It has been three years since Florida has played a spring game and Billy Napier has assured us that this is going to be played like a real game.
Which means some of it will not be pretty.
And it won’t take long for the overreactions to begin.
Some things you see will never translate to Florida’s rugged 2022 schedule. Some of them will.
And it’s not like Napier and his staff will go off to an exclusive resort beach, put their feet up and sip frothy beers for the next month.
In fact, the next month is going to be critical for the 2022 football team because of the transfer portal.
In a perfect world, Napier will see all of the players he doesn’t think can contribute transfer out and players that can play transfer in.
But that’s for then and this is for now as the Gators get ready for their Orange and Blue debut.
Here are five things you shouldn’t worry too much about in the spring game.
An offense that struggles
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Hey, I’m not saying you shouldn’t worry a little. But let’s remember that Napier has said he likes his first team on both sides of the ball, but behind them, well, not so much.
[autotag]Anthony Richardson[/autotag] will get the start with the first-team offense and [autotag]Jack Miller[/autotag] with the second. This is only the 15th practice for both quarterbacks under a new staff and it’s not like there are all kinds of talented skill players to get the ball to.
It could be a little rough.
Penalties
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Napier has stressed discipline and that is music to the ears of Florida fans who saw last year’s team finish 122nd in the country in penalties and 120th in penalty yards (out of 130 teams).
Spring games tend to be more lenient because coaches don’t want the game bogged down. Often, the officials are told to call only the most egregious of penalties.
On the other hand, Napier may want to send a message about discipline. But I think he wants the fans — and the recruits — to be…