After another crushing loss last night, the Gators walked away from Hard Rock Stadium looking less like a team with clear direction and more like a program caught between past renown and present doubt.
Between inconsistency, questionable play-calls and an insecure offense, the talent and grit of Florida becomes trivial. We’re well into the Billy Napier era and the question still stands: Who are the Florida Gators?
The Miami game is another to add on the list of heartbreaks here in Gainesville. There were drives where the offense showed promise, only to be followed by play-calls that stalled momentum. The defense forced stops, only to give up yards when it mattered most. Even special teams had their blunders, making the ongoing inconsistency of recent years hard to ignore. By contrast, Miami looked like a team with a clear plan and clear execution.
Napier is now in his fourth year, and the clock is ticking. Most programs at Florida’s level have been able to create an identity at this point. Teams such as Georgia, Alabama and (as much as it pains me to say this) even FSU have been able to use physicality, regiment and explosive plays to their advantage. Florida, on the other hand, remains in limbo — talented enough to give hope, not disciplined enough to follow through.
There appears to be a tug-of-war within the lineup itself. On paper, the running game should be a backbone — Jadan Baugh is undeniable — but play-calling can’t seem to commit to it. The passing attack could be game changing at times, but it seems to alternate between calculated plays and desperate attempts. The defense has size and speed but doesn’t have a consistent personality.
The Gators can’t afford to still be rebuilding; at 1-3 this season, the call is coming from inside the house.
SEC play doesn’t allow much margin to experiment. Napier needs to pick a lane, trust the run game, fix quarterback play and execute on defense. Continuing down the current path will leave the Gators with the same reputation they’ve had for too long.
Florida football doesn’t need to be perfect, but it does need to know what it is. As of now, the Gators look like a team with all the pieces and no instructions. The wins are left to luck as opposed to skill — and with the talent on this team, that might be the biggest loss of the season.
Riley Brinser is a 19-year-old Santa Fe sustainability studies student.
