Maybe, just maybe, if the University of Northern Colorado football had a little more offense in 2023, the Bears would not have had a winless season.
After an 0-11 record a year ago, it’s tough to say one phase of the team was the sole problem.
That would be too short sighted. Too simplistic.
UNC opens the 2024 season Saturday at the University of Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. Mountain Time.
“I felt like there were times last year where, you know, the defense was lacking, and the offense was picking up the slack and vice versa,” Bears defensive coordinator Preston Hadley said.
Hadley’s right. In the last game of the year, the Bears’ defense gave up the go-ahead touchdown to Portland State with 1 minute remaining after a 90-yard drive.
But, let’s still say if the Bears’ offense had a little more umph, maybe a few of those close losses might have been wins.
The Bears averaged 14 points per game last season, which was lowest among the 12 Big Sky Conference teams. UNC lost three games by seven or fewer points — Weber State, Cal Poly and Portland State. UNC lost to Sacramento State by eight points.
The defense, while giving up 33.3 points a game, was spirited and feisty, keeping the team in games at times, Bears head coach Ed Lamb has said.
Among the 12 Big Sky schools, Eastern Washington, Cal Poly and Idaho State allowed more points than UNC — and yet, the Bears’ offense couldn’t take advantage in those games.
At Idaho State in late September, UNC trailed 21-7 at halftime. The Bears tied the game 21-21 late in the third quarter on long scoring drives. Idaho State reclaimed the lead for good with under 3 minutes to play in the third and won 35-21.
UNC played with Idaho until late in the game, losing 27-13.
So what does the UNC offense need to do this season to rise and grow and better contribute to the cause?
Simply said, it’s diversity. The Bears this season will aim to be more diverse, more balanced in their attack — grooving with the run and the pass.
Last year, the Bears’ offense leaned to the pass to open the run. Lamb said he and the coaches believed the team had its best chance to win with quarterback Jacob Sirmon’s strong arm.
Former offensive coordinator Blair Peterson left the program in December 2023. Lamb promoted Justin Walterscheid to offensive coordinator from special teams coordinator. Peterson and Walterscheid both came into the program with Lamb in December 2022.
“I think there’s a lot of guys that can do a lot of different things for us,” Walterscheid said. “We’ve got a lot of guys who gained experience last year that I’m really excited about and a great offseason. Getting bigger, faster, stronger. Those guys have the ability, and they’re that much better now.”
This year, the Bears have added running backs to the roster. Nine backs are assigned jersey numbers heading into the first game. Five of those guys have significant experience: leading rusher last year David Afari, Colorado State transfer Vann Schield, Caden Meis, Darius Stewart and Jacquez Robertson.
University of Northern Colorado running back David Afari turns on the speed as he runs for a touchdown against Weber State on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023 at Nottingham Field in Greeley. (Jim Rydbom/Staff Photographer)
The offensive line a year ago was young and inexperienced, Lamb said, and players battled injuries. Guys came in and out of the lineup, and the five-man unit never had consistency, which is important to getting an offense in motion.
The run and pass start there.
Hadley, the defensive coordinator, said UNC has to play complementary football — meaning offense and defense helping the other and in whatever way the coaches want that to look.
“We have our issues to fix on defense,” Hadley said. “We weren’t all peaches and cream, and neither was the offense.”
Sirmon was often on the run with offensive line breakdowns, and he couldn’t usually escape — as can current Bears QBs Peter Costelli and Hank Gibbs.
Lamb said Tuesday afternoon in his first game-week news conference of the season that Costelli will be the first quarterback in the game. Both quarterbacks will play, and Gibbs will have a bigger role with the offense this year.
“We don’t make excuses, but that chemistry is really hard to build when you’re switching every week,” said Aidan Moe, a redshirt sophomore offensive lineman from Parker and Ponderosa High School. “So right now, we had a good starting five going, and so I feel like that chemistry on the O-line will be better.”
University of Northern Colorado freshman Brayden Munroe has continued to make big plays for the Bears this season.(Jim Rydbom/Staff Photographer)
Moe, listed at 6-foot-8 inches and 305 pounds, might very well end up among the starting linemen. He returns as one of the more experienced guys in the group with Micah Nanninga and Jack Ziebell.
Sophomore wide receiver Brayden Munroe said the Bears had talented players on offense, but the unit overall didn’t click. He said this year has been about building chemistry.
Munroe, who is also from Parker and Chaparral High, is one of the Bears’ most experienced returning receivers. He caught 10 passes for 185 yards and a touchdown, becoming a more important part of the offense late in his true freshman season a year ago.
“Utilizing everybody that we have in our offense, and just playing well as one, playing well as a team,” Munroe said.
The Bears have 12 wide receivers among the players listed on the roster with a jersey number heading into the season opener. Seven of those guys are new, and transfers River Stout and Ryder MacGillivray might also play key roles, Lamb said last week.
Fisher Clements is a returning tight end and one of the bigger players on the team. Clements, 6-7 and 265, caught three passes in six games last year.
Kyle Helbig, the team’s top tight end target last year, is no longer in the program.
Senior Cash Cheeks moved to tight end from wide receiver after putting on about 40 pounds from last year. Carver Cheeks, Cash’s brother, is a 6-2 safety. The brothers are from Mesa Ridge High School in Colorado Springs.
Moe said he believes the offense will be better. He said the scrimmages between the offense and defense are the most competitive this year since he arrived in 2022.
Familiarity among everyone, players and coaches, should also help.
“We know our players a lot better, obviously, than we did a year ago,” Walterscheid said. “And they know us a lot better and kind of know what to expect from us. It’s not my offense. It’s our offense, and I think the players understand. It takes all of us to do our best.”
Originally Published: August 27, 2024 at 5:27 p.m.
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Publish date : 2024-08-27 18:27:00
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