Offensive minds in the SEC

I was not implying that Napier necessarily has a veteran OL returning. I think we'll have to wait until 2025 to see what that looks like. I believe the experience of this group is better than last year's group, though. We had 1.5 returning starters last year, and 1 of those starters, Eguakin, was absent much of the season anyways. Barber started half of the season in 2022. So, we really were playing a very inexperienced group last year. And the guy we brought in to be a starting 5* OT left the program before the season began. I suppose injuries and offseason transfers could bite us again this year, but I like this group much better than the last group because the sophomores on this year's team are not transition class players. I also think our portal moves made in the offseason to improve our OT depth will not backfire in the way Goodwin did last year.

Eguakin, Mazzcuah, and Leonard are the most replaceable players on the OL IMO because we recruited the interior OL well in the 2023 class. Harris, Kearney, and Lovett were the three interior OL targets we really wanted in the 2023 class, Napier's first true recruiting class at UF, and they'll have 1.5 years of experience in the program when the season starts. Lovett in particular was one of Napier's first takes in the 2023 class, and we've been hearing positive things about Harris as well.

OT recruiting has not been great, but it is getting better. The spot opposite Barber is what I'll be watching the closest heading into the 2024 season.

 

The offensive line is much more experienced and deeper than last year, and it will be much improved.

 

I don't think we know that either. Regardless of which of the SEC OC was our playcaller we would second guess them too. Often crisp execution is better than the playcall, and of course that falls on the offensive staff too.

 

I say we roll with the guys we got.

 

It's amazing how much smarter an OC looks when he has a solid offensive line. The whole playbook seems to be available, everything seems to work and he can be as creative as he wants.

 

Clearly the offense is hanging with a lot of good teams and we're far from last place. Just fix the defense and ST!

This is obvious but I'm stating it anyway: if the defense plays better they will get off the field and our offense can play longer and score more points. Duh!

 

UF needs to average more points per game this year to make a move. When you look at top teams with a chance to win championships, you likely need to average 34 plus points per game. We are at 28. Need a touchdown rather than a field goal. Perhaps an improved defense can get us the ball back in offense more often? 75th in scoring D and 57th is scoring O. Can’t win unless these stats improve.

https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs

 

This was a result of lack of experienced depth... lack of overall numbers of player ready to compete at the SEC level and the nagging injuries. I think we did address all of it in the off season, but one we can't fully address is the possibilities of injuries. I hope that we simply avoid it with more players, increased numbers of plug-and-play ready players.

 

Yep, I have said that is one main statistic that matters, next to winning, and it's a vital to score more in order to attract the best offensive talent available. Napier needs to get the best to be the best.

 

Having a returning QB should help. Look at these elite offensive teams and tell me how many of them have 1st year QBs. There are not many of them.

 

If Mertz stays healthy, he is going to put up some serious numbers this year.

 

Nine out of ten of us posters on this board think we are the best offensive minds around.

 

Nine of y'all are wrong...

 

Maybe it would be more accurate to say we can be offensive with the best of them...