WATCH: Billy Napier reacts to Florida's loss to the Aggies

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — The Florida Gators dropped another road game against a top-five opponent on Saturday, falling 34-17 at No. 5 Texas A&M (6-0, 3-0 SEC). The loss drops UF to 2-4 and 1-2 in league play.

Here’s video of Billy Napier‘s press conference and everything he said after the game below.

Billy Napier after Florida’s loss at Texas A&M

BILLY NAPIER: “First of all, hats off to Texas A&M. They played a heck of a game and they got a really good football team. Well rounded team, good in all parts. I think our kids early on defense started a little bit slow, offensively we started fast and then we kind of settled in on defense and struggled to generate many points from that point forward on offense. I do think, look, 74 rushing yards to 183, three turnovers to one, and then really 13 points off of turnovers. Third down was big, we were 1-10 and I think they were 9-17. In general, we didn’t sack their guy and then obviously we struggled to protect DJ [Lagway] at times, especially late. The kids played extremely hard in the game. I think once we settled in on defense I thought the effort was there. In general, we dug a little bit of a hole and we had trouble getting out of it, and then it became a two-score game late. I think Texas A&M’s got a good team. I think coach Elko and his staff do a really good job. There was a great atmosphere in there tonight. We got a lot of respect for how they play the game and our kids battled their ass off tonight, but I think in general, the parts of football that you have to do to win, we did not do and they did.”

On going for it on 4th down at midfield with 13 minutes left:

BILLY NAPIER: “I think that the analytics would say at that point you go for it, but in general, yes that’s one you think about. I think we got to execute the third down play a little bit better. In general, we go to execute on first and second to stay out of some of these third and longs. But yeah, you always look back at those when they don’t work. I think sometimes they do and you’re happy with them but when they don’t you second guess yourself.”

On the Gators facing so many third-and-long plays:

BILLY NAPIER: “I think they can rush. I do think that in general we could do better. But yeah, anytime you play a third and long, those are the downs you want to avoid.”

On the adjustments A&M made to slow UF down:

BILLY NAPIER: “They showed up playing a little more man coverage, man pressure, they played bracket to mixed bracket with that. Obviously a lot of those throws were runs that were tagged with run pass options and we were attacking the corners in cover one. Once we proved that we could win outside, I think they settled down and played a little bit more post safety zone. We were running into light boxes at times we just weren’t, it was muddy in there, we got six for six and we’re getting three. In general, we got to be cleaner in the run game when we’re handing it off in the boxes that are light. And we threw some great RPOs, I thought DJ did a good job in that regard. Our guys made plays outside but not just enough consistency to move it once we got into the scoring area. We got to finish those possessions.”

On DJ Lagway getting unsettled after a hot start:

BILLY NAPIER: “We were inefficient on first and second down. We weren’t able to run it effectively. And then obviously at times when we did throw it, they were able to get pressure. Then you are playing third and long, Mike does a great job with his third down package, they are really good at what they do in that regard. We had some penalties that I think were pretty costly in my opinion. But in general it’s all about first and second down efficiency and we got to stay out of the third and longs.”

On Dallas Wilson’s penalty and others that stuck out:

BILLY NAPIER: “The facemask on the punt I thought was a big play. It ended up not creating points but in general the field position after the facemask I thought was a big one. The penalty right before the half where they called illegal formation, there’ll be a lot of debate about that one. Dallas’ penalty. But look, those guys do a great job, they have a tough job just like we do. That wasn’t why we lost.”

On the 3rd-and-12 screen:

BILLY NAPIER: “We threw a screen into man-match coverage, which was not great. They played zone, they just pushed through the zone and matched the back. Our lineman was not able to get out, and get the guy that covered the back. 
And look, sometimes those work, sometimes they don’t work. But, yeah, that specific play, we felt as if it was zone and ended up pushing three or four strong, one of them matched the pattern.”

On how they defended Marcel Reed and their inability to get a sack:

BILLY NAPIER: “Yeah, we were there quite a bit. I think the guy’s tough to get on the ground, his ability to escape and extend, and then you could be free and not get him down, you know, and then he makes a play for his feet. In general, that’s the challenge, right? 
You got really two elite receivers, you got two good backs, the O-line. I think their ability to run it, and then the matchups with the two receivers, and then he obviously, you may have him, but you can’t get him down. We didn’t sack him all night, so I think in general – and they stayed ahead of schedule. A lot of their third downs were very manageable. I think ultimately, that’s why they were successful in the third down.”

On what TAMU did to take Dallas Wilson out of the game:

BILLY NAPIER: “Well, some of those plays that J-Mike made, he’s playing in the same position. So, we got to the right stuff. We got to the RPOs in the second half, and did some of those, but they just played zone and went to post safety zone, and then they doubled him sometimes. 
So, some of those runs that we’re throwing in there, they’re doubling receivers, and we got to get one, got to block them better, and then the running backs got to have a little bit more precision in what we do. So, and look, that’s what they do. They made it tough for us.”

On what disappoints him the most about the game:

BILLY NAPIER: “Yeah, but when we got it to one score, we had it to one score a couple times that we weren’t able to generate enough to tie it up. Ultimately, that’s what we’re gonna look back at. We’ll look back at slow start, and on defense, got to look back at our inability to tie the game or take the lead, a couple of times when we had opportunities to. And look, I think, we know nowadays, you watch the game during the game. It’s right there, the video’s right there. So, you got a pretty good feel for what happened. So, in general, we were right there. 
We had our opportunities. We got to make the plays. 

On the Aggies pressure against Lagway:

BILLY NAPIER: “No, I think in general, good players in battles, tough matchups. Sometimes you got to get the guys help. The ones I have issues with are the slide side pressures. Sometimes you get on the man’s side against a good player. You know, those things are going to happen. 
But you know, we have one miscue third down that was the back. It’s not always the offensive line is what I’m saying. So sometimes it’s the back, sometimes it’s the quarterback. But in general, they have a good plan, good players, and we had our opportunities. 
There was no doubt. There was plenty chances out there to make the plays to tie the game and even be in control of the game.”

On the environment playing a role:

BILLY NAPIER: “Yeah, look, it’s our team’s pretty resilient. I think they handled the momentum pretty well. 
I think when you go on the road, we got enough vets to know, they know what it’s gonna be like in there. You can’t let it affect you.
I don’t think it affected our ability to communicate on offense. That’s typically where it can be the biggest hinderance. We had no issue communicating tonight.” 


On his message to the fans after a 2-4 start:

BILLY NAPIER: “Well, I think we’ played some of the better teams in the country. Our team has been in the game. I think that you can see that DJ is getting better as he gets more reps and more opportunities, obviously, you can see the impact that Dallas is having on our team. And you know outside of the first couple of possessions tonight, we played pretty good defense. So, look, I think our kids are battling their ass off. They’re working and they’re playing. We got to stay the course here. We’re gonna have opportunities to play better going forward. We got a chance to be back at home next week, and we’ll have to hit the reset button and get to work quickly on that plan. So, there’s no quick fix here. The best thing to do is go win. We saw that last week. In general, here, we got to stay the course to keep going here. I think we got a lot of kids in there trying to do things the right way. 
We’re close. I think we’re getting better on offense, and I think the defense has played really tough and hard the entire way.”