http://www.uncmirror.com/sports/changes-needed-for-football-team-1.582276#
This artcile appeared in the latest edition of the school newspaper:
After the UNC football team’s 25-7 loss to Montana State, Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” blared through the speakers at Nottingham Field.
The choice of song was a bit ironic because many of the fans walking out of Nottingham Field, either after or during the game, had stopped believing in the University of Northern Colorado football team.
Of primary concern was the Bears’ offense, which gained just 105 yards of total offense on 60 plays, an average of less than two yards per play.
UNC combined for 62 of its 105 yards on the team’s final drive of each half, a 10-play, 37-yard drive before halftime and a six-play 25-yard touchdown drive on the Bears’ final drive of the game. Outside of the two half-ending drives, the Bears gained only 43 yards on 44 plays.
When an offense struggles, it is usually because of the play of the offensive line, and the Bears’ case is no different.
Senior quarterback Bryan Waggener completed 12-of-24 passes on the day, but threw for only 68 yards, compared to the 221 he threw for on 10 completions in the Bears’ win over San Diego. Waggener was sacked just four times, but was under pressure seemingly every time he dropped back to pass.
The Bears rushed for only 32 net yards on 32 attempts, another problem that goes straight to the offensive line.
“Our linemen really didn’t step up to the plate,” junior running back Andre Harris said after the game.
Harris was held to 52 yards on 15 carries Saturday after gaining 152 yards against San Diego and 97 against Eastern Washington.
UNC head coach Scott Downing blamed the offensive struggles on injuries.
“It’s very clear, we have seven starters out on offense,” Downing said.
However, upon examination of box scores, the UNC offense was missing just five starters on Saturday. Senior offensive linemen James Zapp and Ryan Kemp, senior tight end Andrew Emmerling, junior wide receiver Brandon Smith and sophomore wide receiver Dominic Gunn were the only starters out with injuries Saturday.
It is unclear whether Downing simply made an error or intentionally tried to mislead with his quote, but whatever the case, injuries are a part of football and happen to every team.They should not be an excuse for an embarrassing performance like the UNC offense had Saturday.
Coaching, however, is certainly an issue for the UNC offense. The play calling of Offensive Coordinator Dennis Darnell has been almost always tentative and at times dumbfounding in his three seasons at UNC.
Often, he has seemed very unwilling to stretch the field vertically with the passing game, which would seem a natural thing to do given the speed of senior wide receiver Alex Thompson and sophomore wide receiver Patrick Walker. Also, the Bears ran screen passes and end-arounds to the short side of the field and weak side of the formation, plays that are typically suicide missions given the speed of modern defenses.
Also, after failing four times on fourth down against Eastern Washington, Downing refused to make even one fourth down attempt against Montana State. He chose instead to punt twice on fourth down with a yard or less to go. For a team and coach with little or nothing to lose after going 4-33 since 2006, these decisions seem somewhat cowardly.
If Downing and Darnell continue to show a lack of faith in their offensive players, it is doubtful those players will ever have confidence in themselves and also doubtful that Downing will ever have a successful program at UNC.
This artcile appeared in the latest edition of the school newspaper:
After the UNC football team’s 25-7 loss to Montana State, Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” blared through the speakers at Nottingham Field.
The choice of song was a bit ironic because many of the fans walking out of Nottingham Field, either after or during the game, had stopped believing in the University of Northern Colorado football team.
Of primary concern was the Bears’ offense, which gained just 105 yards of total offense on 60 plays, an average of less than two yards per play.
UNC combined for 62 of its 105 yards on the team’s final drive of each half, a 10-play, 37-yard drive before halftime and a six-play 25-yard touchdown drive on the Bears’ final drive of the game. Outside of the two half-ending drives, the Bears gained only 43 yards on 44 plays.
When an offense struggles, it is usually because of the play of the offensive line, and the Bears’ case is no different.
Senior quarterback Bryan Waggener completed 12-of-24 passes on the day, but threw for only 68 yards, compared to the 221 he threw for on 10 completions in the Bears’ win over San Diego. Waggener was sacked just four times, but was under pressure seemingly every time he dropped back to pass.
The Bears rushed for only 32 net yards on 32 attempts, another problem that goes straight to the offensive line.
“Our linemen really didn’t step up to the plate,” junior running back Andre Harris said after the game.
Harris was held to 52 yards on 15 carries Saturday after gaining 152 yards against San Diego and 97 against Eastern Washington.
UNC head coach Scott Downing blamed the offensive struggles on injuries.
“It’s very clear, we have seven starters out on offense,” Downing said.
However, upon examination of box scores, the UNC offense was missing just five starters on Saturday. Senior offensive linemen James Zapp and Ryan Kemp, senior tight end Andrew Emmerling, junior wide receiver Brandon Smith and sophomore wide receiver Dominic Gunn were the only starters out with injuries Saturday.
It is unclear whether Downing simply made an error or intentionally tried to mislead with his quote, but whatever the case, injuries are a part of football and happen to every team.They should not be an excuse for an embarrassing performance like the UNC offense had Saturday.
Coaching, however, is certainly an issue for the UNC offense. The play calling of Offensive Coordinator Dennis Darnell has been almost always tentative and at times dumbfounding in his three seasons at UNC.
Often, he has seemed very unwilling to stretch the field vertically with the passing game, which would seem a natural thing to do given the speed of senior wide receiver Alex Thompson and sophomore wide receiver Patrick Walker. Also, the Bears ran screen passes and end-arounds to the short side of the field and weak side of the formation, plays that are typically suicide missions given the speed of modern defenses.
Also, after failing four times on fourth down against Eastern Washington, Downing refused to make even one fourth down attempt against Montana State. He chose instead to punt twice on fourth down with a yard or less to go. For a team and coach with little or nothing to lose after going 4-33 since 2006, these decisions seem somewhat cowardly.
If Downing and Darnell continue to show a lack of faith in their offensive players, it is doubtful those players will ever have confidence in themselves and also doubtful that Downing will ever have a successful program at UNC.
