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Article: Billy Napier Bringing Back “Florida Speed”

Discussion in 'RayGator's Swamp Gas' started by ETGator, May 20, 2023.

  1. ETGator

    ETGator Long-Time Gator Stuck In East Tennessee Moderator VIP Member

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    [​IMG]

    By: David Soderquist -- May 20, 2023

    The 2023 recruiting class had its ups and downs regarding recruiting battles. But when it came down to breaking down the class as a whole, it felt like Florida still took a step forward in the right direction, with just 20 high school commits, a 92.03 player average, and a 90 percent blue-chip ratio (percentage of 4 and 5 stars in the class) the class was far better than a regular Dan Mullen "take who I can get" class.

    Billy Napier Bringing Back "Florida Speed"
     
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  2. g8orbill

    g8orbill Old Gator Moderator VIP Member

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    good article
     
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  3. Gatorrick22

    Gatorrick22 GC Hall of Fame

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    Speed...there is NO substitute.
     
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  4. malscott

    malscott GC Hall of Fame

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    Yup. Speedy people with good hands.

    All of our best teams had those fast athletes. Spurrier's teams, Meyer's teams... Building the perfect beast absolutely requires those guys. Even on defense. In the past we've had those defensive backs that didn't just play it safe and keep everything in front of them. They broke on the freaking ball, were super fast, and just took that ball away.

    More of those types...twitchy ball-hawks. Fast receivers.:p:cool:

    Go Gators.:)
     
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  5. Skink

    Skink GC Hall of Fame

     
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  6. Hopefully we will have a QB who can throw it to them.
     
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  7. Gatorrick22

    Gatorrick22 GC Hall of Fame

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    I remember that play like it was yesterday. I'm still stunned that to this day not one person mentions that Earl Everett's helmet was ripped off his head by a blatant facemask penalty... that was never called.

    I also liked that fast attack defense that we had. Speed kills... in all positions.
     
    Last edited: May 31, 2023
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  8. your_perfect_enemy

    your_perfect_enemy GC Hall of Fame

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    The sad thing is with todays rules it would be a penalty on Everett
     
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  9. RD_gator

    RD_gator GC Hall of Fame

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    Both Andy Jean & Wilson need to play as true freshmen; hopefully, they will make an impact in the passing game right away. They should also be on special teams during returns as well as on the kick-blocking teams!
     
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  10. Gatorrick22

    Gatorrick22 GC Hall of Fame

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    Yep, because they never look to see why he's running around with no helmet on. What caused him to "lose" his helmet in the first place.

    That happened to us two years ago in the game with FSU in Gainesville. I believe their #10 on defense ripped Pierce's helmet off and then tried to pulverize his head afterwards. That dude is a POS. And yes, we got a penalty for that too.
     
    Last edited: May 30, 2023
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  11. GatorToTheEnd

    GatorToTheEnd VIP Member

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    And that penalty was complete BS. The rule specifically says if it is the ball carrier who loses the helmet the play is supposed to be call dead. They are specifically excluded from the penalty since by definition the ball carrier can’t stop participating in the play.
    Was still awesome watching push into the end zone, though.
     
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  12. Gatorrick22

    Gatorrick22 GC Hall of Fame

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    Now if we can only get them to review that play that caused Pierce to lose his helmet, and call the freaking facemask, all will be well.
     
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  13. ETGator

    ETGator Long-Time Gator Stuck In East Tennessee Moderator VIP Member

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    Always worth another look. LOL! :)

     
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  14. Gatorrick22

    Gatorrick22 GC Hall of Fame

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    Lol... I was going by my memory when I called out FSU's #10 as the defensive player that ripped Pierce's helmet off his head, and I was right, thanks for posting the clip, ET.
     
  15. grant1

    grant1 GC Hall of Fame

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    you can rip off a helmut and not be facemasking and it's hard to say that #10 had facemask or above the FM, but at the 4 sec mark, it is apparant that he had both hands wrapped around the helmut. I don't know the rules, but if as mentioned previously, if the ball carrier has his helmut removed, the play is over and he should have been called down at the 4. Still, the players MUST know that they can't continue play without a helmut, no matter what circumstanses. Not football smart!
     
  16. Gatorrick22

    Gatorrick22 GC Hall of Fame

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    So... it's legal to rip a helmet off an opponent as long as it's not from the facemask?

    You'd think they would have sort of rule against disrobing a player on the field... Lol. :rolleyes:
     
  17. 62gator

    62gator GC Hall of Fame

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    Speed to burn.

     
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  18. Skink

    Skink GC Hall of Fame

    Yeah but Helmut is gonna be pissed you ripped him off
     
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  19. The_RH_Factor

    The_RH_Factor GC Hall of Fame

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    Man, I miss the days of us having better players than the teams we played.
     
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  20. phatGator

    phatGator GC Hall of Fame

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    I can’t wait until we get back to those kinds of scores against Kentucky!