Florida’s Billy Napier would handle hot seat better with Tennessee’s cushy schedule | Toppmeyer

Did Lane Kiffin draw up Florida’s football schedule for 2024? Whoever aligned this collection of opponents for the Gators must not mind the idea of a coaching search in Gainesville.

I’ve wondered what Florida might achieve with a different schedule. Say, Tennessee’s cushy schedule.

I’ve also wondered whether the Vols might wilt against Florida’s savage schedule.

An easy schedule wouldn’t make Vanderbilt a playoff contender. And a fierce schedule won’t turn Georgia into chumps.

In between the SEC’s top and bottom, though, so much of whether a team is viewed as a playoff contender or bound for a middling season depends on its schedule draw.

Billy Napier can’t afford another middling season, but Florida’s struggling third-year coach will encounter a schedule full of land mines.

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That’s a shame for Napier, because he improved UF’s roster after totaling just 11 wins through two seasons. If you squint through the heat simmering around Napier’s seat, you might notice lineup improvements.

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In particular, he gave quarterback Graham Mertz some weapons. Elijhah Badger (transfer from Arizona State) and Chimere Dike (Wisconsin) will join Eugene Wilson III, who had a standout freshman season, to offer Mertz three proven receivers.

Napier also brought in a few transfer defensive backs to solidify a pass defense that didn’t play to the Florida standard the past couple of seasons.

And how can you ignore freshman quarterback DJ Lagway’s athleticism? Mertz will conduct this offense, but Lagway’s skills provide the opportunity to…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/floridas-billy-napier-handle-hot-100405079.html

Author : The Gainesville Sun

Publish date : 2024-07-18 10:04:05

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