http://www.shreveporttimes.com/stor...western-states-sort-of-new-offense/590126001/
After finishing in the bottom half of the Southland Conference in scoring offense and total offense in a 1-10 season, Northwestern State Demons head football coach Jay Thomas knew a change was needed last offseason.
Quarterbacks coach Kyle Manley was given the keys to the offense as the unit's coordinator.
The charge for Manley is simple -- improve a group that was heavy on the run last season and not as proficient as it needed to be.
So what will this new offense look like? A lot like the old offense.
"It's actually a lot of similar plays to what we've been doing in the run game, a lot of similar stuff in the passing game,'' Manley said. "Just play-action and screen stuff are where we're focused. Tempo. Different ways we can move guys around -- whether it be by shifting or motion and get guys out of position and give us an advantage.''
Perhaps the most obvious difference fans will notice in Joe Aillet Stadium on Sept. 2 when NSU opens at Louisiana Tech will be tempo.
As is the case throughout much of college football, NSU plans on playing at a faster pace in 2017.
"It's faster,'' offensive guard Chris Zirkle said. "Lot faster paced. Much quicker.''
A year ago, NSU ran the fewest plays in the SLC (694 or 63.1 per game). In contrast, Central Arkansas ran 1,043 plays in 13 games or 80.2 plays per game.
The faster tempo leads to more plays and more offense.
"We're not going to line up in 13 personnel (one running back, three tight ends) and pound it every play,'' Manley said. "Offenses nowadays, they all kind of look similar in terms of personnel and doing tempo stuff. It won't look a whole lot different -- mostly play calls and rhythm of everything.
"We're going to try to mix it. Keep them off guard. We will try to run more plays, but we're not going to be Texas Tech and try to run 100 a game.''
A faster tempo should manifest itself in more of a balanced offense.
A year ago, Northwestern State ran the ball 395 times while passing 299 times. The Demons led the league in rushing with 2,095 yards and 5.3 yards per carry average.
In the passing game, though, NSU was 11th with 1,951 yards. In fact, NSU was one of just four teams in the SLC to run the ball more than it was thrown.
"It's going to be pretty balanced,'' Manley said. "We were pretty good in the run game last year. We've got a lot of those guys back so we feel we can do good things.
"Our problem last year was explosive plays, stretching the ball downfield. Whether it be screens or play-action or shots (down the field) that has been a big focus for us trying to stretch the field.''
After finishing in the bottom half of the Southland Conference in scoring offense and total offense in a 1-10 season, Northwestern State Demons head football coach Jay Thomas knew a change was needed last offseason.
Quarterbacks coach Kyle Manley was given the keys to the offense as the unit's coordinator.
The charge for Manley is simple -- improve a group that was heavy on the run last season and not as proficient as it needed to be.
So what will this new offense look like? A lot like the old offense.
"It's actually a lot of similar plays to what we've been doing in the run game, a lot of similar stuff in the passing game,'' Manley said. "Just play-action and screen stuff are where we're focused. Tempo. Different ways we can move guys around -- whether it be by shifting or motion and get guys out of position and give us an advantage.''
Perhaps the most obvious difference fans will notice in Joe Aillet Stadium on Sept. 2 when NSU opens at Louisiana Tech will be tempo.
As is the case throughout much of college football, NSU plans on playing at a faster pace in 2017.
"It's faster,'' offensive guard Chris Zirkle said. "Lot faster paced. Much quicker.''
A year ago, NSU ran the fewest plays in the SLC (694 or 63.1 per game). In contrast, Central Arkansas ran 1,043 plays in 13 games or 80.2 plays per game.
The faster tempo leads to more plays and more offense.
"We're not going to line up in 13 personnel (one running back, three tight ends) and pound it every play,'' Manley said. "Offenses nowadays, they all kind of look similar in terms of personnel and doing tempo stuff. It won't look a whole lot different -- mostly play calls and rhythm of everything.
"We're going to try to mix it. Keep them off guard. We will try to run more plays, but we're not going to be Texas Tech and try to run 100 a game.''
A faster tempo should manifest itself in more of a balanced offense.
A year ago, Northwestern State ran the ball 395 times while passing 299 times. The Demons led the league in rushing with 2,095 yards and 5.3 yards per carry average.
In the passing game, though, NSU was 11th with 1,951 yards. In fact, NSU was one of just four teams in the SLC to run the ball more than it was thrown.
"It's going to be pretty balanced,'' Manley said. "We were pretty good in the run game last year. We've got a lot of those guys back so we feel we can do good things.
"Our problem last year was explosive plays, stretching the ball downfield. Whether it be screens or play-action or shots (down the field) that has been a big focus for us trying to stretch the field.''
