Lifeless is perhaps the best word to describe the Florida offense last season.

Averaging 18.8 points per game, the 2013 Gators dismal performances forced fans to harken back to the “good ol’ days” of Steve Spurrier’s Fun N’ Gun offense and the times of Urban Meyer and Tim Tebow.

After Jeff Driskel went down with a season-ending leg injury against Tennessee, the Florida offense desperately searched for something to get the blood pumping again in its anemic offense. Of course, they never did and finished the season 4-8. Just one year removed from a BCS bowl berth, Will Muschamp was forced to once again find a new offensive coordinator in order to save the offense and most likely his job.

Enter Kurt Roper.

After his hiring was made official back in December, fans salivated at his resume. A spread offense? Three-3,000 passing yard quarterbacks? More than 70 plays per game? Yes, all of those things and more.

Despite this being his third offensive coordinator coaching him at Florida, the belief is this will be Driskel’s best year yet because he’ll finally be operating under the same offense that plays to his dual-threat strengths. Besides a better fit schematically for the players, Roper’s presence on the field is doing something even more important for the Gators’ offense. Giving it life again.

“Players are a reflection of their coach, and Kurt is a very upbeat, positive guy who has got a little edge about him,” Muschamp said at his press conference on Monday. “I think you’ve seen a certain carry-over to our offensive football team, there’s no question about that.”

As long as Muschamp has been at Florida, high-energy with a little bit of an edge would certainly be an accurate way to describe his coaching style. However, it’s definitely more of a foreign concept when it comes to the offense. For Roper, it’s all he knows. Any footage of Roper probably displays his hands-on coaching style, actively vocalizing his praise or displeasure to his players.

Players have responded well not only to the new system, but also to Roper’s refreshing coaching style.

“I think we have the players to really flourish in the system that we’re running, Driskel said. “We have a lot of players that can make plays in space, but Coach Roper is always up-tempo.”

Muschamp is essentially on his last chance as Florida’s head coach. Another disappointing season and he’ll probably be looking for a new job this offseason, but Roper is the person who can save his job. So far, so good though. Roper’s confident style of coaching has got this team believing again that they can compete. Despite a down season last year, he’s raised the bar for the offense.

“He’s always a positive guy, and we needed that around here. He’s not going to be one to have an off day on the field. He’s always going to be bringing the energy, and that’s what we need in a coach,” Driskel added.

Roper has brought positivity and energy to the Florida offense this offseason. Now all that remains is to see if he can get the offense to walk the talk and bring back the high-energy and excitement this program once had.

Florida kicks off against Idaho on Saturday, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. EST.