Why Florida football coach Billy Napier has struggled to build a consistent offensive line

One reason Florida football hired Billy Napier was his track record for recruiting and developing offensive linemen.

Tackle Max Mitchell (New York Jets), guard Kevin Doston (Los Angeles) and guard O’Cyrus Torrence (Buffalo Bills) all developed into NFL players under Napier and his staff at Louisiana.

But building a consistent offensive line hasn’t panned out during Napier’s two-plus year tenure as the Florida Gators football coach. It looked promising in his first season, when Torrence, an All-American guard, followed him from Louisiana. Since Torrence left for the NFL, Florida has surrendered 44 sacks in 15 games.

This season, Florida has failed to generate significant push up front in the run game. The Gators rushed for just 52 on 2.1 yards per carry Saturday in its 33-20 loss to Texas A&M.

“We had an incredible group at the previous stop,” Napier said. “Several NFL players, I mean, it was a strength for us. We would like to get to that place.”

Why hasn’t Florida football’s offensive line fully developed?

Two Florida football offensive line starters — left tackle Austin Barber and center Jack Slaughter — have worked under Napier and his staff for three years. Under Napier, Florida has devoted two full-time offensive line coaches, Rob Sale and Jonathan Decoster, to the position group. Decoster replaced Darnell Stapleton this spring after Stapleton left for a job with the Washington Commanders.

Starting left guard Knijeah Harris, a sophomore, is in his second year of UF’s program, But the right side of the offensive line is manned by transfers, right guard Dameion George Jr. (Alabama) and right tackle Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson (San Diego State). George started at both tackle spots for UF last season before moving inside this season. Crenshaw-Dickson is in his first year with the program.

Kamryn Waites, a…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/why-florida-football-coach-billy-080354892.html

Author : The Gainesville Sun

Publish date : 2024-09-18 08:03:54

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