Billy Napier explains decision to remain Florida's play-caller in critical Year 3
Billy Napier surprised some fans with the decision to remain Florida’s offensive play-caller this offseason.
As the Gators dealt with staff departures on both sides of the ball, Napier mostly declined to shake up the roles of his current staff.
When offensive line assistant Darnell Stapleton was hired by the NFL’s Washington Commanders, some fans were intrigued to see how Napier would handle the open on-field spot on offense. Stapleton worked alongside Rob Sale, a long-time offensive line coach who oversees UF’s o-line while also holding the offensive coordinator title.
While some fans were hoping Napier might consider one offensive line coach (Sale) to be enough, the head coach opted to replace Stapleton with another OL assistant.
The only other notable change Napier made to his offensive staff in the offseason was the promotion of tight ends coach Russ Callaway to co-OC. It wasn’t immediately clear what Callaway, who has play-calling experience, would be doing in the co-OC considering Sale holds the OC title and Napier has been Florida’s play-caller.
Though Callaway has additional responsibilities and offensive input, his promotion does not make him the primary play-caller. In a recent interview with Josh Pate of 247Sports, Napier confirmed he will call plays again in 2024.
“I think it goes back to kind of what we talked about in the beginning. There’s no doubt the first two years here, it’s almost like you’re trading a couple years of your life – there’s so much work to do to get things up and running,” Napier told Pate. “You know, we’ve always had confidence in our system, we’ve always been very efficient, and I think the working relationship with Graham (Mertz), in particular with the coach-to-player communication piece this offseason that’s being added, we’ve got a really good system. It’s proven.
“I think we finished the season playing really efficient on offense and putting our team in position to win. So, we have reallocated some of our responsibilities. I think giving Russ Callaway the co-coordinator title, giving him a little bit more ownership throughout the offseason and some of the things that we do in-house. But ultimately, I feel like it’s in the best interest for our team for me to continue to call the plays, right, so, if I didn’t feel that way I would have made a decision to make a change.”
Interestingly, Napier appeared to address a criticism in the final part of his answer. While there have been questions asked if Napier is being overextended as the head coach and the play-caller, Napier said that his focus is in the right place as the team’s play-caller.
“So, I’m excited about the input that we’re getting from the staff and some of the things we’ve done to reorganize, but overall, you know, more focus on the things that matter,” Napier told Pate. “Like I mentioned before, I don’t think the place is under construction, I think it’s built, and I think this is going to allow me an opportunity to focus a little bit more on the things that matter, and play-calling’s a part of that.”
Here’s Billy Napier why he’ll continue to call plays and the thought process behind it pic.twitter.com/0tFIzmGd9o
— Josh Pate (@LateKickJosh) April 17, 2024
At least one other area still needs more of Napier’s focus
Earlier this offseason, Napier brought in a new special teams staffer. Joe Houston, formerly of the New England Patriots, joined Napier’s staff as a senior analyst.
Houston was brought in to oversee a Florida special teams unit that experienced embarrassing issues. In 2023, the Gators failed to get properly lined up on special teams multiple times. There was also the infamous punt return incident with two players on the field wearing the same number.
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It appears that Houston still has work to do with getting everyone on the field. A photo captured of the spring game stream counts only 10 players lined up to defend against a kick. AP beat writer Mark Long noted it happened on the fifth special teams snap of the game.
Here we go again https://t.co/uebCsfKqHZ pic.twitter.com/fPWBnv3caK
— Florida Gator Logo (@FGLogo_) April 13, 2024
Napier’s decision to continue to call plays as head coach while using “analysts” for the roles of QB coach and special teams coordinator and having two on-field OL coaches show that he is committed to doing things his way. After an 11-14 start in two years, there are plenty of questions of whether there will be a Year 4 of doing things the Napier way.
Napier’s management of an offense replacing multiple playmakers will likely be the deciding factor.
“Napier’s decision to continue to call plays as head coach while using “analysts” for the roles of QB coach and special teams coordinator and having two on-field OL coaches show that he is committed to doing things his way.”
Shows he knows his paycheck is cashing no matter what!
SLOWLY…… PROCEED SLOWLY…
Don’t give up when your destination is so near!!!! Another 20 or 25 years of Napier and you might be the 2nd or 3rd best SEC team…LOL
PS. Just take it SLOW….. LOL
Negan
Florida and TRUTH ABOUT SABAN…..
In all fairness I think Billy does have a plan. Only I think it has changed drastically since Billy came to the SEC as a head coach……..
I think he believes he might have this season to make it or break it!!!! With all the powerhouse teams on the Florida and Georgia schedules this season. It appears someone is already against us!!!!
Billy knows he needs to find a way to literally SLOW DOWN THE GAME!!! He doesn’t want to get in a race with anyone. He prefers a punch out!!!! He feels his roster is well built for slow punch out games…. They may well be…..
Nevertheless Gainesville Florida wasn’t built on slow punch out games… Y’all sort of introduced the league to the FUN N GUN OFFENSE!!!! And guess what… It was really fun if you were a gator!!!! And the defense was always just good enough…
Billy wants a new offense… Let’s call it the PUNCH N ROLL OFFENSE!!!! Yes it’s slow but if it works. You also give the defense plenty of rest…. Rest alone can help any defense get better!!!!!
So if you can get some of these teams to play PUNCH N ROLL… Then you might do well with many!!!! Both Georgia and Florida have really large powerful athletes… I know Georgia does… Only Georgia can still play basically any style they choose at this moment…. Because that is how Kirby and staff recruited them to be…..
Looks like Alabama might be pretty stout on offense… Nothing in that spring game made me fear their defense though!!! LOL
ALABAMA’S STARTING DEFENSE GAVE UP 31 IN THE FIRST QUARTER… AFTER THAT IT WAS CLEAR THAT CKD HAD CALLED OFF THE DOGS!!!! LOL…. OTHERWISE IT MIGHT HAVE GIVEN UP 60+ IN JUST THE FIRST HALF…..
I CALL IT AS I SEE IT… THAT IS PLAYERS FEELING LIKE THEY CAN NOW TAKE A VACATION WITH SABAN GONE…
I certainly hope they enjoy their vacation… Something tells me if they don’t get waaaaaaaaay better…. That vacation is going to be a loooooooooooong one indeed!!!! LOL
I’m glad Georgia doesn’t recruit those kind of players… When they do by accident… We let them go!!!!!! LOL
FUN FACT….. For the time Kirby Smart has been in the SEC… HE IS ALREADY THE WINNINGEST COACH IN SEC HISTORY!!!!!! If 2nd & whatever had never happened or better yet… The offsides call on that 3rd quarter blocked punt… Get rid of either and Kirby Smart would already have 3 national championships!!!!! Had Georgia been invited to the playoffs… Georgia would have 3 in a row and 2017 would have made 4 already…. That is for those who believe Kirby Smart will never catch Saban….
OH YES HE WILL GOD WILLING, AND IF HE STAYS!!!!!! I SEE HIM PASSING SABAN SOONER THAN ANYONE THINKS….
This shouldn’t anger any Alabama fan… The closer Kirby Smart gets to catching and then PASSING SABAN… That might actually draw Saban out of retirement and maybe back to Alabama… Depending on how CKD is doing… If he is a success… Who knows Saban might want to return to LSU or maybe even Florida!!!! I believe Saban would have to KNOW that the new team had the athletes to start off with!!! What if he ended up at Auburn???? Imagine that!!!!! LOL
I HONESTLY BELIEVE SABAN MADE AN EMOTIONAL DECISION, LIKE HE TELLS PLAYER’S NOT TO… I BELIEVE HE STILL WANTS TO COACH…. BUT HE DOESN’T WANT TO KICK CKD ASIDE… NOT AFTER PULLING HIM FROM WASHINGTON!!!!! IT WOULD BE WRONG!!!!! WILL SABAN TRY TO GET UNDER CKD’S SKIN???? GET HIM TO QUIT???? I DUNNO!!!!! THAT WOULD BE VERY LOW!!!!!!!
Saban knows Kirby Smart and staff can take his records… He also knows they can BREAK THOSE RECORDS!!!!!! And yes, Saban absolutely cares how he is remembered…
Everytime anyone puts a mic in his face… Saban begins reminding everyone who won the SEC championship game!!!! LOL…. It’s a little pathetic but also funny…
I CAN’T WAIT TO HEAR DAVID POLLOCK ANNOUNCE….. GEORGIA HAS TAKEN OVER COLLEGE FOOTBALL, AND KIRBY RAN SABAN OUT OF COACHING!!!!!!! LOL
PS. Either way…. Georgia will remain by the will of God, and hard work with elite coaching!!! LOL
Negan
like the O wasn’t also a problem – offense outside the top 50 in scoring, outside the top 60 in rushing, outside the top 80 in 3rd down conversions – guy’s being paid $7.5M+ for OJT
It seems that Billy Napier really believes he is a great Offensive Coordinator. Billy’s biggest problem upon arriving in Gainesville is he has felt he has five(5) years to show good progress. His over-analyzation of every aspect of the Gator program will probably cost him his job this year. Actually how many “analysts” does he have ? Obviously coaching at Florida is a bit different than it was at Louisiana.
I recall that for 2-3 years Billy was a hot name to fill any SEC coaching vacancy, but as not hired. Now we all know why other schools did not hire him. He continues to plod along, doing it his-way. But anyway I wish the players success so Go Gators !
AFan, Billy made a run at two high profile offensive coordinators during the off-season. The media learned about one but not the other. Both turned him down, possibly because of the uncertainty of his continued tenure as head coach, and possibly because of uncertainty about the offensive line. And possibly they were just happy where they are.
While I concede that some play calls made me scratch my head (doesn’t a double reverse just put you right back where you started?), Billy’s play calling really wasn’t that bad.
To Do List
1. Fix procedural mistakes
2. Upgrade offensive line
3. Tackle better
4. Stretch the field more (but not possible without #2)
Nash, CBN has had 2 years to recruit, develop and train offensive line talent. IMHO, the two o-line coaches made sense in season one, maybe season two. But, in season three it doesn’t. Defense is the key to a 8 or even higher win total this year not the offense. Mertz will be efficient and will put 20-30 points on the board consistently. The defensive line will be better and with Shamar and Pup in the middle our run stopping will be much better. Bringing in Asa at safety will make a big difference in calls and alignment in coverage. Devin Moore being healthy is a huge factor at corner. I expect a totally different defensive strategy with veterans at every level and that is what we lacked last season.
Go Gators!
Agreed on all counts.
Marsh, Napier NEEDS to prove he’s a great play caller, if only to be able to claim he was unfairly fired by Swinney as OC all year those years ago. I guess that firing must’ve scarred his ego.
You’re spot on about Defense being the key to 8 or more wins for the Gators this season. Fail in that for the 3rd year in a row and it won’t matter whether Napier calls a good Offense or not. He’ll be gone in November.
I know not to make too much of spring games, but here’s a worrying stat. The Gator O’s combined for over 600 yards of total offense last Saturday. Not an auspicious start for the D’s.
StL, while I didn’t attend the spring game I was told that the entire game was designed to make offensive the theme of the day. Most of the defensive starters were limited by the referee’s from what I am told. I agree totally that CBN better have a good game plan. I watched the interview with Pate and Napier and it seemed CBN was hinting the first two years were mostly spent on changing the culture and the various nuances and this took most of his time. I’m not sure what to think with this. Now his focus is on directing the offense and executing his offensive philosophy. I’m in the “show me” camp on this.
Nash…Point taken.
He went after those coordinators as fast as he could….
PS. But Napier is just too slow!!!! LOL
Negan
Calling plays again will cost him his job.
entice new coach with golden parachute contract, buy-out assures generational wealth
hype new coach to the moon before he coaches his first game
create cult following for new coach
demand the coach win now, accept nothing less
abandon all patience and disregard for the realities of the current environment
when no championship is won in the 1st, 2nd or 3rd season berate and mock coach
replace cult following with lynch mob
bring about the coach’s 2nd happiest day on Earth, fire him and initiate the contract buy-out process
repeat process
Is that the fail-proof recipe for maintaining a perennial power-house program, or, a dressed scheme to play the lottery, play often enough and sooner or later you’ll win, maybe
Love the analogy…powerball tickets on order!
I know of ZERO gator fans that expected at Natty in 3 years…. Expecting a competent program by year 2 is a far ask, and expecting realistic changes by year 3 to fix year 1-2 issues seems pretty responable as well!
We got guys with good wingspans now, if that makes sense. Right?
Well he needs to do whatever he thinks will win games. its hard to attract high caliber assistants when youre in his position. if it doesnt work he gets fired and walks away after doing it “his way”. he wont listen to very much chatter about it because all the chatter will be about who the next HC will be. if it works then he proves he was right all along….maybe.
100 % agree fuzzy ! He knows he has to win this year or he is gone . I think he figures why am I going to trust someone else with my job on the line . He will either prove it was a time deal with his system or fall on his sword being too stubborn to change .
One thing is for sure…He knows how to beat the $#!++y @$$ Vols like Fuzzy beating his schlong to a barnyard fetish video
The guy just seems delusional.
Or…crazy like a buyout fox…
LSUSMC… Just viewed a Josh Pate interview with Billy. My observations are that he’s proud of what he’s accomplished by changing the culture, adding new facilities, recruiting high character players. But what was missing from his comments ? It
was a lack of understanding the timeframe he has to show some real progress(like a 8-4 season). His misunderstanding of the need to win now just does not exist. His recruits, new coaches may actually turn around the program this year, but the impending schedule on 2024 opponents waits for no man. In today’s world the phrase “What have you done for me lately ?” rings true 7/24/365.
AFan, Drinkwitz was on the hot seat last year. This year is Billy chance to turn it around. But with one of the hardest schedules around may not get it done.
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Man he really dosent want this job does he
With any luck, we won’t be exposed to this laughable clown show past 2024.
In all fairness I think Billy does have a plan. Only I think it has changed drastically since Billy came to the SEC as a head coach…
I think he believes he might have this season to make it or break it!!!! With all the powerhouse teams on the Florida and Georgia schedules this season. It appears someone is already against us!!!!
Billy knows he needs to find a way to literally SLOW DOWN THE GAME!!! He doesn’t want to get in a race with anyone. He prefers a punch out!!!! He feels his roster is well built for slow punch out games…. They may well be…..
Nevertheless Gainesville Florida wasn’t built on slow punch out games… Y’all sort of introduced the league to the FUN N GUN OFFENSE!!!! And guess what… It was really fun if you were a gator!!!! And the defense was always just good enough…
Billy wants a new offense… Let’s call it the PUNCH N ROLL OFFENSE!!!! Yes it’s slow but if it works. You also give the defense plenty of rest…. Rest alone can help any defense get better!!!!!
So if you can get some of these teams to play PUNCH N ROLL… Then you might do well with many!!!! Both Georgia and Florida have really large powerful athletes… I know Georgia does… Only Georgia can still play basically any style they choose at this moment…. Because that is how Kirby and staff recruited them to be…..
Looks like Alabama might be pretty stout on offense… Nothing in that spring game made me fear their defense though!!! LOL
ALABAMA’S STARTING DEFENSE GAVE UP 31 IN THE FIRST QUARTER… AFTER THAT IT WAS CLEAR THAT CKD HAD CALLED OFF THE DOGS!!!! LOL…. OTHERWISE IT MIGHT HAVE GIVEN UP 60+ IN JUST THE FIRST HALF…..
I CALL IT AS I SEE IT… THAT IS PLAYERS FEELING LIKE THEY CAN NOW TAKE A VACATION WITH SABAN GONE…
I certainly hope they enjoy their vacation… Something tells me if they don’t get waaaaaaaaay better…. That vacation is going to be a loooooooooooong one indeed!!!! LOL
I’m glad Georgia doesn’t recruit those kind of players… When they do by accident… We let them go!!!!!! LOL
FUN FACT….. For the time Kirby Smart has been in the SEC… HE IS ALREADY THE WINNINGEST COACH IN SEC HISTORY!!!!!! If 2nd & whatever had never happened or better yet… The offsides call on that 3rd quarter blocked punt… Get rid of either and Kirby Smart would already have 3 national championships!!!!! Had Georgia been invited to the playoffs… Georgia would have 3 in a row and 2017 would have made 4 already…. That is for those who believe Kirby Smart will never catch Saban….
OH YES HE WILL GOD WILLING, AND IF HE STAYS!!!!!! I SEE HIM PASSING SABAN SOONER THAN ANYONE THINKS….
This shouldn’t anger any Alabama fan… The closer Kirby Smart gets to catching and then PASSING SABAN… That might actually draw Saban out of retirement and maybe back to Alabama… Depending on how CKD is doing… If he is a success… Who knows Saban might want to return to LSU or maybe even Florida!!!! I believe Saban would have to KNOW that the new team had the athletes to start off with!!! What if he ended up at Auburn???? Imagine that!!!!! LOL
I HONESTLY BELIEVE SABAN MADE AN EMOTIONAL DECISION, LIKE HE TELLS PLAYER’S NOT TO… I BELIEVE HE STILL WANTS TO COACH…. BUT HE DOESN’T WANT TO KICK CKD ASIDE… NOT AFTER PULLING HIM FROM WASHINGTON!!!!! IT WOULD BE WRONG!!!!! WILL SABAN TRY TO GET UNDER CKD’S SKIN???? GET HIM TO QUIT???? I DUNNO!!!!! THAT WOULD BE VERY LOW!!!!!!!
Saban knows Kirby Smart and staff can take his records… He also knows they can BREAK THOSE RECORDS!!!!!! And yes, Saban absolutely cares how he is remembered…
Everytime anyone puts a mic in his face… Saban begins reminding everyone who won the SEC championship game!!!! LOL…. It’s a little pathetic but also funny…
I CAN’T WAIT TO HEAR DAVID POLLOCK ANNOUNCE….. GEORGIA HAS TAKEN OVER COLLEGE FOOTBALL, AND KIRBY RAN SABAN OUT OF COACHING!!!!!!! LOL
PS. Either way…. Georgia will remain by the will of God, and hard work with elite coaching!!! LOL
Negan