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Florida Football: What is and isn’t Billy Napier’s fault for 2023 season?

By Benjamin Henderson

Nov 25, 2022; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier gestures during the second half against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 25, 2022; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier gestures during the second half against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports /
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Florida Gators head coach Dan Mullen talks with athletic director Scott Stricklin after the win against the Florida Atlantic Owls at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville Fla. Sept. 4, 2021. The Gators beat the Owls 35-14. [Brad McClenny/The Gainesville Sun]Flgai 090421 Game50 2 /

Florida Football: Who gets the blame?

Lack Of Explosive Plays On Offense – Both

This is a case of which came first, the chicken or the egg. It is well-documented that Napier’s offense doesn’t pump the ball down the field at a rate that Gator fans would like to see.

Is it because Florida football doesn’t have the players needed to get the ball downfield, or is it because Napier calls an offense that can be far too vanilla?

The answer is both.

Going back to recruiting, Napier was able to bring in Tre Wilson as part of the 2023 class, and Wilson has done wonders to make the offense look competent. The only real “speedster” Florida had in their recent recruiting classes was Xzavier Henderson, and he’s gone to Cincinnati this season.

But part of the problem with Napier’s offense is that he seems insistent on running the same plays regardless of what personnel he has available. When Wilson was out with his injury, Napier was convinced he could just run the jet sweep with Ricky Pearsall.

We like Pearsall, but it is clear that opposing defenses yawn when he is sent from one side of the field to the other.

Likewise, he seems insistent this season on using both Montrell Johnson and Trevor Etienne evenly, even though it has been Etienne who has hit all the “home run” plays for the Gators.

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