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Post by gatorgibson on Jan 3, 2023 10:08:41 GMT -5
Well, sure am glad 2022 is in my rearview mirror for many reason both personal and from a football standpoint!
I must say that i lost some faith with Napier during the second half of the season. If you are indeed the man we should have gotten better as the season went on, not worse. I don't want to hear any excuses.
After watching many teams in the bowl games that sucked last year and made a complete turn-a-round (Tulane)/Tcu and many others that have way less talent according to the recruiting polls there is no reason we can't do the same in 2023 with better talent and that should be everyone's expectations.
Im really tired of hearing the same lame excuses every flucking year! Tulane's recruiting rank the last three years: 2021-79th/2022-74th/2023-69th. That's just one example of how teams with supposedly less talent are much more successful than UF.
Im really hoping the current staff figures it out because sucking is getting old!
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Post by tapsgator on Jan 3, 2023 11:32:36 GMT -5
With the roster we have right now and what we saw from a coaching approach I am expecting anywhere from 3 to 5 wins.
There's definitely still time on both accounts but especially the roster. I'm discouraged by the lack of action so far, but it's early. Hopefully we're making a big push behind the scenes and maybe White and/or Tarquin come back? I dunno, I'm ready to hear some decent news and stop grasping at straws.
On coaching I have some hope for the guys on the offensive side of the ball and general game management. We saw some flashes of decent adjustments, and hopefully the lack of running was on Richardson and/or lack of depth, but again you gotta fix depth by bringing in talent not going the other direction. At least there's something to grab onto on that side of the ball. On Defense I don't know, I just don't know. I have a really hard time believing in Toney and the fact that Napier seems inclined to keep putting lipstick on that particular pig is the majority of my misgivings about his ability to make a leap.
I guess we'll see. Go Gators.
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Post by gatorgibson on Jan 3, 2023 12:13:04 GMT -5
With the roster we have right now and what we saw from a coaching approach I am expecting anywhere from 3 to 5 wins.
If this is the case he should be fired before the season ends!
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Post by g8rfan on Jan 3, 2023 16:52:09 GMT -5
Without sounding like I’m from the Department of Redundancy Department, my expectations are low. I’m aiming low and hoping everything comes together.
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Post by Mojave Gator on Jan 3, 2023 17:21:27 GMT -5
Without having any idea about the quarterback situation and what we will have in the receiver room, it's impossible for me to project. After sitting through the Oregon State game, my expectations are so low that I am having second thoughts about spending the money to go to Salt Lake City on September 2.
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Post by wahhappen on Jan 3, 2023 20:59:46 GMT -5
I find it odd that expectations are lower going into year 2 vs. year 1.
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Post by gatorgibson on Jan 4, 2023 6:24:54 GMT -5
I find it odd that expectations are lower going into year 2 vs. year 1. Shouldn't be. I understand why some say that but if it's the same or worse Napier should be fired sooner than later. |
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Post by g8rfan on Jan 4, 2023 7:29:08 GMT -5
I find it odd that expectations are lower going into year 2 vs. year 1. For one we came into the season knowing we had a freakishly athletic QB even if the HC and staff were new. After watching the team basically go backward all season and losing said QB I see nothing in the cards to make me think there will be any improvement this season. I hope I'm wromg but i just don't see it. |
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Post by tapsgator on Jan 4, 2023 12:39:10 GMT -5
I find it odd that expectations are lower going into year 2 vs. year 1. It is odd, and I'll go one further, it's a loser(s) mentality. I really hate saying this but Spurrier's "entitled fanbase" comment on his way out the door may have done more long term damage than any of the buffoons who followed him. I feel like he knows it too, and if you watch any interview he's given in then not too distant past (basically since he didn't have to recruit against us at SC) he goes out of his way to talk about the built in advantages and standard at Florida, be that in recruiting, developing, or coaching. Maybe it's wishful thinking born from my idolatry of the guy, but I'm 99% sure if he could go back in time he'd take that back, and he doesn't strike me as a guy prone to regret. That's provided the cop out for Foley and his minions ever since. Entitled fans didn't make Muschamp a bad hire and worse extension, they didn't make McGoober a reach because Foley was afraid people would say no, they didn't turn Mullen into a douchebag with his eye on a better job regardless of his lack of merit, and it's not entitled to expect major improvement and overhauls after a losing season where we've lost 40 kids between the portal and draft and Napier earned a D+ which may be too high. But, if Stricklin can keep his job as he runs the money sports into the ground and keeps getting caught up in scandals on the women's side, I feel like it becomes monkey see-monkey do. Shouldn't be. I understand why some say that but if it's the same or worse Napier should be fired sooner than later. I agree for the most part, the one thing I will say is that Napier is more of an unwritten book because it's really his first go round and he's young. So, if there are signs of progress that don't translate on his record I wouldn't have a problem with giving him a year 3 if he's shown some significant signs of life. I'm talking top 5 recruiting class and Rashada starts the last half of 23 and shows a high ceiling. Also, if the offense struggles he fires himself as OC and play caller and hires someone experienced (Lincoln Riley's little brother would be nice), and if the Defense struggles he goes out and pays for a proven commodity on the recruiting trail (Charlie Strong or Trob type). I'm assuming that as a Ragin Cajun you can have a big support staff, be a solid coach and recruiter, and just roll the ball out and dominate. Everybody has process/vision in big time college football, the question is can you execute it. It's the Tyson quote "everybody's got a plan until they get punched in the mouth." Losing to all 4 rivals, getting boat raced in the bowl, falling out of the top 10 in recruiting, losing the 2nd most players to the transfer portal of any team in the country behind only Dimbo and everybody who could turn pro did (waiting on Pearsall), that's not just taking a right cross, that's damn near getting curb stomped. Let's see if he can get up. I find it odd that expectations are lower going into year 2 vs. year 1. For one we came into the season knowing we had a freakishly athletic QB even if the HC and staff were new. After watching the team basically go backward all season and losing said QB I see nothing in the cards to make me think there will be any improvement this season. I hope I'm wromg but i just don't see it. That's right where I'm at, my main issue is that Richardson was more physically gifted than I could have imagined and didn't really develop nor did the offensive approach adapt to his strengths and weaknesses. Then we saw what happened when he wasn't back there which makes it fair to wonder if the only thing that gave us those flashes was Richardson being a freak. I just watched Stetson Bennett for the 4th time this year. I've seen at least 15 mediocre to poor throws result in positive plays based on the talent around him and the game plan scheming guys wide open. I can't think of one big time play this year that didn't rely on freakish athleticism by Richardson or one of the running backs. Closer to home, how many times did Trask throw balls up for grabs (and sometimes badly) that Toney grabbed in space with nobody around him or Pitts took away from 2-3 defenders? Apparently a lot because most mock drafts have Tampa Bay drafting a QB this year. Those plays all left with Brian Johnson. There's not one time this year that I thought Richardson got bailed out by a receiver or play call/gameplan. That's gotta change. Because there's no Anthony Richardson in the portal and we just lost 80% of our starting line plus the top backup. And this Defense was historically inept with 6 guys (2 at each level) expected to go in the top 4 rounds, so he better get to work. |
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Post by Mojave Gator on Jan 4, 2023 15:11:14 GMT -5
I find it odd that expectations are lower going into year 2 vs. year 1. It has more to do with the roster than my faith in Napier. A lot of guys left, and word was that they didn't like the level of discipline that they were subjected to after Mullen's "anything goes" attitude. Of course, that got Mullen fired and left us below .500. There are more holes in the roster now than there were when Napier arrived. In a sense, it's like starting over in year two. It didn't help that Jalen Kitna got kicked off the team after AR opted out, leaving us with no one who had taken a snap in a live game to play QB. We weren't left with a lot in the receiver room either. The defense is a total rebuild. |
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Post by wahhappen on Jan 5, 2023 15:46:27 GMT -5
Yeah, I get it. I also have a difficult time predicting more than a handful of wins. I think the reason it is an odd situation is because we are essentially admitting (or at least are hoping) that Napier has inherited the worst Gators team since Charley Pell. If Meyer, Muschamp, McElwain, or Mullen had gone 6-6 in year 1, then 5-7 in year 2 would be seen as a huge disappointment.
I think Napier has a great task ahead of him. I hope he surprises us in 2023 because the truth is we really don't know yet if he can coach or recruit in this conference. I have low expectations for our final record next season, but I have extremely high expectations for growth of the team. 2022 was a mess. He now has had a year to figure some things out, get rid of the fat (minus Watson), and determine what is needed to fill in the gaps for the future. I am not saying he should be fired for going 5-7 or even 3-10, but we better look a hell of a lot better in week 15 than in week 1. At a bare minimum we should look like we know what we're doing even if we are doing it poorly.
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Post by SoTxCaiman on Jan 5, 2023 16:39:04 GMT -5
The thought that I am constantly wresting with when reviewing the past season results and now seeing how many afraid of work/accountability rats we have jumping ship is, how much of our second half record was due to the ship jumpers just not giving 100%? First half of the season looked fairly good for a first year coach and staff and then.... At what point did the 30 something guys that bailed to the portal say, if only to themselves, you know what I'm not going to be here next year, why am I going to bust it in the weight room, in film study, in worrying about Gator success?
Let's go into next year and let the best 22 we have regardless of class or age go at it and learn as we go. We are going to be out gunned next year in almost every SEC matchup, but that's the hand we have been dealt lets roll with it and have fun. Run the whole offense, play balls to the wall aggressive defense and at the end of every week we can look back and learn, but we need to start building something that other kids want to be a part of. Something that we can sell kids on joining and convince them they can be the difference makers that can put us over the top. We should hope to finish next year 6-6 with losses early and wins late and come away with a roster full of kids that are proud as hell about the 6 wins and chomping at the bit to get back and work on fixing the 6 loses. That and a top 10 recruiting class next year and we may be on to something. If we have another 25+ guys in the portal next year I may just go back to Friday night football.
Go Gators!
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Post by Rock Gator on Jan 9, 2023 12:19:34 GMT -5
I have high hopes for a trifecta - third straight 6-7 season which includes a bowl loss. Honestly, I don't want to see the team play a bowl if we're just in it to get blown out every year. It needs to mean something.
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Post by Mojave Gator on Jan 9, 2023 21:29:46 GMT -5
At least the Gators won't be coming here. The Las Vegas Bowl pairs a Pac-12 team against an SEC or Big Ten opponent in alternating years. A Big Ten team will be here in 2023.
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Post by bimigator on Jan 14, 2023 18:09:03 GMT -5
They came out and beat Utah, the eventual Pac-12 champs, and that doesn't happen by accident. There's powder in the keg — can Napier get it lit? I think his track record says he can IF he can get the right players to Florida, though the Rashada situation makes us look pretty inept.
Hoping for the best.
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Post by gatordoll on Jan 15, 2023 18:52:03 GMT -5
It kinda shows how inferior the PAC 12 is in a way, ya think?
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Post by Mojave Gator on Jan 15, 2023 20:32:02 GMT -5
I sat through a 30-3 loss to a Pac-12 team.
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Post by gatordoll on Jan 15, 2023 21:28:35 GMT -5
Good point. Sorry you had to endure that.
What I will remember most about 2022 is Vandy beat us.
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Post by tapsgator on Jan 18, 2023 12:01:03 GMT -5
Since the early window for the transfer portal closes today it's not a bad time to evaluate. It's not good. Without Rashada our class is devoid of a 5 star in any service and is likely to fall out of the top 15. We've lost the 2nd most guys to the portal in the country behind Texas A&M. Couple decent pulls out of the portal but lost way more than we gained. As of right now our QB room is awful. We're probably losing 5-6 guys that will be drafted from a Defense that was historically bad.
Barring a major change when the portal opens in May we are going to be significantly less talented than the last two rosters that went 6-7. Our highest projected pick at this point is Jason Marshall who is projected as a 4th rounder. We'll have 4-7 guys go in the top 4 rounds this year. I'm not being chicken little and there's still time but the clock is ticking and we're a long way from defusing this bomb.
I don't know how you win playing guys who won't play in the NFL against guys that will. Especially up front. Ask TCU, and they had a great game coach, a Heisman finalist, and one of the top WRs in the nation. They looked like a JV team against the big boys. I don't see Napier being the one who bucks that trend even for a stretch. Especially not with Graham Mertz or Jack Miller pulling the trigger.
Here's the damage:
Jason Marshall 101 CB | Projection: 4th Round
Jeremiah Williams 123 EDGE | Projection: 4th Round
Donovan McMillon S | Projection: 5th Round
214
Tyreak Sapp DL | Projection: 7th Round
256
Montrell JohnsonRB | Projection: UDFA
287
Kamryn WaitesOT | Projection: UDFA
349
Graham MertzQB | Projection: UDFA
358
Teradja MitchellLB | Projection: UDFA
448
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Post by tapsgator on Jan 18, 2023 13:08:54 GMT -5
forgot McMillan is gone. 3 guys total projected to get drafted. In the portal era. That's bad.
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