Florida Gators Schedule Isn't Impossible, but is Difficult - Billy Napier Expectations

why is it that all of a sudden Florida's schedule isn't as tough as advertise I I don't get it this is still arguably the most difficult schedule we've ever seen in college football you are locked on Gators your daily podcast on the Florida Gators part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day hello and welcome back to another episode of lockon gators part of lock on podcast Network your team every day thanks for making lockon Gators your first listen of the day every day we are available daily and free we listen the podcast and on YouTube I am Brandon Olson lifelong Florida Gator fan your ever gracious host today's episode of Locked on Gat is brought to by Game Time download the game time app create an account use locked on college for $20 off your first purchase terms to apply and I I have to talk about this because it's driving me it's driving me freaking nuts feel like since SEC media days when they asked Billy Napier about the schedule 437 times however frequently it was I feel like ever since then what I've seen on the timeline and on boards and Discord is is that the schedule isn't that tough all of a sudden you go no the schedule is not really that tough it's overblown it's mostly brand names no no no no no this is still an incredibly difficult schedule I don't get where where the hell it's coming from that all of a sudden we want to start talking about oh it's not really that tough yes it is yes it is I'm lower on Miami and Texas A&M and Kentucky than I think most people are as in and by most people I'm the most unbiased fans so not Miami not T&M not Kentucky not Florida fans none of them I think I'm lower on most of them that's not like like also can we talk about this for a second what I don't even know his name uh I think it was it it might be RJ something on uh CFB on Fox like he was like oh yeah any team that schedule Samford that can't be the toughest that can't be the toughest schedule if you have Samford on it I can't respect it shut the hell up and never open your mouth again about something like that Samford is where you draw the line name every other team on that schedule is there another even group of five program on that schedule show me other teams that are doing that show me other teams that have had that happen because having sford on the schedule is nothing especially when sford is game two most teams will have a a Samford if you play college footall 25 FCS Southeast most teams will have them week one get a little tuneup going no Florida's jumping into the water with a game against Miami to start the season I understand Samford being on the schedule I I get it I get being like Oh like that that's not a tough team that's one game out of 12 which means what eight% of your games come on now don't be an idiot I know you are an idiot but like don't be an idiot the thing with this schedule being considered a gauntlet is not oh every team's a playoff Contender no stupid that's not how it works which first off any team except for Samford that wins their conference is going in the playoff even if they win a conference with the a nine and three record and then they go in like even then they're getting in right the issue or not even the issue the point about Florida schedule being considered a gauntlet is not every team is a playoff Contender it's not the thing about Florida schedule being so difficult there aren't easy games on it Samford RJ is one game out of 12 that is one of your what two games where you go Florida's gonna win those games and even then you could argue that's incorrect because you could argue that the only two definite wins are Samford and Mississippi State even the Mississippi State game is on the road vers Jeff Levy great great I don't like Jeff ly I've never been shy about that I don't like him I think he's trash however damn good play caller damn good schemer so I'm I'm not saying that that even that is as definite as I think some people think it is but I'm saying you look at the schedule and you tell me at what point is there a single stretch where you can confidently say that's a guaranteed winning streak go ahead look it up not oh Florida should win those games for sure which even then you can't really say for a lot of the games but I mean games where you look at right now and you can say I'll put my life savings on Florida winning that stretch for sure winning those games backto back to back even go ahead you can't you look at the schedule you start against Miami then you have Samford Miami you're not going to say oh yeah I'll put my life savings on winning on opening the season two and0 three and0 no because Miami probably at the same spot as Florida right now that's been my Approach my my thought process sford sure you could say that's a guaranteed win but there's Miami Sanford Texas A&M you going to put your life savings on that that's what I mean when I say there's no stretch of guaranteed wins even Sanford RJ even that there's no game that right before or right after it is a guaranteed win even if you want to consider Mississippi State a guaranteed win Texas A&M before then UCF after them not saying those are guaranteed definitive wins and by that I again I'm not saying Florida should win those games like that's a fine metric descent you could say Florida should win against Texas A&M Florida should win against Mississippi State Florida should win against UCF you could say that you you have four should win games right now with Sanford through UCF I'm saying games that you know are a win it's not existing after UCF is Tennessee Kentucky Georgia Texas LSU Miss Florida State yeah this is still the gauntlet not because every team is a playoff Contender but because there are no easy games outside of Samford as definitive guaranteed wins and maybe Mississippi State that's why it's arguably the toughest schedule we've ever seen RJ okay that's why it's not oh I can't respect the team that has Samford on there shut the hell up never open your mouth about the program again if that's the kind of nonsense that you're going to be spewing Fox pays you for that I don't know where the hell you're going from with that kind of logic it's not the first time RJ said something really ridiculously stupid and it won't be the last time I think that's just him trying his best there right I think so I think that might be it that's all I'm saying but I'm I am saying this all that being said all that saying that by the way hella hella teams here can go playoffs Miami they're considered an ACC Contender right so Miami I don't think Texas em thought up really as a playoff team in Mike elko's first year Mississippi state's not in Jeff lebby's first year UCF I don't think is considered that but I think that they should be considered at least contenders in the Big 12 I think their team's better than they get credit for Tennessee they're currently 16th they're currently ranked 16th that's four spots away from the playoff Kentucky I don't think will'll be a playoff team Georgia Texas should be playoff teams Miss should be playoff teams LSU You could argue should be a playoff team if Garrett nus Meer can replicate even 70% of the overall production that Jaden Daniels brought and the defense steps up Florida State they're ranked 15th right now they should be in the playoff conversation right that's a lot of teams that you look at and you go they're in the playoff conversation right Miami Tennessee Georgia Texas LSU Miss Florida State that's seven not including the one that I think you should consider of UCF which would be eight eight teams you realistically say hey they they they could be playoff team this year but it's not the toughest schedule because Samford is on it that's what you're telling me you're you're one entire brain cell brought you to that point I mean the fact that National media pays for just dumbass takes like that is insane to me okay that all being said about this schedule the bar needs to be higher for Florida in years year three under Billy Napier okay that has not changed we'll talk about that next on lockdown Gators game time is an authorized ticket Marketplace of Major League Baseball which makes getting tickets faster and easier prices on the game time app actually go down the closer that it gets to the first pitch with killer last minute deals all in prices view receipt and L price guarantee game time takes the guest we of buying MLB tickets and I can tell you this I've been doing concert last night with game time I I could post the slip if you wanted I slip would be what it's called I guess the receipt tickets whatever it is post it if you want it I went last night to see that Mexican OT perform at at Irving Plaza went bought the tickets on game time I was watching the price when they came out it was 55 bucks for general admission when I bought them 35 bucks week before week before the event just saying just saying game time they're kind of that place take the foret of buying tickets with Game Time download the game time app create an account use code locked on college for $20 off your first purchase terms apply again create an account redeem code locked on college for $20 off download game time today last minute tickets lowest price guaranteed thanks me lock down Gator your first listen of the day every day we are available daily and free R the podcast and on YouTube I'm like heated by the way I I want I don't know if you could tell I'm heated about RJ with with CFB on Fox whatever name they want to go by I hate it okay I hate it it's just National media is so bad covering college football they're just awful they are and I don't I don't necessarily fault them for doing it but trying is just a stupid idea it's 135 FBS teams you can't cover them properly you can't you just can't do a good job doing it not possible so that's my take on it um but especially if you're going to do it don't be an idiot when you do it okay now like I said the bar needs to be raised for Florida in year three under Billy Napier I acknowledge the schedule is incredibly tough I get that okay I think that right now we're at the point where a lot of fans for every fan base really they're going oh we're going to win this many games like we're going to win nine games 10 games with this schedule like we could it I think that we're in the point of the Season where the hype's getting out of control a little bit and you go you know what schedule is not that tough yes it is okay get that out the way I think I've been one of the main Florida Gator fans when talking about expectations that has said the schedule plays a big part in what my expectations are for the season in terms of what I think will happen Okay in terms of what I think will happen don't get that Twisted okay there are no excuses I've I've given my take on Billy's job security and the wins right I've said you know I think if you win five games and you look improved think you can keep your job should you let's see for me honestly I need you to win at least six games I know that there are Gator fans everywhere that think eight wins is the expectation I'm not saying that you're wrong but I disagree okay I don't think ex I don't think eight wins should be the expectation I think that if you can win eight games with the schedule you should be very happy and I know that a lot of florid Gator fans also go I don't want to hear about the schedule that's that that doesn't make sense to me it doesn't because the schedule has to play a part in you going well Florida should win this many games or shouldn't win this many games realistically as Florida Gator fans I think we want to go which is is I was in a Twitter space yesterday talking with Leo about it and I was just like I think the difference here is that as Florida fans we want to think back to like the Urban Meyer days and we go I don't give a damn who's in front of you beat him realistically I don't think Florida's at that level of talent right now it should be and it's sad that they're not I don't think they're at that level of Talent right now where I go I don't give a damnn who's in front of you beat them all I think that's it I will say I need to see and when I say this I mean absolute minimum six wins this year for me with quality wins in there and here's the thing with the Florida Gator current schedule you can't win six games without having some quality wins so win six games because at that point for me and I'm not saying to be completely sold on I'm just saying at that point for me I will look at this and I'll say Florida you weren't favored in most of the games you played we know that they're not going to be favored in most of the games they play because they're not going to be favored against Miami I don't think they'll be favored against Texas A&M they're not going to be favored versus Tennessee unless Tennessee really falls off they're not going to be favored against Georgia Texas LSU miss or Florida State like they're going to be underdogs in most of their games which is why I say hey if you can win six games while most people are expecting you to lose those games that's the absolute minimum for me because you will have some quality wins at that point right and so for me I'm not saying that I'm sold completely if you win six games what I'm saying is you're taking a team with question marks I and I understand Florida addressed a lot of them needs on paper we'll talk about that later you're taking a team with question marks going into the season and winning some quality games I'm willing to give you more time to prove that you can write this ship I am you look at Miami Texas A&M then you've got UCF Tennessee Kentucky Georgia Texas LSU Old Miss Florida state every game except Sanford and Miss and Mississippi State even if some of those teams fall off right let's say two of those teams vast ly underperform let's say it's I don't know Texas A&M and Kentucky vastly underperformed even if you win six games that means you're going to have at least a couple of quality wins also you cannot lose to Kentucky I will lose my mind I will you will see me lose my freaking mind live on stream if Florida loses to Kentucky okay but when I say you gotta win some quality games I'm looking at yes you've got a lot of home games and I do think that that will play a part in it right you got about seven home games this year perfect world you at least win all seven of them and I mean perfect world or not even at least perfect world you mean all seven of them and then it's like oh well can can we sneak away with something on the road get to eight wins I understand the logic of it I do I understand the logic going well you win all your games at home and then you just have to win one on the road and then you're at eight wins I get that realistically this is still the coach that lost to Arkansas at home last year this is still the coach that lost to Kentucky at home in his first year with the program and again I'm not saying I'm out on Billy Napier but I'm saying I don't think it's I don't think the expectation should be win every game at home ideally you win every game at home because the swamp is a top two atmosphere in college football I have said that always and I will continue to say it swamp Death Valley at night um but I I just don't think it's I don't think it's fair to really say hey win every game at home especially when some of your games at home are against number 24 ranked Miami number 25 ranked Texas A&M number 23 ranked Kentucky number 12 ranked LSU number six ranked Old Miss like tough teams right whoops tough teams right like that's that's rough I'm not going to say that you have to win every single game at home I'm saying hey you win five of your seven games at home which I do think is way more realistic one on the road with Mississippi State maybe go into neeland Florida's done it before Billy Napier almost did it with the worst team in 2022 we're having a different conversation right all that being said I really don't think it's too much to ask that when you look at the talent on the team and we'll get to that next on lockdown Gators like I said I I went on my rant before I can go on another one if you want um but I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility to say that six wins should be the absolute minimum expectation I don't because like I said like you have question marks on this team you do on paper you address a good deal of them right you look at on paper your offensive line should be significantly better Austin Barber's healthy kaii Harris is stepping in at left guard for Richie Leonard IV you get a full off season with Jake Slaughter at starting center which he did not have last year I think that's important to acknowledge and recognize that he was supposed to be the starting center last year Kingsley awen got hurt right before the season and Jake Slaughter was thrown in there and he kept rotating in and out with Kingsley the four games that Kingsley was healthy it was a lot right now full off season Right Guard Damen George is sliding in from right tackle to replace Micah mizuka and right tackle Brandon crenchaw Dixon came out of the transfer portal that's three new positions with new starter or three positions with new starters in 2024 compared to 2023 Damen George was a starter on your team last year however at guard things will hopefully be easier for him if not you've also got more depth this year Cameron weights moved back to Right Guard he is going to be challenging Damen George for the starting Right Guard spot Devon Manuel a swing tackle on the backside there play left tackle right tackle if someone were to get hurt so that you're not playing injured people or bad players right rod kiery play center and guard he's there uh Jason's end M at Center you've added a lot of talent through the transfer portal to your offensive line you've addressed it on paper and I think if you have another year of really bad offensive line play even if you do keep your job I think that you need to make a massive change to the offensive line coaching staff okay if the offensive line does not perform and if the offensive line comes to fruition it should be significantly improved if that comes to fruition you would replace the production lost by Trevor etm you would I I don't think that I don't think I've been unrealistic in saying that you know the loss of Trevor etan is is a big loss he's your best runner Pure Runner I I understand the pass blocking thing I think I was one of the first people to really criticize his pass blocking being horrible but even then I don't say oh yeah like that's why I'm fine with him being gone he should still be here he's a good football player a good football player explosive Dynamic Athlete he's welcome on my team just needs to learn how pass BL quarterback in year two can't be overstated literally cannot you look at gr Merz coming in in year two as a starter out of the transfer portal I understand last year was incredibly efficient however not explosive enough not not you know didn't didn't have a deep passing attack I understand all that I do truly um I think that in year two for Graham we see a quarterback that his completion percentage is going to drop for a couple of reasons one I think we see less of those pop passes which kind of helped increase his completion percentage but also I think we see him just throw the ball deep more often gr Merz wants to throw the ball deep I I want you to know that like I've criticized the checkdowns not that I'm criticizing him necessarily it's just the checkdowns aren't fun they aren't I guess sustainable to actually win games consistently but grah Merz is the kind of quarterback where he doesn't have the natural arm talent to Just Step Up deliver and throw winning throws consistently on his own without a good offensive line he needs to be able to step into his throws to get legitimate drive on it he's not Anthony Richardson okay he needs to be able to step into his throws improved offensive line will help him there I think that you see his completion percentage drop maybe passer rating drop I think he's going to throw more picks this year however I also think he's going to have more yards and touchdowns because he'll be throwing the ball deep more often but look at quarterbacks in year two out of the transer portable four Michael penx Jr with Washington Bo Nicks going from Auburn to Oregon which I've said is the most situ is the best situational comp for Graham they're obviously very different football players however Bo Nicks was ridiculed coming out of Auburn when he went to Oregon Graham MZ was ridiculed coming out of Wisconsin when he went to Florida Jaden Daniels another one that people laughed at him when he went to LSU hi Heisman happens a lot right so I think that having a quarterback in year two can't be overstated that it's very valuable and really raises your ceiling and your floor as a team defensively first off you can't be worse right however I feel like I've said that every year since 2020 and they've gotten worse please don't um but Austin Armstrong you know as an SEC defensive coordinator he got his feet wet last year and also please I'm just I'm I'm letting you know now please don't come into the comments about how silly you think it was to hire someone as young as Austin Armstrong is and as inexperienced as a defensive play caller as Austin Armstrong is I don't care I'm I'm gonna tell you right now if that's you thinking about that and by that I mean you could think that but but if you're thinking about com ing that I don't care okay I don't he's here he's not leaving so you're talking into the void okay that's all you're doing talking to a void because I will not acknowledge those kinds of comments because they're stupid to have it's a waste of time I won't do it okay but you also improve the entire defensive coaching staff so even if you think Austin Armstrong was too young and too inexperienced they brought in Ron Roberts this year to to help build the defense he's there to help coach the coaches which I think a lot of people ridicule but at the same time if the coaches you feel like you have are the coaches but they're just not ready yet would it not be smart to bring in a guy that can help coach them up and help speed up their development as coaches I don't understand the hate for the Ron Roberts hire and and I don't even mean that as someone that loves Ron Roberts which I've never been shy of about I mean that as you feel you've got a really young coaching staff you feel like they can become the answers that you need why why would you just cut bait there when you can bring in someone that'll help speed them up while also being a better position coach upgrade from Jay bin linebacker play last year was God awful God awful should be significantly better here Gerald Chapman on the defensive line Will Harris in the secondary a lot of defensive coaching staff changes Russ Callaway and as Co will help with game plan I still expect Billy Napier to be the call the play caller there but Russ helps you uh I think that you know this team has a lot of reasons to be optimistic but again what I've said always and will continue to say when you have a lot of people with expectations not everybody's going to reach those expectations that you have right development is an often isn't linear so you can't go oh well they were decent this year hopefully they'll be a little bit better this year can't can't do that development isn't linear there's big jumps in it we'll see what it is uh someone will probably let me down somewhere along the way but until then we with a tough schedule despite having sford on it RJ saying thanks for making lock down Gators your first listen of the day every day we are available daily and free rev in the podcast and on YouTube we'll be back tomorrow talk more Florida Gator football for lockdown Gators I'm Brandon Olson don't forget to follow me on Twitter at wns Brandon find all my written work with giants country in NFL 33 and I'll see you all next time