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Florida vs Texas A&M Napiers' dilemma
Posted on 9/9/24 at 7:32 am
Posted on 9/9/24 at 7:32 am
Thoughts?
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Posted on 9/9/24 at 7:40 am to UFMatt
Napiers only out, is that Mertz isn't ready to play due to concussion.
If Mertz is cleared to play, Napier has a decision to make that will impact his immediate future at UF.
If he starts Mertz and it doesn't go well, he is toast.
If he starts Lagway and it doesn't go well, he is still toast.
I am old school, if Mertz is able to play, he should in most conditions not lose his job due to an injury ............................but Napier knows his job is on the line. Does this affect his decision? Does he turn his back on a returning starter and throw a true freshman in against a top 25 team?
His best scenario would be that Mertz isn't cleared to play and based on how Lagway plays on Saturday, he would have a clearer path going forward against MSU.
If Mertz is cleared to play, Napier has a decision to make that will impact his immediate future at UF.
If he starts Mertz and it doesn't go well, he is toast.
If he starts Lagway and it doesn't go well, he is still toast.
I am old school, if Mertz is able to play, he should in most conditions not lose his job due to an injury ............................but Napier knows his job is on the line. Does this affect his decision? Does he turn his back on a returning starter and throw a true freshman in against a top 25 team?
His best scenario would be that Mertz isn't cleared to play and based on how Lagway plays on Saturday, he would have a clearer path going forward against MSU.
This post was edited on 9/9/24 at 7:41 am
Posted on 9/9/24 at 8:55 am to UFMatt
Easy call if you are not hard headed imo. Start Lagway and if he is getting killed you can go back to Mertz. This isn't a situation like some where you have been winning with the starting QB as Mertz has a losing record as the starting QB and is very limited compared to Lagway on making the deeper throws and in running ability etc. It is true Napier could possibly survive with Lagway showing promise while he is a dead man walking if Mertz starts the rest of the season I would think. An A&M loss with Mertz starting and Napier might not make it even to the GA game.
This post was edited on 9/9/24 at 9:01 am
Posted on 9/9/24 at 9:13 am to Gator Fever
we all know Napier is going to trot out Mertz for 3 qtrs and only wait until aTm is up 38-3 to put in Lagway.
Posted on 9/9/24 at 9:18 am to finchmeister08
I am scared if things go bad Napier will wait until we are down double digits to make a change giving Lagway the worst possible circumstances.
Posted on 9/9/24 at 10:32 am to Gator Fever
quote:
Easy call if you are not hard headed imo. Start Lagway and if he is getting killed you can go back to Mertz.
This will get him fired as fast as starting Mertz and pulling him when he gets killed and, possibly lose the team because he benched Mertz after an injury.
You don't usually bench your starting QB after 1 half of 1 game and after an injury. That would show that you started the wrong QB from the start after a spring and summer and fall of practice to make that decision.
Posted on 9/9/24 at 10:48 am to UFMatt
If a player is better and gives you a better chance to win he should be starting. Thinking Mertz should start imo is the same type of thinking that only allowed Trask to take over the starting job from a very limited Franks because of a bad injury.
Posted on 9/9/24 at 11:15 am to Gator Fever
quote:
If a player is better and gives you a better chance to win he should be starting
Believe me, it ain't that easy. You have to eat a lot of crow to admit that the QB you have named your starter since spring isn't the QB that gives you the better chance of winning, one game into the season.
How will Mertz react? How will the rest of the team react?
What does that say about your player evaluation for the last 9 months?
Posted on 9/9/24 at 1:27 pm to UFMatt
This is a no brainer. Not every elite recruit’s talent translates to gameday (see DJ Uglielilouielgileliou).
He’s dynamic, incredibly polished and he exceeded what any of us expected to see in his first start. He’s also a leader and excites the team and fans. We all knew this season was a bust anyway. By letting him start he will attract other recruits including o line.
Start him this year and we will be a Top 10 team next year.
He’s dynamic, incredibly polished and he exceeded what any of us expected to see in his first start. He’s also a leader and excites the team and fans. We all knew this season was a bust anyway. By letting him start he will attract other recruits including o line.
Start him this year and we will be a Top 10 team next year.
Posted on 9/9/24 at 1:32 pm to UFMatt
Lol at how Mertz will react. The guy is getting 100s of thousands for losing more than he wins here. Napier would take no extra heat for starting Lagway over Mertz. Might even buy him an extra loss.
Posted on 9/9/24 at 1:54 pm to Gator Fever
quote:This all day long. We already can see it coming.
I am scared if things go bad Napier will wait until we are down double digits to make a change giving Lagway the worst possible circumstances.
He is probably looking at playbook knowledge alone and will lean towards Mertz given that criteria.
Realistically, he should have an EXTREMELY short leash on Mertz. But I'm not a HC. They gotta pound their head against the wall at least ten times before they see its not working.
My prediction:
TAMU scores early, UF sputters on its first few drives
TAMU scores again, Mertz goes out and gets sacked. Fans boo.
TAMU scores again. Defense wearing out
Next series, Lagway comes in with 1:48 left in the 2nd. No time for a significant drive.
SECOND HALF:
Lagway plays but is in a big hole and TAMU defense tee off on him with the blitz.
Lagway eventually fumbles on a sack, and Billy puts Mertz in again and we go out with a whimper.
Aggies - 47
Gators - 24
Posted on 9/9/24 at 2:08 pm to TDFreak
quote:
TDFreak
the only thing you left off is Lagway decides to transfer.
Posted on 9/9/24 at 3:26 pm to UFMatt
quote:Napier is an idiot and needs to be relieved of his duties immediately
Thoughts?
Posted on 9/10/24 at 5:24 am to UFMatt
Only thing I know for sure is Napier is going to somehow F this up. Like another poster mentioned, he will probably start mertz, offense will suck, gators will be down big. He’ll put in lagway, lagway will force a bad throw due to pressure of being down, get intercepted, he will bring back mertz. Gators lose. Both QBs, team, and fan base demoralized.
If he brings lagway into our first series, then I’ll feel more hopeful, but will be hard when we likely go 3 and out with mertz.
If he brings lagway into our first series, then I’ll feel more hopeful, but will be hard when we likely go 3 and out with mertz.
Posted on 9/10/24 at 5:32 am to gatorsimz
Good assessment, I feel we will somehow jump out to a 7-0 lead, then Napier will retreat into his turtle shell trying to protect the lead and go hyper conservative leaving in Mertz all game, only to lose 10-7.
Posted on 9/10/24 at 6:23 am to TDFreak
If that happened, Napier would get fired on Sunday. And I think your prediction is pretty accurate.
I’m only on one pay site (On3), and they are hinting at boosters having a very short leash with Napier. Is anyone else seeing/hearing anything similar?
I’m only on one pay site (On3), and they are hinting at boosters having a very short leash with Napier. Is anyone else seeing/hearing anything similar?
Posted on 9/10/24 at 7:07 am to bengalbait
quote:
the only thing you left off is Lagway decides to transfer.
Lagway would fit well in an Urban Meyer offense, just sayin'
Posted on 9/10/24 at 7:59 am to generalgator87
quote:On 247 several posters intimated similar notions.
I’m only on one pay site (On3), and they are hinting at boosters having a very short leash with Napier. Is anyone else seeing/hearing anything similar?
And on a small Gator site that I frequent, they're saying the same.
Some have suggested Napier is already done, it's just a matter of when instead of if.
That Miami game will leave a nasty stain in the mouth, it's sort of like the South Carolina game in 2021 for Mullen. No real coming back from that one.
Posted on 9/10/24 at 12:47 pm to Partha
I agree that Mertz will start, suck, and Lagway will be brought in a no-win situation.
I don't understand the "you don't lose your job due to injury" argument. This isn't that at all. This is Mertz started all of last year, started game 1 this year, didn't perform well, and unfortunately got injured. Lagway got his chance to lead the team, and did phenomenally. Mertz has had his shots to show he can lead this team to something more than mediocrity and hasn't done so.
If I'm in charge, Lagway is in until I have lost all faith that he's not going to perform well. I'm not talking an interception or two, I'm talking total collapse of all the positives we've seen from him.
I don't understand the "you don't lose your job due to injury" argument. This isn't that at all. This is Mertz started all of last year, started game 1 this year, didn't perform well, and unfortunately got injured. Lagway got his chance to lead the team, and did phenomenally. Mertz has had his shots to show he can lead this team to something more than mediocrity and hasn't done so.
If I'm in charge, Lagway is in until I have lost all faith that he's not going to perform well. I'm not talking an interception or two, I'm talking total collapse of all the positives we've seen from him.
Posted on 9/11/24 at 8:42 am to TomSpanks
My opionion, Lagway is a generational player. He has 5 star talent and has been a huge ambassador for UF football. He has the intangibles to raise the team around him not seen since Tebow. If that is left to wilt on the bench and he leaves we've all lost a hell of a lot more.
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