Can Zach Azzanni Do What Billy Gonzales Couldn't?

by mlmintampa on Apr 2, 2010 11:43 AM EDT in Florida Football

The thing that everyone missed during the fuss over Deonte Thompson's comments comparing John Brantley and Tim Tebow was this; Thompson was getting the ball a lot in practice. For the first time in his career, Thompson is being treated like The Guy and that can be attributed to the work new receivers coach Zach Azzanni has done.

Last season, aside from Riley Cooper and Aaron Hernandez, Florida did not develop any receivers. David Nelson, bless his championship game hands, was never an every down guy. Thompson was not ready, Omarius Hines and his thoroughbred legs couldn't get off special teams, Frankie Hammond's talent from 2009 Orange & Blue Game was missing in the fall, and UF lacked Carl Moore and Andre Debose.

Azzanni can't get his hands on Moore (personal issues) and Debose (hamstring), but Thompson, Hammond, Hines and freshman Solomon Patton are blossoming under Azzanni. The Gators are expected to be a run-oriented team next season as they break in Brantley and adjust to life without experienced receivers. But this is at least a two year plan. Florida is not going to compete for a National Championship in 2010. Azzanni is not going to make Debose into Percy Harvin in one season. The growth of each player is what is most important, not numbers or wins in 2010.

A lot of the responsibility to get better will rely on each player, as well. Moore was doing well in recovering from back injuries until his unfortunate leave. Thompson is clearly clicking with Brantley and don't forget the Canadian Stephen Alli and his 6-foot-5 frame. Like the defensive side, there are a lot of talented kids at WR, but it may take a season to see how good they are and how well Azzanni has done with them.

Tweet Comment 6 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Good post.

I like the term “2 year plan”. Best way ive heard it put so far, the coaches cant try to rush these guys into developing, if they do that the result will be bad. Taking their time and just letting the guys play and then coaching them what they did wrong after is the best way to go for the young guys.

by gatorempire127 on Apr 2, 2010 4:45 PM EDT reply actions

Florida is not going to compete for a National Championship in 2010."

I don’t know about that. Is Florida not the favorite to win the SEC East? Does the winner of the SEC East not play in the SEC Championship? Is the winner of the SEC Championship not going to play in the BCS Championship? I think Florida will definitely be in the mix this year…not the favorite…but in the mix.

by ShawnK on Apr 2, 2010 6:59 PM EDT reply actions

Ehhhhh

Even if they win the SECCG i doubt they go to the big game (depending on our record). They would be in a BCS bowl yes, but i dont think the BCS committee would even dare put the Gators in the NCG if they win the SEC with a couple losses, which pending a miracle season, we will have at least 2 or 3. There would be so much controversy over it they would not even think to go there.

by gatorempire127 on Apr 2, 2010 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions

With two losses, LSU won the national title in 2007 and there was no controversy. The SEC is still the best conference in college football in 2010 so it should not be any different. Three losses and forget about it.

by ShawnK on Apr 5, 2010 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions

BCS Championship still a season away

Knew going in that there’d be unrealistic expectations among many for this much-depleted Gator squad—the recruiting “haul” only made things worse in this regard.
Mlm makes the key points here: the parts appear to be there, but time, experience and above all coaching need to work their magic between here and “the Promised Land”. This talented group must become a team, and the team forge an identity.
We’re gonna lose a couple of games this year, folks—it’ll be painful, but necessary, lessons must (and WILL) be learned. We’ll be really good by the end of this season—and quite possibly GREAT in ’11.

by texgator on Apr 3, 2010 2:57 AM EDT reply actions