - ESPN,
Tennessee had just walloped #24 NC St, 51-10; the vols are averaging 60 ppg offensively and their defense only gave up 6.5 ppg.

Meanwhile, Florida's defense is again giving up 24 ppg. So, both of those road SEC games along with this upcoming home game against Texas AM are going to be an uphill battle.
2024 College Football Defense Total Team Stat Leaders - ESPN
2024 College Football Offense Total Team Stat Leaders - ESPN

(Note: It's a good thing that Florida (O: 31.0 ppg D: 24.0 ppg) is not playing former SEC-E opponents Vanderbilt (O: 44.5 ppg, D: 13.5 ppg), Missouri (O: 44.5, D: 0.0 ppg) & South Carolina (O: 27 ppg, D: 12.5 ppg).
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Mertz did not look good against Miami at all minus a handful of passes completed to the wide receivers. Whoever is the offensive coordinator will need to be less predictable, have a good, specific game plan against their particular opponent and put whichever quarterback (Mertz/Lagway) that plays in the best position to succeed and for Florida to pick up the win(s).

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There are also many other players that were hurt in the Miami game that are looking to return in their first SEC game of the year: ie,
DT Joey Slackman, S Asa Turner, CB Devin Moore, S Sharif Denson.

I believe that WR Khlail Jackson had a significant injury that will unfortunately result in him being lost for the season similar to DT Jabari Lyons. Even against Samford, it appeared that CB Jakeem Jackson was injured late in the game - DB depth could be a concern!
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According to this video,



What is Florida playing for?
- Wins/ Losses? why not?
- SEC Title? technically still in it
- 12-team playoffs? ditto
- Bowl?

- Or, just get ready for the 2025 season? (even though there is 90% of the 2024 season left)

Is this the Emory Jones (Who broke Tim Tebow's single game passing record against Samford, btw) vs Anthony Richardson debate, again?

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Judging by the Samford game, Napier recruited a lot of good/great parts to this team starting with the QB, WR's, LBers, DB's, etc.

However, the offensive line still has been a problem for the last two seasons and perhaps the defensive line as well.
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For clarification, are you actually calling Graham Mertz a head case? That's not just insulting and uncalled for, it's straight up BS.

 

Look what someone posted on another free site... DJ was the best SEC statistically rated QB in week 2...