Florida football coach Billy Napier on special teams: 'We can do it better'

Florida football coach Billy Napier wanted to turn the page to LSU during his Monday press conference, but questions remained about another sloppy special teams performance on Saturday against Arkansas.

The afternoon started promising on special teams with Ricky Pearsall returning two straight punts for 56 yards, which set up two touchdowns for the Florida Gators in the first half. But a botched extra point, a missed field goal and an illegal substitution penalty proved costly in UF's 39-36 overtime loss to the Razorbacks.

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"If you take away a PAT and a field goal, we're probably sitting here saying that's the best performance of the year," Napier said. "If you just evaluate the four core, I thought we did a nice job. We created some significant returns in the game. We covered kicks. So we are getting better in the return game. I think we're doing a good job of winning more one-on-ones. And we've got some returnable kicks."

Napier clarified that the illegal substitution penalty, which pushed kicker Trey Smack's potential game-winning attempt back 5 yards, was his responsibility, not a player responsibility. The penalty occurred when the field goal unit raced onto the field with the offense still on the field to attempt to spike the ball. Smack missed the field goal attempt from 44 yards, just his second miss on the season.

"It's not a player's decision," Napier said. "For anyone to equate that or write that or think that, I think, would be inaccurate.

"Ultimately, a player — one of the players is in charge of that unit, much like the quarterback when the offense takes the field. He calls the play and sets the cadence, and we can take the field. That's always a coaching decision."

Napier also was asked why only 10 men took the field instead of 11 on the field goal block team for Arkansas kicker Cam Little's 37-yard field goal in the second quarter.

"We had a player injured on the possession, the play right before, and ultimately that's what contributed to that," Napier said. "The backup wasn't quite on the same page. That's what happened."

Asked why the Gators haven't been able get 11 players out for special teams assignments with consistency throughout the season, Napier responded: "Look, we can do it better. It's pretty simple. Get 11 out there."

LSU could be without starting QB Jayden Daniels

Florida (5-4, 3-3 SEC) will look to snap a two-game losing streak at LSU (6-3, 4-2 SEC) on Saturday (7:30 p.m., SEC Networks). It will be a homecoming of sorts for Napier, who will return to the Pelican State for the first time since coaching Louisiana to a 40-12 record in four seasons from 2018-21.

LSU is coming off a 42-28 loss to Alabama and could be without starting quarterback Jayden Daniels, who is in concussion protocol after being knocked out of the third quarter on a hit by Alabama linebacker Dallas Turner. Daniels leads SEC in passing (310.2 yards per game) and TDs (27), while rushing for 684 yards and 6 TDs on the season.

If Daniels can't play, LSU would turn to backup quarterback Garrett Nussmeier

"Nussmeier obviously has been a very productive player as well," Napier said. "I think if you really dig into the tape, when he's been given opportunities, he's done a nice job moving their team.

"So, I think we'll prepare for both. They're definitely different players, but they're both very capable. And I think ultimately, they do a nice job distributing the ball to the skill they have."

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida Gators football coach Billy Napier on special teams breakdowns