Article: Napier two years in

No, but the FUBAR organization of his special teams made it more difficult.

 

I didn't like his defense much at all when they were playing Ga. Southern. It looked like a bunch of guys who just started playing tackle football after years of being on flag football teams.

 

you’re right, that’s why this year is such a big year. Have to win seven or eight games

 

Besides, it was 44, not 39. Due to coaching.

 

Agreed, but definitely not a chip shot and the attempt at the timeout or whatever that was that cost us 5 yards was inexcusable and made it all that much harder from 44 I believe. We would never call 44 a chip shot.

 

True, good point on your part and we would never call 44 a chip shot… Ever should have been 39 and at 39 that kick is good but due to timeout/special teams blunder ends up being 44.

 

One of several times this year I found myself saying, “Oh, that’s why most teams over the past 100 years or so have had an on-field special teams coordinator.”

 

76% to 62% drop in conversion rate kicking from 44 vs 39 according to what I found...but it sure looked like we were part of that 14% miss rate going 5 yards back. How are we still rolling with our special teams whatever guy...sad...

 

After three years, it's no longer a matter of short-term results. And while I'm not one to make demands, the on-field results need to improve from what we've seen the past two years. Too many brain farts and too much weak defense.
Remember that when Muschamp came on board, the program was "broken" according to Meyer. He still went 18-8 his first two seasons. Except for Pell, each of the last seven Gator coaches avoided losing seasons during their first two years. I think there's enough precedent for early success to suggest that Billy can't afford a third losing season.

 

The fact that we still don’t have one says a lot about Billy Napier.

IMO he is so hellbent on making the 2 OL coach experiment succeed that he is willing to sacrifice special teams.

 

Well, if that is the case, Billy is probably as good as gone. If (an extremely hypothetical IF, as no one expects FSU to duplicate last year's record) next year's P5 opponents have the same records as last year, our opponents would look like this:

Miami.................7-6
Texas A&M..........7-6
Miss State...........5-7
UCF....................6-7
Tennessee...........9-4
Kentucky.............7-6
Georgia..............12-1
Texas.................12-2
LSU...................10-3
Ole Miss..............11-2
FSU....................13-1

Total Won Loss.....99-45 (.688)

From 1990-2001, Steve Spurrier's Gators averaged 10-2 per season. Against P5 opponents with fewer than 7 wins, he was a perfect 53-0. Against opponents with 7-8 wins, we still were a phenomenal 20-3 (.870). But with opponents with 9+ wins:

9 wins: 11-4 (.733)
10 wins: 9-8 (.529)
> 10 wins: 8-12 (.400)

The Gators averaged three opponents/year with 10 or more wins, and won 46% of the games. Against this type of schedule, Spurrier's Gators would probably have at least three losses next year, and his Gators are arguably the best we ever had, a great program run by a Hall of Fame head coach in his prime (REAL prime, not Deion "prime"). He may have had one of his 9-4 seasons or worse, and his 1992 and 1999 schedules were nowhere near as tough. Those were probably his weakest teams, and based on talent ALONE (never mind the coaching), they would have blown the current Gators off the field.

I like Billy, and I root HARD for him to succeed here, but given the baseline standards established since The HBC came on board in 1990, I simply cannot see a 6-6 record happening. Remember, all our opponents want to win as well, and they aren't sitting still, hoping to get better by sheer prayer, as ten of our opponents are all in the 24/7 top 25 in recruiting, and eight opponents are ahead of us.

 

I would gather that hiring Sark was a gamble that UTx decided to take a bet on given his personal demons.

 

I didn’t realize the 2-OL-coach thing and the not-coaching-ST thing were related, but it makes sense. I guess we will see by the spring if Napier has learned anything. If he hasn’t, I predict he won’t finish the season.

 

I never as much as hinted that I am calling for Napier's head.

Just stated (and yes bellyaching) about what we have had to deal with for quite some time.

Your post said it better than I could have.

Stated I have nightmares that Lagway is entering the portal at the end of next season cause of all you have mentioned.

I really hope CBN gets this right and trust that he can.

I would love to be relevant again!

Go Gators!!!!

 

If you’re having nightmares about Lagway, you might have some other stuff going on.

 

I believe had the kick been at the original spot 39 yard line it would have been good. But way too many ST and on field coaching blunders that should not be present in year 2

 

Yes, sir, I was there and had a great view and then rewatch the kick at least five times and from 39. It is definitely good

 

Ok Billy Sr.

Meanwhile in reality plenty of coaches have turned things around in a couple years in modern football. In fact every other FBS coach faces the same general roster management issues.

I really don't think too many people are asking to fire anyone if they don't win a championship. I don't know why you're so hung up on this strawman you've created but it's certainly odd. The majority of fans I've spoken to want to see measurable improvement week on week. You know, coaching. If players want to make poor, undisciplined decisions then sit them even if the backup is sketchy. Again, coaching. Take a tip from every other successful coach and hire an offensive coordinator. Even Kiffin, who is demonstrably a superior offensive mind, has one. Most programs in the top 25 have been relatively irrelevant the past decade so again this isn't the excuse you think it is.

In short, most people would be happy if he performed like a coach compensated in the top 20. Personally I hope the guy figures it out and succeeds but it's not looking to me that any lightbulb moments are happening and the schedule certainly doesn't help.