Ah – fall is in the air (except in Florida). Another fun Saturday awaits fans in Gainesville, as Homecoming is here. The Mississippi State Bulldogs come to The Swamp for an easy victory by the Gators, sending their fans home happy and content.
RIGHT?!
Instead of what should be the scenario above, it’s DEFCON 1 in Gator Nation, as Billy Napier is in jeopardy of losing his job for terrible performance – again – allegedly. Speculation runs rampant, the media is circling like vultures, and the fan base is far past ready for this dark period of coaching ineptitude and losing to end. Hopefully……maybe?
Getting back to the actual game to be played this week, this should be a good matchup for Florida’s offense. Napier is all about the running game, and the Bulldog defense has struggled stopping it, allowing 172 yards per game. Time for another heavy dose of Jaden Baugh, and giving a Gator O-line that can’t seem to pass block the opportunity to roll with Rural Meyer’s preferred 2 TE sets and run a simple power game. With DJ Lagway a statue and his right leg mummified, this is the best way to protect him as well, and perhaps occasionally surprise the defense with the deep throw. “Complimentary football” – right, Billy?
Last week’s debacle at Texas A&M was absolute proof that one of Napier’s mentors is the Swamp Donkey, er, Jim McElwain, of all people. Donkey and his OC Doug Noosemeier, er, Nussmeier, during their glorious tenure at Florida, were infamous for scripting 2-3 opening possessions for the offense that actually were aggressive and effective, then running out of ideas and watching the offense go in the tank for the rest of the game. Sound familiar? Napier proves each week that he cannot process what is happening in real time, and cannot design a 2- or even 4-minute offense, nor an imaginative attack after said scripted series are provided to him by Russ Callaway. Yet, he allows his ego and stubbornness to drag him and the entire program down for 44 games (and counting), and is well past his expiration date of the end of 2023 or after game 3 of 2024.
The Florida defense will be challenged by a fast-paced MSU offense led by QB Blake Shapen, an experienced transfer from Baylor. He isn’t a very accurate passer, but is mobile, which the Gators have had trouble containing. The Bulldogs have 2 solid RBs in Fluff Bothwell (who names these kids?) and Davon Booth. They also have an explosive threat in WR Brenen Thompson who must be accounted for. Sadly, the continued coverage struggles from the Gator safeties could spell trouble – again. CB Devon Moore should be assigned to cover Thompson most of the game. This Is also a chance for a bounceback performance from the young Florida D-line, who were pushed around and embarrassed last week. They need to take their poor performance to heart and play much better this week. MSU head coach Jeff Lebby has done a very good job resurrecting that program. Last year was terrible, but you could see some signs that his offense was starting to improve. Now, the defense is improving, and the Bulldogs have been competitive in most of their games, including taking Tennessee to overtime at Starkville a few weeks ago before losing. That’s what improvement actually looks like, Billy.
Until Scott Stinklin actually pulls the trigger on firing his “culturally aligned” buddy, he’s going to hope and pray that somehow, some way, Napier wriggles out of this situation – again. It’s unprofessional and lazy at this point to keep him, and Stinklin himself should also be fired. But with the lack of a permanent University President right now, plus a UAA that continues to prove it has no desire to have a winning football program, this is the mess the players and fans are stuck with. Just be glad the AD and UAA members are collecting those big checks for underperforming and not accomplishing what’s in their mission statement.
Enjoy Homecoming!
Prediction:
Florida 27
MSU 17