By Kyle LoJacono
Playoff berths for the Land O’ Lakes football team have become an annual expectation, but coaching changes are not.
The Gators have made 14 straight playoff appearances, but there have only been four football coaches since the school opened in 1974. Brian Wachtel became the latest leader of the program after being named in January.
Wachtel replaces Matt Kitchie, who had a 17-3 record during his two years at Land O’ Lakes. Kitchie, along with defensive coordinator Jason Hatcher, were dismissed from the program after the way they handled an off the field incident involving a student, according to Gators principal Ric Mellin.
Wachtel coached at Mitchell the last two years and isn’t wasting any time getting his team ready for the fall.
“This month of spring practice is about getting the players acclimated to the systems and what we do differently,” Wachtel said. “We’re teaching the fundamentals and techniques. We’re in the installation stage and the kids have been doing everything that has been asked of them.”
One of the changes will come to the offense. The Gators used a pass-happy version of the spread offense last year with a lot of plays run out of shotgun formations. Land O’ Lakes put up 248.1 passing yards and 38.3 points per game in 2010.
Mitchell was based more on a ground attack, gaining 249.7 rushing yards per contest last year.
“We’re going to continue to be in the shotgun running the spread this year, but we’re also going to be in some pro-style sets with two backs, two receivers and a tight end. So there will be some continuity on the offense,” Wachtel said.
Junior Ryan Bird, who transferred from Hillsborough High before last season, will take over as the Gators quarterback. He replaces Stephen Weatherford and his Pasco County leading 2,136 passing yards and 30 touchdowns from last year.
“I love the shotgun, but at Hillsborough we did some under center,” said Bird, who had 593 yards and six touchdowns in 2010. “People tell me I do better when I drop back from under center than from the shotgun, so I’m excited to have the chance.”
Bird will need to find some new playmakers at receiver, as the Gators top two pass catchers, Will Irwin and Jason Tello, depart as seniors. Irwin had 1,018 receiving yards and 18 scores last season, while Tello added 846 yards and five touchdowns.
The air attack does return junior tight end Kent Taylor and his 571 yards and nine touchdowns.
“He’s my best friend, so I think it’s going to be easy for us to connect on the field,” Taylor said of Bird. “We’re going to work during the summer and I think he’ll do great. I think he’s just going to explode his senior season.”
The Gators offense is also getting an addition from their defense. Sophomore Jordan Michelson had two interceptions, 15 passes defensed and 41 tackles while playing cornerback last year, but will see more time at wide receiver in 2011.
“We had one of the best receivers in the state in Will. I’m just hoping to fill in to make up for losing him,” Michelson said.
The Gators ground attack was led by Weatherford’s 476 rushing yards and eight touchdowns last year, but a lot of that came from scrambling on designed passing plays. Land O’ Lakes also loses its second leading rusher in Ryan Lane to graduation. He added 290 rushing yards as a senior.
The Gators defense ran a 3-3 stack last year, where linebackers would blitz regularly from behind their linemen. The system helped the squad record seven sacks per contest, including a program record 13 against Wesley Chapel on Oct. 15.
“I’m a pressure guy and we’re going to bring pressure, but at the same time there will be times when we’re more balanced,” Wachtel said. “We’ll do a lot of what they did last year, while mixing in different looks.”
One of the players who makes that defense work is junior Shadow Williams, who posted 133 tackles and 11 sacks in 2010. He plans on taking his game to the next level as a senior.
“I’m working on establishing myself as a leader and bring the team together,” Williams said. “It’s all about putting in the work and leading by example. We need to make sure we don’t miss a step so when the fall roles around, we’re still the team to beat.”
The Gators will host Wiregrass Ranch on Thursday, May 26 at 7 p.m. for their spring game.
–All stats as recorded to Maxpreps.com by coaches.
