Gators Online writers Zach Abolverdi and Nick de la Torre preview the Florida-Samford game, including DJ Lagway making his first career start, other depth chart takeaways and the storylines to follow on Saturday.
Gators Online Podcast
Ep. 103: Florida vs. Samford preview, DJ Lagway starts
what's up Gator Nation welcome into the latest Gators online show Zach Ababurty and Nick Deltor here and we are here to talk Samford and that's just it we're only gonna preview the game that's the only thing that we're gonna talk about on the show nothing has happened this week there's been no news it's been a slow news week Nick maybe a shorter show you know just getting out discuss the Bulldogs who lost to West Georgia a team playing their first division one football game of its program so quick show getting out of here might even qualify as a YouTube short Zach hey well I would say that we're not expecting the shootout that we saw the last time these two teams met in the swamp so we will preview the game toward the tail end of this show I know you guys don't want to hear too much about Saturday's game you want to hear about all the story lines leading up to it and the things that are happening in Gainesville because there is a lot for Nick and I to break down since we came to you guys after the season opener in the swamp in our rapid reaction there's been quarterback news there's been Napier news there's been depth chart news we are going to cover it all on today's show give you all our takeaways and I don't know maybe make you feel better about Saturday I think at the very least Nick we know that there is probably a new level of excitement for this game that was not going to be there and that is simply because DJ lagway the true freshman five-star quarterback for the Gators one of the lone bright spots in their season opening loss to Miami will make his first career start on Saturday I think it was something that everybody had been looking forward to during the week waiting on word from Graham Mertz and we find out officially from Napier on Wednesday night that Graham had not passed his final test for concussion protocol despite making progress but that basically has opened the door for DJ to get the nod and probably not a better game and matchup no disrespect to Sanford but for DJ to have this opportunity Nick and also a good time maybe to get fans you know back interested into the team and at the very least more tuned into Saturday's game than they would have been had he not been starting yeah it's interesting because like I usually say during these games if you lose a big game a rivalry game or something like this and then you're playing an FCS opponent I usually say I'm not going to learn anything about you this week but yeah I think sometimes a lot of times fans echo that but when you have a five-star plus quarterback who will potentially be getting his first start and like it was Billy didn't say Billy really didn't come out and say DJ starting he just said Graham has a past concussion protocol and there's only one player he said he said as of now he he will start he did say that word so I mean it's any also said even if Graham were to miraculously get cleared it's very unlike Tony ever had one player he's only had one player what's it called practice throughout the week and then play but as you told me last night you think Graham could be the second I would argue that the relationship that Billy Napier has the trust that Billy Napier has the fact that because we're still dealing with these extra COVID players that Graham is 24 years old two years older than Anthony Richardson who's going into his second NFL season that grandma would have a good chance to be the second and I could be wrong you let me know in the comments section if I am but I believe wholeheartedly the second that grammar it's clear his concussion protocol he will be Florida starting quarterback again I still think DJ will start Saturday and that gets fans excited sure it's Sanford we don't care it's DJ lagway but what you're also making very clear and I would probably agree with you is that even if DJ lagway goes out and throws for 500 yards in four touchdowns and that's gonna be its own problem it's gonna be its own problem against an M Mertz is still going to take back his job when he's able to play yep I I do think though that it's just a good reset for Graham it's a good reset for the fan base it's a great opportunity for DJ because yes there is the potential for him to go out there and light it up against Sanford he could also go out there and struggle and he could also go out there and obviously have some you know freshmen growing pains and just get some of that out of his system early in the season before they get to SEC play so that you can continue to rely on him and maybe some of those mistakes that he could have potentially made during SEC play he can make them here in this game and learn from them but I've kept saying it and this is just the reality make like after that game on Saturday and that lost to Miami there is not a lot for this Florida football fan base to be excited about and we all know the old ad is that the backup quarterback is the most popular guy on the team and there's it just didn't it just doesn't unfortunately for Graham and we hate that he's having to go through this concussion but it doesn't work out better for for to have a carrot that they can dangle out to their fans to get them excited for the weakest game on their schedule you know and it was already not a hot ticket because the result on Saturday I don't know what the swamp would have looked like but now that they know that DJ Lagway is going to start or he's in line to start that changes the whole interest in the game in my opinion and I think you're probably gonna get more recruits that are going to show up or at the very least tune into the game that otherwise maybe not would have a paid attention to this for the Sanford game so there there's a lot that of benefits that can come from this now again if DJ goes out there and doesn't play well and struggles that could backfire and then your hope for the future and the thing that you have to look forward to is it doesn't give you a lot to do that so I don't necessarily think that's gonna happen man based on the way that he played in his action against Miami and of course the inferior opponent that Sanford is with the pieces around DJ he should be able to go out there and have a really good start but it's just crazy that this is already happening Nick like this we're already here two games into the season we were pretty sure and said that there would be no quarterback controversy this year I know I believe that you believe that and even with you and I both agreeing and I think a lot of others film the same way that as soon as Graham is back he's the starter no offense or butts this does create the potential for controversy as much as I'm not trying to drum it up but you already have fans that want him to be QB one regardless of what happens this week and regardless of what happens with Graham's availability like they already want to change that's not probably realistic but it's just this this game and this storyline creates a whole new dynamic for this season this team already two weeks in yeah and like listen there was a plan for DJ to play against Miami yeah Miami just smacked Florida around and got to a point very quickly where hey sorry we have to try to like win the game with our starting quarterback or get back into the game with our starting quarterback because I seen a lot of that so like we were gonna see DJ the game just dictated very quickly that Miami was dominating I think the interesting thing will be what does DJ look like against Samford because both of us I think agree that it'll be Graham as soon as Graham clears protocol and if DJ looks really really good what's then the fan reaction when Graham Merck's list is starting quarterback for Texas A&M now let me ask you this you you you and I I think both agree on Graham but that's just I think based on our expectation for what Billy will do if it was you what would you do if if DJ goes up there and lights it up on Saturday even if you know that Graham is the better quarterback is the guy that you want to go through SEC play with is there any thought to potentially giving him the nod against A&M one to give him a stop start against his home state just I know they don't need to make him happy but that would obviously that would mean a lot to him and his family for him to start that game also just to keep the momentum carrying over into the next week from lagways you know Dave you starting performance is there any consideration to that and then if he goes out there and does nothing the first two drives then you play Graham the rest of the game well listen yeah you're you're asking you I'm asking me I'm not asking you if it's up to me I'm just waiting for that buyout money to hit baby that's that's that's what I'm waiting for I'm I'm like which door do you want me to leave out of because the clock starts now within 30 days I'm gonna have 13 million I'll be on an island somewhere not even watching football if it's up to me I think I'm still going with my senior quarterback I get all those things but it would be if DJ looks great against Sanford hey Graham we're gonna we're gonna start but this is gonna be like a 70 30 60 40 like DJ is gonna play a lot and DJ like DJ will get the second or the third drive no matter what has happened in the game DJ is getting the third drive like what like what Devin manual got in week one with Austin Barber like well first off first off let's get into that later cuz I'm that infuriated me like what are we doing but yes yes similar to how the position group that says five equals one decided to play 13 guys completely unnecessarily but yeah I would say listen DJ is going to get these drives matter what's happening in the game I'll reserve in case you know Graham is absolutely lights it up it's like eight for eight on his first two drives but hey DJ we're gonna let Graham go yeah he hasn't he hasn't had a past dropped or incomplete yet we will get you in the game but I would just make sure to get him in the game you're at the point where it's like I said before the season before that disaster you need to make fans excited about DJ lagway because I don't know that you'll make fans excited based on your record this year but DJ is the future yeah right now DJ is the present based on injuries but DJ is the future and I think you need to give fans reason to hold on to excitement if I'm not worried about my buyout if I'm not actively trying to get my buyout then I think I'm trying to manufacture ways to get fans excited about the quarterback who was the best quarterback in the country that I got to commit to me into my program which it was under 500 and and say what you will about Billy Napier he's gotten a bunch of quarterbacks to tell him yes JJ Rachada told him yes DJ Lagway told me yes Austin Simmons told him yes like he's he's gotten very very highly rated quarterbacks look at Billy Napier look at his offense here what he has to say and go yeah I want to sign up for that that's where we're at Nick you got asked about that you got asked about that Nargeter's online live chat this week you know but hey he really likes Napier and Ryan O'Hara they like their system they like what they saw with Anthony Richardson when he was the quarterback obviously a lot more probably suited to what they would run with him than what we're seeing with Graham right now but look we could talk about this all show but for the fans you're getting what you want I do feel bad for for Graham because going back and you know watching the tape he obviously missed some throws and did not have his best game he also got just beat up pretty badly in that game and probably should have had some roughing the passers penalties called on Miami they those did not go both ways unfortunately for the Gators they they got them flagged on them but not not Graham so it's just unfortunate for a guy that had a breakout career best season last year kind of shut everybody up and proved a lot of people wrong with the way he performed is right there in Columbia Missouri with a chance to pull off a top 10 upset can you imagine what that would have done I think he Graham won over a lot of fans last year Nick but what would a win at Missouri over a top 10 team have done for you know his reputation and he's breaks his collarbone and does everything he's done to get to this point and I'll say this with that Zach he's he's the defense getting a fourth and 17 stop away even with the broken collarbone yeah is the defense getting a fourth and a quarter mile stop away from being the quarterback that won that game yeah I think you know finish it off but like yeah we like Graham Graham played poorly he did not play well against Miami even when he was in there he didn't play well and even and I'll add to even when he had time like we were saying he got beat up and that the past protection wasn't good and it was but there were times where the past protection was good and he just missed fire and yeah I mean looking at the PFF grades like the passpot grades way better than the run block grades Jake slaughter grade I was in 84 Austin Barber in 82 Damien George and 80 Bryce Lovett of 79 Roger's just one guy that didn't have a good pass pocket I've never seen it yet no fucking crazy I've never seen a 0.0 so a lot of times with fans like I could do that and like you're you're so dumb like it's so hard to hit a 98 mile an hour fastball it's so hard to block a 300 pound guy who bench presses 600 pounds but yes you fan me writer I could also get a 0.0 pass blocking grade in the college football game yeah but like the pass blocking was okay Graham should play well I think if we had Graham as our guest on the show right now he would tell you yeah I played played that and and how much of that was as much as he played in the spring and fall camp it's still his first game back I don't know early you know early season jitters coming off of an injury there's still you're still unsure about that are you still unsure what your receivers you throwing a live your badger there was obviously some issues there on some deep balls but I mean there's no excuse for it it is what it is having said that this would have been a great game for Graham to go out there and regain his confidence and have you know some big-time throws and some big-time plays against an inferior opponent to kind of just get his mojo back going into SEC play and he doesn't get that now so as much as people want to see DJ lagway play and I'm just as excited as you guys Graham needed this game not necessarily for his development but just just to kind of get back on his groove and you know now he's gonna have to go back out there against Texas A&M to try and you know regain his footing and and that's a lot tougher assignment than being able to do that against Samford so and look I know Billy would agree with this because he's credited Graham a lot for this but however well DJ lagway plays on Saturday I think Graham will probably deserve some credit for that because he's done a really good job mentoring him up to this point yeah I had somebody because I said that and I've written it a couple times so shout out to E3PO might be definitely the first shout out E3PO and the message board has ever gotten for me he said Nick how about this new headline Graham Mertz grateful to learn behind DJ lagway this year which join Gators online to get that kind of sarcasm and humor on the message words daily our message board has been on fire this week on fire just a five alarm fire I looked on their Saturday during the game when I said oh buddy it's gonna be a long day for Swamp Talk Forum because those threats were just getting started yeah but here's here's something and I contended last year when during in the middle of Graham Mertz being sacked 30 plus times that the offensive line at Florida has never been good under Billy Napier that in 2022 you just had a 6 foot 4 245 pound create a player who can run 22 miles an hour and it's very hard to tackle in that outside of Osiris Torrance Lorda's five equals one room wasn't very good but Anthony Richardson's ability to run escape the pocket and scramble mast how badly offensive line was and now when you look at it they didn't have a running quarterback 30 sacks they they played well they graded out or they know exact yeah they they graded out in in past blocking but couldn't get a push couldn't get couldn't get a run I think when you have a mobile quarterback like DJ Lagway like Anthony Richardson now you have to play 11 on 11 when you have a quarterback like Graham Mertz you don't have to have somebody on defense specifically accounting for the quarterback sure the quarterback can run but you're not worried about it when you have DJ Lagway you need somebody on the court somebody who is focused on the quarterback somebody spying him you have to know that DJ lagway can break off and run and that makes things easier for the offensive line should make things easier also for the running game for the for just handing the ball off when you're looking at having to account for DJ well now we don't have to worry about or now we have to worry about a quarterback and it kind of stretches defenses then so maybe an offensive line that didn't look great against Miami looks better with a mobile quarterback yeah and we would not only see a new quarterback for the Gators but also some changes to the depth chart Graham Mertz is not the only starter that is going to be injured in week two the Gators have a total of five guys that are missing the game due to injury that Napier has announced and then there's also some some developments with the depth chart Nick can pull up that depth chart here shortly and we'll have have you guys look at it as we break it down but obviously no Graham Mertz on the depth chart he's not even there but there was some very notable absences from the depth chart as well as some changes to the lineups now the other starters that are out are all on defense four guys so a third of your starting lineup on defense is not playing on Saturday you don't have Joey Slachman in the lineup and then three starters in the secondary Sharif Denson at star ace a Turner at safety and then Devin Moore at cornerback yet again injured it looks like it was a shoulder injury that he sustained so tough for that to happen to Devin because this was a chance for him to obviously get back in the starting lineup or should I say get in the starting lineup and finally have a healthy season so he's already down and then you know it's crazy Nick is like gosh if you were to point on Florida's offense and defense going into the year and say who are two of their most valuable you know veteran football IQ smart like MVP type players you would point to Graham Mertz and likely ace a Turner as a six-year senior safety played in the national championship game last year was supposed to be one of the impact transfers that made for his defense better and instead you now lose both your six year seniors that were basically kind of quarterbacking your offense and defense just a tough blow for the Gators to have that happen because you know ace a Turner I know he didn't have a great game either against Miami but he was still a very integral piece of their secondary and their defense kind of a leader on that side of the ball and so now you're without him and it looks like for potentially some time naked we didn't get a timeline on his injury although I did hear pups Howard say Wednesday night that he would be back at some point this season so I don't know if this is a season ending injury we'll find out some more answers probably next week before to put out an injury report but you lose three starters in the secondary this is this is a tough blow for the Gators maybe yeah bring a bring ace of back for seventh year it's Devin Moore and and I still contend this is Florida's most talented cornerback he just can't stay on the field and it looked so promising all offseason he was healthy all of spring outside of the tonsil issue in the fall he was healthy and like that's not you know an injury that's just like hey I had to get my tonsils taken out yeah it's just so unfortunate that a player who has as much promise and potential as a guy like Devin Moore just can't stay healthy and I mean he played less than 20 snaps before you know going to make a tackle and hurting his shoulder again and it's the right shoulder which I think is the same when he hurt or was hurt actually it was his left shoulder that was hurt freshman year so I mean it's just unfortunate for him you're down Graham you're down I mean you played one game and Graham is hurt also we didn't mention this I watched I watched the I watch the the replay of Graham gets smacked in the head and like ACC official no like roughing the quarterback you apparently in the ACC you can just run up and smack a quarterback in no no no but they called it on Florida they just didn't call oh yeah we only called on non ACC you're right there is there actually is rough in the quarterback Florida I hit it the twice but you can smack him in the head just don't hit him you know secondly if you can give him a concussion just don't hit him out of just don't hit him out of bounds um so you lose Graham you lose your starting strong safety you lose your best cornerback you lose your nickel back and Shreve Denson I don't know what's going on with Khalil Jackson we didn't ask Billy if he's hurt but Khalil Jackson's nowhere to be found on his step chart although it sounds like Marcus Burke made a move up the depth chart because I want to say last week he was listed in the slot and now he's at the X behind Badger and there was Khalil Jackson at that X last week so maybe it's a situation where Burke has just moved up the depth chart this week and Napier did say that that would happen he did say that throughout the season the guys that are you know four fifth and six on the depth chart that could vary from week to week and we're seeing that unless Khalil's hurt but he specifically singled out Marcus Burke and praised him for the week that he had and that they moved him to the X so I I think that might actually be intentional um worth noting though I mean look at the look at the wide receiver this was not there last week now one of these guys was hurt but Tank Hawkins and TJ Abrams were not on the depth chart last week at all and they are both now listed at the X position or excuse me the Z position behind Eugene Wilson so they're not in the slot important to note that but this is the first time that you've got both of those guys in on the depth chart as true freshmen we heard great things about Abrams I did going into the offseason it just it seemed like he was continuing to to kind of earn more playing time since enrolling early I know Montrell Johnson actually singled him out at SEC media days as a guy that he thought that was gonna be a freshman that played in 2024 Tank Hawkins obviously the fastest guy on the football team he and Aiden Mizell he's been he had been dealing with injury and had his arm and a sling looks like he's back so some developments there because neither one of those guys were on the depth chart last week yeah that reminded me you know while we talk about that something Billy Napier said on Wednesday night I just pulled it up this is a question about if Devin manual the Arkansas transfer could play right tackle he's talking about it by the way I did not for the record I did not say Devin more I went back and listened to it I said I said I said I said Devin worked okay I'm not I'm not that bad Billy said it is literally one day at a time right now based off of what I watched Saturday is to show me Tuesday show me on Wednesday show me on Thursday and then we'll decide who's going to play I think you're seeing that you know on the depth chart where some names who weren't there last week are like listen we tried you guys against Miami do you want to watch the film again we can we can go in we can turn the lights off we can get some popcorn we can watch the film again Zach or we're gonna try some different guys who weren't part of a performance that I will continue to say as the head coach is embarrassing I embarrassed you you embarrassed me we embarrassed the collective University and the collective Gator Nation so we're gonna try some guys who weren't part of that embarrassing performance yeah and on that note they've also made some changes there to the depth chart Cam Waits was listed as the outright starter in week one now it's he or Brendan Crenshaw Dixon but Brendan Crenshaw Dixon is listed first on the depth chart and then Damian George was listed outright as the starter at right guard in week one he is now listed as George or Cameron Waits at right guard that's right Cameron Waits is listed as a backup at both right tackle and right guard that's been happening throughout camp we were we had information that had him as the backup right guard as late as Thursday of week one and then lo and behold he was starting at right tackle on Saturday that's how much they moved him between both of those spots but Brendan Crenshaw Dixon looks like he'll get the nod I did ask Napier since they seemed to make it a point to put Devin Manuel in the game and he said that that was because he had earned those reps and he had earned that that opportunity based on what he did in the spring taking all the starting reps at left tackle they just felt obligated to give him that opportunity and I will say Devin was actually in there on that 71 yard touchdown run that Montreal Johnson had on his side so it looks like they like Cameron at least wanted to give him playing time but you're not you're not gonna take Austin Barbara out anymore that's not gonna keep happening so what are we doing what are we doing I was taking Austin Barbara out of the game he played 27 have it pulled up 39 you're starting left tackle played 39 of an available 56 naps 56 yes 56 and then it's also played every rep yeah but Danny and George played Damian George played more snaps than Austin Barbara Damian George graded out lower than Austin Barbara as both a run blocker and pass blocker and played eight more snaps which essentially is two drives the way that the way the offense was going to full drive more than Austin Barbara I just I have major questions about what are we doing on the offensive line find five find five play five into your point that guy I understand rewarding guys with playing time that have earned it in the off-season but this is in this game and that match up against that defensive line it's really tough early in the game to shuffle your you're starting offensive line when you want you want to get guys time find your best five and get a lead in a football game and then let get a get a big enough lead that you can then put the second string hey guys good point here you go instead of this communist everyone gets a little bit a little piece of it like what are we doing I don't understand it we continue to talk about the code it's not just us in the media talking about it either coaches will tell you you need five guys playing as one they make let's say five equals one they should have hats that say five equals one sack or 17 equals one or everyone gets an orange slice and you'll play six drives and you'll play five drives find five guys who can work together left tackle through right tackle that work together every day in practice when the first team when you yell first team up there shouldn't be a question and if you add if you yelled first team up on on Saturday against Miami who does that mean because you played two different guys in left tackle you played three different guys at right tackle five five guys let them work together let them get their communication down let them understand hey who's next to me I know what Bryce love it's doing because I've spent all off-season practicing next to Bryce love it I know exactly what Austin Barber is going to do and if this defensive front changes I know that Austin Barber is on the same page as me because I've done a thousand reps with him in the off-season not like oh the defensive front change turn oh it's Devin manual now it's not Austin okay well what how many reps did I get but fine fine what are we doing here it's to me it makes no sense it makes absolutely no sense well and I I was curious that if you felt like Devin is good enough to get starting reps at the left side and you're struggling mightily at right tackle which is they did they why not give him a look at right tackle and I asked Napier that on Wednesday and he basically said that they are they're sticking with their rotation of those two at right tackle and the other two at left tackle and if they're going to get anybody another look at right tackle it would be Caden Jones and I've heard they really like Caden Jones but he's also a true freshman that has I don't know if he played last week Nick but he if he hadn't he's never played in a college game before fine five and stick with five and if it's Andrew going to go to the freshman and you're going to say listen we're gonna we're gonna go through our growing pains I mean I mean if I'm them I think the weights experiment at tackle should be over I think you keep them at guard I know that there are people on the staff that feel like that's what he is so just stick them there and if Brendan Cranshaw Dixon continues to struggle I don't know I know Billy said they that's not where they're headed but I give them in manual look like you you brought him over as a transfer from Arkansas he's played for one of the most respected offensive line coaches in the country if you felt like he was good enough to take your best offensive lineman off the field or your second best let's see what he could do a right tackle where you couldn't block anybody in week one but we are not here to tell him how to run their depth chart Nick they see these guys every day we'll see what they look like on Saturday on the defensive side of the ball we mentioned some of the changes happening there with the with the starting lineup nothing too notable in terms of the backups don't see anything really changed there but obviously this is a big opportunity for Kelby Collins I would say with Joey Slachman out now instead of Caleb Banks and Joey Slachman being that rotation at end I think Kelby is gonna get a lot more snaps at that spot and they're gonna need him to step up McIver oh he's a guy that I think showed some good things in week one and I would imagine that he's gonna continue to get more snaps at nose tackle Nick and maybe even get more than Des Watson and then in the secondary you know again a lot of you went from now all of a sudden having some you know some some veteran presence there with with ace a Turner and now he's gone and Devin Moore is gone who was your junior cornerback and now you're working with a sophomore corner and Jaquim Jackson who's very talented but also had a coverage bus on Saturday and gave him touchdown and you know that that's what you get when you having to rely on some young guys they're gonna make some plays and also gonna give up some plays you you know I guess the one positive with losing ace a Turner is that you replace him with another redshirt senior safety and DJ Douglas so you don't have to necessarily go young there and you know you also got bridges as well that that can play safety and I think it plays star too but this is gonna be Aaron Gates's opportunity they don't have bridges listed there as a as a as an option at star although I know he can't play that it's Alfonso Allen right now kind of a surprising addition there because I think prior was Josiah Davis that was looking like the next man up so some shakeups in the in the secondary Nick Dijon Johnson is also going to get a lot more playing time according Napier what do you expect to see from from this unit and how how concerning is this if more and turn or out for an extended period time? Denson too I guess although Napier did say they helped to get him back soon yeah I don't know that it's super concerning this week I think the linebackers you know with with their quarterback Kritenden I think with his mobility I think it's you put more of an emphasis in the linebackers and maybe the tackling of the guys outside of Jikem Dijon and Aaron Gates Alfonso Allen's a walk-on but he played two years of Baylor before transferring and walking on it Florida yeah it's I think I put I put personally I put a lot of importance on ace turner I think I even I didn't even say I thought he would be an all SEC kind of guy and was not playing that way before the injury and now who knows how long he'll be out but yeah I think it's a big it's a big a big thing for Florida to not have that endless Jordan Castell is not a sophomore played 660 snaps last year like sure he might be a sophomore on the depth chart but in terms of experience he's got more students from juniors because Florida couldn't get off the field last year Jordan Castell played more snaps probably than any freshmen in the country so I think you know him being able to talk and get guys in you still have Derek Wingo Shamar James pup Howard guys that can be you know make sure guys are where they need to be but yeah you lost a lot of experience it and they like to talk about how many snaps and starts they have you lost a lot of snaps and a lot of starts where they started going down yeah and it's unfortunate because he's also got I've been dealing with injuries and was healthy again and had the broken wrists last year that had kept him out but also created an opportunity for him to be able to have this extra year so he's out now we'll find out what the timeline looks like for those guys in the coming weeks but that is it for the depth chart some some very very riveting stuff there and it's good to see them at least making some changes because some were needed after that week one performance before we get into what we want to see on Saturday when they give a shout out as we always do to my perfect franchise.net if you're ready to leave the corporate rat race for the American Dream looking for a side hustle while working your current job wanting to diversify build wealth and/or leave legacy and he can help he's a franchise consultant as well as a franchise owner and helps people find franchises that fit their skill sets financial requirements time to commit and more his services are 100% free and he's here to contact or he's here to help you give any questions about business ownership you can contact him anytime at myperfectfranchise.net or calling or texting him at 404-973-9901 and with that obviously we usually on this segment do keys to the game not really keys for Ford and this one there's not even a line on this game this is one that Ford should win easily so there's more things that we are gonna be watching for and you all will be watching for as well certainly DJ Lagway making his first career start is a storyline to watch we've talked about that at length we won't get into that now but that is the number one storyline to watch Nick what are some other ones that you'll be watching on Saturday yeah I'd like Florida to get jing-ball maybe get Katie Daniels I think Katie was really the only one that didn't play in that running-backroom get Jaden and Katie some reps I'd like to see tank Hawkins TJ Abrams eight in my Zell like to see those guys get some reps just get some younger players reps get out of this game healthy as well don't have a repeat of 2021 first of I don't think Florida scored 70 points like they needed to the last time Samford was here the most points have scored in a million Napier was 52 against Easter Washington in his first year just nothing you do against Samford is going to erase what happened last week against Miami but you make it worse yeah sorry sorry to put that on your conscience that even on me Ricky Bobby give give fans something to hold on to something to you know a little bit of a palate cleanser a reason to be excited hopeful or just even have a glimmer of hope that you can take care of business the following week against Texas A&M at home starting one into at home during this three-game stretch could could start a process of having a new coach and I think what the Miami game did there's a million different ways a football game can go outside of being shut out Lorda had the absolute worst outcome for themselves because building a peer will be Florida's head coach I think if they go six and six they go seven and five will be the head coach next year but the way Florida looked against a quality team in Miami I think we just don't see a clear path to six wins I did my ceiling floor on Monday and people are like what do you mean the four is one in 11 like they should beat Samford but they probably shouldn't win any other games and that's based on how you looked against Miami I get that reaction I think it's an over reaction but I get it I get it give give fans a reason to stop telling me that the floor for your season is one in 11 yeah I obviously better defensive play better pass rush just more plays being made they get a turnover and that was on a play where they got pass rush and pressure came warden it through a pick you should be able to do that easily against Samford you should be able to live in their backfield you should be able to end a six-game losing streak and finally get that taste out of your mouth get a feel-good win get an opportunity get out of there healthy an opportunity for your freshmen to get in this game and backups and walk-ons to potentially get in this game I know that's that's that's a last box that they're worried about checking Saturday but that's the way that you should take care of business in this matchup and just calling it like it is there aren't gonna be a lot of opportunities for those guys that I just mentioned to get chances to come play in mop of duty this is one of the rare ones where you kind of feel like you almost know that they could have it so you've got to make sure that you take care of business you should dominate this team you should dominate this team and if Florida struggles and has issues still on defense and then obviously you know with a true freshmen starting quarterback if there's some struggles there and you're letting this team hang around that is not the confidence builder that you need from this game and on offense obviously yes lagway but how does that offensive line look when we talk about Florida should dominate this team their offensive line should dominate that matchup there's just no reason why they shouldn't be able to block these guys at will and also it shouldn't matter who Florida puts in there because I think that they will still even though they rotate a lot of guys and drove Nick nuts last week and a lot of others I still think that they're probably gonna rotate some folks in this game again just to see just have another week of tape of what they have on the offensive line and how they need to move forward and SEC play so I and then obviously if they get a big lead they're gonna play some other offensive line and so what that looks like and how those guys do with those opportunities is something that I'm gonna be watching and and yeah and obviously you know this is not really a storyline and we haven't talked about it yet Nick but this has been quite the week for Billy Napier in terms of the I mean the the basement comment the water bottle gif that made its rounds on social media I mean the guys been a punching bag this week and I think for him you know he seems like he's you know he had the right approach to everything that's happened on Wednesday obviously clarified his comments but I think this is an important game for him to obviously end this losing streak but but yeah I mean he needs to go out there and and have a feel-good win with his team and get these guys to start creating any kind of momentum that they can and you know I think that they approach this week with the right attitude and they've said that they felt embarrassed and sounds like they're pissed off but they need to get that cloud from that's been hanging over their heads since what Nick how long has it been since they won a game like they need to just get that off that monkey off their back and find a way to regroup here before it's gonna get even harder in SEC play Florida came back to beat South Carolina on October 14th in the year 2023 and that was so long ago yeah it's been it's been almost 11 months since 4 to 1 a football game yeah if you're gonna keep rotating offensive lineman Zach when we just rotate the offensive line coaches - let's just I'm done with it over it stupid well I think that we're gonna see what they got on Saturday it's a what what did he say show me Tuesday show me Wednesday show me Thursday hydro eyes Saturday now they got to show us so we'll see what this football team looks like I know Florida fans so this is not the way that you guys have wanted to start the season it's been a tough week to wear orange and blue but I would encourage everybody out there still come out still try to enjoy the game you only get 12 of these every year and then you only get so many home games so regardless enjoy the fact that we get to go back out and watch football and tailgate and do all the fun stuff and hopefully this is a Saturday in a weekend where Gator fans get to celebrate it when yeah yeah I think what you had seven home games this year so you only have six left you only have five left after this I get not being excited I get that super expensive as well when you use all the things considered hotel travel but in December you'll be wishing that there was football a Gator football on your TV there will be football but not Gator football and we wish there was there was Gator football on TV so yeah and I think you should get a great crowd support the guys enjoy some Saturdays in the fall I mean that's tough for me that's tough I mean it's not tough I'm not sleeping anyway with the newborn so I'll just get home at 2am and start my diaper duty well and maybe Florida will take care of business Nick and get a big second half lean you can have all your writing done by the time yeah that's likely since it sounds like you're baking on it so well that'll do it for this week's episode I appreciate you guys tuning in following along with all of our coverage this week it has definitely been DJ lagway week at Gator's online but we're looking forward to seeing number two make his first career start in the orange and blue before we get out of here want to give a shout out to Prairie Dental Center the doctor is a UF grad who's practicing Gainesville for three decades and developed a deep understanding of how to diagnose and treat various dental problems along with advanced skills and knowledge to provide better care to his patients if you're having dental concerns or just need a cleaning Prairie Dental Center offers a wide range of options to meet your needs give their office a call at 352-373-3431 tell them Gator's online sent you in your new patient exam will be free and that will do it for this week's Gator's online show appreciate Nick for coming through after what I was sure was it was a long night Nick yeah yeah I'm sitting here I'm just not sleeping very much so we're like these getting sick I think because I'm awake a lot but best job in the world that is being dead yeah man it's it's one of a kind and that's that's giving you something to smile about during these times so we'll get back to it tell Frankie I said hello and we'll say see you guys on Saturday night the late late late Saturday night live on YouTube so be on the lookout for next tweet and that YouTube notification when we go live we'll still post it back to the channel as well but we'll join you guys in the swan with our rapid reaction to Florida verse Sanford until then for Nick Deltory I'm Zach Iberverdi see you guys Saturday
Gators Online writers Zach Abolverdi and Nick de la Torre preview the Florida-Samford game, including DJ Lagway making his first career start.