Florida slipped to 5-5 Saturday night with a 52-35 loss at then N0. 19 LSU.

LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels made some college football history in the win over the Gators,  becoming the first player in FBS history to throw for more than 350 yards while rushing for over 200 yards. He also combined for 5 TDs (3 passing/2 rushing). Daniels’ performance was an exclamation point on a 5th consecutive LSU win over the Gators, and while it likely cemented a trip to New York City and the Heisman ceremony for the senior LSU quarterback, it was the latest in a string of disappointing moments for the Gators, who have now lost 3 games in a row after an encouraging 5-2 start.

With Florida set to finish the season against 2 teams ranked inside the top 11 (in the latest AP Poll), a 6th win, and bowl eligibility, will be a tall order. Still, Billy Napier will return in 2024, which made for a fired up set of mailbag questions, as you’ll see below.

This is the worst Florida defense I’ve seen in 50 years of watching Florida football. And that includes the 0-10-1 team from 1979. Does Austin Armstrong get a second year as Florida’s DC? (Jeff, Midland, Texas)

A season ago, Florida finished 97th in total defense, 100th in success rate defense and 103rd in yards allowed per play. That defense was the worst statistical defense for the Gators since the New York Times started tracking total defense in 1980 — the year after Florida finished 0-10-1. Patrick Toney left for a NFL job in the offseason, and Florida poached Austin Armstrong from Nick Saban’s staff and installed him as the youngest defensive coordinator in the Power 5.

Armstrong, playing with the youngest defense in the Power 5 (according to participation rate, Florida plays more freshmen and sophomores on defense than any team in Division I college football!), has actually improved the Gators in 2 of the above categories. Florida ranks 75th in the country this season in total defense and 72nd in success rate defense. The Gators also rank 129th in yards allowed per play (6.56!).

The Gators started strong this season on defense, but have fallen off spectacularly since the South Carolina game. Florida’s past 4 opponents have scored at least 39 points. Injuries haven’t helped, and Florida has looked especially hapless since their best linebacker, Shemar James, was injured in warmups for the Georgia game and lost for the season after gutting it out on one leg in the Cocktail Party.

Where does that leave Armstrong?

I think he’ll return in 2024, with the expectation that there will be significant improvement as the Gators get older. Help is also on the way. While 5-star edge Jamonta Waller did flip to Auburn this past weekend and 4-star corner Wardell Mack flipped to Texas, the Gators are still bringing in loads of defensive talent, including 5-star safety Xavier Filsaime, who hails from Texas, like you. Florida is also likely to sign high 4-star safety Zavier Mincey, adding depth to a position of need.

It would seem cruel — and expensive — to hire Armstrong to coach up the youngest defense in the sport and then fire him when the lack of depth and youth catches up to him on the field. Armstrong will get another shot at this job in 2024.

What do you make of the calls for massive staff shake-ups? Twitter isn’t real life, but even Napier’s defenders want a few changes … (Max, Tampa)

“Twitter isn’t real life” sounds like a great tee shirt.

Sometimes, there is truth in the middle of that big vortex of discontent, though, and I think here, the answer lies somewhere in between Twitter and reality.

In October, SDS reported that Napier’s rebuild was likely to include an offensive coordinator next season. I stand by that reporting, but it also would be increasingly surprising if an offensive coordinator was brought in that either (1) wasn’t already on staff or (2) was set to install a new scheme.

For one, Napier’s scheme, a run-first West Coast offense with modern twists, works fine. Florida finished top 20 in total offense and yards per play last year in Year 1 and while an anemic offensive line has caused a drop-off in Year 2, Florida is still top 50 in offense and yards per play in 2023. With Graham Mertz likely the starting quarterback and DJ Lagway, a 5-star quarterback recruit, both great fits for the system, there’s little incentive to overhaul the scheme entirely.

That makes it likely that Russ Callaway, who has called plays in the red zone for Florida already, would be a good fit for play-calling duties. If Florida does hire outside the program, Jeff Scott, a national championship winning OC with Clemson who is familiar with Napier and has a tremendous track record with dual-threat quarterbacks like Lagway, would make sense. Scott has not, however, been offered the position.

As for other staff shake-ups, I would expect some changes. I think offensive line would be an area where a change could be made and there are whispers of defensive staff turnover. Napier is loyal, but not to a fault. He knows that a third losing season in Gainesville would likely spell wholesale changes, and perhaps put his own job on the line.

What do you think of the job Spurrier product Jedd Fisch is doing at Arizona? (Frank, Atlanta)

I see what you are doing here, Frank.

I’m not taking the bait. I’m not going to mention how Fisch, a Florida alum, is making Arizona football fun again for the first time since Tedy Bruschi roamed the middle of the defense in Tucson.

Nor I am going to suggest that it’s all the more impressive that Fisch is doing it in a year where the Pac-12 has been, without much argument, the best league in college football.

I will note it is Year 3 for Fisch, who has won 7 games this season after winning just 6 in his first 2 seasons at Arizona.

Any concerns about a portal exodus this winter given the way the Gators are closing the season? (Franco, Miami)

I don’t think Florida loses more than anyone else in the age of the portal. Barring a surprise, it’s hard to see a big name transfer, either.

Florida doesn’t have cultural issues. Quite the opposite. Every coach and player SDS has talked to in 2023 has praised the team’s mentality, togetherness and buy-in.

Florida also has the core of its team returning. Ricky Pearsall, a likely Biletnikoff Award semifinalist, graduates. Princely Umanmielen, an All-American candidate on the edge, could go pro. Otherwise, the best players should return, from Mertz to running backs Montrell Johnson Jr. and Trevor Etienne to linebacker Shemar James. Given Florida’s prolific freshmen participation rate (35%!), playing time isn’t an issue. That’s usually why kids hit the portal, barring a family reason.

Florida will have portal entries, but rumors of a mass exodus are at worst premature and more probably, unlikely.