DJ is out of the boot and Napier will continue to call the Gators' plays

(Photo by Chris Spears)

There is good news and there is bad news when it comes to DJ Lagway and the Florida Gators.

The good news first. Billy Napier says Lagway, who was seen in a boot on Monday, is doing well and practicing.  

“DJ’s fine,” Napier said on the Southeastern Conference Coaches Teleconference Wednesday morning. “He got stepped on there during the [Miami] game. We put a boot on him. There’s no issue at all. He practiced yesterday. He’s 100 percent.”

Against Miami, Lagway completed 12-23 passes for 61 yards and netted -8 yards on the ground. Perhaps healthy enough to practice during the week off Lagway will figure a few things out that will get him closer to the level he played at last year.

Now for the bad news. Napier was asked if he will continue calling plays for Florida’s anemic and very predictable offense.

Napier’s response: “Correct.”

Florida’s offense ranks 15^th in the SEC in total yards (328.3 yards per game) and dead last in scoring (22 points per game). Nationally, the Gators are 110^th in the country in total yards and tied for 101^st in scoring. Those are the kind of numbers Gator fans grew to expect in the Jim McElwain years. The Gators ranked No. 116 nationally in 2016 and No. 110 in 2017.

The Gators are averaging 4.94 yards per offensive play, which is deceptive due to the season opener against D1AA Long Island University and even game two against South Florida. In going 0-2 in losses to LSU and Miami, the Gators have gained 507 yards, 3.96 yards per play.

Contrast that to last season when the Gators averaged 6.26 yards per play. The Gators averaged 6.05 per play in 2023 and 6.58 per play in 2022.

The Gators are off to a 1-3 start, their worst beginning since the 1986 season. They have scored one touchdown in each of the last three games. Against Miami, the Gators managed one first half first down, 141 total yards and just 61 through the air. The O-line gave four sacks against Miami and has allowed nine through four games. A year ago, the Gators allowed only 20 sacks in 13 games.

On the teleconference, Napier was asked how the offensive problems are being addressed during the bye week. His response:

“I think there’s a renewed emphasis on accountability. Obviously, we have to play better. Every position group is contributing to our issues, so I know obviously a lot is made of DJ and his situation, but I do think when we look at it from a big picture standpoint, we’ve got to play better around them. And then, just some of the points of emphasis are eliminating negative plays, and I do think that first-down efficiency has contributed to some of our problems as well. But in general, I think we have to address that part of our team and there’s gotta be some changes, and certainly that’s what we’re doing.”

Changes would be wonderful because unless the Gators do something different than they’ve been doing, wins are going to be few and far between in the final eight games of the season.

THREE GATORS NOMINATED FOR PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME

Nominated for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Wednesday were three former Gators: offensive tackle Lomas Brown, center Marquise Pouncey and running back Fred Taylor.

Lomas Brown was an All-American in 1984 when he won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy for the Southeastern Conference. He went on to play 18 seasons in the NFL, most of them with the Detroit Lions. He got a Super Bowl ring with the Tampa Bay Bucs in 2002. He played in seven consecutive Pro Bowls.

Marquise Pouncey won the Rimington Trophy as the nation's best center in 2009. He started at right guard as a true freshman in 2007 then moved to center where he made All-America in 2009. He went on to play 11 seasons in the NFL, making the Pro Bowl nine times.

Fred Taylor was a first team All-American in 1997 when he ran for 1,292 yards and 13 touchdowns. During his Florida career, Taylor ran for 3,075 yards and 31 touchdowns. He played 13 seasons in the NFL, 11 with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He had seven 1,000-yard seasons. During his career he ran for 11,695 yards and scored 66 touchdowns.

SEC FOOTBALL

No. 17 Alabama (2-1): Outside linebacker Jah-Marien Latham and defensive tackle Jeremiah Beaman are out for Saturday’s game at Georgia. Defensive tackle Tim Keenan and tight end Danny Lewis are listed as probable … The Crimson Tide is a 3.5-point underdog. Saturday: at No. 5 Georgia (3-0, 1-0 SEC)

Arkansas (2-2): The Razorbacks have the No. 8 offense in the country (552 yards per game), but their defense ranks 83^rd nationally (371yards per game) … Arkansas is a 4.5-point underdog against Notre Dame. Saturday: No. 22 Notre Dame (1-2)

Auburn (3-1, 0-1 SEC): Wide receiver Horatio Fields, who has 12 catches for 106 yards and a TD, will be out indefinitely with a broken foot suffered Tuesday at practice. Also out for the road trip to Texas A&M is running back Durell Robinson. Center Connor Lew and defensive end Amaris Williams are listed as questionable. Probable are wide receiver Malcolm Simmons, safety Kaleb Harris, running back Jeremiah Cobb and corner Jay Crawford are all listed as probable … Auburn is a 6.5-point underdog. Saturday: at No. 9 Texas A&M (3-0)

No. 5 Georgia (3-0, 1-0 SEC): Out for Saturday’s game with Alabama are tight end Ethan Barbour, center Malachi Toliver and wide receiver Thomas Blackshear.  Listed as doubtful is offensive tackle Earnest Greene … Georgia is a 3.5-point favorite.  Saturday: No. 17 Alabama (2-1)

Kentucky (2-1, 0-1 SEC): Redshirt freshman Cutter Boley will get the start at quarterback at South Carolina. Boley threw for 240 yards and two touchdowns in his only start … The Wildcats are 5.5-point underdogs. Saturday: at South Carolina (2-2, 0-2 SEC)

No. 4 LSU (4-0, 1-0 SEC): Running back Caden Durham is listed as questionable for Saturday’s game at Ole Miss. Durham has run for 213 yards and two touchdowns while catching eight passes for 39 yards so far this season … Defensive end Gabriel Reliford will miss the game. Likely to play are tight end Trey’Dez Green and linebacker West Weeks … The Tigers are 1.5-point underdogs. Saturday: at No. 13 Ole Miss (4-0, 2-0 SEC)

Mississippi State (4-0): Linebacker Derion Gullette is questionable for Tennessee. Linebacker Will Whitson and tackle Blake Steen are injured and done for the year … The Bulldogs are 7.5-point underdogs. Saturday: No. 15 Tennessee (3-1, 0-1 SEC)

No. 20 Missouri (4-0): In their win over South Carolina last week, the Tigers drop kicked five times on kickoffs. Theoretically it allowed Missouri see how South Carolina was lining up so the ball could be kicked away from the returner … The Tigers are 43.5-point favorites. Saturday: UMass (0-3)

No. 7 Oklahoma (4-0, 1-0 SEC): Quarterback John Mateer, who was considered the Heisman Trophy front runner, broke a bone in his throwing hand in the first quarter last week’s win over Auburn. Despite the broken bone, Mateer played the entire game, threw for 271 yards and one TD, plus ran for the TD that clinched the win. Mateer had surgery Wednesday. He will is expected to need 3-4 weeks to recover. While he’s sidelined, Michael Hawkins Jr. will get the start. He threw for 783 yards a year ago when he started two games for the Sooners.

No. 13 Ole Miss (4-0, 2-0 SEC): On the SEC Coaches Teleconference, HBC Lane Kiffin wouldn’t reveal which quarterback will start against LSU. Trinidad Chambliss has gone 2-0 as the starter since Austin Simmons was injured, but Simmons is healthy now … Corner Jaylon Braxton and offensive lineman John Wayne Oliver are listed as questionable for the game … Ole Miss is a 1.5-point favorite.Saturday: No. 4 LSU (4-0, 1-0 SEC)

South Carolina (2-2, 0-2 SEC): Defensive tackle Gabe Brownlow-Dindy, defensive back Buddy Mack III, and offensive linemen Nolan Hay and Carson Henry are doubtful for Kentucky … The Gamecocks are 5.5-point favorites. Saturday: Kentucky (2-1, 0-1 SEC)

No. 15 Tennessee (3-1, 0-1 SEC): The Vols have an extensive injury report ahead of their visit to Mississippi State. Out are defensive lineman Daevin Hobbs, defensive backs Jermod McCoy and Rickey Gibson, wide receiver Radarious Jackson and running back Hunter Barnes. Running back Daune Morris and offensive lineman David Sanders are questionable while defensive lineman Jaxson Moi is probable … The Vols are 7.5-point favorites. Saturday: at Mississippi State (4-0)

No. 10 Texas (3-1): Running back Tre Wisner and defensive lineman Alex January are expected to be healthy enough to play next week against Florida. Wisner, who ran for 1,064 yards a year ago, and January haven’t played since the season opener.

No. 9 Texas A&M (4-0): Linebacker Scooby Williams, who was injured after intercepting a pass in the win over Notre Dame, is listed as questionable for Auburn. Out is safety Bryce Anderson … The Aggies are 6.5-point favorites. Saturday: Auburn (3-1, 0-1 SEC)

No. 18 Vanderbilt (4-0): Vandy has spent the week preparing for Utah State’s dual threat QB Bryson Barnes. Barnes has thrown for 982 yards and eight touchdowns (1 interception) while running for 197 yards and six more TDs … The Commodores are 22.5-point favorites. Saturday: Utah State (3-1)