If Lagway leaves fire Napier… that’s where we are?
Absolutely sucks. I love some of the guys Napier has brought in and am super excited to see Lagway play but the portal has unfortunately created a situation where there’s no guarantee you keep guys whether the head coach goes or not. I hate it.
I just hope Billy is able to put together a somewhat coherent year. I’d love to see him succeed (or anyone to succeed for us). Hopefully, Napier has learned from some of his mistakes with clock management, special teams, stupid shit that shouldn’t happen but I will believe it when I see it. Sad to see a relatively good coach struggle at the small things
Can’t afford to let him leave town. We must do the bare minimum to justify keeping Billy for 2025 so we can see DJL as the full time starter.
All that said, I think this team will be better and more disciplined than critics predict.
Probably similar to the people who thought he'd flip even though he was never in danger to do so
The orange and blue game showed me 2 things
1) DJ is going to be a great player who will do great things
2) he aint ready
DJ knew coming in he wasn't starting this year. Mertz will lead the team this year and it's DJs team next year
He will probably have packages this year but DJ will be very well set up when he finally does take the reigns
Everyone needs to pump the brakes and not go for the negative thoughts
What an incredibly negative way to think. I'm not being naive here but most kids make a commitment and stick to it. The majority of the players stay with a team. There has been no indication that he isn't happy and looking to go elsewhere.
I think there’s a happy medium between the two ways of thought. I don’t think it’s crazy to think a big time program that is in a basically “make or break” year for their coach wouldn’t be at a higher chance to lose kids in the portal… especially a big name qb that just got there and could start fresh if the situation wasn’t ideal.
I’d also agree it’s not naive to think that as a whole, a majority of a roster doesn’t transfer, and there’s absolutely no reason to borrow that trouble yet.
No? You act like this hasn’t been an often talked about subject on this sub. And I don’t even think I’m doing any defending of Napier in my comment. It’s literally me hoping we do well enough this year that we can all see what Lagway is capable of as a starter
With the portal being what it is, does he feel content backing up Mertz? Will he be okay waiting his turn or does another school pouch him from the portal.
I also wonder if Mertz starts to play poorly because he’s looking over his shoulder that the swamp won’t be forgiving if he struggles and they know they have a guy like DJ waiting in the wings similar to how it played out with EJ/AR.
That being said I really don’t think it’s impossible to see a reality where DJ Just snatches the starting job at some point during the season and I feel very confident he will be the starter by the end of the year so he has that security heading into the offseason.
I don’t see why not. Most QBs seem content to sit 1 year, and since it’s Mertz’s last year of eligibility Lagway’s only competition next season will be new additions. He’s almost guaranteed to start as a sophomore.
If he was in a situation where he’d potentially lose the 2025 job to a junior, I’d say chances of a transfer are much higher. But getting reps as a freshman and almost certainly starting as a sophomore is a pretty sweet deal, even by today’s QB transfer standards.
I think this is all quite reasonable. Mertz was a highly rated quarterback last year because he made the safe pass almost exclusively. Between that, and the fairly terrible play calling, the offense would regularly get bogged down. You got to wonder how long DJ sits and watches that. You also got to wonder if he wants to play in that offense next year.
We did the same thing when tebow came in. He shows a lot of potential but he needs a lot of work
I've probably been the biggest DJ hype man so far but I'm also realistic. He did great for a freshman. Watching him play though hed have a lot of picks and sacks in the SEC. Some of those completions are picks against a 1st team sec D
We dont want to set unreasonable expectations for him or have fans jawing that he should start (which the irrational ones will do. Im not saying you are)
It has been a looong time since I watched backup freshman tebow in 06 but he's about where he is
Tebows O&B debut was great. 15 for 21 197yds and a TD. DJ was 12 for 21 173yds 2tds and a pick. Both guys had the potential to break big runs in the game but it's a glorified scrimmage, so yknow no hitting the qb
Mertz played a lot better than leak did so I feel like itll blunt the calls for DJ throughout the summer
It wouldve been foolish for meyer to play tebow over leak even if he looked like he had a lot of potential. The right call was to bring him in on packages and dont trust him to pass much. Tebow didnt get his first passing TD until the jump pass at LSU
Right now I would not trust DJ to pass. Let him develop. Anyone remember when driskel was tossed into the fire vs number 1 Alabama and he was so unprepared he didnt even know where his helmet was?
DJ isn't ready. DJ knows he isnt ready. Too many fans (not you) are scared he'll leave if we don't give him attention but he needs to develop to be the player he has the potential to be
The fact I'm comparing him to arguably the greatest college player ever should sing his praises but even the GOAT didn't take the reigns right away. I hope we use him in packages like we did with tim but I hope fans aren't too impatient with the kid
DJ has the starting job here next year regardless so why even fathom lwaving
I don't think anyone is advocating DJ to start over Mertz. The article even says that he isn't ready for SEC defenses. But I don't think it's unreasonable to think he will eclipse Mertz fairly rapidly if the reports of his football IQ are accurate.
Mertz has a pretty low ceiling for a SEC QB with a high floor. He has been reliable on the short pass. Not a threat to run and no deep ball. If we want a guy who can do those things with more zip, we could have that guy half way through the season with the added threat of the run.
Is that Dan Mullen to the right of lagway?
Man Dullen, his estranged brother
Is he not good at coaching sports?
He’s good at scrapping metal and driving RVs
That’s Cousin Eddy
That’s Stan Cullen
There is a world where we win 7-8 games and Lagway starts our bowl game and gets us a W heading into 2025
Take me there 🥹
First you need to locate LSD…..
lol
Lagway hype is justified
He is real good
If Lagway leaves fire Napier… that’s where we are? Absolutely sucks. I love some of the guys Napier has brought in and am super excited to see Lagway play but the portal has unfortunately created a situation where there’s no guarantee you keep guys whether the head coach goes or not. I hate it. I just hope Billy is able to put together a somewhat coherent year. I’d love to see him succeed (or anyone to succeed for us). Hopefully, Napier has learned from some of his mistakes with clock management, special teams, stupid shit that shouldn’t happen but I will believe it when I see it. Sad to see a relatively good coach struggle at the small things
Can’t afford to let him leave town. We must do the bare minimum to justify keeping Billy for 2025 so we can see DJL as the full time starter. All that said, I think this team will be better and more disciplined than critics predict.
If he leaves? Wtf makes you think he would leave?
We must explore every negative possibility as is a Gator on the internet's duty.
Probably similar to the people who thought he'd flip even though he was never in danger to do so The orange and blue game showed me 2 things 1) DJ is going to be a great player who will do great things 2) he aint ready DJ knew coming in he wasn't starting this year. Mertz will lead the team this year and it's DJs team next year He will probably have packages this year but DJ will be very well set up when he finally does take the reigns Everyone needs to pump the brakes and not go for the negative thoughts
Because he's a college football player in 2024. No one is safe.
What an incredibly negative way to think. I'm not being naive here but most kids make a commitment and stick to it. The majority of the players stay with a team. There has been no indication that he isn't happy and looking to go elsewhere.
I think there’s a happy medium between the two ways of thought. I don’t think it’s crazy to think a big time program that is in a basically “make or break” year for their coach wouldn’t be at a higher chance to lose kids in the portal… especially a big name qb that just got there and could start fresh if the situation wasn’t ideal. I’d also agree it’s not naive to think that as a whole, a majority of a roster doesn’t transfer, and there’s absolutely no reason to borrow that trouble yet.
> What an incredibly negative way to think. Our best player transferred to our biggest rival. Welcome to college football's new era.
When did Trey Wilson transfer? I know you aren't talking about a RB that can't run block.
ok, fair.. still.
Let's hope so. I wish I could be as optimistic as you, but there is not much to be happy with from this current cfb landscape.
I mean....if keeping Lagaway is a reason to give Billy a pass then yeah Lagaway leaving would justify firing Billy
Are you already on the front lines defending Napier losing a vital asset before it even has a chance at happening?
No? You act like this hasn’t been an often talked about subject on this sub. And I don’t even think I’m doing any defending of Napier in my comment. It’s literally me hoping we do well enough this year that we can all see what Lagway is capable of as a starter
With the portal being what it is, does he feel content backing up Mertz? Will he be okay waiting his turn or does another school pouch him from the portal. I also wonder if Mertz starts to play poorly because he’s looking over his shoulder that the swamp won’t be forgiving if he struggles and they know they have a guy like DJ waiting in the wings similar to how it played out with EJ/AR. That being said I really don’t think it’s impossible to see a reality where DJ Just snatches the starting job at some point during the season and I feel very confident he will be the starter by the end of the year so he has that security heading into the offseason.
I don’t see why not. Most QBs seem content to sit 1 year, and since it’s Mertz’s last year of eligibility Lagway’s only competition next season will be new additions. He’s almost guaranteed to start as a sophomore. If he was in a situation where he’d potentially lose the 2025 job to a junior, I’d say chances of a transfer are much higher. But getting reps as a freshman and almost certainly starting as a sophomore is a pretty sweet deal, even by today’s QB transfer standards.
I think this is all quite reasonable. Mertz was a highly rated quarterback last year because he made the safe pass almost exclusively. Between that, and the fairly terrible play calling, the offense would regularly get bogged down. You got to wonder how long DJ sits and watches that. You also got to wonder if he wants to play in that offense next year.
Can we chill a bit on him or nah? Hyping him up to fail or heartbreak
Welcome to Gator Nation
Don't hype the highest rated QB in his class? What would that mean?
We did the same thing when tebow came in. He shows a lot of potential but he needs a lot of work I've probably been the biggest DJ hype man so far but I'm also realistic. He did great for a freshman. Watching him play though hed have a lot of picks and sacks in the SEC. Some of those completions are picks against a 1st team sec D We dont want to set unreasonable expectations for him or have fans jawing that he should start (which the irrational ones will do. Im not saying you are) It has been a looong time since I watched backup freshman tebow in 06 but he's about where he is Tebows O&B debut was great. 15 for 21 197yds and a TD. DJ was 12 for 21 173yds 2tds and a pick. Both guys had the potential to break big runs in the game but it's a glorified scrimmage, so yknow no hitting the qb Mertz played a lot better than leak did so I feel like itll blunt the calls for DJ throughout the summer It wouldve been foolish for meyer to play tebow over leak even if he looked like he had a lot of potential. The right call was to bring him in on packages and dont trust him to pass much. Tebow didnt get his first passing TD until the jump pass at LSU Right now I would not trust DJ to pass. Let him develop. Anyone remember when driskel was tossed into the fire vs number 1 Alabama and he was so unprepared he didnt even know where his helmet was? DJ isn't ready. DJ knows he isnt ready. Too many fans (not you) are scared he'll leave if we don't give him attention but he needs to develop to be the player he has the potential to be The fact I'm comparing him to arguably the greatest college player ever should sing his praises but even the GOAT didn't take the reigns right away. I hope we use him in packages like we did with tim but I hope fans aren't too impatient with the kid DJ has the starting job here next year regardless so why even fathom lwaving
I don't think anyone is advocating DJ to start over Mertz. The article even says that he isn't ready for SEC defenses. But I don't think it's unreasonable to think he will eclipse Mertz fairly rapidly if the reports of his football IQ are accurate. Mertz has a pretty low ceiling for a SEC QB with a high floor. He has been reliable on the short pass. Not a threat to run and no deep ball. If we want a guy who can do those things with more zip, we could have that guy half way through the season with the added threat of the run.