GAINESVILLE — Florida and coach Billy Napier could use a feel-good win and a chance to recalibrate after a season-opening debacle against Miami.
Enter FCS opponent Samford.
The 2021 Bulldogs pushed the Gators during a 70-52 UF win. Don’t expect a similar challenge Saturday in the Swamp.
Samford’s visit following a 38-29 loss at West Georgia provides UF an opportunity to get on track before an unrelenting slate of games.
The Gators’ Week 1 showing raised red flags and questions.
Will Napier survive the season?
It’s only one game, sure. But a season-opening no-show against Miami was a worst-case scenario for a head coach on every list of hot-seat candidates.
An offseason reset following a 5-7 season yielded no improvement other than on special teams. Without receiver Ricky Pearsall and tailback Trevor Etienne, the offense regressed. An overhauled defense was run over.
But Napier’s future was the story at game’s end — and will be going forward.
The season still has to play out for awhile. Yet Florida’s only gimme on the nation’s toughest schedule precedes a visit from Texas A&M and trip to Mississippi State, where Ron Zook’s head coaching tenure got derailed in a stunning loss in 2004.
The Miami loss did not feel like that but had the undertones of the season-opening loss by Jim McElwain’s 2017 team to Michigan and Will Muschamp’s 2014 homecoming loss to Missouri.
A buyout pushing $26 million on his 7-year, $51.8 million contract could save Napier unless the losing continues and it becomes too toxic to keep him.
Where’s the improvement on defense?
Sweeping changes, same results.
After the 41-17 shellacking by Miami, the Gators better hope Cam Ward and Co. are simply that good. Otherwise, the offseason overhaul and optimism were wasted energy and words.
One week in, Florida’s D is statistically as bad as it’s been the past two seasons — worse, actually, other than three previous occasions under Napier.
Three teams the past two seasons have gained more than Miami’s 529 yards: LSU led by eventual Heisman winner Jayden Daniels in November in Tiger Stadium (701), Tennessee’s 2022 nation-leading scoring offense (576) and Georgia’s unbeaten 2022 national title team (555).
“This surprised me,” linebacker Shemar James said. “But it’s just the first game. We got plenty more to go.”
And plenty of ground to make up.
Three new assistant coaches, eight newcomers among 22 Gators on the two-deep and promising younger players with valuable experience in 2023 were supposed to add up to an improved pass rush, surer tackling and stickier coverage. Instead, Florida could barely nudge Miami up front, corral its playmakers in space or keep up on the back end, leading to nine Hurricanes completions of at least 20 yards.
On Monday, Napier remained positive.
“It’s never as good or never as bad on defense as you think,” he said. “[The Hurricanes] played well. The quarterback is an exceptional player.
“We’ve got a chance to have a good unit on defense.”
What’s with the killer penalties?
Florida was positioned to force a field goal on Miami’s opening drive but a roughing-the-passer call against end Justus Boone on 3rd-and-10 at Florida’s 19-yard line set up a Hurricanes’ touchdown.
After failing to convert on 4th-and-5 from their 42, the Gators trailed 10-3 and looked to rattle Ward with a safety blitz on first down. But DJ Douglas arrived late and did not pull up in time, recording another roughing-the-passer call. Miami scored four plays later.
A team with little margin for error against a more talented opponent cannot afford to hand it opportunities. A team with a history of doing so raises questions about coaching.
The Gators had better clean up their act at critical moments or else.
Will they come Saturday?
Miami fans outnumbered Florida faithful by the fourth quarter.
Getting Gator Nation to the Swamp against Samford is a hard sell. The calling card could be freshman quarterback DJ Lagway making his first career start if Graham Mertz (concussion) is unavailable.
Napier’s team simply does not put on a very good show.
His attack lacks explosiveness, failing to complete a pass of even 20 yards against the ‘Canes. His play calls are too often uninspired or ill-timed. The defense doesn’t get after the quarterback or generate turnovers.
Spending a day in the Swamp and hard-earned money on the Gators was once a no-brainer as Florida built one of the nation’s best fan bases. Now that it’s a choice, Napier needs to give people a reason to show up.
Where are the bright spots?
When specials-teams play is the highlight, there isn’t much to celebrate. Maybe a little in the Gators’ case, considering the last season’s woes.
Punter Jeremy Crawshaw, kicker Trey Smack and returner/gunner Chimere Dike deserve pats on the back.
Few other Gators earned one.
Senior tailback Montrell Johnson’s 106 rushing yards included a 71-yard touchdown while Arizona State transfer receiver Elijhah Badger had 3 catches for 43 yards, including a team-best 19-yard grab. He also beat his man on a post pattern for a touchdown, but Mertz badly overthrew him.
Defensively, South Carolina sophom*ore transfer Pup Howard led UF with 6 tackles while sidekick Shemar James had 5. Sophom*ore end Kam James of Orlando had 4 tackles and a QB hurry during a breakout performance.
Slim pickings, but that’s usually the case during a 24-point home loss.
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
Up next …
UF vs. Samford
When: Saturday, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, 7
TV: SEC Network+
