In an interview with Sean Kelley on “Gator Tales” Episode No. 57, new Florida offensive coordinator, Buster Faulkner made a comment that continues to be a breath of fresh air for Gator fans in calling the quarterback position the most important on the field and calling the plays through the strengths of your quarterback, which is not something Billy Napier was known for doing.
When DJ Lagway was in the pocket, many times Napier was criticized for calling plays that, instead of playing to Lagway’s strength, set the former Gator quarterback and his offensive line up for failure with multiple pressure situations, sacks, and turnovers.
However, with Faulkner coming in to lead the Florida offense, his plan is to call the game through playing off the quarterback’s strengths, which is what he did with Georgia Tech’s quarterback, Haynes King, and he intends to do at Florida as well:
“I believe the game plays through the eyes of the quarterback. You gotta play to his strengths.
You know something you have to do, it’s the most important position in sports, and also believe in putting those guys in position to be very successful.”
Buster Faulkner sends a message Florida fans aren’t used to seeing on the field
But not just with the quarterback. Faulkner believes in helping out the offensive line and playing to their strengths as well and making sure the quarterback has a strong line that can protect him and give him a chance to make plays.
“The offensive line is a big part of it as well, like making sure you’re playing to their strengths. And then obviously you got to find great skill and get those guys the ball in space in a variety of ways,” he said.
Faulkner’s offensive line at Georgia tech allowed the fewest sacks in all of division one in 2025, which allowed King to make plays and to be successful last season:
“That starts up front, you’ve got to be able to keep the quarterback upright. It’s also within play calls and how you go about orchestrating the game plan, not putting them in bad situations.”
Faulkner said as an offensive coordinator it’s his job to keep whoever is behind the pocket for Florida on their feet and to give the offense the best chance to be successful based off the strengths of the man with the ball and those protecting him.