Watching film is not a revolutionary tactic.
So Bowling Green’s approach to implementing its offense is not some groundbreaking technique.
But the new Falcons’ regime, which brings with them a sizable playbook, has put a nice spin on the
age-old approach.
“It was definitely tough at first,” senior receiver Jordan Wayne-Prather said of learning Scot Loeffler’s
intricate playbook. “Because last year we had like a very small playbook, there weren’t that many plays.
But this year, I would say that having the plays that we have and how he explains them, I feel like it
helps us a lot because he knows the circumstance with the play.
“He’s shown us film of him scoring touchdowns off of all the plays that we have. Him showing us, that
helps us buy in because we know that it can be a touchdown or a big gain.”
Loeffler is a former quarterback under Lloyd Carr at the University of Michigan.
The Falcons’ first-year head coach knew his offense would need to have a rapid learning curve.
And a three-man quarterback competition has not made the process any easier on the wide receivers.
“We’re not doing anything revolutionary, but any time you can show a guy what it looks like, it helps
them,” Loeffler said. “We’re, right now, fighting uphill battles with culture of how things are supposed
to be done and how intense you have to be. And the fact of the matter is, we have to show them on tape
how it’s supposed to really look.”
At least seven wideouts have taken practice reps on the first team. There are as many freshmen in that
group as there are seniors.
The competition has been good for a team that expects to move with pace and interchange players at its
skilled positions.
“I think we’re coming along and we’re learning every day,” passing-game coordinator and wide receivers
coach Erik Campbell said. “I don’t have a starter, but all of them are starters. That’s the mentality
I’m trying to create with our group. Because any given day, you could be out there for the first rep.”
The seniors of the group are the 6-foot-1 Wayne-Prather and his 5-11 former JUCO opponent RB Marlow III.
Others receiving consistent first-team reps are 6-4, 228-pound junior Quintin Morris, who has also lined
up in a tight end role after finishing second on the team with 42 receptions last season. Noah Massey, a
sophomore and another big target at 6-4 and 220 pounds, has also routinely mixed in with the ones.
Freshmen Jake Rogers, a 5-8 slot receiver, and lanky 6-4, 169-pound Tyrone Broden have also worked with
the first-team offense.
“Honestly I feel like we’re probably close to being at the top,” Massey said of the deep but
inexperienced group. “Especially once we get full strength, some of us are banged up, but that’s not
stopping us from going hard every day.”
There is value in the depth, too.
“The depth is good for us, because with the tempo, and at the Z position — we run more than probably the
running backs on the team — so that helps,” Wayne-Prather said.
Loeffler is not as convinced yet, expressing more confidence in the experienced running game to this
point, but he sees the potential.
“Inconsistent. There are times where we look really, really good and then times nowhere near where we
need to be,” he said. “The mindset of being able to play as hard as you possibly can through the
whistle, sprint back to the line and do it again is the challenge.”
