How many players have been drafted in 2023?

[soflagator]

did you expect 120th ranked defense? There was a point in the season where 3rd down conversion rate against our D was around 90%.

And its not like that was something leftover that we had to deal with, we were better than that when mullen got fired. That was ol potaters top notch assistant. I never thought defense could be worse than 3rd and grantham, but toney proved me wrong.

Not even a defense of Napier, but no, I wasn’t shocked we were terrible on defense last year. This was largely the same group that had been abysmal in ‘21, even being torched by Samford. Still very much a makeshift unit with a combination of young guys or carryovers minus Carter and Elam learning a new system.

I’ve reference this before, but Smart took a solid roster team that won 10 games in 2015 and went 8-5 with losses to Vu and a near upset by Nichols in his first year. They actually went backwards, despite upgrading at HC. That can happen. Whether or not it’s the case here, we’ll have to see.

 

[Bernardo de la Paz]

Not even a defense of Napier, but no, I wasn’t shocked we were terrible on defense last year. This was largely the same group that had been abysmal in ‘21, even being torched by Samford. Still very much a makeshift unit with a combination of young guys or carryovers minus Carter and Elam learning a new system.

Sounds like you haven't actually looked at the numbers. Our defense got significantly worse. Maybe one of the worst coaching jobs in history. When you are lining DBs up with a 10 yard cushion on 3rd and 1 you could put a full squad of NFL players out there and it wouldn't work.

In defense of Napier, it at least appears that he was shocked by how bad we were and he fired the stiff after *gasp* only one season.

 

[Silverback Gator]

Sounds like you haven't actually looked at the numbers. Our defense got significantly worse. Maybe one of the worst coaching jobs in history. When you are lining DBs up with a 10 yard cushion on 3rd and 1 you could put a full squad of NFL players out there and it wouldn't work.

In defense of Napier, it at least appears that he was shocked by how bad we were and he fired the stiff after *gasp* only one season.

At the same time you have to wonder if CBN was imploring a more aggressive defense and the DC talked him out of it?

 

[soflagator]

Sounds like you haven't actually looked at the numbers. Our defense got significantly worse. Maybe one of the worst coaching jobs in history. When you are lining DBs up with a 10 yard cushion on 3rd and 1 you could put a full squad of NFL players out there and it wouldn't work.

In defense of Napier, it at least appears that he was shocked by how bad we were and he fired the stiff after *gasp* only one season.

Yeah I’m not going off data as much as just eye test. We sucked both years. I do though think it deserves mention that the noles, vols and Lsu were all notably better offenses than what we faced in 2021. We also didn’t get into a score fest with a FCS team and didn’t get our doors blown off by Usce. And you’d almost have to give the defense the credit for the Usf and Mizzou wins. It just felt like we maybe were having growing pains with the new DC but could potentially improve. Under TG in year 4, that’s his baby and it was a disaster. But again, yes I do remember ltraz or someone pointing out that statistically we were in fact worse last year. Then somebody here was slightly, only slightly, discourteous to him and he left. Or so I remember.

 

[Bernardo de la Paz]

It just felt like we maybe were having growing pains with the new DC but could potentially improve.

It may have "felt" like that. That wasn't reality though.

While our points allowed per game only dipped from 74th in the country to 87th, our yards allowed went from 48th to 97th.

Remember third and Grantham? We were actually 35th in the country allowing opponents to convert 35.6% of their attempts in his final year, and we dropped to a staggeringly poor 129th (out of 131) allowing opponents to convert 49.7% under Toney.

And you can try to spin 2021 as steady state under a 4th year guy all you want. Reality is that the DC got fired mid season after a couple weeks of rumors he would be forced out. The team then quit on the staff. Grantham was replaced mid season by a guy that sucked as a position coach and had no experience whatsoever as a coordinator. Is that really supposed to be a tough act to follow?

It was absolutely nauseating sitting here all year listening to the usual cast of nitwits try to justify that abortion while claiming we were one of the least talented teams in the country despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary from every recruiting service, NFL talent evaluators and now the actual draft.

The good news though is that Billy doesn't appear to be making decisions based on his feelings, and he has corrected the obvious problem by firing that asshat.

And now we get to enjoy watching some of these guys squirm with the cognitive dissonance that somehow Napier, who is infallible and shiits rainbows and butterflies, didn't make a mistake when he hired Toney, but also didn't make a mistake when he fired him. But more importantly, how was it humanly possible for him to make any kind of a judgement after only one season?

 

[Daryl]

I was just as surprised to watch the 21 defense that got punked by Samford take a step back in 22 after losing its best Corner and Interior DL to the draft and its leading tackler along with much of its depth via the portal.

Couldve knocked me over with a feather...

No, actually I believe I used the word dog s h i t after we got pushed around by mighty USF, no sacks while allowing damn near 300 yards on the ground.
Ppl said I wasnt a fan to question our players but yet here we are now and everyone is questioning our new players..

Gotta laugh sometimes. lol

 

[soflagator]

It may have "felt" like that. That wasn't reality though.

While our points allowed per game only dipped from 74th in the country to 87th, our yards allowed went from 48th to 97th.

Remember third and Grantham? We were actually 35th in the country allowing opponents to convert 35.6% of their attempts in his final year, and we dropped to a staggeringly poor 129th (out of 131) allowing opponents to convert 49.7% under Toney.

And you can try to spin 2021 as steady state under a 4th year guy all you want. Reality is that the DC got fired mid season after a couple weeks of rumors he would be forced out. The team then quit on the staff. Grantham was replaced mid season by a guy that sucked as a position coach and had no experience whatsoever as a coordinator. Is that really supposed to be a tough act to follow?

It was absolutely nauseating sitting here all year listening to the usual cast of nitwits try to justify that abortion while claiming we were one of the least talented teams in the country despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary from every recruiting service, NFL talent evaluators and now the actual draft.

The good news though is that Billy doesn't appear to be making decisions based on his feelings, and he has corrected the obvious problem by firing that asshat.

And now we get to enjoy watching some of these guys squirm with the cognitive dissonance that somehow Napier, who is infallible and shiits rainbows and butterflies, didn't make a mistake when he hired Toney, but also didn't make a mistake when he fired him. But more importantly, how was it humanly possible for him to make any kind of a judgement after only one season?

The hell are you talking about? I literally opened with acknowledging that stats didn’t support bit and that it simply felt modestly better. On the back of my original statement that I wasn’t surprised they weren’t good last year. And you spring into a Bookman rant. Suddenly I’m spinning things, being a nauseating nitwit, I think at one point in mid paragraph 8 you’ve got throwing baby kittens from tall buildings. I think you need a glass of something alcoholic. Or pcp. I’m on your side here.

 

[oxrageous]

I think you need a glass of something alcoholic. Or pcp.

We know what he needs.

 

[Gator By Marriage]

Joy boy.

 

[soflagator]

Joy boy.

I seriously read the whole post in Bookman’s voice.

 

[Bernardo de la Paz]

being a nauseating nitwit

You'll notice I said nitwits, and it was where I was talking about the posters that mindlessly believe that our new coaching staff is beyond reproach.

Did you really think I was talking about you there?

 

[oxrageous]

You'll notice I said nitwits, and it was where I was talking about the posters that mindlessly believe that our new coaching staff is beyond reproach.

Name names. There isn't a single poster that thinks that, certainly not me. I'm just in a wait-and-see approach.

 

[Double Gator Dad]

did you expect 120th ranked defense? There was a point in the season where 3rd down conversion rate against our D was around 90%.

And its not like that was something leftover that we had to deal with, we were better than that when mullen got fired. That was ol potaters top notch assistant. I never thought defense could be worse than 3rd and grantham, but toney proved me wrong.

I expected a complete rebuild of the program. A complete rebuild would include no meaningful performance expectations for the first year with progress in subsequent years.

I believed that our roster was basically sh!t and I wanted to see it completely rebuilt and I believe that is what is happening.

In year two I am expecting to see real improvement in performance and potential that may or may not result in a significantly better record.

After this season I believe that we will have a realistic opportunity to evaluate this staff. Until then we are all speculating while allowing the frustrations of over a decade of mediocrity to influence our attitudes and I catch myself doing this as well.

After the early signing period in December, I believe we will have a realistic take on Napier and if I haven’t seen improvement I will be agreeing with you on every post.

 

[Durty South Swamp]

In year two I am expecting to see real improvement in performance and potential that may or may not result...

 

[soflagator]

You'll notice I said nitwits, and it was where I was talking about the posters that mindlessly believe that our new coaching staff is beyond reproach.

Did you really think I was talking about you there?

The whole thing just came across and read very funny to me.

No I didn’t think you were talking about me with that part. Wasn’t sure in the spin. But I’m in agreement that the staff isn’t above reproach. Before YLGator decided he loved men and couldn’t take the board anymore, he and I went at it over some of Napier’s moves early on. Then when I threw it back at him a year later as he was complaining about the state of things(what this board is all about, always has been), it was then that he took his rainbow colored ball and went home. And let’s not even get into some of my game day posts. So I feel like I’m pretty balanced. Still like the hire and think he’ll be good here though. Wasn’t handed a Ferrari, but also wasn’t given a 89 LeBarron. Reality, as always, lies somewhere in the middle.

 

[MidwestChomp]

The freakin Packers picked up Brenton Cox as a free agent. That won't end well.

 

[MertzJay26]

The freakin Packers picked up Brenton Cox as a free agent. That won't end well.

Find another thread to post this in please. This thread is for arguing about Napier as you can see by the thread title.

 

[78]

Let me guess. His response was too committal.

 

[Double Gator Dad]

Let me guess. His response was too committal.

My bad, I keep forgetting that a little bit of patience is a sin these days.
I will work on being more irrational in the future.

 

[Bernardo de la Paz]

The freakin Packers picked up Brenton Cox as a free agent. That won't end well.

Hmmm. Where does that leave us?

Let's say a starting defensive lineup might have been...

Princely
Lee
Dexter
Cox
Miller
Burney
Johnson
Marshall
Torrence
Dean
Helm

Out of those guys, 3 were drafted (Dexter, Miller, Burney), 3 signed as UDFA (Torrence, Dean, Cox), and probably 2 will get drafted next year (Princely, Marshall).

About 129th out of 131 teams in the country?