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Thoughts on this Florida team moving onto 2024......

A quick look on the brighter side of the 2024 roster....

The Gators RB room is loaded to the gills in the iG's OHO, as I've previously stated.
The Sr RB Montrell Johnson 5-11 213 Sr is looking to be a return man on the ST's.

Florida also returned Treyaun Webb 5-11 215 rsFr out of Jacksonville's Trinity Catholic who quietly paced the Gators (minimum 25 carries) in yards per rush, 6.3 ypc as a true freshman. He's also the owner of a 4.3 GPA, according to Juluke, Webb's longest strides have been on the mental side of the game this off-season.

He expressed that he feels more up-to-speed in Florida's systems and that his expanded knowledge and feel for the college game have aided in his ability to play at a higher level. "I feel I have an opportunity to really show what I could do this year," Webb said.

"I'm excited about what he's going to do and he's ready for the opportunity," Juluke said. "And he's been, for lack of a cliche, he's been born for this because he's a true Gator. So he's been looking for his opportunity to play in The Swamp and have an opportunity to excel in front of his family and friends and the Gator Nation."

While Johnson and Webb figure to occupy the majority of the touches out of Florida's backfield, the program has long expressed confidence that its newcomers will be ready to contribute, too.

The Gators signed a pair of four-star freshmen, Kahnen Daniels 5-11.5 196 and Jadan Baugh 6-1 237 in the 2024 recruiting cycle and both enrolled early, an advantage that Napier has deemed critical in the past.
(the iG believes that both are better RB's and teammates than ET was/is....)

"I can see the growth," Juluke said. "I see it developing right in front of our eyes so I'm excited about what they're going to do. They're going to have a bright future for the Gators, I'll tell you that."

Also there's some deep, decent quality depth, in the RB room:
Cam Carroll 6-0 227 rsSr - 2023 injury redshirt - xfer in from Tulane
Ja'Kobi Jackson 5-10.5 218 rsJr - 2023 redshirt - xfer in from Coahoma CC
Anthony Rubio 5-9 180 rsFr WO

You can read the full article here:

https://247sports.com/college/florida/Article/gators-eager-to-show-off-running-back-room-229609320/
 
Sorry goaterdud3, but that just sounds senseless to me... --- Demps? WTF-over???
The HC's whole staff does the recruiting, but it's the HC that signs them, it's his responsibility....

HC Mullen's Recruit class rankings = #9 - #11 - #9 - #8 -- Ave 37/4 = 9.25

HC Napier's
Recruit class rankings = #12 - #17 - #12 - #12 -- Ave 53/4 = 13.25
Yes it was Cousin Eddie who convinced Meyer to recruit Demps. You must have been too busy reading up on your martian garbage at the time.


 
Mertz in 2023 - threw for 2,903 yds, 72.9%, 20 TD's, 3 Ints, while going 5-6.
On closer examination, the results reveals that Mertz did most of his damage in short ranges (8.1 yds/att).
Florida's deep-ball-attempt rate dropped from 19.6% in 2022 to 10.9% in 2023, a
significant limiting factor in its offensive explosiveness.
Mertz was also sacked 31 times, for 2.8 sacks/Gm. (80 Wis/UF career sacks)

Of 358 passes, only 39 (10.9%) were for 20 or more yards through the air.
He completed just 16 (41.0%) of the 39 20+ attempts.
That's how he went from throwing for 61.1% at Wis. to 72.9%, leading to a his 5-6 season W/L record..

Completed passes of 20+ Yds, of his 358 pass attempts amounted to only 4.47%, and he threw fewer than 2 TD's per game (1.8) on average.
>>> 1.8 TD/Gm --- 2.8 Sacks/Gm <<< Proved to NOT be a winning combination....


In Florida's first 2024 spring scrimmage, Mertz connected with WR Chimere Dike, a grad-Sr Wis. xfer on a deep pass for a TD. But Mertz was also intercepted on an attempt of around 20 yards, highlighting his potential volatility in that range.
================

QB-dt Lagway completed 290 passes, 72.1% for 4,604 yds, 11.5 Yds/Att, 58 TD's, 8 Ints his senior year (15.9 yds/comp). He also ran the ball: 99 for 957 yds, 9.7 ypc, 16 TD's, L-83

IF DJ can't start and play as a tFr, then IMO it says way more about the coaching that it does about a Fr QB's abilities.
Another point is -- 6-3 241 9.7 ypc vs 6-2.75 215 31 sacks and injured out.

Mertz is a good teammate and was 'serviceable in 2023,' but Lagway is the future and the 2024 answer in the iG's OHO. -- Or they can waste yet another year, like was done with Miller and then bringing in Mertz, instead of coaching up QB-dt Brown...

* Lagway continues to work/practice with the 2nd string offense at Spring practice....

https://247sports.com/college/flori...ly-napier-uf-spring-camp-scrimmage-229629718/
 
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Mertz in 2023 - threw for 2,903 yds, 72.9%, 20 TD's, 3 Ints, while going 5-6.
On closer examination, the results reveals that Mertz did most of his damage in short ranges (8.1 yds/att).
Florida's deep-ball-attempt rate dropped from 19.6% in 2022 to 10.9% in 2023, a
significant limiting factor in its offensive explosiveness.
Mertz was also sacked 31 times, for 2.8 sacks/Gm. (80 Wis/UF career sacks)

Of 358 passes, only 39 (10.9%) were for 20 or more yards through the air.
He completed just 16 (41.0%) of the 39 20+ attempts.
That's how he went from throwing for 61.1% at Wis. to 72.9%, leading to a his 5-6 season W/L record..

Completed passes of 20+ Yds, of his 358 pass attempts amounted to only 4.47%, and he threw fewer than 2 TD's per game (1.8) on average.
>>> 1.8 TD/Gm --- 2.8 Sacks/Gm <<< Proved to NOT be a winning combination....


In Florida's first 2024 spring scrimmage, Mertz connected with WR Chimere Dike, a grad-Sr Wis. xfer on a deep pass for a TD. But Mertz was also intercepted on an attempt of around 20 yards, highlighting his potential volatility in that range.
================

QB-dt Lagway completed 290 passes, 72.1% for 4,604 yds, 11.5 Yds/Att, 58 TD's, 8 Ints his senior year (15.9 yds/comp). He also ran the ball: 99 for 957 yds, 9.7 ypc, 16 TD's, L-83

IF DJ can't start and play as a tFr, then IMO it says way more about the coaching that it does about a Fr QB's abilities.
Another point is -- 6-3 241 9.7 ypc vs 6-2.75 215 31 sacks and injured out.

Mertz is a good teammate and was 'serviceable in 2023,' but Lagway is the future and the 2024 answer in the iG's OHO. -- Or they can waste yet another year, like was done with Miller and then bringing in Mertz, instead of coaching up QB-dt Brown...

* Lagway continues to work/practice with the 2nd string offense at Spring practice....

https://247sports.com/college/flori...ly-napier-uf-spring-camp-scrimmage-229629718/
See post #1,147
 
Quote if if you want to, but I'm not going back to look for it, and neither will most others
"Max and Miller are gone so let's quit talking about them and going back to the negativity towards Mertz. Lagway is going to have plays called for him this year so let's just sit back and watch." Damnit Walter It's only 1 page back but maybe you have trouble counting . Subtract 1147 from 1165 and that's how may posts you have to go backwards. Math was probably different when you had it than modern day math and you have trouble with it.
 
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"Max and Miller are gone so let's quit talking about them and going back to the negativity towards Mertz. Lagway is going to have plays called for him this year so let's just sit back and watch." Damnit Walter It's only 1 page back but maybe you have trouble counting . Subtract 1147 from 1165 and that's how may posts you have to go backwards. Math was probably different when you had it than modern day math and you have trouble with it.

fred-flintstone-abacus.gif
 
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"Max and Miller are gone so let's quit talking about them and going back to the negativity towards Mertz. Lagway is going to have plays called for him this year so let's just sit back and watch." Damnit Walter It's only 1 page back but maybe you have trouble counting . Subtract 1147 from 1165 and that's how may posts you have to go backwards. Math was probably different when you had it than modern day math and you have trouble with it.


TebowTurd, in your current day math, 1+1 = Another dumbazz remark....
Dan-Todd-Mike are all long gone too, but that never stops anyone from bringing them up and either whining about them or raggin' on them some more.

You'd like to be in charge of what's posted, and even what's thought about if you could manage it.

FLASH NEWS: You ain't in charge of Jachit as far as my posting is concerned.
😛
And neither are the few idiot twits like the dog-poker or the goaterdud....

Things change all the time, season to season, month to month, day to day, and sometimes even minute to minute. Each time I post it's what I'm interested in at that moment, and that moment never includes you or what you want or try to demand. Get used to it,
one-shoe no-clue Peanut...
 
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Just a FYI for the always smart mouthed, but mostly clueless ignorant here....

In the ancient world, abacuses were a practical calculating tool. Although calculators and computers are commonly used today instead of abacuses, abacuses remain in everyday use in some countries.

The abacus has an advantage of not requiring a writing implement and paper (needed for algorism) or an electric power source.
Merchants, traders, and clerks in some parts of Eastern Europe, Russia, China, and Africa use abacuses. The abacus remains in common use as a scoring system in non-electronic table games. Others may use an abacus due to visual impairment that prevents the use of a calculator. The abacus is still used to teach the fundamentals of mathematics to children in most countries.


 

Looking ahead to the top 8 games for college football's opening weekend.

Early lean: Florida 33, Miami 27

Given the Gators' win total hovering around 5.5 at most books this spring, this is one of those see-saw games for Florida that Billy Napier really needs to reach bowl eligibility in his third season. Starting off with a home loss to Miami would be a bad look for program looking for some momentum. This one marks Cam Ward's first start as Miami's new quarterback after transferring from Washington State and it comes inside one of college football's most raucous venues in Gainesville.


https://247sports.com/college/flori...clemson-leads-robust-slate-229714724/#2398631
 
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Getting it done on the DL for 2024-25:

Primary Edge coach - Mike Peterson

EDGE
- Positional flexibility is a big key for this position.
The bigger guys can play DE or DT - 270+
The smaller guys can play DE or OLB.

EDGE / OLB

Ja'Markis Weston 6-2.5 234 rsSr
Justus Boone 6-3.75 267 rsJr
George Gumbs Jr 6-4 246 rsJr - N.Ill xfer
Jack Pyburn 6-3 261 Jr
Quincy Ivory 6-3.25 252 Jr - JuCo xfer in 2022
Brien Taylor Jr 6-4.5 267 Jr - Blinn College **** xfer
TJ Searcy 6-5 254 So
--
Tyreik Norwood 6-2.75 243 rsSr - WO
Bryce Capers 6-3.75 239 rsSo - PWO
Layne Swafford 6-2 251 rsFr - PWO
=====

EDGE / DT 270+

Tyreak Sapp 6-2.5 275 rsJr
Kelby Collins 6-3.75 275 So
Kamran James 6-5.5 274 So
Nicolas Flynn 6-2.5 279 rsFr
LJ McCray 6-6 274 Fr
======

Primary DL coach Gerald Chatman

DT / 295+


Joey Stackman 6-3.5 304 Grad-Sr - Penn xfer
Caleb Banks 6-5.75 325 rsJr
Jamari Lyons 6-3.5 298 rsSo
Andre Morris 6-2.75 308 Fr
D'Antre Robinson 6-3 302 Fr

NT / 350+

Desmond Watson 6-5 464 Sr
Cam Jackson 6-6 374 Sr - Memphis xfer
Sebastian Scott 6-2 372 rsFr
Michai Boireau 6-4.75 382 Fr

With that quality/depth, they have lost any excuses for the coming season imo.
 
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I'm not so much concerned about who starts. I'm more interested in seeing how well the depth/rotations perform as both the units and the team defense as a whole.

Might as well cover the others in the 2nd and 3rd levels:

ILB
Justin Pelic 5-11.25 222 rsSr
Mannie Nunnery 6-1.25 227 rsSr - Houston xfer
-----
Derek Wingo 6-1.25 242 Sr
R.J. Moten 6-0 230 Sr - Mich xfer
-----
Shemar James 6-1.25 230 Jr
Deuce Spurlock 6-0.5 232 rsSo - Mich xfer
-----
Jaden Robinson 6-0.25 233 So
Grayson Howard 6-4 235 So - SCa xfer
-----
Myles Graham 6-0.75 222 Fr
Jake Xeller 6-2.25 239 Fr
==========

DB's - Corners, Safeties, and STAR's
Ethan Wilson 6-0.5 198 rsSr
Trikweze Bridges 6-2.25 199 rsSr - Ore xfer
Asa Turner 6-3 212 rsSr - Wash xfer
DJ Douglas 5-11.75 rsSr - Ala-Tulane xfer
-----
Jason Marshall 6-0.5 205 Sr
Ethan Pouncey 6-0.25 169 rsJr
-----
Devin Moore 6-2.75 197 Jr
Cahron Rackley 5-9.75 194 rsSo
Javion Toombs 5-11 183 rsSo
Sebastian Vargas 6-0.5 188 rsSo - Laney xfer
-----
Sharif Denson 5-11 186 So
Ja'Keem Jackson 6-0.5 So
Jordan Castell 6-2 207 So
Bryce Thornton 5-10 206 So
Dijon Johnson 6-1 198 So
Ahman Covington 5-11 187 rsFr
Aaron Gates 6-0.5 196 rsFr
Braydon Slade 6-0.5 193 rsFr
-----
Teddy Foster 6-0.75 178 Fr
Josiah Davis 6-0.5 196 Fr
Jameer Grimsley 6-2.25 187 Fr
Gregory Smith III 6-3.25 209 Fr
==========

Again, with that depth and quality, NO MORE EXCUSES!
 
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I'm not so much concerned about who starts. I'm more interested in seeing how well the depth/rotations perform as both the units and the team defense as a whole.

Might as well cover the others in the 2nd and 3rd levels:

ILB
Justin Pelic 5-11.25 222 rsSr
Mannie Nunnery 6-1.25 227 rsSr - Houston xfer
-----
Derek Wingo 6-1.25 242 Sr
R.J. Moten 6-0 230 Sr - Mich xfer
-----
Shemar James 6-1.25 230 Jr
Deuce Spurlock 6-0.5 232 rsSo - Mich xfer
-----
Jaden Robinson 6-0.25 233 So
Grayson Howard 6-4 235 So - SCa xfer
-----
Myles Graham 6-0.75 222 Fr
Jake Xeller 6-2.25 239 Fr
==========

DB's - Corners, Safeties, and STAR's
Ethan Wilson 6-0.5 198 rsSr
Trikweze Bridges 6-2.25 199 rsSr - Ore xfer
Asa Turner 6-3 212 rsSr - Wash xfer
DJ Douglas 5-11.75 rsSr - Ala-Tulane xfer
-----
Jason Marshall 6-0.5 205 Sr
Ethan Pouncey 6-0.25 169 rsJr
-----
Devin Moore 6-2.75 197 Jr
Cahron Rackley 5-9.75 194 rsSo
Javion Toombs 5-11 183 rsSo
Sebastian Vargas 6-0.5 188 rsSo - Laney xfer
-----
Sharif Denson 5-11 186 So
Ja'Keem Jackson 6-0.5 So
Jordan Castell 6-2 207 So
Bryce Thornton 5-10 206 So
Dijon Johnson 6-1 198 So
Ahman Covington 5-11 187 rsFr
Aaron Gates 6-0.5 196 rsFr
Braydon Slade 6-0.5 193 rsFr
-----
Teddy Foster 6-0.75 178 Fr
Josiah Davis 6-0.5 196 Fr
Jameer Grimsley 6-2.25 187 Fr
Gregory Smith III 6-3.25 209 Fr
==========

Again, with that depth and quality, NO MORE EXCUSES!
With the brutal schedule facing this team, I'm not optimistic.
 
With the brutal schedule facing this team, I'm not optimistic.
Excuse #1 has just arrived..... 🙄
Every team in the SEC faces a brutal schedule just by the fact that they play in the SEC, and it ain't getting any easier with TX & OK joining in the fun....

An early look at which SEC football teams will have it the easiest, and the hardest, when the 2024 college football schedule kicks off next fall, going from least to worst SoS's. (9 SEC's have early preseason 2024 Top 25 rankings)

16. Mizzou (11)
15. Tennis-sea (15)
14. Tex-ass (4)
13. Ole Piss (8)
12. All Barn
11. LSwho (10)
10. aTm (13)
9. Kensucky
8. Ar-Kansas
7. Lame cocks
6. UGly (1)
5. MsSt
4. Red Turds (6)
3. Choke-la-homo (14)
2. Candy
1. FLORIDA -- Opponents' combined 2023 record: 102-44

Florida's 2024 schedule: vs.
Miami (21), vs. Samford, vs. Texas A&M (13), at Mississippi State, vs. UCF, at Tennessee (15), vs. Kentucky, vs. Georgia (1), at Texas (14), vs. LSU (10), vs. Ole Miss (8), at Florida State (12).

8 UF Opponents have Early 2024 Top 25 Rankings -- 21-15-14-13-12-10-8-1
6 are SEC's, along with 2 of the 4 OoC.
Not ranked in the early 2024 Top 25: Samford, MsSt, UCF, Kensucky.
To me, Samford might be the only pretty-sure win....

Don't I recall Gator fans saying that 'If you want to be the best, then you have to play against the best?' So,,, if you're going to whine about your SoS, then the first thing that you need to do is get outta the freakin' SEC....
Otherwise, stfu and play ball with no more excuses. The outsiders are calling for UF to have 5-6 wins. JMOHO, but it's either win at least 7 plus a bowl game, or their pants are ablaze.

While every optimist out there thinks that they could play or coach at the SEC level, the SEC reality can quickly disabuse you of that thinking if you're not correct and ready to go....
 
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Excuse #1 has just arrived..... 🙄
Every team in the SEC faces a brutal schedule just by the fact that they play in the SEC, and it ain't getting any easier with TX & OK joining in the fun....

An early look at which SEC football teams will have it the easiest, and the hardest, when the 2024 college football schedule kicks off next fall, going from least to worst SoS's. (9 SEC's have early preseason 2024 Top 25 rankings)

16. Mizzou (11)
15. Tennis-sea (15)
14. Tex-ass (4)
13. Ole Piss (8)
12. All Barn
11. LSwho (10)
10. aTm (13)
9. Kensucky
8. Ar-Kansas
7. Lame cocks
6. UGly (1)
5. MsSt
4. Red Turds (6)
3. Choke-la-homo (14)
2. Candy
1. FLORIDA -- Opponents' combined 2023 record: 102-44

Florida's 2024 schedule: vs.
Miami (21), vs. Samford, vs. Texas A&M (13), at Mississippi State, vs. UCF, at Tennessee (15), vs. Kentucky, vs. Georgia (1), at Texas (14), vs. LSU (10), vs. Ole Miss (8), at Florida State (12).

8 UF Opponents have Early 2024 Top 25 Rankings -- 21-15-14-13-12-10-8-1
6 are SEC's, along with 2 of the 4 OoC.
Not ranked in the early 2024 Top 25: Samford, MsSt, UCF, Kensucky.
To me, Samford might be the only pretty-sure win....

Don't I recall Gator fans saying that 'If you want to be the best, then you have to play against the best?' So,,, if you're going to whine about your SoS, then the first thing that you need to do is get outta the freakin' SEC....
Otherwise, stfu and play ball with no more excuses. The outsiders are calling for UF to have 5-6 wins. JMOHO, but it's either win at least 7 plus a bowl game, or their pants are ablaze.

While every optimist out there thinks that they could play or coach at the SEC level, the SEC reality can quickly disabuse you of that thinking if you're not correct and ready to go....
Not whining or making an excuse, Insta. Simply stating a fact. Even with an easier schedule I wouldn't be optimistic after the last 2 seasons. But with the schedule as it is, I'm even less optimistic that I would have been.
 
Not whining or making an excuse, Insta. Simply stating a fact. Even with an easier schedule I wouldn't be optimistic after the last 2 seasons. But with the schedule as it is, I'm even less optimistic that I would have been.
Makes me wonder how incompetent Dan managed to take over a 4 win team and win 10 games, then 11 games in his first 2 seasons before the 2 years of the Scamdemic hit, especially since incompetent 3rd and Grantham was running the defense... 🙄
 
Makes me wonder how incompetent Dan managed to take over a 4 win team and win 10 games, then 11 games in his first 2 seasons before the 2 years of the Scamdemic hit, especially since incompetent 3rd and Grantham was running the defense... 🙄
McElwain sucked as a coach, odd guy, but he actually was a decent recruiter when you look back at the kids he brought to Florida that made it to the nfl. Mullen is an outstanding X's and O's guy, but his lack of recruiting caught up with him. His classes looked ok on signing day, but usually fell apart or kids were very overrated. Mullen won with a lot of McElwain's players. Napier inherited a team with little talent. And flash forward to year 3 and candidly I don't think he's done much to upgrade it. Napier is awful on game day. Can't even get 11 players lined up even though he has 10,000 coaches. I believe Napier won't survive the season. He will get fired after a 2-5 start. Oh, and yes, Grantham was incompetent. He blew chunks at every stop he's made. Needs to be a position coach.
 
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My favorite quote from a post Spring game article I read:

"Making definitive statements about the fall, based on a spring intrasquad scrimmage, is a fool’s errand."
So, bring on the chain of fools.....
🤡
OR just stick to general opinions and fan style speculations.... 😉

That said,,,, Mertz, Mertz, he's our man,
if he can't do it, Lagway with a new HBC can,,,,
eventually... 😁
 
Hey, sign Nick up!
Just what the doctor ordered, yet another xfer-in QB.................................
🙄
 
Just throwing this out there....

The 2023-24 Gators 2nd year Napier defense ranked:
#101 in sacks.
#122 nationally in yards allowed per play.
#132 in turnovers forced last season.

That lead to Billy Napier making three position-coach switches this offseason. Florida lost a handful of talent in the portal but brought in 7 defensive transfers to help mitigate the losses. How those new pieces manage to mesh will determine Florida's defensive ceiling this year, and fans will get an early progress report during Saturday's spring game.
 
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