Florida Football: Did Billy Napier get too conservative at the end?

Florida football had a golden opportunity to pick up a statement win on Saturday and just fell short. While the Gators took the lead with under two minutes to play, Missouri was able to drive down the field and kick a game winning field goal with five seconds left to play.

As Florida settled for a Trey Smack field goal to take that lead, some Gator fans are wondering if Billy Napier played it too safe at the end.

Florida Football: Safe keeping

Let’s hit rewind for a moment. Max Brown had fumbled a handoff previously in the quarter with the Gators firmly in field goal range. So as the Gators had 1st and 10 from the 17 yard line with 1:54 left to play, there is no doubt that Napier had his concerns about turning Brown loose.

Florida handed the ball off to Trevor Etienne three straight times, the third of which saw him run out of bounds, and Florida kicked the field goal with 1:36 left on the clock and Missouri had one time out.

If the Gators pick up a first down on this sequence, it wouldn’t have automatically ended the game had it come on first down. Missouri would have still had about a minute left and no time outs. If the Gators picked it up on second down, Missouri is left with about 20 seconds and had the Gators picked it up on third down it would have ended the game.

Napier did what 95% of college coaches would have done in that situation, give it to Etienne and see if the dynamic running back could make something happen. Missouri had loaded the box expecting this and Etienne had no shot.

But on third down the Gators could have been a touch more adventurous. A play action with a one read throw to a crossing Tre Wilson could have worked wonders, and if throw isn’t there then Brown just falls down for a sack.

With a backup QB and two backup tackles, it’s understandable why Napier opted to take the points.

And if the defense stops a 4th and 17, Napier’s methodology would have been correct.