New Story Three Takeaways from Florida’s loss to Miami

[JasonHigdon]

Three Takeaways from Florida’s loss to Miami
(HECTOR)





The Florida Gators host the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday afternoon to kick off the 2024 season. The Gators were completely overmatched and routed by the Miami Hurricanes 41-17 in the Swamp.



With the loss, Florida snaps their 34-game home opener winning streak which dates back to 1989. The Gators had no answers for the Hurricanes as Miami dominated Florida in every aspect of the game including coaching. Here are my three takeaways from Florida’s blowout loss versus Miami.



Miami owned Florida in the trenches



Heading into the season opener, Florida had a lot of questions about their offensive and defensive lines. It was not great last season and many wondered if the additions through the Transfer Portal would help improve Florida’s trenches.



The Miami Hurricanes’ offensive and defensive lines were hyped to some of the best in college football. They certainly lived up to their expectations and had no issues against the Gators.



Miami might be one of the best trenches Florida sees this season but that doesn’t excuse them for their poor performance and lack of discipline. Major adjustments need to be made as Florida’s trenches continue to hold this team back.



2. Billy Napier outreached by Mario Cristobal



The two former Alabama assistant coaches went up against each other for the first time in their careers. Both coaches needed to get their season off to a hot start and Cristobal’s Hurricanes looked like they wanted it more than the Gators.



The Hurricanes’ offense had no issues moving the football up and down the field. Florida was no match for Miami’s offense led by former Washington State quarterback, Cam Ward. The former Cougars gunslinger torched Florida’s secondary as he completed 26 out of 35 passes for 385 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception.



Napier and the Florida offense was very stagnant and lacked creativity all afternoon. The Gators struggled to move the ball with consistency and looked very predictable. Florida might have more problems with Graham Mertz’s injury. Florida would need to count on a true freshman quarterback, DJ Lagway, against the toughest schedule in college football.



3. Are Billy Napier’s days at Florida numbered?



Coming into the 2024 season, Billy Napier was one of the biggest names on the coaching hot seat. Florida has had two consecutive losing seasons in the Napier era. Napier’s head coaching record at the University of Florida is now 11-15.



This is Billy Napier’s third season as Florida’s head coach. The vast majority of the players on Florida’s roster are the players he has recruited. Nonetheless, it doesn’t seem like anything positive has changed during his tenure.



Napier has recruited well at Florida but the product on the field is living up to the Gator Standard. It’s the point that many fans will start to turn on Napier if they haven’t already. There’s no reason a historic program like the University of Florida should have these issues.



Florida’s problems are just on the field or with coaching. It starts at the top and this could be another historically bad season for the Gators. If that’s the case, major changes at the University of Florida need to be made to save the program from more mediocrity. Let’s see if the Gators can rebound from this loss and possibly save Napier’s job.

 

[Leak's#1]

The dagger 💀

Jason can you give us your top 3 (realistic hires) or does that go against policy etc at this time ?

 

[g88ter]

The dagger 💀

Jason can you give us your top 3 (realistic hires) or does that go against policy etc at this time ?

A huge buyout and a lack of anyone that would truly move the needle make that who process a night mare

 

[dc1gator]

Scott Frost is available and so is Jimbo. Just saying. A possible 4-win season looks inevitable with the status quo. Wouldn't it be nice if DJ and company put 80 points on the board next week. Nothing like dreaming. There is no way Billy would get away from that old off tackle run on 3rd and 7. I haven't lost all hope...., yet.

 

[gatorfan9696]

Scott Frost is available and so is Jimbo. Just saying. A possible 4-win season looks inevitable with the status quo. Wouldn't it be nice if DJ and company put 80 points on the board next week. Nothing like dreaming. There is no way Billy would get away from that old off tackle run on 3rd and 7. I haven't lost all hope...., yet.

After seeing us yesterday, I think 4 wins is the ceiling for this team. We have one guaranteed win next week and then two toss ups (Miss State) so I think we end up 3-9.

 

[sniknsamp]

We need a new coach, new offensive and defensive identity. Period

 

[Ttebow7]

Nothing suggests that there is a turn around in the offing. Napier will get us 3-5 wins this season. Then its onto another rebuild. In my opinion the likely suspects are Ruhle, Kiffin, or Stoops.

 

[JAB23]

Weak on both LOSs, more boring offense than Muschamp and no heart. Hard to overcome and it’s year 3

 

[Leak 12]

Lagway needs to start next game and going forward only way we can try to keep him out of the portal.

 

[gatormanin96]

Whoever we get better have an exciting offense. This pile of sh!t offense is boring and it’s impossible to win with. No stoops please. Good coach but we need some fireworks

 

[Latsko]

How long is D. Moore out for?

 

[jgrayhound1]

You guys are dreaming if you think we hit 4 or 5 wins.

 

[Buje]

I’m 100% not expecting this to happen but we laid an egg last year against Utah and had chances to beat teams we lost to. Last night reminded me of Utah, but it is worse bc it was our home opener. I kinda hate we have Samford next week, bc no matter what happens won’t be a sign of true improvement until we do it against a sec team. Not expecting any semblance of this season working out well but if it does, it just makes the weekend and atmosphere better when up in Gainesville.

 

[hmcmg8r]

So some of us have been saying “players have to make plays” for the last three years. But a trend is a trend. Players CONSISTENTLY not making plays isn’t on the players. It’s on the coaches. I rarely advocate for coaching changes (except for McElweeny). But I’m thinking it’s time this year once bowl eligibility inevitably becomes impossible (which could likely be after the UGA, Texas, or LSU games).

 

[SpaceGrits]

I’m glad we’re getting the bad candidates out of the way early 😅

 

[R.Hobbs]

Billy has recruited well in all areas except the important part , the trenches …

 

[1gatorbear]

Well it now seem to be the consensus here.

 

[bollesboy]

Billy has recruited well in all areas except the important part , the trenches …

And maybe his handpicked coaches along with the Army that goes along with it!

 

[tb8232]

Billy has shown an inability to prepare a team. He had 9 months and that was the product? Like him as a man but he is not a power 4 HBC. He would be fine in a GM role. He's good at organization. But does not have the strike dog in him to be the man.

 

[BillytheC]

After seeing us yesterday, I think 4 wins is the ceiling for this team. We have one guaranteed win next week and then two toss ups (Miss State) so I think we end up 3-9.

hell
after yesterday I am not sure we beat Samford

 

[Phxgator1]

Wasn't too many positive takeaways. Here's a jarring stat. After hyping up the team and saying no one knows what he knows the past two seasons Billy has proceeded to field an offense that is 2/22 on third down conversions in seasons openers. Oh and we still have zero idea how to get Wilson involved in the passing game. Our most elite offensive player has never had a reception for more than 30 yards in this offense. 🤦

 

[ivandrago601]

Wasn't too many positive takeaways. Here's a jarring stat. After hyping up the team and saying no one knows what he knows the past two seasons Billy has proceeded to field an offense that is 2/22 on third down conversions in seasons openers. Oh and we still have zero idea how to get Wilson involved in the passing game. Our most elite offensive player has never had a reception for more than 30 yards in this offense. 🤦

I think Wilson leaves after this year. Young man is being wasted here in this offense.

 

[Coolgtr]

There are times in a coaches tenure that are bigger than the game itself and this was one of those for Napier. He not only failed but did so miserably. It was a "watershed" moment for most of the fan base and we've said on boards like this for years, that once you lose the fan base, the jig is up. I think we've seen that with Billy's tenure here. And let's not even think about the other likely "watershed" moments we're likely to have during the rest of this season with the schedule we've got.

This isn't likely to be the last time this team and this coach are embarrassed so those still unconvinced we need a change, likely will be before too much longer.

 

[wpbjl]

There are times in a coaches tenure that are bigger than the game itself and this was one of those for Napier. He not only failed but did so miserably. It was a "watershed" moment for most of the fan base and we've said on boards like this for years, that once you lose the fan base, the jig is up. I think we've seen that with Billy's tenure here. And let's not even think about the other likely "watershed" moments we're likely to have during the rest of this season with the schedule we've got.

This isn't likely to be the last time this team and this coach are embarrassed so those still unconvinced we need a change, likely will be before too much longer.

Winner. Everything we wanted to see didn’t happen. Quite the opposite. Most important game of Billy’s coaching career and yesterday is what we got. No bueno.

 

[Leak's#1]

Guys
1 win is utterly possible. More than 2 would be a Christmas miracle.

Good news is: you can make a change after the UK game and hire Urban without having to wait for the season to end

 

[dc1gator]

After seeing us yesterday, I think 4 wins is the ceiling for this team. We have one guaranteed win next week and then two toss ups (Miss State) so I think we end up 3-9.

Thanks for your optimism. Remaining with the status quo we could wind up 1-11 and I'm not sure about that 1. DJ might be our only hope offense wise.

 

[cking6178]

After seeing us yesterday, I think 4 wins is the ceiling for this team. We have one guaranteed win next week and then two toss ups (Miss State) so I think we end up 3-9.

I don't know that next week is guaranteed....remember Charlotte last year?? when your FG kicker is the player of the game against an FCS bottom feeder, that is not good....and we might be worse this year than last

 

[960608Gators]

Notice how quiet the $$ boosters on the board are? Everyone knows this is it

 

[Jsanders1992]

Billy has shown an inability to prepare a team. He had 9 months and that was the product? Like him as a man but he is not a power 4 HBC. He would be fine in a GM role. He's good at organization. But does not have the strike dog in him to be the man.

Im not sure hes good at organization at this point.

 

[2blades]

I was a Napier fan BUT now we all know UF needs a whole new UAA and AD and damn sure need a new Coaching staff. This loss was the worst in GATOR FOOTBALL HISTORY !!!!

 

[MonkOnMars]

I don't know that next week is guaranteed....remember Charlotte last year?? when your FG kicker is the player of the game against an FCS bottom feeder, that is not good....and we might be worse this year than last

Or '22 vs USF. Escape by the skin of our teeth at the very end. Napier spends the entire post game interview talking about how well coached his buddy Jeff Scott's USF team is, how tough they were to beat.

USF would finish the season 1-11.

 

[2_bits2049]

This class is going to be bad.
Cut bait asap. Hopefully new HC can somewhat weather the storm and keep Lagway, EW3, Baugh in the fold. Billy’s O is really bad - all 11 have to be dang near perfect. Im here for a Kiffin O getting 3 plays off before Billy can call 1.Kiffin realized his front stunk + addressed in portal (ex: Nolen). He can scheme around bad OL play (see first 2 years at ole miss)
Billy’s overall record + record v rivals alone is REALLY bad. Late Oct/early Nov is gonna get fun imo

 

[Cptchiron]

When we lined up on d with three men and one was 21 I knew we were in for a long day..it amounts to a 2 man rush..means the d learned nothing from last year..after being a booster for 40 years that was enough for me..
On the other side of the ball we know coach is stubborn ..he should have hired a first class OC
WE DONT ADJUST
WE DONT SCHEME
for me football now being with friends and enjoying the company..
I posted I feared we would rush 3 and then 4 with LBs off the ball..give the QB too much time..we were told we were better..
No we aren’t..when you repeat the same thing and expect a better result ……….

Sad I know plenty of people who actually believed coach would change
Our young defensive coordinator needs to be demoted. He is way over his skis! He doesn’t adjust. He doesn’t know how to bring pressure and I don’t want to hear 2021 graded out better than everybody else because we were told that last year and it wasn’t the truth.

 

[GameTimer5]

Guys
1 win is utterly possible. More than 2 would be a Christmas miracle.

Good news is: you can make a change after the UK game and hire Urban without having to wait for the season to end

I don’t believe you’re are being sincere. I will bet you the 2.5 o/u if you would like. I am pretty sure you are gonna back down

 

[2_bits2049]

I don’t believe you’re are being sincere. I will bet you the 2.5 o/u if you would like. I am pretty sure you are gonna back down

I’ll take ya for the under on 4.5

 

[Gatorskin21]

Notice how quiet the $$ boosters on the board are? Everyone knows this is it

Well, one is quiet because his post went straight to X

 

[dale63]

Wasn't too many positive takeaways. Here's a jarring stat. After hyping up the team and saying no one knows what he knows the past two seasons Billy has proceeded to field an offense that is 2/22 on third down conversions in seasons openers. Oh and we still have zero idea how to get Wilson involved in the passing game. Our most elite offensive player has never had a reception for more than 30 yards in this offense. 🤦

We knew we had a problem with 2: 30 left in his first opener against Utah with a lead. Ran up the middle on 3 and 6. Gavet Rising the ball back.. .lol

 

[jb1215]

Billy has recruited well in all areas except the important part , the trenches …

I understand what you are saying, but if you can't coach in the SEC then it does not matter.

 

[jb1215]

Unfortunately Florida will have another losing season, many players will enter the portal and it will be another 3-4 years before Florida will have a winning season. Coach Napier has inadvertently put this program into purgatory. You cannot be this bad and expect to rebound quickly in the SEC. Billy Napier is killing Florida football. UF will be lucky to win 4 games this year.

 

[SwampChomp615]

Unfortunately Florida will have another losing season, many players will enter the portal and it will be another 3-4 years before Florida will have a winning season. Coach Napier has inadvertently put this program into purgatory. You cannot be this bad and expect to rebound quickly in the SEC. Billy Napier is killing Florida football. UF will be lucky to win 4 games this year.

Make the right hire and year one will be bumpy because of schedule and new schemes but can show signs of life. By year two we can be competitive. Not everyone will bail so long as their NIL is being honored and they have some hope in the next guy. This isn’t the first coaching change for a major program in this era. The players aren’t completely attached to Napier. Beyond that many of them haven’t shown a whole lot where other major programs are willing to pay them big money to be a backup. I’d bet many of the offensive players would welcome a change. Hire a guy like Kiffin and most remain. Hire a James Franklin and he’ll win that locker room in his first meeting. It’s not all doom and gloom. UF still has a ton going for it and people who care deeply. Finally, even if there is a rebuild, it’s fun to watch the team progress under a good coaching staff. I haven’t scene a shred of progress from this coach since day one.