Billy Napier pleased with Gators’ carryover from installs, player ownership
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Gators are three practices into fall training camp, with one more session in shells on Sunday before going to full pads Monday.
It’s been a small sample size so far, but first-year coach Billy Napier is pleased with what he’s seen from his team the first week.
“I think we’ve made a ton of progress relative to the chemistry of the group, the togetherness of the group,” he told Gators Online. “I think we’re more familiar with just procedure in general, protocol much better. I think each part of the organization has kind of ironed out the wrinkles. I thought in particular (Thursday) we practiced at the pace and efficiency we like to practice at.
“Still got a group of young players that are doing all these things for the first time, so some familiarity and carryover from spring practice. So far, so good. We’ve got a lot of work to do, but in general, I can’t compliment the staff (enough): operations, equipment, the training room, the conditioning, the football staff, and certainly the players for their approach.”
Florida offensive coordinator Rob Sale said this week that “80-85 percent” of the offense has already been installed. Louisiana transfers Montrell Johnson and O’Cyrus Torrence helped UF’s running backs and offensive linemen learn the system, while defensive veterans such as sixth-year linebacker Ventrell Miller have a handle on the playbook and are bringing younger players up to speed.
“Much more familiar with our systems,” Napier said of the team. “We installed for the first time during the Identity program then you move into spring practice, which is really the best teaching opportunity that we have because it’s spread over 34 days, and we practice every other day. We go back and review Summer A then Summer B, so in reality, this is the fifth instruction of the installations, right? So I think we’ve made a lot of steps forward during the summer. A lot of that is player-led.
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“I think the ownership at the player level — oftentimes I think the best way to learn and get comfortable with material is if you can teach someone else the material, right? A veteran player be able to teach a rookie player, I think there’s a ton of value in that. We did that throughout the summer. My dad used to say, ‘You can talk to them all you want but if you got a guy who can do it right, who you can say do it like he did it, there’s a lot of value in that.’ I do think that we’re seeing that take place.”
Another veteran on defense is starting safety Rashad Torrence II, who directs traffic in the secondary. Torrence told Gators Online he’s comfortable with the installs and making calls in co-defensive coordinator Patrick Toney’s scheme.
“I feel like since the beginning of the spring, and just going into the summer and training camp now, the installs are becoming easier just because of the repetition that we’ve had and the numerous times that we’ve gone over the same calls and plays,” Torrence said.
“I feel more confident and comfortable back in the backend and having guys that know that I know what I’m doing and that they’re trusting in me that I’m going to put them in the right position. I feel like that’s going to push us forward as a whole defense.”
