In this college football podcast episode, we dive deep into Florida Gators football with David Waters from Gators Breakdown. What are the vibes among Florida diehards around Billy Napier going into Year 4? Is DJ Lagway fully healthy and how has his emergence impacted the program? Did the Gators take the right approach when balancing the transfer portal with high school recruiting? What clicked for the Florida defense down the stretch? And realistically, what are expectations given a brutal schedule?
00:00 - Introduction
03:24 - David Waters from Gators Breakdown
04:00 - Spring vibe check for Florida fans
05:00 - DJ Lagway's health status and shoulder situation
08:00 - Breaking down Florida's 8-5 season and late momentum
10:14 - What clicked for the defense down the stretch?
12:25 - Ron Roberts' impact on the defense
13:51 - Player development vs. transfer portal
21:03 - Offensive line development
25:03 - Will Billy Napier open up the offense?
30:53 - DJ Lagway's off-field impact on recruiting and retention
34:32 - Scott Stricklin's desire for stability
38:49 - Florida's player personnel formula
42:46 - Schedule breakdown and realistic expectations
51:36 - Closing Thoughts
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to the solid verbal.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Home that for me.
Speaker 3 (00:06):
I'm a man, I'm for I've heard so many players say, well,
I want to be happy.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
You want to be happy for a day? Edith state,
is that? Whoo whoom and then and tie?
Speaker 1 (00:18):
All right, Dan, time for it, Time and talk to
some Florida Gators of today's episode. It's been a minute
since we dedicated an episode to the Gators. I think
today is the day. We are very excited to have
our good friend on from Gators Breakdown. Gator Dave David
Water is going to be stopping by here momentarily to
give us the lowdown on all things going on in Gainesville.
(00:40):
How are you?
Speaker 3 (00:41):
I'm good, very excited. He's not going to join us,
He's going to join you. I don't want people listening
to this right now and saying I would never like
to hear what Ty hilden Brandt has to ask a
Florida Gator expert. Thank god Dan's on here to balance
out this equation. I'm not on this interview. My schedule
(01:04):
has been sort of influx childcare wise. So Ty is
just an American hero for recording this one solo. And
I personally I don't listen. I don't like listening back
to the show because I don't like like hearing my
voice and hearing what I have to say. Maybe that's
something I have in common with listeners. I'm very excited
to hear this interview with you and Gator Dave, who
(01:24):
you said was terrific.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
He's terrific. Finally got you out of the way. I
can ask the questions that I want to ask. Yeah,
of data and way of the Florida Gators. Yeah, this
interview was conducted like a day or two ago. We're
recording this a little bit later on in the week.
It's going to go live for the public on Tuesday morning.
And I've been a big fan of Dave's work for
(01:46):
a while now. He's just really thorough and you could
tell has a genuine passion for covering the team and
getting to the bottom of some of these stories. So
when we had him on last time about two years ago,
I think I immediately said to you afterwards, we gotta
have David back on again at some point soon. Didn't
do it for two years. Now it is twenty twenty five,
(02:08):
but it comes at I think a very pivotal time
for anybody who follows college football and is interested in
the Florida Gators. There is a lot at stake in
twenty twenty five, and as we've been going through and
doing some of these team conversations, we'd be remiss to
not examine what's going on down there with Billy Napier
and Gainesville.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Oh absolutely, and with some of the recent years of
Florida football. That Gator Dave is just as locked in
as ever, just as passionate, just as much as an
artisan about Florida Gators football coverage. Todd Grantham has done
some things to people tie and that Gator Dave is
(02:48):
still here, still locked in, made it through, made it through.
I have nothing but the highest level of respect for it.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
We're gonna have a long conversation here with Dave momentarily.
If you are new here, If you're tuning in for
the first time, thank you so much, Hit subscribe, hit
follow wherever it is you can. If you're interested in
further supporting with Dan and I do, you can go
on out to Verballers dot com. V E R B
A L L E r s dot com. We've got
a Patreon community, We've got a Discord community that's attached
(03:18):
to it. You get episodes without the ads, bonus episodes,
so on and so forth. And with that, we are
very pleased to welcome back to the Solid Verbal Gator Dave.
It is David Waters from the Gators Breakdown podcast and
YouTube channel and website. He's all over, Welcome back to the show,
mister Waters. How are you, my good friend.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
I'm good, I'm good. Thanks for having me back on.
I am a consistent listener of you guys, you know,
just listening to what I gotta zoom out from all
the Gator coverage. I'd certainly check into the Solid Verbal,
enjoy the banter between you two guys, and certainly looking
forward to talk to some Gators.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
But hell to let you guys know I am. I
am a listener as well. Well, thank you.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
We appreciate that, you know, we appreciate that. I want
to know what's the vibe bin among Florida people this spring?
What's the vibe bin among the Harmonic Woods tailgaters this spring?
Speaker 4 (04:12):
It was a little stubdue tailgate for the Spring Gay
the last time we all got together. But yeah, that's
a fun group, always is, you know, it's every home game.
The mayor of the tailgate getting there five thirty six
o'clock in the morning and setting it all up, so
we're all ready for that when Florida kicks off against
Long Island there to start the season. But yeah, Vibegator Nation.
(04:35):
Of course, I'm excited coming out of that that win
streak of the twenty twenty four season, beating LSU, beaten
Old Miss and now of course got a returning quarterback
there with DJ Lagway. A lot of returners on both
sides of the ball, so it gets you know, the
Getter Nation excited. A lot of questions still surrounding this
program as well, specifically building Aprier the head coach leading
(04:56):
it all, but the vibe is as good as it
has been since really Naper took over.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
That's good news. I wanted to ask about Lagway though
before we hit record. You were like, yeah, we've been
We've been covering this story and people have been asking
about DJ Lagway for a good majority of the spring.
What what is the status of DJ Lagway.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
Well, the good thing is we just had SEC spring
meetings and of course Billion Napery was going to be
asked about that at SEC spring meetings and said, hey,
look he's throwing. I mean, hey, even through the exact
number out two hundred and ten times a week, three
days of the week, throwing two hundred and ten times.
He goes, hey, look if if we didn't even go
through the storyline of spring, that's what he would be
(05:37):
doing anyway. So there's the latest on DJ Lagway. Everything's aok,
one hundred percent, full steam, ready to go. Billiy Napery
did tell us right after the spring game and kind
of the last press conference of spring that hey, look, yeah,
not throwing, not now, but when June comes around, that's
when his goal. That's when he'll be throwing. Man, blow
and behold, you know, June starts, and then here we
(05:57):
are getting the report that Dja Laguays will ready to go,
So certainly kind of shots away, And of course I
think it's going to hang in the back of mind.
I think, given the huge you got your five star quarterback,
so much just riding on this season, so much as
riding on DJ Lagway, you go through an entire spring
where he doesn't throw, it's going to hang in the
back of everybody's mind until they you know, the team
(06:19):
lines up and you see Lagway. You know, of course
go back and rear one seventy five yards like he's
been known to do.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Yeah, I mean, what was the official diagnosis there? I
feel like there was a lot of playing KOI with
what was or wasn't I guess in this case wrong
with him? What what? What was the official word there?
Speaker 2 (06:39):
Shoulder tiredness?
Speaker 4 (06:41):
Okay, put him on a pitch count, That's what I mean,
because it's kind of there, but it dates back to uh,
and I think it was a high school injury that
kind of dates back to and and of course he
was early enrollly at Florida as his freshman year, so
certainly go through spring practice and and then I think
toward toward towards the beginning or towards the end of
(07:01):
the season and having that winning stretch and he's playing
against LSU and playing against Old Miss, I think something
happened in one of those games. And and you could
see credit to those defenses too. Uh. You know, Florida
ran the ball really well, but did limit lagway. I mean,
he still had some spectacular and outstanding plays along the way,
but there wasn't a lot of the deep shots. There
(07:23):
wasn't a lot of you know, you know, rearing back
and throwing one way down the field. I do think
something happened along in that little stretch of l s
u old miss uh. But I think everything's a okay
from you know, talking behind the scenes, talking to people
in the know that it should be should be pretty
(07:44):
fine for DJ Lagway moving forward.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
That's good. That's good news. DJ went six and one
is the starter I guess could have been seven and
oh if he doesn't get hurt against Georgia.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Who knows six and oh in games he's starting, finished six.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
And oh games started to finish, there we go, Florida
finish is eight and five. As he said, some good
late season momentum the defense. We can talk maybe a
little bit later about what clicked there, but real tangible
momentum at the end of the season. Did you see
the progress that you were hoping for as somebody who
(08:16):
follows this team as intimately as you do.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
Took a while to get there, but yes, I mean
you can't forget the gaffs and the really uninspiring performances
to start the season against Miami in Texas A and
m I mean those two games in the swamp. You
have your home crowd you're going to getst Mario Crystal Ball,
who's in the same year as doing neighbor to both
get hired in the same year, and you just get blasted.
And then Texas A and m happens, and then there's
(08:40):
billion Neiapiers. No, there's no way as millionaper survives this.
He's getting fired. They're just saving up the money for
the perfect time and he's gone, and lo and behold
day they started playing better. You started seeing signs, and
then the wins came, like you could have shoot a
wood against Tennessee and Knoxville played, like you said, played
tough versus Georgia. Lagway goes down. Who knows the outcome
(09:02):
of that game. Now, then a week later to go
get blasted against Texas and it's like, okay, well maybe
this thing isn't heading.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
The right way.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
And then return home, have two big games and rally
around to beat LSU one week and carry out momentum
to beaten Ole Miss the next week. So certainly in
that November stretch, you saw the progress that you were
looking for, and mainly on the defensive side.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Of the football. I mean, you saw.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
The you saw the potential of the offense when Lagway
started coming in the big play potential, when and the
offensive line started finding their groove and opening up running
lands for Jaden Ball and Jacobe Jackson in Montreal, Johnson,
you started seeing signs there. But that win streak at
the end of the season doesn't happen if the defense
doesn't start playing better. They really become a monster up
(09:48):
front led by katleb Bates and Tyreeks happen. That really
just made the difference. Now, they did live a little
on the ben don't break style of lsu Ole Miss.
Both still garnered a whole bunch of yardage, but once
you got close to the red zoning and end zone
and started going for fourth down conversions and miss field goals,
you know that defense really did its jobs so that
(10:09):
it doesn't happen without that defense really doing their part
late and late in the season.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Yeah, I mean, I was looking back to the last
time we had you on. It was about two years ago,
a little bit over two years ago. And when we
do these team specific talks, we tend to highlight things
like gaps, what needs to be fixed, can this team
get better? What will it take for this team to
level up? The last time you were on. It was like, yeah,
it's the defense. Defense needs to get fixed. Defense let
(10:36):
them down. It was just a conversation about defense, very
matter of factly. To your point, Florida had a really
strong close to its season let in large part because
of that defense, which gave up an average of thirteen
points per game down the stretch. What clicked? Why did
it get better all of a sudden?
Speaker 4 (10:54):
You talked to players, You talked to the coaches, been
really talking to the players. I say, go back to
that first bye week and that was before for the
UCF game, I believe, and they said, hey, look we
went we went to the coaches and I mean, it
kind of stinks that it took this, but we went
to the coaches and say, hey, we demand more accountability,
we want practice to be tough for we want more competition.
(11:15):
And the coaches listened to them, and that was the
That was the first sign. And like I said, you
started seeing it. They were still losing games, but you
started seeing a group that was playing better, and it
finally clicked there at the end. But to me, it
really was. It was eye opening to see how how
fast they were able to turn around and it clicked
up front on defense, because I think it really started
(11:37):
there and with Kayleb Banks and Tyreek Sap and you
had a group of young edge players with Jack Pieburn
who's now at LSU, t J Seriars he's at Texas
A and M but then transferred. George Gumms comes along
and it was a group that really played played well
up front, and it was an LSU team that comes
into the swamp that No Smier wasn't getting touched, he
was not getting sacked a lot, and I think Floyda
had six sacks in the game. I think LSU had
(11:58):
given up six all scenes going into that game. So
it was a I think it was a lot of
a lot of in a right way finger pointing. I
think it was our accountability that just really needed to
be unleashed, revealed in the locker room. And I think
let's not forget too Farnder brought in Ron Roberts right
a defensive coordinator and Ralston Armstrong he kind of was
(12:23):
co DC and really title only they had the executives.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
As I'm gonna watch the title, but it was like
executive assistant coach, CO defensive coordinator. Obviously, Ron Roberts has
a lot of experience, and then how that worked together
with Austin Armstrong, was, I know, a big talking point
coming into the season. Austin Armstrong, by the way, has
now since gone off to Houston where he's going to
be the defensive coordinator. Is there any concern that that
(12:50):
will kill some of the momentum we did see down
the stretch or is it not even crossing your mind?
Speaker 4 (12:56):
Not even crossing the mind, because it kind of going
to that point when Florida they moved Ron Roberts upstairs.
He was on the sideline for those first few games
against Miami, against Texas A and m where it didn't
look good. They changed in things little less responsibility for
Austin Armstrong, more responsibility for Ron Roberts, and you started
seeing it click as the season went on.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
So I mean you start looking at it.
Speaker 4 (13:18):
This is the first time under billyon Naper that are
returning DC, that he has a returning DC. You go
back to Patrick Tony in year one and they bring
in Austin Armstrong, and then the year three it was
Ron Roberts basically the overseer with Austin Armstrong still there,
but now Ron Roberts returns and he is the guy,
he is the voice. A little more coaching changes on
the defensive side of the ball, but you still have
(13:39):
the same voice of Ron Roberts, the overseer there. So
I think because you give him a lot of credit
for the reason of the turnaround last year and you
feel kind of hopeful that it continues this year.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
For the defense, Florida wasn't super active in the transfer portal.
I think I saw only five guys coming in. They
had much more transfer out. But it does beg the question,
I think on the defensive side of the ball, if
the development of the guys who are on the roster,
who have been on the roster is going to be
enough in and of itself to get this defense to
(14:10):
the next level. How do you feel about the returning
cast of characters. Would you have liked to see more
portal action to try and boost things on the defensive
side of the ball for sure.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
On the back end, I think so Florida's fighting injuries
since the end of last season. Going in the spring
practic was a ton of injuries there on the back end.
And mean Devin Moore, he actually went through spring. He's
Florida's cornerback one after Jason Marshall left. But Devin Moore
really good player, can be I think one of the
SEC's best corner He just can't stay healthy. He cannot
(14:42):
stay on the field. He's been in He's fought the
injury bug his whole time at Florida, fought it last
year as well. But he's going to be cornerback one
this year. And then you got a probably maybe a
little batter with cornerback two Dejon Johnson in some off
field trouble. He's fighting an injury as well, but the
off field trouble should be a okay here, he'll he'll play,
There's no worry there. But you got a bat between
(15:04):
him and Cornminum McLean, the former five star transfer from Colorado.
Of course, that that can be a battle there from
the cornerback two spot.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
But Florida's got to get better at safety.
Speaker 4 (15:14):
And you know I mentioned that the poor performances against
Miami in Texas A and m A lot of that
was called the big plates on the back.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
End that they were giving up.
Speaker 4 (15:21):
And Jordan Castele returns, Bryce Storton returns, You hope Jordan Castel,
who's played as since he was a true freshman in
year three. Now that he takes the necessary steps, Bryce
Storton continues to improve. But it's just been a group
that fought a lot of injuries, weren't able to really
get a cohesive unit all through spring practice. So I
(15:42):
think that's the biggest question. That's where I probably would
have liked them them to hit the transfer a portal
more uh but and also maybe defensive tackle. They did
bring in Brendan Bett from Baylor with some departures, but
before him, Florida tried to go get Kishawn Silver from
Kentucky out of to transfer a portal hero Canoe who
ended up going to ten See as or Texas as well.
So you could tell Florida was made a concerted effort
(16:04):
to go get a defensive tackle. They finally got one
and bring the bet towards the end of the spring portal.
But they didn't have to hit the spring portal or
the portal in general too hard because Kayleb Banks return,
Tyreek Sap return, I mean, going for both sides of
the football, Florida made a concerted effort more so than
attacked the transfer portal through ni L it was let's
(16:25):
use our nil to retain guys four or five offensive line.
In return, you bring back Tyreek Sap Kayla Banks. Along
the defensive line, Florida's really bush on their linebacker. Course,
they can go four deep there between Pup Howard, jayd
and Robinson, Miles Graham and Aaron Chiles. So it's the
front seven Florida feels pretty good about. Maybe the depth
along the middle of the defensive line is the biggest concern,
(16:48):
but it's it's a group I think that's going that
could have to continue to play well. I think to
make up for a secondary and maybe it does look
a lot like the November stretch the LSU the Old
Miss games. They gave up some yardage, but the bend
don't break style wins out. I don't know how consistent
that can be throughout an entire season. That would be
my biggest order for this defense is not necessarily taking
(17:11):
the steps and having to live in that bend don't
break style. I think there's some quarterbacks and some defenses.
I can take our offenses. I can take advantage of that.
But if I go back to the transfer portal probably
would have been a little more aggressive. They brought in
Michael Carroll Away from Southern miss as the only guy
in the secondary who's a first of all piece there.
But you know they're banking on retention more so than
(17:33):
they than they do the transfer portal.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
Yeah, I mean there was definitely a heavy emphasis on
high school recruiting this cycle. Like I said, only a
handful of guys came in via the portal. Bigger picture,
not just defense, but bigger picture, given your knowledge of
the roster more holistically, was that the right approach? Did
they plug the holes that they needed to plug, either
via the portal via high school recruiting to kind of
(17:58):
give them the depth and the content annuity that they need,
you know, whether it's going light on transfers or just
going a little heavier on the high school side. Did
they accomplish the objective?
Speaker 2 (18:10):
I think so.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
I mean, we'll see how consistent it is, but I
do think for this twenty twenty five season they hit it,
and I think so. As I mentioned four or five
offensive lineman returning, you were able to retain Austin Barber,
you were able to retain Jake Slaughter the All American
center he returns, and then Damien George as well.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Nije Harris.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
That's for your five offensive lineman, and they feel really
good about Bryce Loving at right tackle. But you get
to pair that with a quarterback that returns in DJ Lagway,
a running game that returns Jaden Ball in Jakobe Jackson,
and then it's a receiver group that's got to take
the step. But you love the potential there to go
get a deep threat like Jmichael Sturnvant out of the
transfer a portal, but they are really excited about Vernal
(18:51):
Brown the third and Dallas Wilson, a true freshman at
wide receiver to pair with a returning Trey Wilson, and
as I mentioned, Jmichael sturt of it eight miles, they'll
hopefully a breakout candidate there as well for receivers. So
probably feel they can go pretty deep there at potential
of the playmaking ability at the wide receiver spot. But
I think once Farda was able to and the staff
(19:14):
was able to say, hey, we got four or five
offensive line return there's a lot to like in the
trenches on both sides of the ball. But once we
get once we get that, we can we can play
our style of football. And there's been this big conundrum
of Billy Naper the play caller, right that you like
where the roster is, but it's Billy Naper to play caller.
Can he unleash a quarterback like DJ Lagway? Can he
(19:36):
unleash the potential of this wide receiver group? So I
think paired with how they were able to construct this
roster and develop receivers and develop an offensive line in
a run game that the staff is really good at
in that side of building an offense, they're gonna want
the Billy Naper loves to live off that play action
(19:56):
they get near midfield and it's forty yard line, fifty
yard line. He loves that play action first down, deep
shot when you've got the talent to be able to
do that. But a lot of Gator Nations looking for
more than that. When you talk about explosivity, and the
way I look at it is, can you, I think
(20:16):
with this roster and especially on the offensive side of
the ball, can you be able to dictate what you
want to do? A lot of people would want to
no matter what. This is an Orange and Blue, this
is a Gator Nation. This is a go back to
Steve Spurrier and fun and gun. They want to throw
the ball forty forty five times, no matter what, no
matter who's on the sideline.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
Force the issue.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
This is the fourth issue.
Speaker 4 (20:38):
But my thing is with this offensive style, just be
able to dictate what you want to do. If you
need to throw the ball forty forty five times to
win the game, be able to do so. If you
need to line up and run the ball fifty times
behind a really good offensive line and running back, be
able to do so so. For me, when I look
at aggression and the criticism of ability aapor to play caller,
it's just be able to dictate what you want to do.
(21:00):
If you want to pass, be able to pass, if
you want to run, be able to run.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
Well, you know better than anybody in the SEC that
it starts up front. If you can't build an offensive
line in the SEC, you're pretty much dead to rights.
And as you've mentioned here a couple times, this is
an offensive line that did show massive improvement. I think
the last time we had you on the conversation was
about past protection. Last year. There was a big jump,
(21:24):
big jump forward in all the protection stats that we
tend to look at. Sacks allowed, how much time a
quarterback had to throw things of that nature, if you
really want to get granular about it. They also played
better individually, not just as a unit. And there's a
lot back this season, as you've mentioned, So from your
vantage point, what represents the next step forward for this line?
(21:49):
More specifically, how will we know? How will I know,
as not necessarily a Florida Gator diehard, how will I
know if the line gets to that level? What will
be the tell?
Speaker 4 (22:01):
I think the start of the season, for one, you
go back and I hate heard it's almost a tael
of two seasons for Florida.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
Last year.
Speaker 4 (22:08):
You had the early season, you had the early season miscues,
and then the big wins late. But it's getting off
to a better start. I mean not only I talked
about how bad the defense was earlier, but a big
part of why the offense struggled in the early season
against Miami and Texas A and m was too because
they couldn't block anybody. Now they rotated a whole bunch
of people. And Billy Naper has kind of going back
(22:28):
and say, look, you know one reason we've done that
is because think about college football now and think about
how many miles you have to fee TheInk a matter
how many players you have to make happy to get
playing time now, and Florida rotated and tried to get
other guys them playing time, and I think that did
them in. Earlier in the season, they finally settled on five,
they finally wanted to move forward, would play in a
set offensive line, and I think that paid dividends throughout
(22:51):
the season as those five were playing more and more
football together. But I think getting off to a better
start now Florida finally gets the benefit. And think about it,
this is the first time on a billion apier. They're
not opening up with Utah. They're not opening up at Utah,
they're not opening up with Miami. Funny gainst Long Island,
you'll take finally your break for billion Aprier and then
(23:13):
USLF week two, and then you get back to back
road trips at LSU and then at Miami. Right, So
it's gonna take a few weeks to probably see have
they made that jump. But a lot of people are
gonna go back and look at how are they gonna
start because last year was a brutal start for this
offensive line. We're gonna have to get to baton rouge.
(23:33):
Maybe that's not the best barometer when you have ninety
five thousand people in death valleys screaming the you know
it's already sept for a night game. We already know
the situation it's going to be for a Florida offensive
line trying to figure out, you know, communication and look,
that's the biggest road game. Djlagwise will have started. He
(23:55):
played at Tennessee last year, but he didn't start that game.
Played at FSU last year, but she wasn't any good.
That's going to be a hostile environment there for DJ
Lagway and an offensive line that they haven't played a
ton together, about half a season together last year. So
I think there's a lot of questions. But I think
what we're going to look for probably a Marcus consistency.
(24:16):
Can they start better and keep it up. They weren't
able to do that last year, even if it's Florida State.
They probably gave up a little more pressure than I
would have liked against you for an offensive line that
was playing pretty well going into that game. FSU had
a pretty good defensive line at the time, But think
J Lagway I think helped that offensive line looked a
little better by escaping sacks, by escaping pressure and that
(24:38):
was DJ Lagway, not one hundred percent being able to
do those things. So I do think there is a
next step of four Marcus consistency. Still in the passwalking category,
I do think running the ball billion Apier, rob Sel, Johnson, DaCosta,
the offensive line coaches, there's a pretty good baseline for
what they're able.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
To do in the run game.
Speaker 4 (24:57):
But it's a more consistent passion or a pass blocking
pass blocking for DJ Laguay that I'll.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
Be looking for.
Speaker 1 (25:04):
Yeah, and as you mentioned, I want to unpack the
receiver thing because it jumped off the page to me
that this is one of the more interesting, let's say,
youthful receiver rooms in the country. I don't need to
go back through and recite the names, but I do
want to harken back to something I think you tweeted
out back in December about Dallas Wilson and Vernell Brown
(25:25):
the third that they are two of the seven best
receivers since the year two thousand to step foot on
campus in Gainesville. So in terms of incoming star power,
it's there with the freshman you mentioned, Trey Wilson coming back,
j Michael Sturtevant transfers in to give them more of
a veteran presence. In addition to that, more to the
point of Gator Nation maybe wanting to open up the
(25:48):
offense a little bit more. We know that, but that
both Ross Russ Callaway excuse me, and Steve Spurrier Junior
do have some influence over this offense. Calaway is a
former Air Raid quarterback. Spurge, You're has some experience as
well with Mike Leach, with Kevin Wilson in that style
of offense. What are the odds that Florida does open
(26:09):
up the offense to a greater degree than we're used
to seeing under Billion Apier.
Speaker 4 (26:14):
I think it has to be a little bit because
of once you have a quarterback and we saw the
deep downfield success like we was able to have, and
you have a group you've recruited a group of receivers
that should give you the ability to do that. A
Jamichael Sturtivan and I mean I had Billion Apriil on
the podcast in late January early February, and when we're
(26:37):
talking about Jamichailsturtvan, I mean he really points out that, hey,
we went and got this guy to be a deep threat.
He is going to be our downfield threat, and Florida
lost Elijah Badger, who was near tops in the SEC
in yards per catch. Chim Rey Dka I believe was
top ten, top fifteen as well, But a lot of
that had to come with the quarterback change from Graham
(26:59):
murch d Jaway that that wasn't part of the offense
until DJ Lagway took over. You didn't know if the
receivers had that until DJ Lagway was the guy in there.
So they identified a guy who could do the same
things that Elijah Badger can do down the field. And
like I said, that's they want to be able to
stretch the field. And I think Aid Minsel is he's
(27:20):
kind of been that guy. He's in his third year
and he's been that guy since he's a true freshman.
This is gonna be the guy that breaks out. This
is gonna be the guy that breaks out. This is
gonna be the guy that breaks out. Eventually, it's got
to happen. Doesn't happen this year. You're looking at a
guy who we're still wondering about and so but you
paired Trey Wilson. I think so integral to this offense.
(27:43):
I mean, really with a lot of the fan base,
and I think pundits want to see from Trey Wilsons.
Can he be a true receiver. We've seen the gadget plays,
We've seen the reverses and the sweeps, we've seen the screens.
Can he be a true receiver?
Speaker 1 (27:57):
You know?
Speaker 4 (27:57):
Can he take a can you run the slant route
third and six and get the first down? But can
he be a downfield weapon himself? I mean, so, I
think for Trey Wilson, it's taking that next step and
being a leader but also being a true wide receiver
in that regard. But then talked about the freshman there,
and that's not how I forget about Nashwan Montgomery as well
for the adds to that group, and Florida added really
(28:19):
high level receivers and we got to see it in
the spring game. I mean, Dallas Wilson ten catches a
couple of scores. Harrison Bailey's throwing him the ball, so
you get an Inkley go of what he met Mike
can do with dj Lagway. But what you're hoping for
is there is a repeat of what we saw last year.
You go back to a year ago and you had
Jade Ball at running back as a true freshman in
(28:40):
the spring game doing some really really good things, but
you get in trouble sometimes with the spring game heroes.
Do they ever show it in the regular season, and
Jade Ball, as a true freshman, showed it. Florida is
hoping for the same thing with Dallas Wilson, And I
think what gives you a hope there is you heard
all along spring practice about how good those true freshman
receivers were, and then you get to the spring game
and see it firsthand. Well, Dallas Wilson was able to
(29:02):
do after catch, the physicality he was able to possess
that you can get in trouble spring A spring game
can get you in trouble for the spring game star.
But given the recruiting profile, given everything we heard for
the month leading up to the spring game, it gives
you a hope that Dallas Wilson and Rodelle Brown the
third can really be those guys that show up right
away as true freshman.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
At the receivers part, I know.
Speaker 1 (29:24):
That Napier historically has liked a lot of twelve personnel,
one running back, two tight ends, that type of thing.
There has to be a desire to get more receivers
on the field. Given all these options, I mean, especially
after the spring game with hype being at a fever
pitch for a guy like a Dallas, well like, they
have to find a way to do more with the
(29:44):
receiver room given the fact that they just have, I
think so many options that they're excited about.
Speaker 4 (29:50):
Right, and people will say always never open it up.
Good back to Louisiana, go back to earlier. I'm like,
he's never recruited receivers like this either, or he's never
had receive it, never had a quarterback like this either.
Speaker 1 (30:00):
So I get it. History, none of us stops. He's
never had this.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
Right, none, And so I get the trepidation. I really do.
Speaker 4 (30:09):
I mean, history's a lot of times the best indicator
of what's going to happen. But I guess that is
an ultimate question. Can he adapt? Is he willing to adapt?
Is he willing to change? He wants to make an
easy for his quarterback. Every offense wants.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
To do that.
Speaker 4 (30:24):
But there's gonna have to be a time, I really
believe it, whether he wants to or not, there's gonna
have to be a time where you need like way
to throw forty forty five times and this receiver step
up and go.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
Win a ball game.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
Yeah, especially to.
Speaker 4 (30:36):
See especially, Yes, you're gonna just I don't know if
it's gonna be a weekend and week out thing, but
you're gonna have to have the ability to do it.
If you want to be a if you want to
be in Atlanta, if you want to be fighting for
one of those twelve college football playoff spots, You're going
to have to be able to do those things in
the passing game.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
If Florida wants to win some games, we.
Speaker 1 (30:55):
Could sit here and talk to her blue in the
face about what DJ lab can do on the field.
I'm curious, though, especially in this era of college football
where there is just so much movement, what has been
his effect on things like recruiting, What has been his
effect on things like just roster of attention, keeping guys
(31:18):
on the roster, avoiding having them transfer out. You know,
when you find your guy, it tends to have far
reaching impacts that maybe aren't evident to people who just
watch on Saturdays. What has that relationship been like behind
the scenes with Lagway on campus and how has he
affected the program in ways that you know, guys like
(31:40):
me can't see a.
Speaker 2 (31:42):
Sense of belief.
Speaker 4 (31:43):
I think for the first time under Billion Apris what
he brought to the table own the field. It's good
to own the field last year to we've talked about
ad nauseum. Of course so far the turnaround, but part
of that turnaround is him getting on the field. And
I do think there was some belief on that defensive
side of the football. I was like we have in
the world of gram Mertz, great guy, great leader in
his own right. It was pretty limited at quarterback there
(32:07):
he played well. At times he played he was a
good quarterback, nothing more, nothing less for a lot of
the time. But I think there was a certain sense
of belief that, hey, this kid DJ Lagway can do
some special things. And I think that was a big
part in the retention of bringing so many guys back,
especially along the offensive line on offense, of we have
(32:27):
our guy. He can lead us to more than what
we have seen these last few years.
Speaker 2 (32:34):
Let's he could.
Speaker 4 (32:36):
He can pair us with him. If I'm Jake Slaughter,
if I'm Austin Barber, it gives me a belief that, Okay,
I can go to the NFL.
Speaker 1 (32:46):
Now.
Speaker 4 (32:46):
N I Helth plays a big part of it as well,
not going to not going to deny that fact, but
I don't think those guys are coming back because they
don't have a chance to do more. And I think
a big part of that is called DJ Lagway. And look,
Jay Michael Sertivan, the transfer the dimensied, He's a big
reason he came in was because, as I mentioned, that
deep threat that DJ Lagway was able to show as
(33:07):
a quarterback.
Speaker 2 (33:08):
He's a big reason why j Michael Surtervan's in that
wide receiver room.
Speaker 4 (33:11):
So and then I also just think going back to
Billy Naper, I think it's believes that he can do
the things that he hasn't been able to do yet
as an offensive coordinator, as a play caller, as a
head coach. But because of DJ Lagway, so it's robbed
a lot more eyeballs on Florida, and I do think
that's kind of I think Dallas Wilson a five star receiver,
Vernal Brown a highly level four star receiver. I think
(33:34):
DJ Lagway is a big part of why those guys
ended up at Florida as well. So it really was
a trickle down effect of getting him, and I I
think it's pretty pretty well known in the state of Florida,
pretty well known around Gainesville. He's a pretty loyal guy,
and I know a lot of people will throw out
(33:54):
with Billy Apriy gets fired DJ Lagway, he'll look to
go somewhere else. I don't know if that's truly the
He likes ato. He likes being at Florida, his girlfriends
on the softball team. I'm sure that going to play
into it as well. But DJ Lightway likes being in Gainsville.
DJ Lightwaight likes being being a Florida Gator. Now something
happens with the coaching staff, I'm sure he would think
(34:15):
about it. I'm sure there would be a lot of
fighting for Florida to have to keep him, to do
some fighting to have to keep him. But he truly
loves it there. He really loves Billy Napier, he really
loves his staff. So I think there's just a belief
and you know from him, that's a trickle down effect
that you know he can be the guy to help
turn this thing around.
Speaker 1 (34:33):
That's cool. I mean, those are the types of guys
that you want to be the phase of the program.
One thing that this is all bringing to mind is
the statement that Scott Strickland had towards the end of
last season when he announced that they were bringing Billy
Napier back. And I believe the quote was that they
wanted a disciplined, stable approach to the football program, which
(34:56):
in a very weird way runs counter to everything college
football has. But like I don't disagree with that philosophy.
We've argued on this show for an eternity that stability
is currency, especially in this day and age. But the
current state of the sport tends to favor programs that
can be aggressive and how they adapt to some of
these new circumstances behind the scenes, not just with how
(35:19):
DJ Lagway is getting on and maybe being that gravitational player,
what is Florida doing just as a program on the
administrative level, on the nil front to keep up with
that rapid pace of change.
Speaker 4 (35:32):
It's kind of been there a personal in the beginning,
I mean, and they really followed it to a t.
Now even billion apers said, look after we got beat
by Texas A and M last year, I even had
to wonder was it the right approach by not heavily
attacking the transfer portal. I mean, the best example is
Brian Kelly goes to LSU. The same year Abillionaire becomes
with Florida and they're you know, right there in the
(35:52):
SEC championship game against Georgia, they attacked the transfer portal
and you know, it paid off, played off bright away,
dadon Danigels comes in and it.
Speaker 2 (36:03):
Wins to the Heisman the next year.
Speaker 4 (36:05):
You know, it's just like, why why are they so
aggressive and right away and you know, you see the
benefit there for for that program. You so a lot
of people were asking the questions, and they've been steadfast
on this. We will recruit the high school level, we
will develop and then that took some hits as well.
I mean, you weren't winning enough games. You recruited, you
(36:27):
developed Trevory t and he goes to your biggest rival
in Georgia Princell and you, Mammy Ellen's already already on
the roster, but you developed him for a couple of years.
Speaker 2 (36:35):
He goes the old miss You're.
Speaker 4 (36:37):
Playing those guys on the other sideline the very next year,
and little behold, it obviously plays off that year that
the storylines happened. But you know it's it's been you know,
I think they've had a second guess a lot because
of those. I think it probably was eye opening that, Hey,
I could recruit a guy at Trevor ET in Georgia
(36:59):
didn't morning other programs didn't. Moan I recruit I developed
he's gonna leave anyway. I think they've learned some hard
lessons along the way, and I don't know if they're
so cutthroat in believing that we have to do it
this way, but I think initially they want to see
if their way going to work first. I think the
(37:19):
leashes pretty forgiving, as we found out last year, and
we're gonna see if far high school approach works. We're
gonna see if, especially this year, if our continuity approach works.
We decided to retain guys. That's what they were telling themselves.
We're bringing back so many pieces, and we're going to
get an answer pretty early in the season. You're going
(37:41):
to baton Rouge and playing an LSU team that brings
in a ton of transfers the very next week. I
guess Miami, who was very active in the transfer a
portal Ole miss very active once again in the transfer
portal Far is an example of continuity and cohesion. How's
that going to match up with and we can answer
early in the season. So I think it's fascinating that
(38:03):
you have Florida playing LSU early, play in Miami early
because polar opposites of the way they have approached how
to build a roster. SAMs Billion, Naper's been here and
just in this season, so I think it's gonna be
fascinating how it pays off. Now, look, there's you won't
get a whole lot of criticism if you go to
(38:26):
LSU and lose in a close game. If you're Billy
Napier and you decide to build your roster this way,
you can't go to Miami the very next week and
lose again to a Miami team that brings in a
different quarterback.
Speaker 2 (38:38):
Was very act.
Speaker 4 (38:38):
It's been a transfer portal when you have your quarterback returning,
when you bring back so much of the previous year's roster,
you know it's polar opposites there and it's got to
pay off this year for BILLI Naper.
Speaker 1 (38:50):
What is Florida set up? From a personnel standpoint, We've
done a bunch of these conversations now, people with intimate
knowledge very as teams, and it seems everybody has a
different role for what a GM, what their player personnel
guy or gal does. How has that, I guess position
(39:11):
evolved over the course of the last few years In Gainesville.
Speaker 4 (39:15):
They have some new hires there coming into this offseason.
I think they made two hires in that front office role. Yeah,
go to be going to be interesting to see because
I still ask how integral is that in college football
when we've been trained for so long that as the
(39:39):
head coach in all of those roles, right, and who
signs off on the final offer, and who signs off
on this offer that offer, who we're bringing in, who
we're keeping, who were who we're not keeping night.
Speaker 2 (39:50):
I still.
Speaker 4 (39:52):
And maybe every program is different, and we're going to
really have to learn as we maybe a year from now,
of what the actual roles are. Because the last signing
class was already signed by the time these guys had
come in, right early transfer portal had already been signed
by the time these new hires come in for Florida.
So I think we're still going to try to wait
(40:12):
for it, at least on Florida's angle, How does it
work for them? Because it's kind of new for Florida
and that They've had, you know, some guys in some
roles there, but this is the first time they've expanded
that general manager role general manager office there. So I'm
bigger to see, you know, recruiting if we go by.
It was off kind of to a slow start. Now
(40:32):
Florida's starting to get a little warm on the trail
as we head in the June. But it was a
little slow start for this twenty twenty sixth class. After
a flurry finish for the twenty twenty five class, I
got everybody excited softer for Florida's almost kind of wait
and see your approach because they redesigned the back end,
you know, behind the scenes for the general manager parts
(40:53):
and gener manager roles for this team.
Speaker 1 (40:55):
I'm not kidding. If we've done eight of these conversations,
we've gotten eight different answers on what the gm AT
a specific program does. And truly it has been all
over the map, and I think most programs are in
the same boat, to be honest with you, Everybody is
kind of putting their own spin on what that position
looks like. Clearly, how good a team is or isn't,
(41:17):
I think has a lot to do with it. But
it is definitely something we have to watch.
Speaker 4 (41:22):
Yeah, do we ever get to a point in college
football where a general manager has the final say of
a russ's.
Speaker 2 (41:27):
Spot over a head coach?
Speaker 1 (41:30):
Right, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (41:33):
I mean maybe down the road, but I don't don't.
Speaker 1 (41:36):
And by the way, by the way, it's not just
roles and responsibilities, but it's reporting structure too. At some
programs they are tasked with reporting to the athletic director.
At other programs they are directly reporting into the head coach.
It's somebody who is under that head guy. So it again,
there is so much variability. At some point, I suspect
(41:59):
somebody is going to have a Google sheet and they're
going to figure out exactly what the calculation is and
how much they're worth, and what the proper reporting structure
should be to optimize the whole operation. But it's just
new territory on so many different fronts. Who knows what
to expect.
Speaker 4 (42:15):
Yeah, we saw so many people try and copy the
SABAN process from that, right, and nobody, hardy ever did
it except for Kirby's Martin Georgia. So who's the first
one to figure out?
Speaker 1 (42:26):
We laughed years ago at herm Edwards when he talked
about coming in and wanting to revolutionize and build a
pro model, and granted didn't work, arguably made things worse.
But maybe we've kind of arrived at that point now
where more teams are thinking about it in terms of
pro football and not so much the version of college
football that we've come to know and love after all
these decades. Let's wind this down a little bit here
(42:48):
by getting back to the Billy Napier storyline. So, as
you mentioned a couple times now, the results maybe not
there quite yet in terms of wins and losses, but
the trajectory I think is much improved. That is the
exciting part since the last time we had you on
this program about two years ago. Bigger picture, mindful of
(43:10):
the fact that there was some uncertainty with respect to
Napier and whether or not he would be retained. Bigger
picture within the Florida community, what is Napier's standing? Has
there been any kind of vibe shift with respect to
how fans feel about him? Did last season represent something
(43:30):
of a turning point now where there is more widely
held belief that he's the guy to get this thing done.
Speaker 4 (43:37):
I still leaned towards it gave more of a willing
to wait and see approach.
Speaker 2 (43:43):
Okay, but there were.
Speaker 4 (43:46):
A big majority of the fan base after that Texas
A and M game last year was okay, it's time time,
it's time to move on. There was a lot of
reports that Florida was moving on.
Speaker 1 (43:55):
We had calls, we had calls coming into our reaverblind,
a lot of flow. The people were up in arms
about that.
Speaker 4 (44:02):
Right, so you figured it was going to happen. And then,
as our friend Josh Pate would say, Florida had the
audacity to go out there and win. So it certainly
cold the set off a bit, and like I said,
it cold it off. It extended the leash at least
for many to say, Okay, now, given we have somewhat
of an example, and that's what they're coming off of now.
(44:24):
If it had been reversed, say Florida started off hot
last year and then the exact you know, then ended
really really bad, I don't know if he has that
least he has right now.
Speaker 1 (44:35):
I think he's probably gone if that were the case, right, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (44:38):
Yeah, probably so probably so if it had been reversed.
So I think ending this season the way he did,
and don't get me wrong, and it was some big wins.
I mean, you kept LSU, for at the time was
on the outside looking in for a playoff spot. You
kept them out of a playoff spot and the SEC
maybe fight for an SEC championship spot.
Speaker 2 (44:57):
Then you kicked the old mess out of the playoff.
There are some big wins.
Speaker 4 (45:00):
And I think danfully for billion Napier was at home
as well. You had the home crowd ready for those
big wins after earlier in the season it was the
home crowd that you had to suffer through Miami in Texas,
A and m So it was an interesting dynamic there.
That's that's how it happened at home, but I think
that was a saving grace as well. And then of
course beat Florida State and win a bowl game for
(45:22):
the first time. So I think the end of last
year extended the leash a little bit and really made
Gator Nations say, all right, we'll pump the brakes.
Speaker 2 (45:31):
A little bit.
Speaker 4 (45:33):
But now let's see there's a lot of the fan
base and I've asked questions on Twitter to take it
to kind of come out the answer of we love
where this roster is at most Gator fans say, hey,
we like where the roster is. I don't know if
Billion Naper is a guy that will get nine wins
ten wins to get this team to the to the
college football playoff.
Speaker 2 (45:53):
That's where the hold up is.
Speaker 4 (45:54):
There still is a lot of trepidation about Billion Naper,
the game day coach. BILLI Naper is the play call
Can he have better time management? Can he call a
better play on third and two? Can Florida score in
late in the first half, early in the second half?
Can Florida win the middleway? I mean, it's just been
those little dynamics that you look at for a football
(46:15):
coach that makes the difference that he really hasn't made
that difference for showing he can make that difference yet.
Is it just a matter of Okay, now he's got
his talent and he'll be able to show those things.
So there's still a lot of questions. I hate to
kind of cop out and take the easy way out,
but when you have a coach that's five hundred right
(46:36):
now and a lot of people will acknowledge, you know,
what he had to dig out from from under Dan Mullen.
There's still a lot of questions of can he be
the guy with this roster, his handpit quarterback, so many
pieces returning to get the most out of a roster
that he's built.
Speaker 1 (46:57):
With his roster, with his quarterback, with this brutal schedule
I'm looking at right now. Okay, so they play same
SEC opponents as last season, but now there are road
trips to LSU to A and M to Old Miss.
In addition to that, those are three teams that should
be pretty good in their own right. You've got Texas,
(47:17):
You've got Georgia, You've got Tennessee, even Florida State. Maybe
Florida State can get its act together this year. Who
knows how many wins for you represent genuine progress versus
what is the realistic expectation? Looking at this slate? Are
they the same thing?
Speaker 2 (47:37):
You read?
Speaker 4 (47:37):
In my mind, I was gonna say they're the same thing.
Nine to three yet bare minimum?
Speaker 1 (47:41):
Okay? Is that realistic?
Speaker 2 (47:43):
I think it is.
Speaker 4 (47:44):
Okay, I think it is. It's her four, it's Tom.
We understand the schedule is tough, but if Florida's on
the right track, you overcome it. I mean, I think
that's the expectation most of Gator Nation had has set,
has set for Billy Naper and that We've had this
fascinating conversation like this on the on our discord on
(48:06):
Gator's Breakdown Plus, and it's just like one of the
users has asked, would you be happy if Florida was
Old Miss last year? If you lose three games in
late in the season, you miss out on the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (48:19):
I think you would take that, wouldn't you? Given where
Florida has been?
Speaker 4 (48:22):
I think most most most did, And as you said,
kind of where Florida has been. When you look at
it and take kind of record away from it, a
lot of people say, no, it's your four. I won't
playoff no matter what. I don't care if it's And look,
maybe Florida gets the benefit of the doubt that Bama
South Carolina the Old Miss, didn't last year because of
(48:43):
the schedule. Maybe, and of course you got to see
what happens around you with other teams as well. But
I think most people looking at that schedule and say
nine to three we should be good enough for Florida
in a playoff spot.
Speaker 1 (48:55):
Well, look, there's no Oklahoma or Vandy to lose to
on this schedule, so they should be fine, you.
Speaker 4 (49:02):
Think so, you think so, but yeah, I think most
of it even you know what, you can admit both times,
both things at the same time. It is a very
tough schedule. Nobody is denying that fact. But this might
be your best shot.
Speaker 2 (49:18):
And I know you might.
Speaker 4 (49:19):
I know, you get DJ log Way back next year,
and you get this exciting receiver group returning next year.
But as I mentioned, all the Trench players that return
on both sides of the ball, and they retain this
roster to make it run this year, you got you'll
have some heavy roster turnover for the twenty twenty sixth season. Now,
maybe the schedule eases up, and who knows what the
(49:40):
playoff format it is, maybe you get it anyway. But
at the same time, I think with the twelve team
expanded playoff and what most just think it's time. It's
been too long to end up in a twelve team playoff.
But I think record wise it starts nine to three.
If it's eight and four, and maybe depending on the wins,
(50:02):
maybe if you get a win over Georgia and that's
part of your eight wins, you buy some Gator fans
off with that. But I think I think nine and
three from from all the talks that I've had and
even my own personal feelings a bit. I think nine
and three is that that magic record that would show
clear progress whether I guess if you make the playoff
or not.
Speaker 1 (50:22):
Okay, his name is David Waters. You can find all
his fine work out at Gator's Breakdown podcast website, YouTube channel.
Is there anything else that we should mention while we're
here before we let you go?
Speaker 4 (50:36):
Know, just follow recruiting all throughout the summer. Vacation's coming up.
But we got Hey, we got a big event if
you're if you're a Gator fan and if you listen
to other podcasts out there, High Top Sports Stadium and
GIL late July, we're gonna have a big event in
Gainesville or calling it the Independent Gator Media Day. Uh
so we're trying to get players involved, former players, all
that good stuff. You can look at the link for
(50:57):
my stuff. But we're trying to right after sec ME,
today's kind of gonna hold our own little little shindig.
They're in Gainsville, so I'll be able to look out
for that.
Speaker 1 (51:05):
That's awesome again, check out David's work Gators Breakdown. I
got a command you man, it's very thorough. You can
tell that you are passionate about the team. I read
you as often as I can whenever I need to
know anything about Florida football. So keep doing what you're doing.
It's always a pleasure to have you back on here.
And maybe next time we'll have a nine to three
season or better to talk about.
Speaker 4 (51:27):
Hopefully, so maybe Flannna is fine for that playoffs spot
and then we can have some conversation going.
Speaker 2 (51:31):
Along that way.
Speaker 1 (51:32):
You know it, David Waters again, check him out. Thank
you as always for your time. All right, Dan, let's
bring it back home. Yes, for those wondering who listened
to the last forty five or so minutes, Dan was
not part of the interview, but Dan is now part
of the outro. Just the way we work things here
on the show. As I said at the very top,
(51:55):
I really appreciate Dave's perspective on all things Florida because
he is extremely comprehensive in his coverage. Yes, and so
he is one of those guys we all have these
different sources that we turn to when we have a
question about a team to see what they're saying, to
see what is going on at a moment in time.
(52:17):
David is my guy for all things Florida nice, so
I'm thrilled that we had him on the program. Would
encourage everybody to go out and check his work out
at Gators Breakdown dot com. Pleasure as always to bring
him on the show.
Speaker 3 (52:31):
Since I haven't listened to it yet, was this year's
schedule broached?
Speaker 1 (52:36):
Yeah, of course I.
Speaker 3 (52:38):
Counted I think seven plausible playoff conversation teams on this schedule,
given that Miami is one of the non conference opponents. Yeah,
on this schedule, it's listen, it's a brutal slate. It's something,
It's an absolutely brutal slate. It's the same SEC opponents
from a year ago, but it's mixing and matching.
Speaker 1 (52:57):
A little bit with where they're playing some of these bonents.
And of course the big question I pose this one
to David as well, what is the reasonable expectation for
this team? What will represent progress for this team? And
his answer was nine and three, Sure, you will get
the schedule. Nine and three is going to be a climb.
Nine and three maybe gets you on the periphery of
(53:18):
the playoff discussion. I don't know, but nine and three
certainly with this schedule puts you well within the conversation
of the top fifteen if they can get there. But
a lot is riding on the receiver room, a younger
receiver room, finding ways to get pop. A lot of
this is riding on their defense continuing to take strides forward,
not the least of which is DJ Lagway on the
(53:40):
offensive side of the ball apparently now healthy, good to go,
just had a tired shoulder, but he is definitely that
big name that Billy Napier is hanging a lot, a
lot on, So we shall see. I'm excited to see
what the future has in store for the Florida Gators
this year in twenty twenty five. Of course, would encourage
everybody out there if you've got thoughts on what you
(54:00):
heard or just on some of your own prep that
you're doing in advance of the season with respect to Florida,
hit us up solid verbal at gmail dot com. You
can of course reach out on social media as well,
and last but not least, for ballers dot com is
where you can go if you want to further support
out on the patreon.
Speaker 3 (54:17):
Dan Well the good news whether or not nine and
three gets Florida to the periphery of the playoff. The
good news is we're two, maybe three short years away
from Greg Sankie insisting on like nine auto bids for
the SEC. Hear me out, hear me out, hear me out.
We've gone to thirty eight playoff teams. Thirty eight In
(54:39):
that case, it's literally every team in the SEC is
going to get an auto bid. We're not that far
off from a nine and three team that played in
the SEC getting an autobid no matter what, even if
they finished fifth or sixth.
Speaker 2 (54:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (54:50):
I mean, there are so many hot button topics floating
around the College of Believer right now that it's truly
tough to keep track of. That's why we're here. We're
doing our best to keep everybody up the speed as
best we can, but we do miss things. If we
do again, please reach out let us know.
Speaker 3 (55:06):
I have one more sidebar about the Florida Gators. Yes, please,
upon Florida adding permanently won't back down by Tom Petty
between the third and fourth quarters. I think it is
so killer. I think it is such a killer thing
that Florida fans and the swamp do. It sounds great,
It's a great sing along song getting the phone lights
(55:28):
out there. I think it is an absolute value add
to this sport.
Speaker 1 (55:33):
That's a value add. You know what else is a
value add? Please, we had a chance to witness this
when we're up at Michigan. Mister Brightside, mister Brightside is great.
That was frigging cool. I've seen The Killers multiple times.
Maybe it's cliche, but geez brag much. I've always liked
The Killers. Yeah, one of my favorite songs. Ever. The
fact that now they play that at Michigan, maybe it
(55:53):
doesn't have the same gravitas for the youth of America
the way it did for people of your generation, Dan,
but nonetheless, it was a really cool scene when they
play that up at Michigan.
Speaker 2 (56:04):
I enjoyed it.
Speaker 3 (56:05):
I think that's like a new not just Michigan song.
I think that is just a full on new sports
anthem in the way that's Seven Nation Army like songs
like that, Like that song has been taken from The
Killers and sort of bestowed upon sports fans everywhere. That's
it's just an anthemic song, and that Michigan's using it
is terrific.
Speaker 1 (56:23):
It's great, awesome, all right, Well, big thanks again to
David Waters. Go and check out Gator Dave at gators
breakdown dot com. Not just the website, not just the podcast,
but also YouTube. He is all over the place, does
a great job covering the Gators. We will definitely have
him on again sometime soon. In the meantime, hit fall,
(56:43):
hit subscribe, leave a star, rating or review wherever you can.
Of course, we appreciate that for that guy with there,
Dad Rubinstein, For myself, Ty Hildon Bray, I'll catch you
all next episode. Stay saw peace,
Welcome to the solid verbal.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Home that for me.
Speaker 3 (00:06):
I'm a man, I'm for I've heard so many players say, well,
I want to be happy.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
You want to be happy for a day? Edith state,
is that? Whoo whoom and then and tie?
Speaker 1 (00:18):
All right, Dan, time for it, Time and talk to
some Florida Gators of today's episode. It's been a minute
since we dedicated an episode to the Gators. I think
today is the day. We are very excited to have
our good friend on from Gators Breakdown. Gator Dave David
Water is going to be stopping by here momentarily to
give us the lowdown on all things going on in Gainesville.
(00:40):
How are you?
Speaker 3 (00:41):
I'm good, very excited. He's not going to join us,
He's going to join you. I don't want people listening
to this right now and saying I would never like
to hear what Ty hilden Brandt has to ask a
Florida Gator expert. Thank god Dan's on here to balance
out this equation. I'm not on this interview. My schedule
(01:04):
has been sort of influx childcare wise. So Ty is
just an American hero for recording this one solo. And
I personally I don't listen. I don't like listening back
to the show because I don't like like hearing my
voice and hearing what I have to say. Maybe that's
something I have in common with listeners. I'm very excited
to hear this interview with you and Gator Dave, who
(01:24):
you said was terrific.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
He's terrific. Finally got you out of the way. I
can ask the questions that I want to ask. Yeah,
of data and way of the Florida Gators. Yeah, this
interview was conducted like a day or two ago. We're
recording this a little bit later on in the week.
It's going to go live for the public on Tuesday morning.
And I've been a big fan of Dave's work for
(01:46):
a while now. He's just really thorough and you could
tell has a genuine passion for covering the team and
getting to the bottom of some of these stories. So
when we had him on last time about two years ago,
I think I immediately said to you afterwards, we gotta
have David back on again at some point soon. Didn't
do it for two years. Now it is twenty twenty five,
(02:08):
but it comes at I think a very pivotal time
for anybody who follows college football and is interested in
the Florida Gators. There is a lot at stake in
twenty twenty five, and as we've been going through and
doing some of these team conversations, we'd be remiss to
not examine what's going on down there with Billy Napier
and Gainesville.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Oh absolutely, and with some of the recent years of
Florida football. That Gator Dave is just as locked in
as ever, just as passionate, just as much as an
artisan about Florida Gators football coverage. Todd Grantham has done
some things to people tie and that Gator Dave is
(02:48):
still here, still locked in, made it through, made it through.
I have nothing but the highest level of respect for it.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
We're gonna have a long conversation here with Dave momentarily.
If you are new here, If you're tuning in for
the first time, thank you so much, Hit subscribe, hit
follow wherever it is you can. If you're interested in
further supporting with Dan and I do, you can go
on out to Verballers dot com. V E R B
A L L E r s dot com. We've got
a Patreon community, We've got a Discord community that's attached
(03:18):
to it. You get episodes without the ads, bonus episodes,
so on and so forth. And with that, we are
very pleased to welcome back to the Solid Verbal Gator Dave.
It is David Waters from the Gators Breakdown podcast and
YouTube channel and website. He's all over, Welcome back to the show,
mister Waters. How are you, my good friend.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
I'm good, I'm good. Thanks for having me back on.
I am a consistent listener of you guys, you know,
just listening to what I gotta zoom out from all
the Gator coverage. I'd certainly check into the Solid Verbal,
enjoy the banter between you two guys, and certainly looking
forward to talk to some Gators.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
But hell to let you guys know I am. I
am a listener as well. Well, thank you.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
We appreciate that, you know, we appreciate that. I want
to know what's the vibe bin among Florida people this spring?
What's the vibe bin among the Harmonic Woods tailgaters this spring?
Speaker 4 (04:12):
It was a little stubdue tailgate for the Spring Gay
the last time we all got together. But yeah, that's
a fun group, always is, you know, it's every home game.
The mayor of the tailgate getting there five thirty six
o'clock in the morning and setting it all up, so
we're all ready for that when Florida kicks off against
Long Island there to start the season. But yeah, Vibegator Nation.
(04:35):
Of course, I'm excited coming out of that that win
streak of the twenty twenty four season, beating LSU, beaten
Old Miss and now of course got a returning quarterback
there with DJ Lagway. A lot of returners on both
sides of the ball, so it gets you know, the
Getter Nation excited. A lot of questions still surrounding this
program as well, specifically building Aprier the head coach leading
(04:56):
it all, but the vibe is as good as it
has been since really Naper took over.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
That's good news. I wanted to ask about Lagway though
before we hit record. You were like, yeah, we've been
We've been covering this story and people have been asking
about DJ Lagway for a good majority of the spring.
What what is the status of DJ Lagway.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
Well, the good thing is we just had SEC spring
meetings and of course Billion Napery was going to be
asked about that at SEC spring meetings and said, hey,
look he's throwing. I mean, hey, even through the exact
number out two hundred and ten times a week, three
days of the week, throwing two hundred and ten times.
He goes, hey, look if if we didn't even go
through the storyline of spring, that's what he would be
(05:37):
doing anyway. So there's the latest on DJ Lagway. Everything's aok,
one hundred percent, full steam, ready to go. Billiy Napery
did tell us right after the spring game and kind
of the last press conference of spring that hey, look, yeah,
not throwing, not now, but when June comes around, that's
when his goal. That's when he'll be throwing. Man, blow
and behold, you know, June starts, and then here we
(05:57):
are getting the report that Dja Laguays will ready to go,
So certainly kind of shots away, And of course I
think it's going to hang in the back of mind.
I think, given the huge you got your five star quarterback,
so much just riding on this season, so much as
riding on DJ Lagway, you go through an entire spring
where he doesn't throw, it's going to hang in the
back of everybody's mind until they you know, the team
(06:19):
lines up and you see Lagway. You know, of course
go back and rear one seventy five yards like he's
been known to do.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Yeah, I mean, what was the official diagnosis there? I
feel like there was a lot of playing KOI with
what was or wasn't I guess in this case wrong
with him? What what? What was the official word there?
Speaker 2 (06:39):
Shoulder tiredness?
Speaker 4 (06:41):
Okay, put him on a pitch count, That's what I mean,
because it's kind of there, but it dates back to uh,
and I think it was a high school injury that
kind of dates back to and and of course he
was early enrollly at Florida as his freshman year, so
certainly go through spring practice and and then I think
toward toward towards the beginning or towards the end of
(07:01):
the season and having that winning stretch and he's playing
against LSU and playing against Old Miss, I think something
happened in one of those games. And and you could
see credit to those defenses too. Uh. You know, Florida
ran the ball really well, but did limit lagway. I mean,
he still had some spectacular and outstanding plays along the way,
but there wasn't a lot of the deep shots. There
(07:23):
wasn't a lot of you know, you know, rearing back
and throwing one way down the field. I do think
something happened along in that little stretch of l s
u old miss uh. But I think everything's a okay
from you know, talking behind the scenes, talking to people
in the know that it should be should be pretty
(07:44):
fine for DJ Lagway moving forward.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
That's good. That's good news. DJ went six and one
is the starter I guess could have been seven and
oh if he doesn't get hurt against Georgia.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
Who knows six and oh in games he's starting, finished six.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
And oh games started to finish, there we go, Florida
finish is eight and five. As he said, some good
late season momentum the defense. We can talk maybe a
little bit later about what clicked there, but real tangible
momentum at the end of the season. Did you see
the progress that you were hoping for as somebody who
(08:16):
follows this team as intimately as you do.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
Took a while to get there, but yes, I mean
you can't forget the gaffs and the really uninspiring performances
to start the season against Miami in Texas A and
m I mean those two games in the swamp. You
have your home crowd you're going to getst Mario Crystal Ball,
who's in the same year as doing neighbor to both
get hired in the same year, and you just get blasted.
And then Texas A and m happens, and then there's
(08:40):
billion Neiapiers. No, there's no way as millionaper survives this.
He's getting fired. They're just saving up the money for
the perfect time and he's gone, and lo and behold
day they started playing better. You started seeing signs, and
then the wins came, like you could have shoot a
wood against Tennessee and Knoxville played, like you said, played
tough versus Georgia. Lagway goes down. Who knows the outcome
(09:02):
of that game. Now, then a week later to go
get blasted against Texas and it's like, okay, well maybe
this thing isn't heading.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
The right way.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
And then return home, have two big games and rally
around to beat LSU one week and carry out momentum
to beaten Ole Miss the next week. So certainly in
that November stretch, you saw the progress that you were
looking for, and mainly on the defensive side.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
Of the football. I mean, you saw.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
The you saw the potential of the offense when Lagway
started coming in the big play potential, when and the
offensive line started finding their groove and opening up running
lands for Jaden Ball and Jacobe Jackson in Montreal, Johnson,
you started seeing signs there. But that win streak at
the end of the season doesn't happen if the defense
doesn't start playing better. They really become a monster up
(09:48):
front led by katleb Bates and Tyreeks happen. That really
just made the difference. Now, they did live a little
on the ben don't break style of lsu Ole Miss.
Both still garnered a whole bunch of yardage, but once
you got close to the red zoning and end zone
and started going for fourth down conversions and miss field goals,
you know that defense really did its jobs so that
(10:09):
it doesn't happen without that defense really doing their part
late and late in the season.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Yeah, I mean, I was looking back to the last
time we had you on. It was about two years ago,
a little bit over two years ago. And when we
do these team specific talks, we tend to highlight things
like gaps, what needs to be fixed, can this team
get better? What will it take for this team to
level up? The last time you were on. It was like, yeah,
it's the defense. Defense needs to get fixed. Defense let
(10:36):
them down. It was just a conversation about defense, very
matter of factly. To your point, Florida had a really
strong close to its season let in large part because
of that defense, which gave up an average of thirteen
points per game down the stretch. What clicked? Why did
it get better all of a sudden?
Speaker 4 (10:54):
You talked to players, You talked to the coaches, been
really talking to the players. I say, go back to
that first bye week and that was before for the
UCF game, I believe, and they said, hey, look we
went we went to the coaches and I mean, it
kind of stinks that it took this, but we went
to the coaches and say, hey, we demand more accountability,
we want practice to be tough for we want more competition.
(11:15):
And the coaches listened to them, and that was the
That was the first sign. And like I said, you
started seeing it. They were still losing games, but you
started seeing a group that was playing better, and it
finally clicked there at the end. But to me, it
really was. It was eye opening to see how how
fast they were able to turn around and it clicked
up front on defense, because I think it really started
(11:37):
there and with Kayleb Banks and Tyreek Sap and you
had a group of young edge players with Jack Pieburn
who's now at LSU, t J Seriars he's at Texas
A and M but then transferred. George Gumms comes along
and it was a group that really played played well
up front, and it was an LSU team that comes
into the swamp that No Smier wasn't getting touched, he
was not getting sacked a lot, and I think Floyda
had six sacks in the game. I think LSU had
(11:58):
given up six all scenes going into that game. So
it was a I think it was a lot of
a lot of in a right way finger pointing. I
think it was our accountability that just really needed to
be unleashed, revealed in the locker room. And I think
let's not forget too Farnder brought in Ron Roberts right
a defensive coordinator and Ralston Armstrong he kind of was
(12:23):
co DC and really title only they had the executives.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
As I'm gonna watch the title, but it was like
executive assistant coach, CO defensive coordinator. Obviously, Ron Roberts has
a lot of experience, and then how that worked together
with Austin Armstrong, was, I know, a big talking point
coming into the season. Austin Armstrong, by the way, has
now since gone off to Houston where he's going to
be the defensive coordinator. Is there any concern that that
(12:50):
will kill some of the momentum we did see down
the stretch or is it not even crossing your mind?
Speaker 4 (12:56):
Not even crossing the mind, because it kind of going
to that point when Florida they moved Ron Roberts upstairs.
He was on the sideline for those first few games
against Miami, against Texas A and m where it didn't
look good. They changed in things little less responsibility for
Austin Armstrong, more responsibility for Ron Roberts, and you started
seeing it click as the season went on.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
So I mean you start looking at it.
Speaker 4 (13:18):
This is the first time under billyon Naper that are
returning DC, that he has a returning DC. You go
back to Patrick Tony in year one and they bring
in Austin Armstrong, and then the year three it was
Ron Roberts basically the overseer with Austin Armstrong still there,
but now Ron Roberts returns and he is the guy,
he is the voice. A little more coaching changes on
the defensive side of the ball, but you still have
(13:39):
the same voice of Ron Roberts, the overseer there. So
I think because you give him a lot of credit
for the reason of the turnaround last year and you
feel kind of hopeful that it continues this year.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
For the defense, Florida wasn't super active in the transfer portal.
I think I saw only five guys coming in. They
had much more transfer out. But it does beg the question,
I think on the defensive side of the ball, if
the development of the guys who are on the roster,
who have been on the roster is going to be
enough in and of itself to get this defense to
(14:10):
the next level. How do you feel about the returning
cast of characters. Would you have liked to see more
portal action to try and boost things on the defensive
side of the ball for sure.
Speaker 4 (14:21):
On the back end, I think so Florida's fighting injuries
since the end of last season. Going in the spring
practic was a ton of injuries there on the back end.
And mean Devin Moore, he actually went through spring. He's
Florida's cornerback one after Jason Marshall left. But Devin Moore
really good player, can be I think one of the
SEC's best corner He just can't stay healthy. He cannot
(14:42):
stay on the field. He's been in He's fought the
injury bug his whole time at Florida, fought it last
year as well. But he's going to be cornerback one
this year. And then you got a probably maybe a
little batter with cornerback two Dejon Johnson in some off
field trouble. He's fighting an injury as well, but the
off field trouble should be a okay here, he'll he'll play,
There's no worry there. But you got a bat between
(15:04):
him and Cornminum McLean, the former five star transfer from Colorado.
Of course, that that can be a battle there from
the cornerback two spot.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
But Florida's got to get better at safety.
Speaker 4 (15:14):
And you know I mentioned that the poor performances against
Miami in Texas A and m A lot of that
was called the big plates on the back.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
End that they were giving up.
Speaker 4 (15:21):
And Jordan Castele returns, Bryce Storton returns, You hope Jordan Castel,
who's played as since he was a true freshman in
year three. Now that he takes the necessary steps, Bryce
Storton continues to improve. But it's just been a group
that fought a lot of injuries, weren't able to really
get a cohesive unit all through spring practice. So I
(15:42):
think that's the biggest question. That's where I probably would
have liked them them to hit the transfer a portal
more uh but and also maybe defensive tackle. They did
bring in Brendan Bett from Baylor with some departures, but
before him, Florida tried to go get Kishawn Silver from
Kentucky out of to transfer a portal hero Canoe who
ended up going to ten See as or Texas as well.
So you could tell Florida was made a concerted effort
(16:04):
to go get a defensive tackle. They finally got one
and bring the bet towards the end of the spring portal.
But they didn't have to hit the spring portal or
the portal in general too hard because Kayleb Banks return,
Tyreek Sap return, I mean, going for both sides of
the football, Florida made a concerted effort more so than
attacked the transfer portal through ni L it was let's
(16:25):
use our nil to retain guys four or five offensive line.
In return, you bring back Tyreek Sap Kayla Banks. Along
the defensive line, Florida's really bush on their linebacker. Course,
they can go four deep there between Pup Howard, jayd
and Robinson, Miles Graham and Aaron Chiles. So it's the
front seven Florida feels pretty good about. Maybe the depth
along the middle of the defensive line is the biggest concern,
(16:48):
but it's it's a group I think that's going that
could have to continue to play well. I think to
make up for a secondary and maybe it does look
a lot like the November stretch the LSU the Old
Miss games. They gave up some yardage, but the bend
don't break style wins out. I don't know how consistent
that can be throughout an entire season. That would be
my biggest order for this defense is not necessarily taking
(17:11):
the steps and having to live in that bend don't
break style. I think there's some quarterbacks and some defenses.
I can take our offenses. I can take advantage of that.
But if I go back to the transfer portal probably
would have been a little more aggressive. They brought in
Michael Carroll Away from Southern miss as the only guy
in the secondary who's a first of all piece there.
But you know they're banking on retention more so than
(17:33):
they than they do the transfer portal.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
Yeah, I mean there was definitely a heavy emphasis on
high school recruiting this cycle. Like I said, only a
handful of guys came in via the portal. Bigger picture,
not just defense, but bigger picture, given your knowledge of
the roster more holistically, was that the right approach? Did
they plug the holes that they needed to plug, either
via the portal via high school recruiting to kind of
(17:58):
give them the depth and the content annuity that they need,
you know, whether it's going light on transfers or just
going a little heavier on the high school side. Did
they accomplish the objective?
Speaker 2 (18:10):
I think so.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
I mean, we'll see how consistent it is, but I
do think for this twenty twenty five season they hit it,
and I think so. As I mentioned four or five
offensive lineman returning, you were able to retain Austin Barber,
you were able to retain Jake Slaughter the All American
center he returns, and then Damien George as well.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Nije Harris.
Speaker 4 (18:29):
That's for your five offensive lineman, and they feel really
good about Bryce Loving at right tackle. But you get
to pair that with a quarterback that returns in DJ Lagway,
a running game that returns Jaden Ball in Jakobe Jackson,
and then it's a receiver group that's got to take
the step. But you love the potential there to go
get a deep threat like Jmichael Sturnvant out of the
transfer a portal, but they are really excited about Vernal
(18:51):
Brown the third and Dallas Wilson, a true freshman at
wide receiver to pair with a returning Trey Wilson, and
as I mentioned, Jmichael sturt of it eight miles, they'll
hopefully a breakout candidate there as well for receivers. So
probably feel they can go pretty deep there at potential
of the playmaking ability at the wide receiver spot. But
I think once Farda was able to and the staff
(19:14):
was able to say, hey, we got four or five
offensive line return there's a lot to like in the
trenches on both sides of the ball. But once we
get once we get that, we can we can play
our style of football. And there's been this big conundrum
of Billy Naper the play caller, right that you like
where the roster is, but it's Billy Naper to play caller.
Can he unleash a quarterback like DJ Lagway? Can he
(19:36):
unleash the potential of this wide receiver group? So I
think paired with how they were able to construct this
roster and develop receivers and develop an offensive line in
a run game that the staff is really good at
in that side of building an offense, they're gonna want
the Billy Naper loves to live off that play action
(19:56):
they get near midfield and it's forty yard line, fifty
yard line. He loves that play action first down, deep
shot when you've got the talent to be able to
do that. But a lot of Gator Nations looking for
more than that. When you talk about explosivity, and the
way I look at it is, can you, I think
(20:16):
with this roster and especially on the offensive side of
the ball, can you be able to dictate what you
want to do? A lot of people would want to
no matter what. This is an Orange and Blue, this
is a Gator Nation. This is a go back to
Steve Spurrier and fun and gun. They want to throw
the ball forty forty five times, no matter what, no
matter who's on the sideline.
Speaker 1 (20:35):
Force the issue.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
This is the fourth issue.
Speaker 4 (20:38):
But my thing is with this offensive style, just be
able to dictate what you want to do. If you
need to throw the ball forty forty five times to
win the game, be able to do so. If you
need to line up and run the ball fifty times
behind a really good offensive line and running back, be
able to do so so. For me, when I look
at aggression and the criticism of ability aapor to play caller,
it's just be able to dictate what you want to do.
(21:00):
If you want to pass, be able to pass, if
you want to run, be able to run.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
Well, you know better than anybody in the SEC that
it starts up front. If you can't build an offensive
line in the SEC, you're pretty much dead to rights.
And as you've mentioned here a couple times, this is
an offensive line that did show massive improvement. I think
the last time we had you on the conversation was
about past protection. Last year. There was a big jump,
(21:24):
big jump forward in all the protection stats that we
tend to look at. Sacks allowed, how much time a
quarterback had to throw things of that nature, if you
really want to get granular about it. They also played
better individually, not just as a unit. And there's a
lot back this season, as you've mentioned, So from your
vantage point, what represents the next step forward for this line?
(21:49):
More specifically, how will we know? How will I know,
as not necessarily a Florida Gator diehard, how will I
know if the line gets to that level? What will
be the tell?
Speaker 4 (22:01):
I think the start of the season, for one, you
go back and I hate heard it's almost a tael
of two seasons for Florida.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
Last year.
Speaker 4 (22:08):
You had the early season, you had the early season miscues,
and then the big wins late. But it's getting off
to a better start. I mean not only I talked
about how bad the defense was earlier, but a big
part of why the offense struggled in the early season
against Miami and Texas A and m was too because
they couldn't block anybody. Now they rotated a whole bunch
of people. And Billy Naper has kind of going back
(22:28):
and say, look, you know one reason we've done that
is because think about college football now and think about
how many miles you have to fee TheInk a matter
how many players you have to make happy to get
playing time now, and Florida rotated and tried to get
other guys them playing time, and I think that did
them in. Earlier in the season, they finally settled on five,
they finally wanted to move forward, would play in a
set offensive line, and I think that paid dividends throughout
(22:51):
the season as those five were playing more and more
football together. But I think getting off to a better
start now Florida finally gets the benefit. And think about it,
this is the first time on a billion apier. They're
not opening up with Utah. They're not opening up at Utah,
they're not opening up with Miami. Funny gainst Long Island,
you'll take finally your break for billion Aprier and then
(23:13):
USLF week two, and then you get back to back
road trips at LSU and then at Miami. Right, So
it's gonna take a few weeks to probably see have
they made that jump. But a lot of people are
gonna go back and look at how are they gonna
start because last year was a brutal start for this
offensive line. We're gonna have to get to baton rouge.
(23:33):
Maybe that's not the best barometer when you have ninety
five thousand people in death valleys screaming the you know
it's already sept for a night game. We already know
the situation it's going to be for a Florida offensive
line trying to figure out, you know, communication and look,
that's the biggest road game. Djlagwise will have started. He
(23:55):
played at Tennessee last year, but he didn't start that game.
Played at FSU last year, but she wasn't any good.
That's going to be a hostile environment there for DJ
Lagway and an offensive line that they haven't played a
ton together, about half a season together last year. So
I think there's a lot of questions. But I think
what we're going to look for probably a Marcus consistency.
(24:16):
Can they start better and keep it up. They weren't
able to do that last year, even if it's Florida State.
They probably gave up a little more pressure than I
would have liked against you for an offensive line that
was playing pretty well going into that game. FSU had
a pretty good defensive line at the time, But think
J Lagway I think helped that offensive line looked a
little better by escaping sacks, by escaping pressure and that
(24:38):
was DJ Lagway, not one hundred percent being able to
do those things. So I do think there is a
next step of four Marcus consistency. Still in the passwalking category,
I do think running the ball billion Apier, rob Sel, Johnson, DaCosta,
the offensive line coaches, there's a pretty good baseline for
what they're able.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
To do in the run game.
Speaker 4 (24:57):
But it's a more consistent passion or a pass blocking
pass blocking for DJ Laguay that I'll.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
Be looking for.
Speaker 1 (25:04):
Yeah, and as you mentioned, I want to unpack the
receiver thing because it jumped off the page to me
that this is one of the more interesting, let's say,
youthful receiver rooms in the country. I don't need to
go back through and recite the names, but I do
want to harken back to something I think you tweeted
out back in December about Dallas Wilson and Vernell Brown
(25:25):
the third that they are two of the seven best
receivers since the year two thousand to step foot on
campus in Gainesville. So in terms of incoming star power,
it's there with the freshman you mentioned, Trey Wilson coming back,
j Michael Sturtevant transfers in to give them more of
a veteran presence. In addition to that, more to the
point of Gator Nation maybe wanting to open up the
(25:48):
offense a little bit more. We know that, but that
both Ross Russ Callaway excuse me, and Steve Spurrier Junior
do have some influence over this offense. Calaway is a
former Air Raid quarterback. Spurge, You're has some experience as
well with Mike Leach, with Kevin Wilson in that style
of offense. What are the odds that Florida does open
(26:09):
up the offense to a greater degree than we're used
to seeing under Billion Apier.
Speaker 4 (26:14):
I think it has to be a little bit because
of once you have a quarterback and we saw the
deep downfield success like we was able to have, and
you have a group you've recruited a group of receivers
that should give you the ability to do that. A
Jamichael Sturtivan and I mean I had Billion Apriil on
the podcast in late January early February, and when we're
(26:37):
talking about Jamichailsturtvan, I mean he really points out that, hey,
we went and got this guy to be a deep threat.
He is going to be our downfield threat, and Florida
lost Elijah Badger, who was near tops in the SEC
in yards per catch. Chim Rey Dka I believe was
top ten, top fifteen as well, But a lot of
that had to come with the quarterback change from Graham
(26:59):
murch d Jaway that that wasn't part of the offense
until DJ Lagway took over. You didn't know if the
receivers had that until DJ Lagway was the guy in there.
So they identified a guy who could do the same
things that Elijah Badger can do down the field. And
like I said, that's they want to be able to
stretch the field. And I think Aid Minsel is he's
(27:20):
kind of been that guy. He's in his third year
and he's been that guy since he's a true freshman.
This is gonna be the guy that breaks out. This
is gonna be the guy that breaks out. This is
gonna be the guy that breaks out. Eventually, it's got
to happen. Doesn't happen this year. You're looking at a
guy who we're still wondering about and so but you
paired Trey Wilson. I think so integral to this offense.
(27:43):
I mean, really with a lot of the fan base,
and I think pundits want to see from Trey Wilsons.
Can he be a true receiver. We've seen the gadget plays,
We've seen the reverses and the sweeps, we've seen the screens.
Can he be a true receiver?
Speaker 1 (27:57):
You know?
Speaker 4 (27:57):
Can he take a can you run the slant route
third and six and get the first down? But can
he be a downfield weapon himself? I mean, so, I
think for Trey Wilson, it's taking that next step and
being a leader but also being a true wide receiver
in that regard. But then talked about the freshman there,
and that's not how I forget about Nashwan Montgomery as well
for the adds to that group, and Florida added really
(28:19):
high level receivers and we got to see it in
the spring game. I mean, Dallas Wilson ten catches a
couple of scores. Harrison Bailey's throwing him the ball, so
you get an Inkley go of what he met Mike
can do with dj Lagway. But what you're hoping for
is there is a repeat of what we saw last year.
You go back to a year ago and you had
Jade Ball at running back as a true freshman in
(28:40):
the spring game doing some really really good things, but
you get in trouble sometimes with the spring game heroes.
Do they ever show it in the regular season, and
Jade Ball, as a true freshman, showed it. Florida is
hoping for the same thing with Dallas Wilson, And I
think what gives you a hope there is you heard
all along spring practice about how good those true freshman
receivers were, and then you get to the spring game
and see it firsthand. Well, Dallas Wilson was able to
(29:02):
do after catch, the physicality he was able to possess
that you can get in trouble spring A spring game
can get you in trouble for the spring game star.
But given the recruiting profile, given everything we heard for
the month leading up to the spring game, it gives
you a hope that Dallas Wilson and Rodelle Brown the
third can really be those guys that show up right
away as true freshman.
Speaker 2 (29:22):
At the receivers part, I know.
Speaker 1 (29:24):
That Napier historically has liked a lot of twelve personnel,
one running back, two tight ends, that type of thing.
There has to be a desire to get more receivers
on the field. Given all these options, I mean, especially
after the spring game with hype being at a fever
pitch for a guy like a Dallas, well like, they
have to find a way to do more with the
(29:44):
receiver room given the fact that they just have, I
think so many options that they're excited about.
Speaker 4 (29:50):
Right, and people will say always never open it up.
Good back to Louisiana, go back to earlier. I'm like,
he's never recruited receivers like this either, or he's never
had receive it, never had a quarterback like this either.
Speaker 1 (30:00):
So I get it. History, none of us stops. He's
never had this.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
Right, none, And so I get the trepidation. I really do.
Speaker 4 (30:09):
I mean, history's a lot of times the best indicator
of what's going to happen. But I guess that is
an ultimate question. Can he adapt? Is he willing to adapt?
Is he willing to change? He wants to make an
easy for his quarterback. Every offense wants.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
To do that.
Speaker 4 (30:24):
But there's gonna have to be a time, I really
believe it, whether he wants to or not, there's gonna
have to be a time where you need like way
to throw forty forty five times and this receiver step
up and go.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
Win a ball game.
Speaker 1 (30:35):
Yeah, especially to.
Speaker 4 (30:36):
See especially, Yes, you're gonna just I don't know if
it's gonna be a weekend and week out thing, but
you're gonna have to have the ability to do it.
If you want to be a if you want to
be in Atlanta, if you want to be fighting for
one of those twelve college football playoff spots, You're going
to have to be able to do those things in
the passing game.
Speaker 2 (30:53):
If Florida wants to win some games, we.
Speaker 1 (30:55):
Could sit here and talk to her blue in the
face about what DJ lab can do on the field.
I'm curious, though, especially in this era of college football
where there is just so much movement, what has been
his effect on things like recruiting, What has been his
effect on things like just roster of attention, keeping guys
(31:18):
on the roster, avoiding having them transfer out. You know,
when you find your guy, it tends to have far
reaching impacts that maybe aren't evident to people who just
watch on Saturdays. What has that relationship been like behind
the scenes with Lagway on campus and how has he
affected the program in ways that you know, guys like
(31:40):
me can't see a.
Speaker 2 (31:42):
Sense of belief.
Speaker 4 (31:43):
I think for the first time under Billion Apris what
he brought to the table own the field. It's good
to own the field last year to we've talked about
ad nauseum. Of course so far the turnaround, but part
of that turnaround is him getting on the field. And
I do think there was some belief on that defensive
side of the football. I was like we have in
the world of gram Mertz, great guy, great leader in
his own right. It was pretty limited at quarterback there
(32:07):
he played well. At times he played he was a
good quarterback, nothing more, nothing less for a lot of
the time. But I think there was a certain sense
of belief that, hey, this kid DJ Lagway can do
some special things. And I think that was a big
part in the retention of bringing so many guys back,
especially along the offensive line on offense, of we have
(32:27):
our guy. He can lead us to more than what
we have seen these last few years.
Speaker 2 (32:34):
Let's he could.
Speaker 4 (32:36):
He can pair us with him. If I'm Jake Slaughter,
if I'm Austin Barber, it gives me a belief that, Okay,
I can go to the NFL.
Speaker 1 (32:46):
Now.
Speaker 4 (32:46):
N I Helth plays a big part of it as well,
not going to not going to deny that fact, but
I don't think those guys are coming back because they
don't have a chance to do more. And I think
a big part of that is called DJ Lagway. And look,
Jay Michael Sertivan, the transfer the dimensied, He's a big
reason he came in was because, as I mentioned, that
deep threat that DJ Lagway was able to show as
(33:07):
a quarterback.
Speaker 2 (33:08):
He's a big reason why j Michael Surtervan's in that
wide receiver room.
Speaker 4 (33:11):
So and then I also just think going back to
Billy Naper, I think it's believes that he can do
the things that he hasn't been able to do yet
as an offensive coordinator, as a play caller, as a
head coach. But because of DJ Lagway, so it's robbed
a lot more eyeballs on Florida, and I do think
that's kind of I think Dallas Wilson a five star receiver,
Vernal Brown a highly level four star receiver. I think
(33:34):
DJ Lagway is a big part of why those guys
ended up at Florida as well. So it really was
a trickle down effect of getting him, and I I
think it's pretty pretty well known in the state of Florida,
pretty well known around Gainesville. He's a pretty loyal guy,
and I know a lot of people will throw out
(33:54):
with Billy Apriy gets fired DJ Lagway, he'll look to
go somewhere else. I don't know if that's truly the
He likes ato. He likes being at Florida, his girlfriends
on the softball team. I'm sure that going to play
into it as well. But DJ Lightway likes being in Gainsville.
DJ Lightwaight likes being being a Florida Gator. Now something
happens with the coaching staff, I'm sure he would think
(34:15):
about it. I'm sure there would be a lot of
fighting for Florida to have to keep him, to do
some fighting to have to keep him. But he truly
loves it there. He really loves Billy Napier, he really
loves his staff. So I think there's just a belief
and you know from him, that's a trickle down effect
that you know he can be the guy to help
turn this thing around.
Speaker 1 (34:33):
That's cool. I mean, those are the types of guys
that you want to be the phase of the program.
One thing that this is all bringing to mind is
the statement that Scott Strickland had towards the end of
last season when he announced that they were bringing Billy
Napier back. And I believe the quote was that they
wanted a disciplined, stable approach to the football program, which
(34:56):
in a very weird way runs counter to everything college
football has. But like I don't disagree with that philosophy.
We've argued on this show for an eternity that stability
is currency, especially in this day and age. But the
current state of the sport tends to favor programs that
can be aggressive and how they adapt to some of
these new circumstances behind the scenes, not just with how
(35:19):
DJ Lagway is getting on and maybe being that gravitational player,
what is Florida doing just as a program on the
administrative level, on the nil front to keep up with
that rapid pace of change.
Speaker 4 (35:32):
It's kind of been there a personal in the beginning,
I mean, and they really followed it to a t.
Now even billion apers said, look after we got beat
by Texas A and M last year, I even had
to wonder was it the right approach by not heavily
attacking the transfer portal. I mean, the best example is
Brian Kelly goes to LSU. The same year Abillionaire becomes
with Florida and they're you know, right there in the
(35:52):
SEC championship game against Georgia, they attacked the transfer portal
and you know, it paid off, played off bright away,
dadon Danigels comes in and it.
Speaker 2 (36:03):
Wins to the Heisman the next year.
Speaker 4 (36:05):
You know, it's just like, why why are they so
aggressive and right away and you know, you see the
benefit there for for that program. You so a lot
of people were asking the questions, and they've been steadfast
on this. We will recruit the high school level, we
will develop and then that took some hits as well.
I mean, you weren't winning enough games. You recruited, you
(36:27):
developed Trevory t and he goes to your biggest rival
in Georgia Princell and you, Mammy Ellen's already already on
the roster, but you developed him for a couple of years.
Speaker 2 (36:35):
He goes the old miss You're.
Speaker 4 (36:37):
Playing those guys on the other sideline the very next year,
and little behold, it obviously plays off that year that
the storylines happened. But you know it's it's been you know,
I think they've had a second guess a lot because
of those. I think it probably was eye opening that, Hey,
I could recruit a guy at Trevor ET in Georgia
(36:59):
didn't morning other programs didn't. Moan I recruit I developed
he's gonna leave anyway. I think they've learned some hard
lessons along the way, and I don't know if they're
so cutthroat in believing that we have to do it
this way, but I think initially they want to see
if their way going to work first. I think the
(37:19):
leashes pretty forgiving, as we found out last year, and
we're gonna see if far high school approach works. We're
gonna see if, especially this year, if our continuity approach works.
We decided to retain guys. That's what they were telling themselves.
We're bringing back so many pieces, and we're going to
get an answer pretty early in the season. You're going
(37:41):
to baton Rouge and playing an LSU team that brings
in a ton of transfers the very next week. I
guess Miami, who was very active in the transfer a
portal Ole miss very active once again in the transfer
portal Far is an example of continuity and cohesion. How's
that going to match up with and we can answer
early in the season. So I think it's fascinating that
(38:03):
you have Florida playing LSU early, play in Miami early
because polar opposites of the way they have approached how
to build a roster. SAMs Billion, Naper's been here and
just in this season, so I think it's gonna be
fascinating how it pays off. Now, look, there's you won't
get a whole lot of criticism if you go to
(38:26):
LSU and lose in a close game. If you're Billy
Napier and you decide to build your roster this way,
you can't go to Miami the very next week and
lose again to a Miami team that brings in a
different quarterback.
Speaker 2 (38:38):
Was very act.
Speaker 4 (38:38):
It's been a transfer portal when you have your quarterback returning,
when you bring back so much of the previous year's roster,
you know it's polar opposites there and it's got to
pay off this year for BILLI Naper.
Speaker 1 (38:50):
What is Florida set up? From a personnel standpoint, We've
done a bunch of these conversations now, people with intimate
knowledge very as teams, and it seems everybody has a
different role for what a GM, what their player personnel
guy or gal does. How has that, I guess position
(39:11):
evolved over the course of the last few years In Gainesville.
Speaker 4 (39:15):
They have some new hires there coming into this offseason.
I think they made two hires in that front office role. Yeah,
go to be going to be interesting to see because
I still ask how integral is that in college football
when we've been trained for so long that as the
(39:39):
head coach in all of those roles, right, and who
signs off on the final offer, and who signs off
on this offer that offer, who we're bringing in, who
we're keeping, who were who we're not keeping night.
Speaker 2 (39:50):
I still.
Speaker 4 (39:52):
And maybe every program is different, and we're going to
really have to learn as we maybe a year from now,
of what the actual roles are. Because the last signing
class was already signed by the time these guys had
come in, right early transfer portal had already been signed
by the time these new hires come in for Florida.
So I think we're still going to try to wait
(40:12):
for it, at least on Florida's angle, How does it
work for them? Because it's kind of new for Florida
and that They've had, you know, some guys in some
roles there, but this is the first time they've expanded
that general manager role general manager office there. So I'm
bigger to see, you know, recruiting if we go by.
It was off kind of to a slow start. Now
(40:32):
Florida's starting to get a little warm on the trail
as we head in the June. But it was a
little slow start for this twenty twenty sixth class. After
a flurry finish for the twenty twenty five class, I
got everybody excited softer for Florida's almost kind of wait
and see your approach because they redesigned the back end,
you know, behind the scenes for the general manager parts
(40:53):
and gener manager roles for this team.
Speaker 1 (40:55):
I'm not kidding. If we've done eight of these conversations,
we've gotten eight different answers on what the gm AT
a specific program does. And truly it has been all
over the map, and I think most programs are in
the same boat, to be honest with you, Everybody is
kind of putting their own spin on what that position
looks like. Clearly, how good a team is or isn't,
(41:17):
I think has a lot to do with it. But
it is definitely something we have to watch.
Speaker 4 (41:22):
Yeah, do we ever get to a point in college
football where a general manager has the final say of
a russ's.
Speaker 2 (41:27):
Spot over a head coach?
Speaker 1 (41:30):
Right, I don't know.
Speaker 2 (41:33):
I mean maybe down the road, but I don't don't.
Speaker 1 (41:36):
And by the way, by the way, it's not just
roles and responsibilities, but it's reporting structure too. At some
programs they are tasked with reporting to the athletic director.
At other programs they are directly reporting into the head coach.
It's somebody who is under that head guy. So it again,
there is so much variability. At some point, I suspect
(41:59):
somebody is going to have a Google sheet and they're
going to figure out exactly what the calculation is and
how much they're worth, and what the proper reporting structure
should be to optimize the whole operation. But it's just
new territory on so many different fronts. Who knows what
to expect.
Speaker 4 (42:15):
Yeah, we saw so many people try and copy the
SABAN process from that, right, and nobody, hardy ever did
it except for Kirby's Martin Georgia. So who's the first
one to figure out?
Speaker 1 (42:26):
We laughed years ago at herm Edwards when he talked
about coming in and wanting to revolutionize and build a
pro model, and granted didn't work, arguably made things worse.
But maybe we've kind of arrived at that point now
where more teams are thinking about it in terms of
pro football and not so much the version of college
football that we've come to know and love after all
these decades. Let's wind this down a little bit here
(42:48):
by getting back to the Billy Napier storyline. So, as
you mentioned a couple times now, the results maybe not
there quite yet in terms of wins and losses, but
the trajectory I think is much improved. That is the
exciting part since the last time we had you on
this program about two years ago. Bigger picture, mindful of
(43:10):
the fact that there was some uncertainty with respect to
Napier and whether or not he would be retained. Bigger
picture within the Florida community, what is Napier's standing? Has
there been any kind of vibe shift with respect to
how fans feel about him? Did last season represent something
(43:30):
of a turning point now where there is more widely
held belief that he's the guy to get this thing done.
Speaker 4 (43:37):
I still leaned towards it gave more of a willing
to wait and see approach.
Speaker 2 (43:43):
Okay, but there were.
Speaker 4 (43:46):
A big majority of the fan base after that Texas
A and M game last year was okay, it's time time,
it's time to move on. There was a lot of
reports that Florida was moving on.
Speaker 1 (43:55):
We had calls, we had calls coming into our reaverblind,
a lot of flow. The people were up in arms
about that.
Speaker 4 (44:02):
Right, so you figured it was going to happen. And then,
as our friend Josh Pate would say, Florida had the
audacity to go out there and win. So it certainly
cold the set off a bit, and like I said,
it cold it off. It extended the leash at least
for many to say, Okay, now, given we have somewhat
of an example, and that's what they're coming off of now.
(44:24):
If it had been reversed, say Florida started off hot
last year and then the exact you know, then ended
really really bad, I don't know if he has that
least he has right now.
Speaker 1 (44:35):
I think he's probably gone if that were the case, right, Yeah.
Speaker 4 (44:38):
Yeah, probably so probably so if it had been reversed.
So I think ending this season the way he did,
and don't get me wrong, and it was some big wins.
I mean, you kept LSU, for at the time was
on the outside looking in for a playoff spot. You
kept them out of a playoff spot and the SEC
maybe fight for an SEC championship spot.
Speaker 2 (44:57):
Then you kicked the old mess out of the playoff.
There are some big wins.
Speaker 4 (45:00):
And I think danfully for billion Napier was at home
as well. You had the home crowd ready for those
big wins after earlier in the season it was the
home crowd that you had to suffer through Miami in Texas,
A and m So it was an interesting dynamic there.
That's that's how it happened at home, but I think
that was a saving grace as well. And then of
course beat Florida State and win a bowl game for
(45:22):
the first time. So I think the end of last
year extended the leash a little bit and really made
Gator Nations say, all right, we'll pump the brakes.
Speaker 2 (45:31):
A little bit.
Speaker 4 (45:33):
But now let's see there's a lot of the fan
base and I've asked questions on Twitter to take it
to kind of come out the answer of we love
where this roster is at most Gator fans say, hey,
we like where the roster is. I don't know if
Billion Naper is a guy that will get nine wins
ten wins to get this team to the to the
college football playoff.
Speaker 2 (45:53):
That's where the hold up is.
Speaker 4 (45:54):
There still is a lot of trepidation about Billion Naper,
the game day coach. BILLI Naper is the play call
Can he have better time management? Can he call a
better play on third and two? Can Florida score in
late in the first half, early in the second half?
Can Florida win the middleway? I mean, it's just been
those little dynamics that you look at for a football
(46:15):
coach that makes the difference that he really hasn't made
that difference for showing he can make that difference yet.
Is it just a matter of Okay, now he's got
his talent and he'll be able to show those things.
So there's still a lot of questions. I hate to
kind of cop out and take the easy way out,
but when you have a coach that's five hundred right
(46:36):
now and a lot of people will acknowledge, you know,
what he had to dig out from from under Dan Mullen.
There's still a lot of questions of can he be
the guy with this roster, his handpit quarterback, so many
pieces returning to get the most out of a roster
that he's built.
Speaker 1 (46:57):
With his roster, with his quarterback, with this brutal schedule
I'm looking at right now. Okay, so they play same
SEC opponents as last season, but now there are road
trips to LSU to A and M to Old Miss.
In addition to that, those are three teams that should
be pretty good in their own right. You've got Texas,
(47:17):
You've got Georgia, You've got Tennessee, even Florida State. Maybe
Florida State can get its act together this year. Who
knows how many wins for you represent genuine progress versus
what is the realistic expectation? Looking at this slate? Are
they the same thing?
Speaker 2 (47:37):
You read?
Speaker 4 (47:37):
In my mind, I was gonna say they're the same thing.
Nine to three yet bare minimum?
Speaker 1 (47:41):
Okay? Is that realistic?
Speaker 2 (47:43):
I think it is.
Speaker 4 (47:44):
Okay, I think it is. It's her four, it's Tom.
We understand the schedule is tough, but if Florida's on
the right track, you overcome it. I mean, I think
that's the expectation most of Gator Nation had has set,
has set for Billy Naper and that We've had this
fascinating conversation like this on the on our discord on
(48:06):
Gator's Breakdown Plus, and it's just like one of the
users has asked, would you be happy if Florida was
Old Miss last year? If you lose three games in
late in the season, you miss out on the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (48:19):
I think you would take that, wouldn't you? Given where
Florida has been?
Speaker 4 (48:22):
I think most most most did, And as you said,
kind of where Florida has been. When you look at
it and take kind of record away from it, a
lot of people say, no, it's your four. I won't
playoff no matter what. I don't care if it's And look,
maybe Florida gets the benefit of the doubt that Bama
South Carolina the Old Miss, didn't last year because of
(48:43):
the schedule. Maybe, and of course you got to see
what happens around you with other teams as well. But
I think most people looking at that schedule and say
nine to three we should be good enough for Florida
in a playoff spot.
Speaker 1 (48:55):
Well, look, there's no Oklahoma or Vandy to lose to
on this schedule, so they should be fine, you.
Speaker 4 (49:02):
Think so, you think so, but yeah, I think most
of it even you know what, you can admit both times,
both things at the same time. It is a very
tough schedule. Nobody is denying that fact. But this might
be your best shot.
Speaker 2 (49:18):
And I know you might.
Speaker 4 (49:19):
I know, you get DJ log Way back next year,
and you get this exciting receiver group returning next year.
But as I mentioned, all the Trench players that return
on both sides of the ball, and they retain this
roster to make it run this year, you got you'll
have some heavy roster turnover for the twenty twenty sixth season. Now,
maybe the schedule eases up, and who knows what the
(49:40):
playoff format it is, maybe you get it anyway. But
at the same time, I think with the twelve team
expanded playoff and what most just think it's time. It's
been too long to end up in a twelve team playoff.
But I think record wise it starts nine to three.
If it's eight and four, and maybe depending on the wins,
(50:02):
maybe if you get a win over Georgia and that's
part of your eight wins, you buy some Gator fans
off with that. But I think I think nine and
three from from all the talks that I've had and
even my own personal feelings a bit. I think nine
and three is that that magic record that would show
clear progress whether I guess if you make the playoff
or not.
Speaker 1 (50:22):
Okay, his name is David Waters. You can find all
his fine work out at Gator's Breakdown podcast website, YouTube channel.
Is there anything else that we should mention while we're
here before we let you go?
Speaker 4 (50:36):
Know, just follow recruiting all throughout the summer. Vacation's coming up.
But we got Hey, we got a big event if
you're if you're a Gator fan and if you listen
to other podcasts out there, High Top Sports Stadium and
GIL late July, we're gonna have a big event in
Gainesville or calling it the Independent Gator Media Day. Uh
so we're trying to get players involved, former players, all
that good stuff. You can look at the link for
(50:57):
my stuff. But we're trying to right after sec ME,
today's kind of gonna hold our own little little shindig.
They're in Gainsville, so I'll be able to look out
for that.
Speaker 1 (51:05):
That's awesome again, check out David's work Gators Breakdown. I
got a command you man, it's very thorough. You can
tell that you are passionate about the team. I read
you as often as I can whenever I need to
know anything about Florida football. So keep doing what you're doing.
It's always a pleasure to have you back on here.
And maybe next time we'll have a nine to three
season or better to talk about.
Speaker 4 (51:27):
Hopefully, so maybe Flannna is fine for that playoffs spot
and then we can have some conversation going.
Speaker 2 (51:31):
Along that way.
Speaker 1 (51:32):
You know it, David Waters again, check him out. Thank
you as always for your time. All right, Dan, let's
bring it back home. Yes, for those wondering who listened
to the last forty five or so minutes, Dan was
not part of the interview, but Dan is now part
of the outro. Just the way we work things here
on the show. As I said at the very top,
(51:55):
I really appreciate Dave's perspective on all things Florida because
he is extremely comprehensive in his coverage. Yes, and so
he is one of those guys we all have these
different sources that we turn to when we have a
question about a team to see what they're saying, to
see what is going on at a moment in time.
(52:17):
David is my guy for all things Florida nice, so
I'm thrilled that we had him on the program. Would
encourage everybody to go out and check his work out
at Gators Breakdown dot com. Pleasure as always to bring
him on the show.
Speaker 3 (52:31):
Since I haven't listened to it yet, was this year's
schedule broached?
Speaker 1 (52:36):
Yeah, of course I.
Speaker 3 (52:38):
Counted I think seven plausible playoff conversation teams on this schedule,
given that Miami is one of the non conference opponents. Yeah,
on this schedule, it's listen, it's a brutal slate. It's something,
It's an absolutely brutal slate. It's the same SEC opponents
from a year ago, but it's mixing and matching.
Speaker 1 (52:57):
A little bit with where they're playing some of these bonents.
And of course the big question I pose this one
to David as well, what is the reasonable expectation for
this team? What will represent progress for this team? And
his answer was nine and three, Sure, you will get
the schedule. Nine and three is going to be a climb.
Nine and three maybe gets you on the periphery of
(53:18):
the playoff discussion. I don't know, but nine and three
certainly with this schedule puts you well within the conversation
of the top fifteen if they can get there. But
a lot is riding on the receiver room, a younger
receiver room, finding ways to get pop. A lot of
this is riding on their defense continuing to take strides forward,
not the least of which is DJ Lagway on the
(53:40):
offensive side of the ball apparently now healthy, good to go,
just had a tired shoulder, but he is definitely that
big name that Billy Napier is hanging a lot, a
lot on, So we shall see. I'm excited to see
what the future has in store for the Florida Gators
this year in twenty twenty five. Of course, would encourage
everybody out there if you've got thoughts on what you
(54:00):
heard or just on some of your own prep that
you're doing in advance of the season with respect to Florida,
hit us up solid verbal at gmail dot com. You
can of course reach out on social media as well,
and last but not least, for ballers dot com is
where you can go if you want to further support
out on the patreon.
Speaker 3 (54:17):
Dan Well the good news whether or not nine and
three gets Florida to the periphery of the playoff. The
good news is we're two, maybe three short years away
from Greg Sankie insisting on like nine auto bids for
the SEC. Hear me out, hear me out, hear me out.
We've gone to thirty eight playoff teams. Thirty eight In
(54:39):
that case, it's literally every team in the SEC is
going to get an auto bid. We're not that far
off from a nine and three team that played in
the SEC getting an autobid no matter what, even if
they finished fifth or sixth.
Speaker 2 (54:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (54:50):
I mean, there are so many hot button topics floating
around the College of Believer right now that it's truly
tough to keep track of. That's why we're here. We're
doing our best to keep everybody up the speed as
best we can, but we do miss things. If we
do again, please reach out let us know.
Speaker 3 (55:06):
I have one more sidebar about the Florida Gators. Yes, please,
upon Florida adding permanently won't back down by Tom Petty
between the third and fourth quarters. I think it is
so killer. I think it is such a killer thing
that Florida fans and the swamp do. It sounds great,
It's a great sing along song getting the phone lights
(55:28):
out there. I think it is an absolute value add
to this sport.
Speaker 1 (55:33):
That's a value add. You know what else is a
value add? Please, we had a chance to witness this
when we're up at Michigan. Mister Brightside, mister Brightside is great.
That was frigging cool. I've seen The Killers multiple times.
Maybe it's cliche, but geez brag much. I've always liked
The Killers. Yeah, one of my favorite songs. Ever. The
fact that now they play that at Michigan, maybe it
(55:53):
doesn't have the same gravitas for the youth of America
the way it did for people of your generation, Dan,
but nonetheless, it was a really cool scene when they
play that up at Michigan.
Speaker 2 (56:04):
I enjoyed it.
Speaker 3 (56:05):
I think that's like a new not just Michigan song.
I think that is just a full on new sports
anthem in the way that's Seven Nation Army like songs
like that, Like that song has been taken from The
Killers and sort of bestowed upon sports fans everywhere. That's
it's just an anthemic song, and that Michigan's using it
is terrific.
Speaker 1 (56:23):
It's great, awesome, all right, Well, big thanks again to
David Waters. Go and check out Gator Dave at gators
breakdown dot com. Not just the website, not just the podcast,
but also YouTube. He is all over the place, does
a great job covering the Gators. We will definitely have
him on again sometime soon. In the meantime, hit fall,
(56:43):
hit subscribe, leave a star, rating or review wherever you can.
Of course, we appreciate that for that guy with there,
Dad Rubinstein, For myself, Ty Hildon Bray, I'll catch you
all next episode. Stay saw peace,
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