Things have gotten pretty ugly for Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier in Gainesville, but it is hard to say he isn’t mostly at fault for the uproar from the fanbase.
There are many things that have gone wrong during his time serving as the head man for the Gators. Him being in constant belief that he can manage as an SEC offensive play caller despite having too many moments of uninspiring football on display and recruits suing him for NIL-related problems are just the tip of the iceberg.
However, would Napier escape the hole that he dug himself into with a win against Texas A&M? No, but it would be a start.
For starters, there are too many losses on the board for Napier to rectify it with one SEC win against a team in transition. With losses to teams such as Vanderbilt and Kentucky on his resume, it is going to take a run of wins to get the crusaders off his back.
Luckily for him, that run can begin now. The toughest part of the schedule has yet to arrive, which means he can build momentum with the “easier” part that is in front of him. Sure, he most likely won’t be favored in any of the games heading forward, but there are plenty of home games left and any home game is winnable.
Then, outside of just the schedule aspect, he needs to be better at player management against the Aggies and through the rest of this year. It is simple. The better players need to play.
While it wouldn’t be fair to starter Graham Mertz to have lost his job due to injury, how much longer can Napier limit DJ Lagway’s impact on opponents? Lagway could be key if Napier wants an extended stay with Florida Gators.
Lagway has generated noise around campus ever since stepping foot in Gainesville. That was even more apparent in their recent win over Samford where he threw for 400+ yards in a single game while having fans chant his name.
Furthermore, fans and boosters will want Lagway getting more snaps before this season ends if they want Napier’s extended stay with Florida Gators. Building for future success isn’t an option anymore; winning now is crucial according to Napier’s strategy.
It’s also surprising seeing talented defensive lineman Kelby Collins getting substantially fewer snaps than his teammates around him. Against Samford last weekend and Miami previously this season alike - both times Collins logged only seven snaps – which doesn’t do justice considering his potential impact on improving their subpar defensive line performance so far.
So if Napier starts SEC play 1-0 against Texas A&M then it’s definitely a step towards redemption; however winning a stretch of games will ultimately prove whether or not he’s truly fit for this job according to both boosters’ and fans’ expectations.
