During his midweek press conference on Wednesday evening, Florida football head coach Billy Napier addressed several key points ahead of their Week 12 matchup against the LSU Tigers.
Napier emphasized the importance of “talent not being enough” and outlined how consistency, discipline and commitment are key for the Gators to succeed.
Florida’s skipper also addressed questions about players’ injury statuses, bowl eligibility goals and improving defensive fundamentals as he sets a clear expectation for his team to compete at a higher level this weekend.
Napier stressed that these attributes, combined with physical talent, would elevate their performance.
Here are the key takeaways from Napier’s press conference on Wednesday night.
On the impact of becoming bowl eligible
“Well, I think you’re always thinking big picture, but it’s important, like it’s a big picture, but it’s a little process, right? So one of the terms I’ve been using all week from the very beginning of the week, is work as if you’re on a one day contract, and maybe you get to call the night to come back. Maybe you don’t, you know.
“So, if we prepare and train and practice and have the self discipline, as if we were always being observed and we were on a one day contract, and if we do our job well enough and at a high level, you get the call to come back.
“And, you know, let’s focus, be present. Let’s focus on the work and the task at hand. And then, hey, we’ll take a deep breath, eat a good meal, get a good night’s rest. We’ll get the call to come back and come back tomorrow. So we’re completely 100% focused on LSU, nothing else matters. And you know, we just did Wednesday.
“Hopefully we’ll get a callback tonight, and we’re going to show up tomorrow and do Thursday.”
Update on DJ Lagway
“He’s (Lagway) been being able to practice. Obviously he’s modified a little bit, but he’s making progress every day, he is getting closer and closer to being prepared to play. So I do think we are creating a game day environment in terms of the treatment and modifications we’re using, you know, just to make sure he’s comfortable with that.
“So he did work today, and obviously, I think he makes progress. Felt better today than he felt yesterday. We’re hopeful that’ll be the case tomorrow.”
Hoping to play much better than their last game
“What happened this weekend is not acceptable. It’s not good enough, and we certainly know we’re capable of playing better. And look, we’re trying to control the things that we can control.
“You know, our communication, our alignment, our fundamentals and techniques, playing with the right leveraging coverage, our effort and pursuit, and then ultimately playing really good situation in football and making good decisions.
“So we didn’t do much well at all on Saturday. We got to do a lot better this weekend.”
If there’s been a drop off with LSU position players
“No, they’re still loaded. I mean, I think they’ve got, not only the players that are returning, but a couple transfers (from) Alabama, Mississippi State, not to mention (Kyren) Lacy and (Chris) Hilton.
“I mean, the tight end’s (Mason Taylor) one of the better tight ends in the country, but certainly the backs, the freshman back (Caden Durham) has elite track speed, so the combination of skill with the veteran quarterback (Garrett Nussmeier), although he hasn’t been a starter before, he’s played a lot of football, and he’s been around there for a while.”
Update on Montrell Johnson Jr.
“He’s (Johnson) been able to do more this week than he did last week. So, you know, I think he’s day-to-day and I think ultimately, that’s a position where you have a lower-body injury, you got to be 100 percent right to be as effective as you want to be.
“And certainly for him, this one’s personal to him, because he’s from Louisiana, so he’s motivated. He’s practiced. Is he 100%? We’ll see. But we’re going to do what we’ve done in the past. We’re not going to put him out here until he’s ready.”
On the team’s mindset last week vs. Texas
“I think we had a parachute, you know, we went to battle with a parachute on our back, and then as soon as things didn’t go our way, we pulled the parachute. And it was disappointing. And I think we’ve got to challenge the maturity of our team, the consistency of our team.
“We have to be mature enough as competitors and to embrace that and play better. So I think it’s more mindset than anything in my opinion.”
Up next for the Gators
The Gators host the Tigers in college football’s Week 12 on Saturday, Nov. 16. The SEC matchup will kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on ABC.
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