re: 2023 Football Discussion Thread General Thoughts & Comments

Excuses. Mertz is what he was at WI and hasnt improved this Spring and Miller is just not good at all under pressure as he has shown in all 3 game situations since he has been here. Napier owns this situation as he was the one that didnt stand up for his lone blue chip QB recruit when he was dropped for nonsense and he is the one that brought Miller and Mertz here. We are definitely more talented than KY but there is a good chance they beat us again because they used some sense and got Leary from the portal. Napier has 2 weeks to correct this situation by finding a "proven" QB that is decent (if any are avaible this short window)or we will have another poor season under him. Heck Kiffin got Sanders to come there even though he has the likely starting QB already playing there.

Tell me about it when we go a clearly improving 8-4 or better with these QBs.

Florida planning to add at safety, several other positions via transfer portal
JACOB RUDNER 6 minutes ago

quote:

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While their overall season grades were those of average FBS players or better, according to Pro Football Focus, Florida's starting safeties left much to be desired throughout the 2022 season.

Frequent coverage errors, particularly on third downs, allowed opponents to regularly achieve gainful plays in scenarios that were more than likely preventable had things like pre-snap alignments, coverage assignments and even tackling been executed properly.

For example, former starting safety Trey Dean was responsible for giving up several massive plays in pass coverage, though none more glaring that a coverage bust against Tennessee that produced a 70-yard completion on Sept. 24. Dean was also partially responsible for at least one more big play on his side of the field in that contest alone, which was unlikely to have occurred had he and freshman cornerback Devin Moore been working in lockstep from the outset of the sequence.

With Florida fans itching to see vast improvements in their team's defensive backfield after an underwhelming year, the team made several changes it hopes can enable that. Following the departure of former defensive coordinator Patrick Toney, Florida promoted widely-respected defensive backs coach Corey Raymond from cornerbacks coach to secondary coach and brought in a handful of true freshman expected to contribute immediately at the position such as Jordan Castell and Bryce Thornton, who join returning sophomores Kamari Wilson and Miguel Mitchell.

But with nearly 1,500 reps to replace following the departures of Dean and Rashad Torrence, it seems as though the unit will need further reinforcements.

“That’s one of areas on our team where young players are going to have to play, there’s no question," head coach Billy Napier said. "The Jordan Castell project, the Bryce Thornton project and certainly Kamari and Miguel both being young players who had some experience playing last year but not necessarily returning starters. That room is a room where we’re doing a lot of work."

Whether or not the Gators can secure a contributor at the position could go a long way in determining the team's overall success.

"That’s a room where we can add a player," Napier said.

From a scholarship numbers standpoint, Florida's safety room is in a reasonably-acceptable position.

Including the STAR position, the Gators are currently carrying 10 players who practice with the safeties: returners Jadarrius Perkins, Miguel Mitchell, Dakota Mitchell, Wilson, and Jaydon Hill, newcomers Aaron Gates, Thornton, Castell, and Sharif Denson and wide-receiver-turned-defensive-back Ja'Markis Weston.

But there is a noticeable lack of experience within the unit that could easily be to Florida's detriment.

Over the course of the 2022 season, the aforementioned individuals played a combined 1,056 snaps, which is nearly 500 fewer than the unit's former starters played combined.

And while Napier expressed confidence in the unit and its members, he hardly sugar-coated the fact that many of its members would be learning on the fly.

"It’s a room that we need to continue to develop depth if that makes sense and, ultimately, it’s going to be a big part of how good we can be on defense is how good that can be," he said. "That’ll be one of the areas of our team where we will be inexperienced and we will be playing young players.”

Raymond has also expressed confidence.

"Oh, they're gonna be real good," he said of the team's safeties on March 21. "They're real, real athletic. They're going to be some really good players."

But are the unit's youngsters ready to go?

“They’re all working hard," Raymond said. "It’s so hard to tell right now. We’ll know coming out of spring and probably by the first game what’s going on.”

Safety isn't the only position Florida will look to bolster via the transfer portal in the spring window, which commences on April 15.

Several sources familiar with the matter have informed Swamp247 that the team is also in the market for at least one more offensive lineman, particularly someone who can play inside, as well as help at wide receiver, edge rusher, tight end and possibly running back and quarterback.

"We're under 85 scholarships, so we have -- we're going to have opportunities to potentially add players to our team, but those will be much like they've been in the past," Napier said. "They're a case-by-case basis."

The second-year Florida coach is hoping to repeat the success he and his staff had in the portal last year when they landed All-American offensive lineman O'Cyrus Torrence, starting wideout Ricky Peasall and Miller, who was one of eight players on the team recognized as most improved in the spring and will continue to compete for the Gators' starting quarterback job over the summer and into the fall.

"It's been good to us so far," Napier said. "I think our guys have done a really good job in the back room. The personnel department is doing a really good job, and the staff has been able to execute and go recruit, so we'll evaluate players. We find some that we like, we'll recruit them."

It's clear the Gators have work to do with their roster.

"Our roster is not complete," the head coach said, "and certainly we could add some players in the future."

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Maybe they like everyone else dont make their minds up over a glorified scrimmage

Wow

I think he is mad Princely is at Edge making him 2nd string also.

I like Searcy more at the 2 spot in the rotation anyways

Princely just tweeted the fight rumor is bs

Which tells me a youngun was taking his spot

michigan DB commits to us


RJ Moten

DraftKings must think we are worse than everyone but Vandy. I think Auburn and Missouri at least should be behind us also.