Predictions on the QB Position

Completing all those short ones opens up the defense for the big ones and loosens up the front seven for running too. I just want to see the sticks move and an open playbook. Last year was so limited as to what we could do.

 

Mertz starts Day One.

 

Excellent point. And we are all under the assumption AR actively ran the majority of the playbook.

 

Very doubtful. Playbook has to have other plays, super limited part of playbook if I had to guess. Like the year before when AR made the big run and Mullen said, AR missed the route, then missed the check down, then made and big run. Trashed the entire thing and still made a big play. That doesn’t work often.

 

Torrence is portal bound.

Really need some gets from the portal on D and I don't just mean bodies, I mean guys than can have an impact or it will not be pretty.

 

I believe that there were multiple sources to the Gator offensive woes.

• AR showed a lot of weaknesses through out the season. His passing accuracy at times was erratic and so was his decision making. I am not saying AR sucked, he did have some great moments, and he did have some not so great moments.
• The play calling was suspect at times this season. Some of that is on Napier and some of that was on a offense that was a work in progress (learning a new system and exorcising the Mullen devils).
• With the two above factors, it would be difficult for any offense to move the chains.

As for AR being a NFL lock, I suggest that you wait for those eggs to hatch. 14 years ago we had a great quarterback. I think his name was Tim Tebow. Tebow had the advantage of playing in a system that had established coaches and proven talented players. He also had very few games where his consistency or his decisions were questioned (AR did have those game this past season). Tebow did get to the NFL but he did not stick around that long. AR will need to up his skills to stick around longer than what Tebow did. I am not rooting against AR, but I do believe that the odds area against him.

 

You sort of danced on both sides of that topic.

At this point I accept you clarification and I apologize for speaking out of turn

 

We were middle of the pack in offense, 50th to 50th in many categories. Our defense was the driving force behind our mediocrity. Get more defensive stops and your offense has more opportunities to score.

 

Yes with a 1st round pick at QB. Despite his mediocre passing stats he was a big time runner for us which opened up lanes for our backs since AR always had a spy

Mertz has equal passing stats to AR and negative career rushing yards. Where is this increased production coming from?

 

Increase in production will (I hope) come from getting more defensive stops and therefore more plays on offense. Whoever is QB will need be more consistent in the passing game than we were with AR. With improvements there and a little more something special from our special teams, we can win more in '23 than we did in '22.

To some up, our offense was adequate, need some improvements on defense and ST. This would go a long way!