With week 12 of the college football season quickly approaching, Billy Napier and this Florida Gator football team are finally starting to play complete football on Saturdays. Some of it has to do with development and experience, but most of this team’s success has come from the way this football team has approached practice over the last month.
With the Gators traveling to Nashville for tomorrow’s early noon kick-off against the Commodores, Florida fans will get another opportunity to see if this team has continued to approach practice in a different light.
This football team and staff have learned a lot since traveling to college station for their last early kick-off, and it seems like they plan on doing some things differently this week to ensure another hot start this weekend for the Gators.
“We quality controlled that trip,” Napier said of the team’s prep for Texas A&M. “We are going to do a few things differently, from a time allocation standpoint, what we do — I think it’s important in the beginning of the week. I think the sleep habits of the players and staff throughout the week will be important. I think, as you approach Thursday night, Friday night, kind of making sure that we make adjustments there. Parts of our team started fast, but the other parts didn’t. So I think consistency as a whole trying to keep some of this momentum. The things that we learned worked Saturday. Hopefully we can apply those.”
One player whose work ethic and dedication in practice has paid off on Saturdays has been running back Montrell Johnson. Johnson’s performance on the field doesn’t come as a surprise to Billy Napier, as Johnson is someone who gets better every week.
“I think Montrell is a 215, 220-pound back,” Napier said on Johnson. “He’s 5’11-1/2″. He’s not a burner. He’s 21 1/2 miles an hour, I think he hit full gear the other day, which is good. He’s got really good instincts and vision. I think he anticipates contact and he’s got really good contact balance. I think Montrell Johnson is effective because he’s a great person. This guy is a very disciplined guy, he’s got character and he’s very smart. He’s one of the best practice players that we have, and he’s in year two of his career. Last year he kind of got a feel for it. This is year two, but it’s a different level of competition. So I think he’s getting more comfortable, and I’m glad we got him.”
Not only has Johnson’s preparation in practice paid off, but for the last few weeks it’s paid off for this entire staff and football team. Billy Napier continues to see improvements in every aspect each week.
“I think every part of our routine we’re improving at: Self-discipline, the follow through with all the parts of running, lifting, recovery, training room, meetings, walk throughs, practice habits. It’s not just players, right? You’ve got to remember that all these people are refining what they do. So, there’s no question that that momentum part, it applies to every single part of what we do,” Napier said on momentum in practice.
The players on this football team have really started to become vocal when it comes to things that need to change since losing to Georgia. Not only has this team grown in terms of accountability and discipline, but this team is closer than they’ve ever been before. This team now consists of a true brotherhood, which is how it should be.
“I see an intentional approach from players to be vocal about things that need to be addressed, things that need to be said. I just see more vocal — and I’m talking across the board. I’m talking about doing extra. I’m talking about accountability. I’m talking about being intentional about connecting with your teammates,” Napier said.
“Just across the board, I think just a little bit different level of accountability and being intentional about doing acts of leadership, right? I think you’ve got to — and I think our staff is helping in that regard.”
From a defensive standpoint, this team is starting to fly to the football and tackle better in space. Some of it has to do with effort in practice, but it also has to do with the fact that these players are finally starting to get comfortable under Patrick Toney’s scheme in year one.
“I think there’s a little bit of both, but I do think you’re spot on,” Napier said on the improvements with tackling. “I think the pursuit is better, the energy is better. I really believe this. It’s year one in a new system, but information and knowledge, when applied, can make a difference. So, if I’m processing quicker, if I’m communicating better, if I’m anticipating, I get more production, and there’s a compound effect. If each individual’s doing that, I think there is a result that comes with that. So, I think we’ve got a group — also, we haven’t been very good. I think there’s a little bit of a pride element there, and I think we’ve gotten good leadership on that side of the ball within each room, coaching and players being more vocal about the things they know can be done better.”
Rashad Torrence and Anthony Richardson have really emerged as true leaders for both the defense and offense this year. This has made a big impact on this football team with more players stepping up as vocal leaders.
“I think that Rashad Torrence is a leader. I think he’s a very smart football player. He’s got great command of the system,” Napier said on Torrence. “His ability to communicate, I think because of his knowledge and his instincts in production, he has influence. He’s a guy that does a great job in the back end. He’s a fantastic practice player, probably the best communicator that we have, and does a great job kind of helping everybody around him play better.”
“Offensively, there are parts of our team — Anthony Richardson, I think, is really emerging as a guy who’s developing that skill set as a leader. He’s getting more comfortable in his role. Speaking with clarity, speaking with conviction, being intentional about what he’s saying, why he’s saying it, taking time to think about our team and what they need to hear and what he can bring to the table. So I think that growth has been impactful for our team,” Napier said on Richardson.
Players are starting to take a step forward from a leadership standpoint and approaching practice in a more serious manor and holding each other accountable every day. Players are getting more comfortable in their roles on defense and playing assignment football, while growing closer as a team. This is exactly where this Florida football team needs to be in year one under Billy Napier.
The Gators (6-4) will travel to Nashville for tomorrow’s 12 P.M. E/T kick-off against the Vanderbilt Commodores (4-6).