Post by krazykev on Aug 6, 2008 7:33:32 GMT -5
GREENSBORO -- To some observers, the football principles of new N.C. A&T coordinator John McKenzie replicate the West Coast offense. Others might call it a spread. Still others invoke the name of Dan Henning.
Confused? Well, good. That's sort of the point.
"We'll take one play and run it six or eight ways," said McKenzie, who became head coach Lee Fobbs' first offensive coordinator at A&T this spring.
People in motion, myriad forms of deception and play-calling balance are the goals, all of which signal opportunity for as many players as possible. McKenzie, who directed the offense at Alcorn State for the past seven seasons, vows it won't be boring.
"Sounds good to me as a receiver," said senior Chaz Dawson. "We like the system. We feel we can move up and down the field."
If it is fully implemented, the look will be undeniably different to the Aggies, their fans and the MEAC. A&T ran twice as often as it threw a year ago, and in part because of that, senior Michael Ferguson is within striking distance -- 906 yards -- of becoming the school's career rushing record. The Aggies haven't been known as a spread or up-tempo team in years, but they'll give it a shot in 2008.
McKenzie's Alcorn team was about 50-50 pass-run in 2007 and 55-45 in favor of the run the year before. The Braves didn't always set the SWAC ablaze, but they were generally competitive. In 2004, Alcorn led the league in passing yardage and ranked 20th nationally. The following season, it did nearly the same with the running game.
"If we've got a good running game, we'll run the ball," McKenzie said. "But we always give you the perception that we throw the football. We're a passing team first. Now if your concept is that you've got to stop the pass, we've got Michael Ferguson in our backfield. We've got an advantage now. You've got the perception that we're going to throw a lot and we've got the best running back in the conference."
McKenzie came aboard when Fobbs, who had served as his own offensive coordinator in his first two seasons with the Aggies, reorganized the staff. At first, it meant learning new terminology and getting accustomed to a different pace of play. The Aggies won't be Texas Tech, but they'll occasionally eschew the huddle. In an ideal world, one perhaps facilitated by new timing rules, the Aggies want to run 75 plays a game -- 40 runs and 35 passes. No matter how that total of 75 breaks down, it would represent a significant increase from the 61 total snaps averaged in 2007.
"I tell the guys that our offense is based on discipline and conditioning," McKenzie said. "We use a lot of plays and a lot of people. If we spend the time in the (meeting) room, which is needed, we'll learn what we need to do. If we get in the best shape, we'll feel good about ourselves that we know we can play four quarters with anybody."
The discipline is necessary in managing the pre-snap alignments. Put two guys in motion at the same time and you don't have deception; you have a 5-yard penalty.
"The one thing that helps is knowing what's meant for you and what isn't," Dawson said. "It's a pretty complex system."
Unlike Fobbs, who has been open to the concept of rotating quarterbacks, McKenzie says he really wants to identify one guy and stick with him. At this point, incumbent Herbert Miller leads a three-way competition, but is being challenged by Carlton Fears and Shelton Morgan.
No less than a half-dozen freshmen are on the roster at wide receiver, and it would help if a couple can do enough in August to earn immediate playing time opposite Dawson and Giorgio Lowarance, the only wideouts with significant experience.
As far as Fobbs is concerned, McKenzie's voice is welcomed. Trying to extricate a program from the depths is tough enough when you must be chief administrative officer and offensive coordinator. Now the boss says he spends more time on practice planning and general efficiency and feels more comfortable about the program's direction.
"It's tough when you try to do both," he said. "(The change) has really helped me a lot. We're getting more times in our meetings -- especially on special teams. I felt last year, we were cutting ourselves short in special teams, and they suffered."
Contact Rob Daniels at 373-7028 or rob.daniels@news-record.com
Confused? Well, good. That's sort of the point.
"We'll take one play and run it six or eight ways," said McKenzie, who became head coach Lee Fobbs' first offensive coordinator at A&T this spring.
People in motion, myriad forms of deception and play-calling balance are the goals, all of which signal opportunity for as many players as possible. McKenzie, who directed the offense at Alcorn State for the past seven seasons, vows it won't be boring.
"Sounds good to me as a receiver," said senior Chaz Dawson. "We like the system. We feel we can move up and down the field."
If it is fully implemented, the look will be undeniably different to the Aggies, their fans and the MEAC. A&T ran twice as often as it threw a year ago, and in part because of that, senior Michael Ferguson is within striking distance -- 906 yards -- of becoming the school's career rushing record. The Aggies haven't been known as a spread or up-tempo team in years, but they'll give it a shot in 2008.
McKenzie's Alcorn team was about 50-50 pass-run in 2007 and 55-45 in favor of the run the year before. The Braves didn't always set the SWAC ablaze, but they were generally competitive. In 2004, Alcorn led the league in passing yardage and ranked 20th nationally. The following season, it did nearly the same with the running game.
"If we've got a good running game, we'll run the ball," McKenzie said. "But we always give you the perception that we throw the football. We're a passing team first. Now if your concept is that you've got to stop the pass, we've got Michael Ferguson in our backfield. We've got an advantage now. You've got the perception that we're going to throw a lot and we've got the best running back in the conference."
McKenzie came aboard when Fobbs, who had served as his own offensive coordinator in his first two seasons with the Aggies, reorganized the staff. At first, it meant learning new terminology and getting accustomed to a different pace of play. The Aggies won't be Texas Tech, but they'll occasionally eschew the huddle. In an ideal world, one perhaps facilitated by new timing rules, the Aggies want to run 75 plays a game -- 40 runs and 35 passes. No matter how that total of 75 breaks down, it would represent a significant increase from the 61 total snaps averaged in 2007.
"I tell the guys that our offense is based on discipline and conditioning," McKenzie said. "We use a lot of plays and a lot of people. If we spend the time in the (meeting) room, which is needed, we'll learn what we need to do. If we get in the best shape, we'll feel good about ourselves that we know we can play four quarters with anybody."
The discipline is necessary in managing the pre-snap alignments. Put two guys in motion at the same time and you don't have deception; you have a 5-yard penalty.
"The one thing that helps is knowing what's meant for you and what isn't," Dawson said. "It's a pretty complex system."
Unlike Fobbs, who has been open to the concept of rotating quarterbacks, McKenzie says he really wants to identify one guy and stick with him. At this point, incumbent Herbert Miller leads a three-way competition, but is being challenged by Carlton Fears and Shelton Morgan.
No less than a half-dozen freshmen are on the roster at wide receiver, and it would help if a couple can do enough in August to earn immediate playing time opposite Dawson and Giorgio Lowarance, the only wideouts with significant experience.
As far as Fobbs is concerned, McKenzie's voice is welcomed. Trying to extricate a program from the depths is tough enough when you must be chief administrative officer and offensive coordinator. Now the boss says he spends more time on practice planning and general efficiency and feels more comfortable about the program's direction.
"It's tough when you try to do both," he said. "(The change) has really helped me a lot. We're getting more times in our meetings -- especially on special teams. I felt last year, we were cutting ourselves short in special teams, and they suffered."
Contact Rob Daniels at 373-7028 or rob.daniels@news-record.com
