Florida Football: Brent Pease's Push to Improve WRs Is What the Gators Need

In the last half-decade, the Florida Gators have had just three wide receivers catch more than 50 passes in a season. In 2009, Riley Cooper caught 51, while Percy Harvin and Andre Caldwell caught 59 and 56 passes, respectively, in 2007. Last year, Florida's leading wide receiver caught just 21 balls on the season.

New offensive coordinator Brent Pease seeks to change this disturbing trend in Florida Gators football. The new coach from Boise State has been working extensively with the Gators' receivers position group to improve their skills and make them a viable option in the passing game. The man who helped tutor Austin Pettis and Titus Young at Boise State is now looking to groom this group of Gators receivers.

This is just what the doctor ordered if you're a Florida fan.

The production from the receiver position was flat-out woeful last year: 21 catches for Deonte Thompson, 16 catches for Andre Debose, 15 grabs for Frankie Hammond Jr., 14 catches for Quinton Dunbar and a pair of guys in the single digits. In total, Florida's wide receivers caught 76 passes in 2011.

To put that in perspective, some 31 players outproduced the entire receiving corps of the Florida football team. Running backs Chris Rainey (31) and Jeff Demps (16), plus tight end Jordan Reed (28) were all just one pass shy of the wide receiving group's production.

Now, to be fair, the quarterback problem for Florida did play a role in the lack of production from the perimeter threats for the Gators. Anytime two freshmen are running the offense, there are going to be issues with throwing the ball downfield.

However, to put the blame squarely on the quarterbacks would be a lazy move. The receivers have work to do, and Pease has taken it upon himself to get his pass-catchers on the right page.

There is talent on the Florida roster at the receiver position. Pease and Aubrey Hill's job is to get that talent to produce. On the depth chart for the Gators right now there are a slew of 4-star players who have yet to live up to their billing, and Pease hopes to unlock that talent.

For the new coach, there's more raw ability in Gainesville than he has ever had the opportunity to work with.

For the Gators' future, let's hope the players respond to the teaching.