Falcons' offensive identity a question mark as spring football ends

BOWLING GREEN — Jarret Doege may earn himself a new nickname this season: the human cattle prod."Coach (Scot) Loeffler tells me, 'You got to be loud and push the offense,'" said Bowling Green's junior quarterback. "He's says they're like cows: If you yell at them they won't move, but if you slap them on the butt, then they'll start moving."At least Doege will have some old bulls to work with.In addition to the return of the Mid-American Conference's leader in touchdown passes (27) during the regular season, the Falcons' entire backfield, including starting running back Andrew Clair, returns. So do four of the five starting members of the offensive line and receivers Quintin Morris and running back Marlow III.What kind of formations and offensive identity BG will have in its season opener Aug. 29 remain major question marks after 15 spring practices."The whole point of what we do offensively is we do a lot of variations —we're underneath center, we're pro-style, we're spread, we're empty — to build the defense," said Loeffler, a longtime offensive coordinator, most recently at Boston College, who is experiencing life as a head coach for the first time."We want to make sure when we're playing the old-school teams like Northern Illinois, who pounds the ball, that we have the ability to pound the ball. Then whenever we're playing the spread offenses of the world, we want to teach our defense how to defend the spread."No spring game took place Saturday because of inclement weather. Fans were invited to watch the team's final 90-minute spring practice inside the Perry Field House, where they got some insights on what Week 1 against Morgan State at Doyt Perry Stadium could look like."It's a complex offense with a lot to learn," Doege said. "I'm getting it down, but I can't wait to learn more."Under previous coaches Dino Babers and Mike Jinks, BG was known for playing "FalconFast." But the speed at which Loeffler's training sessions move takes the term to a whole new level. Even the former Michigan quarterback himself doesn't stop moving while he coaches."We've come a long way," Doege said. "First practice, we got out there and everyone was on their hands and knees, couldn't even breathe. Now, we're out here flying around and it's fun."Loeffler's intensity has taken some getting use to for the veteran quarterback, who says he tries as best he can to be a replica of his new coach in the huddle."Basically, I'm trying to portray him, but he's just a crazy dude," said Doege of Loeffler. "I'm kinda laid back, but being around him more I'm starting to turn into Coach Loeffler."Doege was 242-for-389 passing (62.2 percent) for 2,660 yards — also a MAC best — as a sophomore. The 6-foot-3 signal caller said last year he did what he wanted to when it came to foot work. "I'm whole lot cleaner with my foot work and fundamentals," Doege said. BG has new targets for Doege this season. Austin Dorris, a graduate transfer at tight end from Indiana, will contend for a starting spot. So will Presley Motes, a junior college transfer who suffered a season-ending injury in the first quarter of the first game last season.After sitting out a season, Washington State transfer Isaiah Johnson-Mack has two years of eligibility remaining. At 6-foot-3, he'd be a nice target opposite of a 6-4 target like Morris. One position area the new coaching staff loves is what's behind Doege. Clair, a 5-10, 200-pound tailback, was second on the team in all-purpose yards a year ago with 804, which included three 100-plus yard rushing performances."I think our running backs are pretty good," Loeffler said. "I think they're fast. I think they're dynamic. They can put their foot in the ground, they can cut, they're explosive and they got really good vision. We need to keep those guys healthy. They need to get in better shape because we're going to use them."BG would've had only one scholarship running back available Saturday had it played a scrimmage. Loeffler said numbers are still big issue for the program coming off three consecutive losing seasons, but his overall impression of the team from practice No. 1 is "night and day.""My credit goes to the players," he said. "Transition and change isn't easy. It's hard and they've bought in."The next phase — the summertime — they're really going to have to buy in because it's all going to ratchet up even more. Our culture is going to increase, our intensity is going to increase and we're planning on going into training camp and having one of the more intense training camps they've had."Bowling Green's Quintin Morris catches a 29-yard touchdown pass during last year's game against Maryland at Doyt Perry Stadium. Morris is one of the Falcons' top returning offensive threats under new coach Scot Loeffler.