Toughness, diversity key to new Weber offense


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OGDEN — Change isn’t something that the human spirit is always happy about, but it’s something that is constant in life.

Everything changes, from appearances to seasons to relationships. Change happens naturally over time, but it can be expedited when a bigger change happens. When Jay Hill took over as Weber State’s head football coach, he saw that things needed to change. The team’s attitude had to change and the team’s style of play had to change — all in hope of the team’s recent woes changing alongside it.

Weber State’s spring practice has been an up-and-down exercise of establishing the change to new, more productive play. And with any change will come growing pains, which is exactly what Hill noted when discussing the offense’s progress through the first three weeks of spring football.

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“Offense has the burden of execution,” Hill said. “Defense can fly around, and they can cover up for a lot of mistakes just by playing hard. They might blow a coverage and the quarterback still might overthrow (the receiver) and nobody knows. But on offense, if somebody jumps offside or if somebody doesn’t do their job, you can give up a sack, and everybody knows it.”

The offense, which is led by offensive coordinator Steve Clark, is attempting to change its style of play to a more traditional offense. Clark said he enjoys having a multi-dimensional game plan.

“I would like to be more balanced here and just a fighting, tough-nosed offense,” said Clark, whose offense at SUU was known for prolific passing. “And I don’t think we’re that far away. I’ve think we’ve got a great offensive line coach and a great running coach who can instill some toughness in this team.

“To be able to really move people; that’s what I ultimately would like to get to. Run the ball and play-action.”

Clark’s scheme differs from the scheme of former coordinator Robin Pflugrad, in that most of the quarterback work is done under center. While both Austin Chipoletti and Jadrian Clark, the team’s top quarterbacks, have been able to transition into the flow of the new system, it still is different from what they’ve done before.

“I don’t think you can take an offensive scheme and put it into just any team,” Steve Clark said. “I think you have to look at what you have, and build around the talent and strengths you have. And we felt like the offensive line played well and there’s some good running backs here, so we’ve kind of taken more of a running the ball, play-action approach.”

One thing Weber State is hoping to improve upon in 2014 is rushing. The Wildcats averaged 136.6 yard a game running the football last season, and Hill and Clark have noted the need for improved play from both the running backs and offensive line.

“(The running backs) continue to run pretty good,” Hill said. “I wasn’t as fired up with them (in last week’s scrimmage), and there were a couple holes they just needed to slam it up in there and get the tough two, three yards. But they looked to bounce out and got stuffed for a one-yard loss.

“The offensive line is the area I was most concerned with when we first took over, and they’re probably one of the groups playing the best right now, so they’ve been a pleasant surprise.”

Clark, who previously served as the offensive coordinator at Southern Utah for the past six seasons, said making adjustments to how players play the game can be the most rewarding, yet most frustrating part of coaching.

“The toughest part of coaching is when it doesn’t go the way you want it to go,” he said. “The fun part of coaching is building a system around the talent, and not only the talent but the mental makeup (of a team)."

Hill said he’s looking for players to take ownership of the offensive changes in this week’s Saturday scrimmage.

“I want to make sure the players are doing what they’re coached to do and not just making stuff up,” he said. “I think we’ve got (the players) bought in to the importance of running to the football and playing hard, but execution offensively and continuing to buy into our system (is crucial).”

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Jon Oglesby

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