Anthony Richardson in perfect spot to lead Florida with Billy Napier

The competitors on the quarterback place in Gainesville lately took successful when former starter Emory Jones determined to enter the switch portal. Now, the one man who ought to take the ball and run with it’s Anthony Richardson, who’s getting many of the first group reps proper now at spring observe.

Rising from the shadows final season, Richardson has all of the instruments new Florida head coach Billy Napier must put a strong offense on the sector. Richardson accomplished 38 of 64 passes for 556 yards, seven touchdowns and 6 interceptions throughout Florida’s 2021 season, so he made good use of his restricted enjoying time.

The backwards and forwards chatter about which quarterback ought to begin final season put former head coach Dan Mullen in a gap he wasn’t in a position to dig out of, and if it weren’t for Richardson coping with a knee harm, the noise would’ve been louder.

However now that Napier and the brand new employees have began to get their toes underneath them in Gainesville, the longer term appears to be like just like the Richardson present.

It’s all new for the gamers and employees in Gainesville, however that doesn’t imply that Richardson’s type of play will change. Billy Napier spoke about QB improvement just a few days in the past, and stated that he spends his time gaining information concerning the system and changing into the chief the soccer group wants.

“I believe the quarterbacks, as an entire — it is a developmental recreation. Proper? I believe it’s vital to know that we do much more in observe than we do play, proper, in relation to soccer. So that is the place you study. That is the place you develop, proper, as a participant. And no matter your expertise stage, that is the place you get your first expertise.

Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson (15) throws a move whereas underneath stress from Georgia defensive lineman Travon Walker (44) throughout the first half of an NCAA school soccer recreation, Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla.
(AP Picture/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

“And we prefer to suppose, as a employees, that we’re replicating a recreation. I believe that’s your job as a coach, to copy the sport for the gamers on the observe area,” Napier added. “And that’s our job as lecturers, that’s our job by way of the way in which we method observe, the way in which we meet, the way in which we stroll by and work in particular person and group drills after which translate that to the group.We’re 4 days in. We’re shifting our method by the sector zones. We’re shifting our method by the downs and distances. We’ll scrimmage Apply 8. So we’re about midway by right here, by way of the entire image, and I believe the truth is that is the place you get probably the most expertise as a soccer participant.”

There’s nothing simple about getting acclimated to a brand new offensive scheme and coaches on the identical time. Simply ask all of the Tennessee quarterbacks within the final six years. However it feels as if Napier and his employees are attempting to instill the management qualities simply as a lot as the general improvement on the sector.

The one optimistic scenario to return with spring observe is that the camaraderie between teammates is there, as they went by the tough conditions of 2021 collectively. Plus, a quarterback who has great expertise provides the employees somebody to construct round. Now I’m not saying this Florida offense will come out subsequent season and set the world on hearth, however I do suppose Richardson has confirmed himself worthy of being the favourite.

Anthony Richardson #15 of the Florida Gators reacts in opposition to the LSU Tigers throughout a recreation at Tiger Stadium on October 16, 2021 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
(Jonathan Bachman/Getty Pictures)

Possibly issues change within the subsequent few weeks, with an upcoming scrimmage for the group. Don’t neglect that the Gators additionally added former Ohio State QB Jack Miller to the roster. Possibly Miller simply appears to be like so darn spectacular that the employees has to rethink their choices with the place shifting ahead. I extremely doubt that would be the case, however you simply by no means know with a brand new employees.

But when the Gators are going to make noise in 2022, I believe Anthony Richardson would be the one to show up the quantity. We’ll discover out over time, however Billy Napier would possibly’ve walked into a greater scenario than he imagined at first.