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Football Thoughts on this Florida team......

ocalaman said:
I'm a Mertz fan, but am glad Lagway is getting the start.
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Call sadgator crazy, but sadgator thinks Mertz gives us the best chance to win. Florida needs to do whatever it can to win now. sadgator is pretty sure Lagway will have a big game against Samford, but Mertz should assume his starting role as soon as he is able. You cannot replace his experience, and you cannot let Lagway get the absolute sh!t beat out of him by teams like Texas and UGA in the hopes that he will learn from it just because we are going to lose anyway. That isn’t fair and it isn’t in anybody’s best interest long-term, ISO.
 
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Gator Fever said:
Napier said they look good in practice this week. They just have to execute it better in the games.
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giphy.gif
 
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sadgator said:
Call sadgator crazy, but sadgator thinks Mertz gives us the best chance to win. Florida needs to do whatever it can to win now. sadgator is pretty sure Lagway will have a big game against Samford, but Mertz should assume his starting role as soon as he is able. You cannot replace his experience, and you cannot let Lagway get the absolute sh!t beat out of him by teams like Texas and UGA in the hopes that he will learn from it just because we are going to lose anyway. That isn’t fair and it isn’t in anybody’s best interest long-term, ISO.
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You are right, but a few out there (maybe just one) think Max Brown was our savior and that Mertz is just a chump with no ability. This year is already lost, IMO, but I think that if the program is going to be turned around, DJ Lagway is the guy to lead it.
 
sadgator said:
Call sadgator crazy, but sadgator thinks Mertz gives us the best chance to win. Florida needs to do whatever it can to win now. sadgator is pretty sure Lagway will have a big game against Samford, but Mertz should assume his starting role as soon as he is able. You cannot replace his experience, and you cannot let Lagway get the absolute sh!t beat out of him by teams like Texas and UGA in the hopes that he will learn from it just because we are going to lose anyway. That isn’t fair and it isn’t in anybody’s best interest long-term, ISO.
Click to expand...

I think now is the best time to try it and if Mertz needs to take over again so be it. Mertz even if he plays like last season won't be elevating this team much. That style he played might get you a win over someone like A&M somewhere in the season but I doubt it leads to hardly any wins after the KY game. Having the FCS game and then another home game against a team with their own offensive problems followed by the 2 least talented teams left isn't that bad of a setup. A&Ms defense is pretty good though. If he gets thrown back in there starting @TN or with something like GA he will be in a situation where it's more likely he is really overwhelmed.

The A&M fans seem to be more worried about him getting this FCS game in and then the start against them than Mertz being able to start. I guess the word in TX is he won't let the moment get to him and should be able to play at a high level even as a true freshman.
 
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Mertz played very well last year in spite of bad oline and middle school play calling. Mertz gives us our best chance to win, but at this point my opinion is you roll with DJ and hope he doesn't get murdered. Napier has to shake some things up, and he's clearly not going to do that with his play calling so make the change at qb. On a side note, this should not be of any shock. Almost everyone predicted Napier wouldn't survive the season.
 
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Yeah I like Mertz. He might be the right choice for this team if the rest of it was competent, but it isn’t. Best chance to win is probably Lagway running around playing sandlot football and trying to win games by himself.

Doesn’t really matter because we’re not going to win with either probably, so I’d rather watch Lagway.

For CBN it’s a no-brainer (which is perfect for him). The team appears to be garbage once again, so his only shot at keeping his job is to put Lagway in and hope he shows enough to give fans some hope.

My guess is Lagway will play pretty good against Samford and we’ll win like 48-45. CBN will talk it up like we just beat Bama. Then Mertz will start against aTm but will have a very short leash if the team starts out slow, which we will because aTm has a competent coach and we don’t.
 
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It sounds like they are just waiting for another bad looking loss to fire Napier unless he was to put together some early wins. Stricklin probably survives.
 
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The twits have claimed for the past 3 years:
  1. Mullen can't recruit - And Grantham can't coach D.
  2. Napier is a great recruiter and a winning HC that knows about team CULTURE. (see Saban's recent comments on UF's culture)
  3. The UAA also hired Billy a 50+ staff to help him at every level of the team.
According to 247Sports, the Gators have not secured a top-ten recruiting class since hiring Napier as their coach. Prior to hiring Napier, Florida finished with a top-ten class in two out of the three most recent seasons.

Mullen was fired after going 34-15 with NY-6 Bowls and 2 SECe-C's.
While 'New & Improved' Billy has gone:
6-7 >> 5-7 >> 1-2 = 12-16

And even then, Mullen's Total D rankings were still higher than Napiers under his two different DC's already....
JMOHO of course, but everyone involved in firing Mullen and then hiring Napier needs to be held responsible for their own continuing stupid decisions.....

NCAA Total Defense Rankings:
2018 - 20
2019 - 7 - Defense improved to a Top 10 under Grantham.
Noise in the system to fire/replace Todd because he was called 3rd & Grantham at UGly.
2020 - 74 ----- SEC-C -- 8-4 UF 46 - 52 UA 13-0 NC
2021 - 73

You hire and fire your HC's, but the HC chooses his staff and runs the team.
The only exception to that is if Asist Coach or other staff violates law or Univ rules.
Otherwise you end up were the Gator's excuse for a football program is now sitting. 🤓

2022 - 87
2023 - 78
2024 - Currently 106/133 -- Napier, his coaches/staff and his recruits.
And even then, Mullen's last 2 Total D rankings were still higher than any of Napiers, under two different DC's already, and with a 50+ staff helping them.

For the mouth-runners on Grantham as a football coach, get your collective heads outta your butts for a change.
"Grantham came to New Orleans after serving as an analyst at the University of Alabama in 2022. From 2018-21, He served as defensive coordinator at the University of Florida. From 2018-20, the Gators defense registered 65 takeaways, tied for 11th-most in the nation over that span. With a turnover margin of plus-12 in 2018 and plus-five in 2019, UF finished with a turnover margin of at least plus-five in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2014 and 2015. The Gators also ranked in the top-ten in the nation in sacks in both 2019 (49-fifth) and 2020 (35-tied for seventh), leading the Southeastern Conference each season. -- With more FACTS at the link....
 
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instaGATOR said:
The twits have claimed for the past 3 years:
  1. Mullen can't recruit - And Grantham can't coach D.
  2. Napier is a great recruiter and a winning HC that knows about team CULTURE. (see Saban's recent comments on UF's culture)
  3. The UAA also hired Billy a 50+ staff to help him at every level of the team.
According to 247Sports, the Gators have not secured a top-ten recruiting class since hiring Napier as their coach. Prior to hiring Napier, Florida finished with a top-ten class in two out of the three most recent seasons.

Mullen was fired after going 34-15 with NY-6 Bowls and 2 SECe-C's.
While 'New & Improved' Billy has gone:
6-7 >> 5-7 >> 1-2 = 12-16

And even then, Mullen's Total D rankings were still higher than Napiers under his two different DC already....
JMOHO of course, but everyone involved in firing Mullen and then hiring Napier needs to be held responsible for their own continuing stupid decisions.....

NCAA Total Defense Rankings:
2018 - 20
2019 - 7 - Defense improved to a Top 10 under Grantham.
Noise in the system to fire/replace Todd because he was called 3rd & Grantham at UGly.
2020 - 74 ----- SEC-C -- 8-4 UF 46 - 52 UA 13-0 NC
2021 - 73

You hire and fire your HC's, but the HC chooses his staff and runs the team.
The only exception to that is if Asist Coach or other staff violates law or Univ rules.
Otherwise you end up were the Gator's excuse for a football program is now sitting. 🤓

2022 - 87
2023 - 78
2024 - Currently 106/133 -- Napier, his coaches/staff and his recruits.
And even then, Mullen's last 2 Total D rankings were still higher than any of Napiers, under two different DC already, and with a 50+ staff helping them.

For the mouth-runners on Grantham as a football coach, get your collective heads outta your butts for a change.
"Grantham came to New Orleans after serving as an analyst at the University of Alabama in 2022. From 2018-21, He served as defensive coordinator at the University of Florida. From 2018-20, the Gators defense registered 65 takeaways, tied for 11th-most in the nation over that span. With a turnover margin of plus-12 in 2018 and plus-five in 2019, UF finished with a turnover margin of at least plus-five in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2014 and 2015. The Gators also ranked in the top-ten in the nation in sacks in both 2019 (49-fifth) and 2020 (35-tied for seventh), leading the Southeastern Conference each season. -- With more FACTS at the link....
Click to expand...
Number 1 is not a claim, it's a proven fact.
 
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gatordad3 said:
Number 1 is not a claim, it's a proven fact.
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Yep goaterdud3, while not letting the above FACTS get in the way of your false drivel....

Try disputing the above listed actual FACTS for a change, instead of just spewing more crap. It's one's like you that have helped get the program where it's currently sitting, in more stinkin' crap....

Edit Addition, since the mouthy twits won't use the link to correct their ignorance...
Todd Grantham, a 34-year coaching veteran is in his second season as the Saints' defensive line coach.
Grantham, who has extensive college and NFL experience both along the front seven and as a defensive coordinator (both NFL and College), fostered significant development and improvement out of some of New Orleans' younger defenders. While defensive end Cameron Jordan continued to be the physical and emotional leader of the front four, Carl Granderson blossomed on the opposite side under Grantham's tutelage with a career-high and team-best 8.5 sacks as part of a 78 tackle effort. Bryan Bresee, the club's first round pick, finished with 4.5 sacks and six passes defensed, the top totals in club record books for a Saints rookie defensive tackle.

I sure wish that he was coaching the Gator's DL, and especially the DE's, right now....
 
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instaGATOR said:
Yep goaterdud3, while not letting the above FACTS get in the way of your false drivel....

Try disputing the above listed actual FACTS for a change, instead of just spewing more crap. It's one's like you that have helped get the program where it's currently sitting, in more stinkin' crap....
Edit Addition, since the mouthy twits won't use the link to correct their ignorance...
Todd Grantham, a 34-year coaching veteran is in his second season as the Saints' defensive line coach.
Grantham, who has extensive college and NFL experience both along the front seven and as a defensive coordinator (both NFL and College), fostered significant development and improvement out of some of New Orleans' younger defenders. While defensive end Cameron Jordan continued to be the physical and emotional leader of the front four, Carl Granderson blossomed on the opposite side under Grantham's tutelage with a career-high and team-best 8.5 sacks as part of a 78 tackle effort. Bryan Bresee, the club's first round pick, finished with 4.5 sacks and six passes defensed, the top totals in club record books for a Saints rookie defensive tackle.

I sure wish that he was coaching the Gator's DL, and especially the DE's, right now....
Click to expand...
He's just like Ron Zook, s position coach, not sure DC, big difference.
 
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gatordad3 said:
He's just like Ron Zook, s position coach, not sure DC, big difference.
Click to expand...
Flip-Flopping like a Demonrat in a self-induced trap I see.

First he's a crappy coach that can't coach defense (even though he's been paid to do so for 34 years and counting).
Now the new claim is that he just can't be both a DL coach and a DC at the same time.

However, he's been paid as a DC multiple times as a DC at both the College and the NFL levels.
When there's not an opening for a DC, he will work as a DL coach, or as Saban's D-Analysis to stay in the game.

BTW, what's your own VAST EXPERIENCE coaching defense at any level that qualifies you to rag on a man that has 34 years of paid proof that he can coach defense............ CRICKETS
 
LordofallSocks said:
My players don't throw shoes in front of the ref.
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Are you saying that YOUR players throw their shoes behind the refs backs????

So LordofJocks, your standard is to fire a coach when an idiot player screws up???

That list of firings would be a mile long at most places, including at UF.
LMFAO at that chit.... 😂
 
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instaGATOR said:
Are you saying that YOUR players throw their shoes behind the refs backs????

So LordofJocks, your standard is to fire a coach when an idiot player screws up???

That list of firings would be a mile long at most places, including at UF.
LMFAO at that chit.... 😂
Click to expand...
If you must throw a shoe, kindly do it when no one is watching.

That was the last straw. Our players were good. they were also undisciplined and it's hard to make plays consistently when you can't be bothered to line up correctly. Or tackle properly.

When was the last time you saw a UF player wrap up and take down?

You can have the best defensive mind in the game of your players don't execute consistently, that's on you.

I feel like you're cherry picking a bit, what were Grantham's defenses ranked overall?
 
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instaGATOR said:
Yep goaterdud3, while not letting the above FACTS get in the way of your false drivel....

Try disputing the above listed actual FACTS for a change, instead of just spewing more crap. It's one's like you that have helped get the program where it's currently sitting, in more stinkin' crap....

Edit Addition, since the mouthy twits won't use the link to correct their ignorance...
Todd Grantham, a 34-year coaching veteran is in his second season as the Saints' defensive line coach.
Grantham, who has extensive college and NFL experience both along the front seven and as a defensive coordinator (both NFL and College), fostered significant development and improvement out of some of New Orleans' younger defenders. While defensive end Cameron Jordan continued to be the physical and emotional leader of the front four, Carl Granderson blossomed on the opposite side under Grantham's tutelage with a career-high and team-best 8.5 sacks as part of a 78 tackle effort. Bryan Bresee, the club's first round pick, finished with 4.5 sacks and six passes defensed, the top totals in club record books for a Saints rookie defensive tackle.

I sure wish that he was coaching the Gator's DL, and especially the DE's, right now....
Click to expand...

Mullen ran this program into the ground and Napier has kept it there.
 
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instaGATOR said:
Flip-Flopping like a Demonrat in a self-induced trap I see.

First he's a crappy coach that can't coach defense (even though he's been paid to do so for 34 years and counting).
Now the new claim is that he just can't be both a DL coach and a DC at the same time.

However, he's been paid as a DC multiple times as a DC at both the College and the NFL levels.
When there's not an opening for a DC, he will work as a DL coach, or as Saban's D-Analysis to stay in the game.

BTW, what's your own VAST EXPERIENCE coaching defense at any level that qualifies you to rag on a man that has 34 years of paid proof that he can coach defense............ CRICKETS
Click to expand...
 
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Gator Fever said:
Mullen ran this program into the ground and Napier has kept it there.
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Mullen has a long track record of being a very good football coach, including all but his last year here. He did quit on the job, but I think it’s because something went really sideways with the UA. And if I’m going to take a side between Mullen and Stricklin, I don’t need to think about it for 2 seconds. Stricklin is a demonstrated incompetent.
 
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bradleygator said:
Mullen has a long track record of being a very good football coach, including all but his last year here. He did quit on the job, but I think it’s because something went really sideways with the UA. And if I’m going to take a side between Mullen and Stricklin, I don’t need to think about it for 2 seconds. Stricklin is a demonstrated incompetent.
Click to expand...

Mullen had already put us on our path by 2020 though. Trask just covered a lot of it up in that shortened season.
 
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2x NC Meyer, lost OC Mullen, then a mental breakdown and gonzo...

Musclecramp fired with a winning record.

McLame fired with a winning record.

SECe-C Mullen fired with a winning record.

Napier is now looking to be fired with a LOSING record.

When are the twit fans going to begin to understand that the HC's are not the basic problem???
=====

As to Mullen / MsSt / Fitzgerald:
In an October 6, 2018 game against Auburn, Fitzgerald became the all time leader in rushing yards by an SEC QB gaining 195 yards on 28 carries. [17] Late in the 4th quarter of a victory over Texas A&M on October 27, 2018, Fitzgerald tied Anthony Dixon for the school record with his 42nd career rushing touchdown.

Nick Fitzgerald was a powerful starting quarterback from 2016-2018 who broke multiple SEC records and signed as an NFL free agent.
 
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I haven't looked, but what were the stats with Mertz and Lagway? Normally we get regular game updates on those.
 
Dang! I thought for sure Lagway would throw for 400 again just like he did against Sanford & Son, I mean Samford. All kidding aside, still need to keep playing him. Season is over so let the youth movement begin
 
The 'thinking' of some here has long been substandard imo...
For those to lazy or stupid to be able to find the stats, here's your spoon feeding:

Napier's Running Game Stats after 3 Gms:

Johnson - 33 for 184 - 18 = 166, 5.0 ypc, 3 TD's

Webb ----- 13 for 56 - 4 = 52, 4.0 ypc, 1 TD

Jackson -- 8 for 52 - 2 = 50, 6.3 ypc, 1 TD

Baugh ----- 6 for 45 - 0 = 45, 7.5 ypc, 0 TD
=====

6th Yr Sr - Mertz 7 for 1.4 ypc
True Fr - Lagway 13 for 1.2 ypc

Due to difference in opponents played, their overall stats comparison is of little to no value imo.

Team - 87 for 432 - 75 = 357, 4.1 ypc, 6 TD's

Opp --- 123 for 562 - 47 = 515, 4.2 ypc, 4 TD's
==========

VS aTm - Differing field positions and play calling among other differences makes comparisons difficult at best.
Passing:

Mertz - 12 of 15 for 195 yds, 1 TD, 1 Int,
Lagway - 6 of 13 for 54 yds, 1 TD, 2 Ints.
Could be dink & dunk vs longer throw attempts?

As I said post game, bench DJ and play Mertz/Others until the FSU game, then start DJ and redshirt.
=====

Defensive Stats Here: https://floridagators.com/sports/football/stats/2024/texas-am/boxscore/26498
 
IF..... If they fire Billy, it will likely depend on who they bring in to replace him on who wants out.

Everybody might stay and the portal could go the other way with players wanting to come in....
 
bradleygator said:
Mullen has a long track record of being a very good football coach, including all but his last year here. He did quit on the job, but I think it’s because something went really sideways with the UA. And if I’m going to take a side between Mullen and Stricklin, I don’t need to think about it for 2 seconds. Stricklin is a demonstrated incompetent.
Click to expand...
Truth.
 
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