SEC Media Days: Florida Gators [Coach Napier - Montrell Johnson - Shemar James - Graham Mertz]

I wonder how many years it will take before this event turns into a Comic-Con type event, complete with costumes? Lol...

 

Here's another take on it. Our new position coaches are fired up about this event, I'm sure.



The narrative surrounding Florida's 2024 season is one of cautious rebuilding rather than immediate resurgence. At the heart of this transformation lies a defense that has not be reliable recent years. Ranking 87th and 78th in points allowed over the past two seasons, the Gators' defensive woes have been a thorn in Napier's side. Enter a trio of new defensive minds - Will Harris, Ron Roberts, and Gerald Chatman - tasked with turning things around. Their mission? To mold a unit that bends but doesn't break, a process that promises gradual improvement rather than overnight miracles.


Realistic expectations for Florida Football at SEC Media Days

 

For the record... I despise that bend but don't break phraseology and that losing concept..

 

Particularly because allowing drives wears out the D, keeps the O off the field, and then eventually breaks anyway.

 

If Lane Kiffin is there, dressed as an adult, the masquerade will have already begun.

 

I think he was trying to get at the need for not giving up so many busted plays, resulting in back-breaking TDs and otherwise winnable games going down the tubes. I don't know if there is a standard-issue, coach-speak metaphor tailored specifically for that exact situation. FTR, I hate that phrase too.

 

I know a better phrase. I’like big butts and I cannot lie.

 

Certainly has a ring. Doesn't it?

 

"I like big bibles and I cannot lie"

 

Well that is different. I kinda liked it.

 

Isn't that essentially the Monte Kiffen, Tampa Bay defense, Kiffen made famous?

 

I guess all schemes are good when you have good players and it works.

 

He invented the cover 2 defense... he's credited for inventing.

The bend but don't break is usually a 3 something base defense, which I call the prevent defense. The bend but don't break is a description of a failed defense, IT'S NOT A SCHEME.

 

When I first saw it around 15 years ago, at first I thought "weird but kind of both funny and interesting". The more we listened to it, the more we liked it. (Definitely not to be taken seriously in any way, lousy doctrine..no completely void of doctrine, teaches nothing!)

 

In hindsight I wonder where we might be had BN hired a top notch defensive coordinator with great defensive staff verses spending lots of money on an army of support staff. As it is one DC is gone, another wasn't much better and thus now has I guess a new guy in a mentor/manager role. Yes, I know talent wasn't great but wasn't imo that bad to be so bad. Good coaching often masks a lot of deficiencies. Well, just rambling, we will never know. Hopefully this year is different, has to be.

 

He tried to hire the best and they said no thank you. Maybe, and I suspect this, the money was all wrong. That seems to make sense now, because the UAA/AD recently increased the money for Napier's coaching staff... along with more money for recruiting. I also remember coaches turning Napier down when he got hired.

He was stuck with who he could get...

 

Rick,
I can't give you any statistical analysis, but honestly, how many SEC championship caliber teams don't have above average to dominant
defensive front sevens? Seems the great teams always dominate the defensive line of scrimmage. Something until three years ago, that was
typically a hallmark of UF football.

I don't think UF is there yet. I think we should be better, but I do not see the monster front 4 guys needed to be really good, not yet anyway. I
hope coach can get a couple of good ones this cycle. Seems pretty thin on the recruiting front so far, hope they pick it up.

 

You can’t get a Ferrari with $100,000

 

SEC network talking about the Gators now