Florida has either a poor roster or poor scheme on defense. Both are on Billy Napier.

Against Mississippi State, Florida Football's defense had a bend but don't break mentality and did just enough to keep the Bulldogs at bay.

Florida held Mississippi State to 2.4 yards per rushing attempt for 66 total rushing yards to feel like they were taking a step forward.

Actually just kidding. That was Toledo the week before that held the Bulldogs at bay. Florida gave up 4.3 yards per carry, 240 total rushing yards, and had 23 missed tackles on Saturday as they did everything but literally break bones in Starkville.

It continues a theme for Florida that has been a hallmark of the Billy Napier Era, and the problem is that whether you want to go down Door 1 Door 2, or Door 3, all fall squarely on Napier in year three of his tenure.

Florida Football: Which Came First?

During his teleconference on Wednesday, Napier was asked whether he thought the scheme Florida has been using on defense in 2024 has contributed to poor results.

"I think ultimately that's what we've done is that the self-scout has revealed that. The alignment, it's assignment and it's technique. There's very few schematic, few small percentage of the issues are schematic. It's more just the overall alignment, assignment and the technique-fundamental part. So, all hands on deck to get those fixed, and certainly tackling is part of that, and that's what we're in the middle of doing here."

So this brings us to Door 1:

We disagree that a "small percentage of the issues are schematic." Among the most glaring is the insistence on keeping two safeties 15 yards off the line of scrimmage and backpedaling no matter the situation. Other issues, such as having defensive ends stunt and give up the edge against a mobile QB, haven't been great choices either.

These are conscious choices the coaching staff is making that have rendered Florida unable to stop anyone.

But let's explore Door 2:

Let's pretend the issue is, in fact, "alignment, it's assignment and it's technique."

Who does that fall on?

Florida has had nine months to work on alignment, assignments, and technique. Are we supposed to believe that's going to get magically fixed in one week? Isn't the entire purpose of camp when practicing against the air to have alignment and assignments set in stone?

Napier alluded to a couple of weeks ago the fact that Florida is on its third defensive coordinator in three years. Who hired the previous two, only to need to replace them after one year?

Now, there is a practical answer that can explain Napier's methodology, and it brings us to Door 3:

It is 100% plausible that the players on the roster just aren't talented enough to play a more aggressive scheme, forcing Florida to play the soft zone they have resorted to.

Florida's defensive line takes forever to get to the quarterback, requiring the already questionable secondary to be in coverage far too long to hold up. If the safeties for Florida tried to play closer to the line, the opposing quarterback would torch the Gators over the top.

So...

Who is responsible for the roster construction that has left Florida with a defensive line even Rudy would get snaps on?

When Princely Umanmielen, Antwaun Powell-Ryland, and Chris McClellan are all having great starts to their 2024 campaign after looking Napier in the eye and saying, "No, I don't want to play for you, " who should we direct our questions to about the defensive line?

332 safeties played at least 400 snaps in 2023. Who made the conscious choice to grab one who had the 30th most missed tackles in the country among safeties in 2023, has made a choice to make him the Gator with the 4th most snaps on defense in 2024, then has a Pikachu-shocked face when he has the second most missed tackles in the country in 2024?

The moral is that whichever door one wants to explore, all three doors lead to one person constructing what is behind the door to this point.

If roster construction is not the issue and Napier believes it's a matter of alignment and not scheme, great.

Prove it next Saturday.

Because until further notice, the numbers don't lie, and they spell disaster for Florida on defense.