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OGDEN — With all of the issues that Weber State football has had over the past two seasons, everything about the Wildcats had to change going into the 2014 season.
Obviously, Weber State hired a new head coach (Jay Hill); new offensive and defensive coordinators (Steve Clark and Justin Ena); and opened a new indoor practice facility late last fall.
However, one of the biggest things that has to change is how the players play, and not just in terms of levels of intensity. Instead, several Weber State players have to change how they define themselves within their positions.
Wildcats running backs coach Quinton Ganther has worked to change the mindset of players, getting them to adopt an attitude of toughness. However, one of the toughest tasks he has taken on is changing the way players play.
“You have to mentally prepare yourself, where every play I’m going to let my presence be felt,” he said. “What I tell my running backs is we are what we put on film, so who are we going to be today? And, these last couple of practices they have been showing up.”
Weber State was expected to have a solid stable of running backs last season, with names like Bo Bolen and Zach Smith leading the charge. Instead, the Wildcats found themselves in the bottom half of the Big Sky conference, averaging just 136.6 rushing yards per game.
Weber State's annual "Purple and White" game takes place Saturday in Ogden, with a 1 p.m. start time.
Throughout spring practice, nearly every member of the staff, both offensive and defensive, has discussed how important it is for Weber to run the football. Ganther said whether or not the Wildcats win will depend on whether or not they get a consistently good rushing attack.
“If you really think about it, we (running backs) make the team go,” he said. “Of course the quarterback is going to touch the ball most of the time, but we’re going to be the ones handling the ball. So, in order for us to have success in any league, we have to be able to run the football.
“If we can’t run the ball, we can’t win. And that’s just honesty.”
Ganther brought up another facet of the game that has to change for Weber, and that’s special teams play. Most importantly, he noted how special teams play will provide a player with opportunities to play beyond college.
“If anybody from this conference, from this team, wants to have a chance to play at the next level, they’re going to have to be great special teams players,” he said. “They’re going to have to take pride in it. In all honesty, we don’t have any first-round picks; we don’t have any second-round picks. But we can possible develop third, fourth, fifth-round guys if we can get great special teams play.”
Several players have to improve in a variety of areas, and Ganther said each of the running backs has changes to make in his game as spring practice concludes.
“What Bo (Bolen) has to improve on is … he has to set the tone,” he said. “What Bo used to do until three or four practices ago is upon contact, Bo used to stop his feet. So, now I have to get Bo to not stop his feet and make (the defense) get out of his way.
“With Karl, Karl’s a big guy, very athletic, very strong. But Karl’s a nice guy; he’s such a good person that I have to get that out of him.
“Zach (Smith) has to pay attention more to the details."
