Article: Five Storylines To Follow For The Florida Gators At SEC Media Days

How will the defense improve in year three?

Our defense has to get better and it stars with our new coaches added to the defense. Anytime you add 4 new coaches to the defense you know two things happened the year before. And the first thing you know is that the defense was dysfunctional and the head ball coach get new coaches that he feels will make a difference.

I've been watching the Gators play since I was a little boy and I can't remember the coaches ever being as bad as they were last year... nothing more to say. New coaches... new year... better defense coming in 2024.


What’s the plan for implementing DJ Lagway into the offense?

I hope we let him get some plays in games that we should win especially in the early part of the season, but that means either being strategic with how much he plays early or burning his red-shirt from the beginning. That's the part I want see know.

If Napier decides to burn it then you know he has big plans all year long for Lagway. If not then look for more Mertz and less Lagway in games. I think Napier plans on playing Lagway all year long in set play made just for him in most games, especially in early games... easier games.


What does a QB in year two look like?

I think Mertz looks much more relaxed and in control than he was in year one in Gainesville. He should have the green light to open up the playbook and the passing game in particular which I like and I think he gets more O-line support in year two than he did last year, which should help him in that comfort level. Add to that more weapons with more experience and he's set up for a big year. We should have at least 3 good/great options at receiver with Wilson leading the way and the additions of Dike from Wisconsin and Badger from ASU...

But we have plenty more very talented receivers on the team too with Kahleil Jackson, Marcus Burke, Aidan Mizell, Andy Jean and some freshman speedsters in T.J Abrams and Jerrae Hawkins. Those last two can fly... So look for Mertz to increase his passing yards this coming year. This should be a much improved passing game if Mertz gets the time he needs to pass the ball.

How can Florida benefit from more on-field coaches?

We need more support coaches on the sidelines being more like personnel coaches to these players... we need them to be cheerleaders... we need them to be confidence boosters to our players. These extra coaches need to be involved in the game and there to help their players when there other coaches are looking for strategy, they need to be there for moral support. This is a great new thing to add to the sidelines, IMHO.

What’s different about the 2024 Florida Gators?

Depth and experience both in the players that have been here on the team last year and the experience of the new portal transfers that came in with years of college experience under their belts. Napier and his team did a good job of shoring up some deficiencies in certain positions but I do think they got some good players in key spots like at safety on defense which was shorthanded. Add to that the new more motivated coaches on defense and I know we have a much better team on the defensive side of the ball. We need to get back to Gator defense and this will be the year we see our defense play more like what we Gator fans are used to seeing... regardless of what the clowns like Brando think.