If new offensive coordinator Jason Gesser has his way, not much about the offense this year should resemble the performances it put up last season.
The subtlest change on the offensive side is the use of the tight ends, but come game time it could be the most noticeable.
Last season, under former offensive coordinator Steve Axman, the offense utilized the tight ends extensively in blocking and H-back roles, but were only moderately utilized in the passing game.
Gesser would rather open things up.
“We are pass oriented more,” tight ends coach Al Pupunu said. “As opposed to last year it was more so, bangin, bangin, bangin, a route here or there. I like the way that coach Gesser is running the offense this year.”
During fall practices and scrimmages the most obvious and recognizable changes had been the use of more four and five wide receiver sets as well as the use of only one back in the backfield.
Where the tight ends fit in was a question that had to be developed over the course of the fall.
“It’s a way faster offense. You’ve got to be on your toes (in this offense), you’ve got to know every single position, not just your position. You have to know everything, even what the running back does,” Michael LaGrone said. “For us it’s like, you have to be smart because you have to know what each other is doing so that you can help each other out to get open.”
LaGrone said that despite how complicated the offense was, it should be more fun than it was last season
“It’s definitely more fun. At first it’s very stressful, having to learn everything about the positions, it definitely was hard, but now it’s definitely more fun,” he said.
The depth chart at the position is still being sorted out. The absence of junior Taylor Elmo for much of the fall has made that depth chart positioning more of a question, but Pupunu believes there is plenty of talent there, beginning with his incumbent starter.
“As far as pass catcher, LaGrone is definitely our pass catch guy,” Pupunu said. “But I’ll tell you what’s really impressive is my young group of guys, they’ve really stepped it up and actually are out there competing right now. It’s nice to have a talented, athletic young group of guys.”
Behind LaGrone is junior Clayton Homme. Homme only has two career receptions but he could be one of the guys who benefits from an expanded role in the offense. As could sophomore Justin Podrabsky, a former Lewiston High School quarterback, who projects as the No. 3 tight end.
“It’s a little bit more of a freedom in terms of route running, which is nice. In the past it was get your route down to a science. With this, there’s a little more freedom, so now the guys can actually play football,” Pupunu said.
Sean Kramer can be reached at [email protected]