Darnell Stapleton leaving Florida

[SoTxCaiman]

Another one bites the dust.......

link

[g8rfan]

That’s HALF of our offensive line coaching staff!! Might be for the best since our O line was arguably the hottest mess going last season.

[tapsgator]

Feb 15, 2024 11:59:35 GMT -5 g8rfan said:

That’s HALF of our offensive line coaching staff!! Might be for the best since our O line was arguably the hottest mess going last season.

It's the wrong half unfortunately, and he got hired by a much better coach at a lower position. He basically took a demotion to get away from Cajun Willie. They've all sucked, but our interior line (Stapleton) has been well ahead of our tackles (Sale). Torrence (who Stapleton coached at Louisiana where the 2 man approach actually worked so I'm guessing Stapleton brought him) was a second round pick and first team all-rookie in the NFL. Get ready for him to sign a huge contract when he comes off his rookie deal Trent Brown style, if he keeps his weight down (he's done much better since getting to a real s&c coach) he'll be a perennial Pro Bowl guy, possibly first team All-pro once Nelson retires. Eguakan is projected 3rd day pick or UDFA with a pretty good shot at getting drafted. Jake Slaughter was our top rated lineman by a good bit and he plays inside.

Compare that to Sale, who held the OC title the past 2 years and was in charge of our tackle group. He brought in Waites who hasn't been able to crack a terrible tackle rotation and may need to move inside. Both of the 2022 starting tackles transferred out after 1 year and were replaced by incoming transfers who were abject failures. He's Napier's guy. Nobody is going to hire him away because he's sucked really badly since he got to UF. He's from Louisiana and played at LSU though so we have to keep him. Especially as well as he's recruited and worked the transfer portal. It's a deal man.

Anyways, glass is half full: it's hilarious that we lost the one guy remaining on staff who has accomplished at least 2-300% of what the other coach at his position to Dan Quinn and a demotion. It's even funnier that we're going to probably take the OC tag off Sale and give it to Russ Callaway who in 2022 was hired as a DEFENSIVE INTERN. The most hilarious thing will be when we get the high school offensive coach at Lake Ponchatrain high school to come in and coach interior line as an on-field coach and leave our special teams department and offensive staff with the same structure that has created magic against Arkansas and LSU in losses and real teams in garbage time. Oh yeah and it will take at least a month to name a replacement unless the old S&C guy has always wanted to get into Offensive Line coaching since Cajun Willie and he like to talk about their hopes and dreams.

Can't make this shit up.

[tapsgator]

Actually I bet Cajun Willie and Starkville Scotty saw this one coming in their maniacal preparation meetings on Sunday nights when they watch True Detective together in their PJs. Then they hatched this brilliant plan to renew his contract and announce he'd be back a week ago to create a market for the next guy to come in. Smart. Real real smart.

[wahhappen]

I tried to Google why an offensive coordinator of 4 years would take a job as a defensive intern, but came up empty. I did, however, come across the Wikipedia definition of defensive coordinator:

"A defensive coordinator is a coach responsible for a gridiron football (American football) team's defense. Generally, the defensive coordinator, the offensive coordinator and the special teams coordinator represent the second level of a team's coaching structure, with the head coach being the first level. The primary role of the defensive coordinator is managing the roster of defensive players, overseeing the assistant coaches, developing the defensive game plan, and calling plays for the defense during the game. The defensive coordinator typically manages multiple position coaches, each of whom are responsible for various defensive positions on the team (such as the defensive line, linebackers, or defensive backs).

While the job of defensive coordinator is largely similar at the collegiate and professional level, college coaches are more involved in the recruitment process. A successful defensive coordinator is often a stepping stone to the position of head coach."

I assume there were no contributors from the Sunbelt, as there is no mention of executive head coach, head coach of the defense, or any other stepping stones in between DC and Head Corch.

Anyway, I cannot WAIT to hear who will replace Stapleton on our gameday staff. I assume it will be another 4-6 weeks to find out, so there will likely be another position to fill at that point.

[tapsgator]

I consider the process just built to build drama. Kind of like the S&C hire. I love the line of thinking that Napier will go get an offensive coordinator now. All the very best OCs not only are available in mid-February, but chomping at the bit to come in for a guy who refuses to hand off play calling.

[tapsgator]

Russ Callaway, savior of programs and hot-seat (totally made up word) coaches.

[wahhappen]

Feb 16, 2024 11:06:58 GMT -5 tapsgator said:

I consider the process just built to build drama. Kind of like the S&C hire. I love the line of thinking that Napier will go get an offensive coordinator now. All the very best OCs not only are available in mid-February, but chomping at the bit to come in for a guy who refuses to hand off play calling.

Now that the SuperBowl is over, we can finally fully evaluate the available options. Fortunately the University of Florida is in the unique position of being in close proximity to Disney World, where the Chiefs will go to celebrate. Unless they go to Disneyland instead.