Unless the coach is a big name a lot of guys will be gone. I guarantee there is already communication being attempted.
You can put the ball in DJ’s hands but it’s the same team around him. I just don’t want to ruin him. I like the Leak/Tebow idea. Don’t put it all on DJ right away. I don’t know why people think Graham was uniquely bad during the game or that DJ did much more than Graham did. I thought DJ looked good. Through two good slant passes and had a good scramble. Mertz had a couple good runs and never got the opportunity to work with the new play caller.
Mertz needs a strong offensive line to be effective. DJ's quick release and his running ability could partially offset the problem. DJ's ability to run the zone read could also help the running game. On the other hand I felt the same way about Anthony Richardson who had a similar skill set and I was wrong.
Napier's only chance is to turn it over to DJ IMO. This line is not good enough for a drop back only passer. Also I don't believe Napier was only problem with Anthony Richardson. AR was a different person once he got hit early in the UK game on a dirty low hit at the knees and his handlers told him to basically don't run and get hurt the rest of the season after that dirty hit that was not called by SEC refs. so Nape had an inaccurate passer rest of season that was unwilling to use his running talents rest of season. I am not supporting Napier here just saying just because results with an AR that refused to run after the UK game does not mean Napier and company cannot have success with DJ. Turn it over to DJ now and let's see if Roberts can fix the defense as well and let's see where that leads us. At least we will have something to root for. Also the int by DJ at the end was the o line fault or the blocking scheme fault as he was hit and that is why the Int.
1. We're not sure those Miami defenders that played in the 4th quarter were either backups or the #1s who played the entire game. 2. We ARE reasonably sure that several of our opponents have stronger defenses than Miami. Tebow had the luxury of knowing he was never going to be the starter in 2006 barring injury to Leak, so Meyer/Mullen were able to develop him slowly as a wildcat QB to get experience reading top defenses, their formations and adjustments from the relatively safe perspective as a running QB who very occasionally threw. I truly believe we need to let DJ learn the game gradually. As for Archie, he and Fran Tarkenton were two of the relatively few dual threat quarterbacks, and Archie was running for his life out there behind a horrible OL. I'm not sure I want to see DJ get the Archie Manning treatment, and feed him to the wolves. If that happens, the top teams will beat each other up to get him into the Portal and make him a rich young man.
He shouldn’t have to start but he probably wants to. There’s an opinion out there that sitting him may push him away.
I feel Lagway will be better as long as Callaway calls the plays while he is in. And that will depend on if Napier accepts that he needs someone to call the offense and gives the OC duties to Callaway.
Napier did a great job helping Mertz make great gains from Wisconsin to UF. The problem is that Mertz is severely limit. He doesn't see the field, he doesn't take appropriate risks & he doesn't use the pocket. You see what a good QB did for f$u. The blame ultimately lies with Naper though. Building a team over years became outdated since he started coaching here. Napier needs to move on to Lagway & unleash him or accept his fate.
Not worried about guys being gone. That showing Saturday wasn’t exactly stellar. If they are here, they sure as hell don’t seem to be playing football.
Watched the replay - Mertz had his worst game as a Gator ...missed those posts to Badger should've been TDs with no safety across the entire field - also had some poor throws on critical 3rd downs or misreads. DJ's scoring drive was against the 1's for Miami
On at least one of the deep balls to Badger, Badger stopped and then tried to jump for the ball. If he'd kept running and run under the ball instead of trying to jump for it, I'm fairly confident he would have got to the ball. One of the most frustrating things I watch, week in and week out during football season. It's one thing to dive for a low ball, or coming back to a ball. When you're streaking, you cannot get to the ball any faster than if you just keep running. Diving and jumping are almost always the wrong move. I haven't seen it REALLY taught since the Spurrier days though, with Dixon as the WR coach.
