Is Billy one of the HC’s with the most to prove this season?

I suspect he will stick with the plan. I don’t see him panicking and veering much. Pressure and noise may get patchy but I think he stays the course and prepares for a great ‘24.

 

I totally agree… and I’m a big time Billy guy. The only thing I get frustrated with is the win/loss litmus test everyone wants to draw a line in the sand on. Just show improvement. And give us hope. That is all I ask.

He has made (or been behind) more off field improvements than the last 3 coaches combined… x10! I keep hearing the bitching about Kelly/LSU and Riley/USC …but it seems like more of “this” years fix, or “next” fix, not long term. I could be wrong, but I feel this is what we needed.

 

Most to prove? Nope. The most to prove is us fans. We have to learn that we can't always get what we want NOW. Nothing is going to change, regime-wise, after this year or next.

 

I completely agree but unfortunately you are judged my the media, press and practically everyone else by your won loss record. Wasn't it AL Davis that said, "Just win baby "

 

Either he's going to master the type of offensive scheme that Bama played about 15 years ago, or he will need a new scheme and OC in 2024.

 

Show me a team with some fight and team-first attitude, along with some better clock management. Would also like to see some special teams improvement. Those will go a long ways in my opinion to demonstrate growth in CBN and the program.

 

Has to win 7. So yes lots to (im)prove.

Clock management
Time outs
Prove he knows how to manage and use TEs

 

IMO, we have our coach until he proves otherwise. I like the direction of the team and how the program is being run. I've always said that after year 2 we will have a better idea of where the program is heading (not whether we should keep CBN or not). This upcoming year, I would like to see a better and more functional D, and also much better WR play.
Our W-L record could be anywhere from 6 to 9 wins. We have a very questionable situation at QB. Mertz could play lights out and win more than we expect, or he can fizzle (or get injured) in which case our backup situation is tenuous at best.
We need to be patient with CBN and get off this train of 3 years and a new coach. Hopefully long term he will be the one.

 

Jimbo is the one. Has worse won loss record than predecessor and actually worse than LSU and UF football coaches that were fired the previous year. He needs to do much better this year.

 

In short, yes, he is.

 

Add to that, when NOT to go for it on 4th down; I expect better decision making than one might see, say, from a teenager on PlayStation with no real consequences for his choices.

 

You go for for it on fourth down when your defense gives up a td almost every possession.

 

That's a consideration, sure. But there were times he went on fourth when he should have taken the FG or played field position with a punt. The most glaring example was during the Kentucky game last year. Without going back and watching that debacle again, Kentucky did not so much win as we lost through a series of head-scratching decisions on offense that were overly aggressive and delivered Kentucky an easy set of options to play tight and let us lose.

 

Yeah, if we didn’t go for it so many times against Tennessee we would not have even been close to making it a game. You have to have a functional defence and a quarterback that can run a two minute drill to call a real game. You have to play the percentages.

 

I’d personally like to see a slow steady improvement in depth and talent, especially on the line of scrimmage. That is the most important part of future success IMO. Sometimes drastic improvements are built on a house of cards. I just wonder if Gator Nation will be as patient, they haven’t shown that in the past.

I’m anticipating heavy run, ball control and a short passing game this year. I’ll be paying most attention to the line of scrimmage and defensive side of the ball this year. Defense was the difference in a few of the Ls last year. Not having AR’s running ability and deep arm hurts, but I think an improved short passing and running game might be better.

NIL really has thrown a monkey wrench in a lot of this and clearly some schools were more prepared are already good at pushing the envelope. Anyone that has been a UF fan knows that the school was always going to take a wait and see/conservative approach. Certainly positives and negatives to that approach.

I’m 46. I was at UF during the late Spurrier, Zook, Meyer and Donovan years. It was fun, especially Meyer/Donovan.


I’ve just gotten to the point that I’m not gonna freak out if a kid chooses someone else, we don’t get a title or whatever. I just want to be competitive again.

 

Also, I hate to say it but I think BN’s job heavily depends on Lagway.

 

if patterns stay consistent, Lagway will not be a Gator. I hope he is, but we have botched some QB recruiting here.

 

True. I’m hoping all the money is being directed his way.