Reasons for Optimism in 2025?

Who would you suggest for offensive coordinator? Easy to say we need one, but unless it’s a proven play caller it ain’t going to happen.

 

Feeling much more hopeful now than after the aTm game. Better play on the field, more juice with Lagway, a top ten class instead of class number 51. Gotta keep that mo going.

 

Didn't we already have an "I want a play caller" thread?

 

Keep improving on both sides of the ball. Expect to score every possession. Never get down more than 2 scores. Keep the other team below 21.Win by 1 or more.

2025 could be a very good year. A lot depends on Lagway's development and a schedule that gives us a reasonable shot at winning the first half of games. I like opening with cupcake then USF in the Swamp. But If the SEC puts us in a tough away game for our 3rd (LSU, Tamu, ole. Miss) it could blunt development, momentum and make a win at Miami in week 4 tougher.

With or without an OC I can see us undefeated in Jax if things go well. But Expect a bumpy ride until Lagway has complete command and the team can impose their will.... Could be not until 2026.

 

I think that some (not all) of the offensive criticism will subside if/when Lagway gets comfortable with the short yardage throws required to run CBN's offense. I said it (lots of others too) even before the FSU game that Lagway doesn't have the same "touch" that Mertz had in the short game. I suspect this is something that will get a lot better in the off season, especially as he'll be getting QB1 reps in practice for the bowls/spring/summer AND fall. It's just seems kind of funny how he can make these incredibly perfect throws 20-40 yards down field, but struggles a bit with the shorter ones. I would imagine it is also a lot easier of a fix than if the issues were reversed. IIRC, the first two drives against FSU ended on incompletions that IMO Mertz would have easily made.

Before this season started, I was in the mindset that offense wasn't the problem and although we needed to improve, it wasn't an issue. Now, that we have other more pressing issues seemingly fixed, I am in the camp (with most others) that something needs to change. I'm in agreement with a lot on this board that don't necessarily think the offensive playbook/system needs to change, but something with the playcalling/playcaller. I'm willing to give it another year though, assuming DJL improves in his short throws and we see what a fully functional CBN installed offense looks like. My guess, like I said earlier, is that it will look a LOT better, but there will still be some warranted criticism about putting up points/big plays/sustained drives, etc. JMHO

The biggest reason for optimism (or pessimism) won't come until after week 4 when we play Miami, or week 3 depending on who we play. The full schedule isn't out yet, but we start with LIU (who?) week 1, and then USF week 2. Those better be wins, but should give us time to work out some of the kinks and give CBN no excuses for a slow start. Week 3, unless it's a bye-week, will be an SEC foe and unless it's Miss. St. or perhaps UK, it will probably be a ranked team.

Now looking at the schedule, if we do end up playing Miss St. our 3rd game, we will have a stretch of 8 games where the worst team we play will be Kentucky. Second worst would be someone like Texas A&M or LSU. Scary stuff!!! If that happened, and UK somehow reverted back to the "decent" team they were for the few previous years, it might be possible that we play 8 ranked teams in a row. Technically could be 9 if FSU wasn't a complete dumpster fire. Think about that for a minute...

All that being said, the table set. If we win our bowl game, and our first two cupcakes next season, we'll be on a 6 game winning streak heading into the meat of our season with playoff hopes abound. I'm sure that there will be a lot of varying opinions on what a "successful" season is, but the average will be around 9-10 wins as opposed to 7-8 wins like it was this year. This is a good thing and I'm looking forward to it!

So much more to say, but I'll shut up now! GO GATORS!!!

 

Everyone should have been in the get rid of him camp after TAMU game. The UM and TAMU games were unacceptable, not because we lost but because we weren't ready. Since then he's done a much better job (arguments can and are made about whether that's good enough), but for pragmatic reasons I'm now glad we kept him. FWIW, there are plenty of threads about all of this. I would like him to get help on play design and play calling, but will he.. and who would that be and what would that look like...

 

It’s been beaten to death on here already. I don’t care either way at this point.

DJs healthy legs will hopefully lead to a more potent offense next season.

 

He was mobile enough to scare defenses even with a bum leg. I’m hoping the short/mid range completion percentage makes a big jump. If he starts hitting those, this offense will be dangerous.

 

Lagway makes our team infinitely better on both sides of the ball.

 

Good friend who’s an Oregon/Ga fan texted me yesterday and said he had us as one of his playoff teams next year. That would be absolutely incredible. I for one am really glad Napier is here next year. What he represents, as far as character and modeling what it means to be a man/leader, I dont believe can be overstated. The way he’s turned the team around, on the field and recruiting, has been really fun to watch and I am incredibly happy about it, and happy for him and the team.

 

I'm hoping they give us UK away or MSU at home in game 3, but who knows what they'll do. Hopefully not a bye week that early in the season.

 

Yeah, he struggled on those. I think being a Freshman and him wanting to put the whole team on his back was part of the problem there. He certainly likes to push the big play which I have no problem with. Hopefully we see more TE involvement next season.

 

Personally, any reasons for optimism needs to be tied to buying bottles of scotch. Get a hope, get a bottle.

You will thank me next year.

 

texas at home would be typical of the sec office

 

Kade Bell? Not a proven play caller, but he's young and had pitt humming before injuries this year.

Tom Herman may be interested in a reset like lane and sark had at Bama.

 

My goal for this year was a winning record. My target for next year is to make the bottom rung of the playoffs. That is achievable.

 

I'm with you there on CBN as I too was ready to move on. But he has turned the program around with one important ingredient: those players really play for HIM. That's always a tough act to put together for any coach what wants long term success. Though I too am feeling optimistic, and yes for the first time in some while being somewhat excited, I still have concerns. He's not that great of a game day coach, his clock managment skills are lacking and finally, the play calling is suspect. Let's just hope and keep our fingers crossed that he's evolving and learning. If he's open to that then the sky's the limit with his recriting chops and team building.

 

I would rather have Texas early if it would break up that brutal 5 game stretch to end the season. Our schedule is incredibly unbalanced. All of our easier games and bye weeks are before the 7th game of the season.