Maybe he sees something you don't, him being a professional football coach and all. He studied Mertz's film and liked something he sees there. Just remember that in the Orange and Blue game, Napier kept almost all of his playbook closed. The offense was handcuffed, and the defense was green-lighted. We know nothing about this offense, but neither does Utah.
Well, in your own sarcastic way you were throwing shade at Napier's QB credentials. That's probably a little premature. Wait till his QB's can use the playbook. All he wants is a game manager who can read the defensive set and not throw the game away. Napier isn't a fun n gun guy, he's a Vince Lombardi guy.
Mertz wasn’t his first option. Rumor Hartman wouldn’t be cleared by our doctors and fear over Leary injury. McCall and Tulane kid were his wants. Couldn’t get McCall in and Tulane kid never entered the portal. I don’t get the feeling Napier wants a game manager going forward, if he did he wouldn’t have recruited Lagway
My take is that Lagway is so good you offer and chase until he commits, no matter what your offense will look like.
Lagway isn’t coming here to be a game manager. I’d imagine he’s been told the offense will be opened up for him.
Pretty much what I said in my last post. Napier's offense is run-heavy, pass deep if the defense sells out to run-stop. But if you get a chance to acquire a Tim Tebow or a D J Lagway, that same offense will accommodate an elite skillset, this offense can be very sophisticated, its run-heavy, but QB is always looking downfield to read coverage.
Mertz and Miller didn't look good trying to throw deep in the spring game. I don't know what they did at Wisconsin and OSU.
Mertz was average at best at Wisconsin. His first game as starter he was 20/21 248 yards and 5 touchdowns. Got Covid the next week and never had a great game again that season. He was highly rated so maybe he can turn it around. Seems unlikely though. Hoping for the best however.
This shows why the coaches are trying to get Simmons to come in early. It doesn't explain why coach Napier took Mertz in the first place.ESPN breaks down all 133 DI quarterback situations and ranks Florida's quarterback room as Tier 5A.
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Prolific passers, intriguing transfers, second acts: Ranking all 133 FBS QB situations into tiers
Breaking down the QB situations for all 133 FBS programs by tiers following spring camps.www.espn.com
Obviously, he thinks Mertz can get the job done. Why else? Simmons coming early makes no sense for him or for UF. And ESPN isn't looking to sporty nowadays either.
