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Position Group Breakdowns
Posted on 6/7/24 at 8:16 am
Posted on 6/7/24 at 8:16 am
The upcoming season is a weird one for me. Typically my heart/emotional side is much more positive than my head/logical side about our chances for an upcoming season. This year it is flipped for me. My head is telling me we are going to be better than anticipated, while my emotional side is telling me Napier & Co. will find a way to screw it up.
The main reason I think we will be better is just looking at the talent and depth at various position groups. Overall, I think this is by far the best roster Napier has had at UF. This is especially true on defense, which was by far our weakest link this year (and for several years before that). We had a lot of young talent getting important reps last year and combined it with some transfers that filled obvious holes. Here is how I see it:
Defense -
DL - Significantly improved. We had some talent last year, but very little depth which really hurt us as games/the season went along. I think guys like Cam Jackson and Caleb banks will be much better playing 20-30% less snaps. Having guys like Jamari Lyons, Kelby Collins and Joey Slackman being in the rotation should help both the starters and backups stay fresh. All 5 are capable SEC players. Desmond Watson should be strictly a situational player now, instead of a guy getting significant reps, which shows the depth and talent has improved greatly.
Edge - improved. Losing Princely was obviously big from a perception standpoint, but I think getting back Justus Boone negates that from a performance standpoint. TJ Searcy is extremely talented, and we have guys like Tyreek Sapp, LJ McCray and George Gumbs who will be fighting for playing time as well.
ILB - Greatly Improved. One of our worst position groups on the team last year. Shemar is a year older and has shown he has all SEC talent. Pup Howard adds a ton of talent here. Wingo and Moten are decent/good backups and we have Graham and Chiles who could press for playing time their freshmen years, although hopefully they won't be counted on for significant minutes.
Star - same/slightly worse. Jaydon Hill might have been the biggest loss from an impact standpoint. It looks like Shariff Denson and Aaron Gates will be getting the majority of snaps here. Both are talented but young.
Cornerback - Improved. Looks like Marshall and Moore will start this year, with a talented group of sophomores backing them up in Jakeem Jackson and Dijon Johnson. Everyone is a year older and new coaching could help this group improve. Also, addition by subtraction by losing Jalen Kimber.
Safety - Greatly Improved. Another one of our worst position groups last year as we were starting 2 freshmen at a position where experience and leadership is paramount. Asa Turner might be the transfer that has the biggest impact on our team, coming from Washington and having playoff experience. Jordan Castell showed he was extremely talented although he made several freshman mistakes. Bryce Thorton in his sophomore year won't be asked to play as many snaps as he did in his freshman season. The transfers of Douglas and Bridges as veterans help bolster depth at one of our thinnest position groups from last year.
(Offense continued in next post)
The main reason I think we will be better is just looking at the talent and depth at various position groups. Overall, I think this is by far the best roster Napier has had at UF. This is especially true on defense, which was by far our weakest link this year (and for several years before that). We had a lot of young talent getting important reps last year and combined it with some transfers that filled obvious holes. Here is how I see it:
Defense -
DL - Significantly improved. We had some talent last year, but very little depth which really hurt us as games/the season went along. I think guys like Cam Jackson and Caleb banks will be much better playing 20-30% less snaps. Having guys like Jamari Lyons, Kelby Collins and Joey Slackman being in the rotation should help both the starters and backups stay fresh. All 5 are capable SEC players. Desmond Watson should be strictly a situational player now, instead of a guy getting significant reps, which shows the depth and talent has improved greatly.
Edge - improved. Losing Princely was obviously big from a perception standpoint, but I think getting back Justus Boone negates that from a performance standpoint. TJ Searcy is extremely talented, and we have guys like Tyreek Sapp, LJ McCray and George Gumbs who will be fighting for playing time as well.
ILB - Greatly Improved. One of our worst position groups on the team last year. Shemar is a year older and has shown he has all SEC talent. Pup Howard adds a ton of talent here. Wingo and Moten are decent/good backups and we have Graham and Chiles who could press for playing time their freshmen years, although hopefully they won't be counted on for significant minutes.
Star - same/slightly worse. Jaydon Hill might have been the biggest loss from an impact standpoint. It looks like Shariff Denson and Aaron Gates will be getting the majority of snaps here. Both are talented but young.
Cornerback - Improved. Looks like Marshall and Moore will start this year, with a talented group of sophomores backing them up in Jakeem Jackson and Dijon Johnson. Everyone is a year older and new coaching could help this group improve. Also, addition by subtraction by losing Jalen Kimber.
Safety - Greatly Improved. Another one of our worst position groups last year as we were starting 2 freshmen at a position where experience and leadership is paramount. Asa Turner might be the transfer that has the biggest impact on our team, coming from Washington and having playoff experience. Jordan Castell showed he was extremely talented although he made several freshman mistakes. Bryce Thorton in his sophomore year won't be asked to play as many snaps as he did in his freshman season. The transfers of Douglas and Bridges as veterans help bolster depth at one of our thinnest position groups from last year.
(Offense continued in next post)
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Posted on 6/7/24 at 8:31 am to generalgator87
Offense -
QB - improved. Second year transfer QB's have made big jumps at programs all over the country. I can definitely see Mertz making a similar jump in the upcoming season. And even if he maintains from last year, his stats were very impressive with 20 TD's and 3 INT's. It will be very interesting to see if they have some packages for DJ Lagway in third and short or the redzone where his legs and RPO might be advantageous for us.
RB - same. This is most likely my most controversial take, but I just don't think losing Etienne hurts us that much. Montrell Johnson has shown he is an SEC talent. Webb showed flashes last year and should improve in his second year. Baugh and Daniels should see some snaps as freshmen and both are very talented.
WR - worse. Losing Ricky was huge. Eugene Wilson will do his best to replace that production, but he will need to stay healthy. Andy Jean and Aiden Mizell were big name recruits who we have to hope will push out guys like Burke, Fraziers and Jackson who honestly are not overly impressive to me. You have to hope our transfers Badger and Dike make an impact as well, especially Badger.
TE - improved. Hansen is a great blocking TE and Boardingham showed flashes last year in the passing game. Would not be shocked for Amir Jackson to get more playing time as a freshmen due to his athleticism.
OL - Improved. We weren't good last year at OL, and that is probably understating it. We did get a couple big transfers in Brandon Crenshaw Dickenson, Devon Manuel and Jason Zandamela. You have to hope Barber is healthy and a second year at LT gives him some confidence and he shows improvement. Moving Damion George inside should help as he looked fine in the run game but was a turnstile against the pass rush at tackle. Slaughter looked serviceable as a starter last year and should be improved at center. Hope to see some of the younger guys like Harris, Kearney and Lovett make jumps this year to provide us with some depth.
QB - improved. Second year transfer QB's have made big jumps at programs all over the country. I can definitely see Mertz making a similar jump in the upcoming season. And even if he maintains from last year, his stats were very impressive with 20 TD's and 3 INT's. It will be very interesting to see if they have some packages for DJ Lagway in third and short or the redzone where his legs and RPO might be advantageous for us.
RB - same. This is most likely my most controversial take, but I just don't think losing Etienne hurts us that much. Montrell Johnson has shown he is an SEC talent. Webb showed flashes last year and should improve in his second year. Baugh and Daniels should see some snaps as freshmen and both are very talented.
WR - worse. Losing Ricky was huge. Eugene Wilson will do his best to replace that production, but he will need to stay healthy. Andy Jean and Aiden Mizell were big name recruits who we have to hope will push out guys like Burke, Fraziers and Jackson who honestly are not overly impressive to me. You have to hope our transfers Badger and Dike make an impact as well, especially Badger.
TE - improved. Hansen is a great blocking TE and Boardingham showed flashes last year in the passing game. Would not be shocked for Amir Jackson to get more playing time as a freshmen due to his athleticism.
OL - Improved. We weren't good last year at OL, and that is probably understating it. We did get a couple big transfers in Brandon Crenshaw Dickenson, Devon Manuel and Jason Zandamela. You have to hope Barber is healthy and a second year at LT gives him some confidence and he shows improvement. Moving Damion George inside should help as he looked fine in the run game but was a turnstile against the pass rush at tackle. Slaughter looked serviceable as a starter last year and should be improved at center. Hope to see some of the younger guys like Harris, Kearney and Lovett make jumps this year to provide us with some depth.
Posted on 6/14/24 at 11:18 am to generalgator87
Problem with Mertz is his good stats came from throwing short of the first down marker instead of risking other passes to actually move the sticks. Never saw another QB here play like that that I remember.
This post was edited on 6/14/24 at 4:24 pm
Posted on 6/14/24 at 11:54 am to Gator Fever
Reminded me of Wayne Peace. High percentage passer at UF, threw a ton of short passes.
Can't blame Mertz for throwing short passes, didn't have time to throw long due to poor O line and ETN pass blocking.
This has to be the biggest improvement area if the Gators are to be successful.
Can't blame Mertz for throwing short passes, didn't have time to throw long due to poor O line and ETN pass blocking.
This has to be the biggest improvement area if the Gators are to be successful.
Posted on 6/14/24 at 11:55 am to generalgator87
Now do play calling and special teams. 
Posted on 6/14/24 at 12:40 pm to UFMatt
Play calling and game management are the things I want to see a HUGE improvement on this year.
Posted on 6/14/24 at 1:19 pm to UFMatt
Not at all imo. Peace went for the first down on 3rd down usually from what I remember. Mertz played like the primary goal was not to throw an incomplete pass.
This post was edited on 6/14/24 at 1:23 pm
Posted on 6/14/24 at 2:29 pm to Gator Fever
quote:
Mertz played like the primary goal was not to throw an incomplete pass
That was my goal on every pass I ever threw.
Posted on 6/14/24 at 4:25 pm to UFMatt
lol. Well it's easy with wide open guys in no position to make a first down on 3rd downs.
Posted on 6/17/24 at 1:59 pm to TomSpanks
Game management is the #1 area I am pessimistic on. We couldn't even get 11 men on the field for special teams during the spring game.
At least we should have a better roster, which will hopefully hide some of those deficiencies.
At least we should have a better roster, which will hopefully hide some of those deficiencies.
Posted on 6/17/24 at 2:05 pm to generalgator87
I think one problem is many of our opponents improved their roster also or filled holes pretty good at least.
Posted on 6/18/24 at 9:17 am to Gator Fever
This is one thing I am not certain on. We play 2 first year head coaches in Elko and Lebby, and both had significant teams amounts of roster turnover. LSU and FSU had a bunch of talent leave for the draft. Ole Miss is the only team on our schedule that I thought really improved their roster for next year in a big way. Miami could be argued as well.
Honestly, only Texas and UGA are the only two schools I think will have significantly better talent on their roster than us.
From a talent standpoint, we should be as good or better than most teams we play. Unfortunately, we could have said the same thing the last two years with Napier as head coach.
Honestly, only Texas and UGA are the only two schools I think will have significantly better talent on their roster than us.
From a talent standpoint, we should be as good or better than most teams we play. Unfortunately, we could have said the same thing the last two years with Napier as head coach.
Posted on 6/18/24 at 5:49 pm to generalgator87
I agree TX and GA are the only games we are really outgunned. FSU and Miami used the portal pretty good though not to even mention Ole Miss.
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