Brooks: Pistol Offense Could Benefit Buffs' O-Line
August 20, 2013 | Football, B.G. Brooks
(Sixth in a series of position-by-position previews of the 2013 Buffs to be posted on CUBuffs.com during preseason camp. Today: Offensive line)
BOULDER - Jack Harris stands 6-7, is a couple of breakfast croissants shy of 300 pounds and likely could hold his own at tackle in most blocking schemes on many college football teams.
But Harris is intrigued by what's unfolding at the line of scrimmage on his college football team - Colorado. He's in his senior season and playing for his third position coach in yet another new offensive scheme. But from Harris' and his linemates' perspective, this is the one. The pistol might fit them as perfectly as a bullet in a chamber.
No slight meant toward Harris & Co., but it's said in coaching circles that one of the advantages of the pistol is its ability to mask some deficiencies up front. Zone blocking is predominant; it requires more zeroing in on the right target than pancaking the D-lineman in front of you - although that kind of knockdown never will be frowned on by new Buffs line coach Gary Bernardi.
Asked about the pistol's penchant for perhaps easing the burden on the big guys, Bernardi said, "It can, because instead of blocking somebody you're reading somebody. You can get targeted a little better and go a little stronger. It's a part of our offense, but not the whole thing. But in the big picture, yes (it can be beneficial for blockers)."
Harris also was in agreement about the formation's friendliness to an O-lineman. "I could see that," he said, "especially with the misdirection and the confusion it can cause a defense. It slows them down from coming downhill so fast and makes them think a little more. You don't just have to run over guys; if they don't know what they're doing then you can knock them down instead of doing it head-to-head."
The footwork being taught by Bernardi, said Harris, "is a little different" from that taught for the last two season by former line coach Steve Marshall, a good friend of Bernardi's. But, added Harris, "I don't know if that's the pistol or a different offensive line coach . . . I think it has mostly to do with what coach Bernardi wants."
Harris described Bernardi, who has coached 32 seasons at FBS schools, as "a technician, an assignment guy. He harps on every single play. Some guys are big on assignment, not as big on technique. But he's big on everything."
Bernardi said his and Marshall's O-line thought processes are similar, with the biggest on-field difference coming in terminology. "So sometimes we have to clarify that," he said. "Then the kids and I find out we're on the same page of music. Obviously there's some differences in a set or something, but the kids are good."
Center Gus Handler, also a senior, explained that on certain pistol plays his and the other O-linemen's blocking assignments depend on "tracks" - or in Handler's words, "If you have a gap or whoever crosses your face, that's who you take. We have a couple of plays where just simply the tracks, where you're getting stunts and twists, you go with that (to block). We didn't have that last year."
CU fancied itself last season as a power offense, but the power rarely was switched on. So the switch to the pistol and an up-tempo, predominantly no-huddle offense that relies more on guile and finesse represents a seismic philosophical shift. If it all goes well on Saturdays, it will be because of communication and quick thinking up front and the right read by the key guy behind them - the quarterback.
With their first game in it still ahead, Harris believes the Buffs and the pistol are a good fit "in the sense that anyone can run it. It's not all downhill power running, so you don't need to be 330 and squatting 600 pounds. You need to kind of have it all. The misdirection helps out. It helps us out a little bit even if we don't have the big, old bruisers to run block."
But Bernardi is quick to point out that while the pistol can create advantages in the O-line, it is not a panacea for poor technique and effort. "I was telling them last night that nobody cares if you run a five-flat (40-yard dash); they just want to know if you're blocking anybody," he said. "You can make a mistake, run a 4.4 and still catch a touchdown pass. You make a mistake here (in the OL) and there's an issue. Somebody gets whacked."
Bernardi faces what is arguably the team's biggest reconstruction project. All-Pac-12 Conference tackle David Bakhtiari left for the NFL after his junior season and promising sophomore Alex Lewis - a projected starter at tackle - left the team hoping to transfer to Nebraska. Compounding that pair of losses, a fractured fibula suffered late in spring drills has kept projected starting guard Daniel Munyer out of practice early in camp.
The group he's coaching, said Bernardi, has "done a good job so far for a group of guys that basically is missing three starters right now (Bakhtiari, Lewis, Munyer). You've got a left tackle (Harris) who played right guard and right tackle last year. Now you can't be happy in your (third week of camp) and say you're there; you've got to keep getting better.
"I like the kids, I like the way they work. They're smart, intuitive, all those things I like. The nucleus, the big picture of what we have to work with, is good."
Bernardi's goal is identifying eight to ten players to be ready every week, with at least three of that number prepared to play center. "During the course of the season you're going to come out here and maybe see the fourth guy getting some snaps at center," he said. "I just want somebody ready for a series or two or to work in the two-minute offense."
In camp Bernardi has shuffled his interior linemen between center and both guard spots, using Handler, junior Kaiwi Crabb, redshirt freshman Alex Kelley and sophomore Brad Cotner (when healthy). Munyer also can play either position and is expected to return for the opener (Sept. 1 vs. Colorado State).
"We're making sure we're giving the inside guys good looks at all three spots," Bernardi said. "And we're making sure the tackles can play both sides. That makes their life easier right now when they're doing the zone blocking. But we'll do both (zone and conventional man-on-man). That's part of our offense - the multiplicity."
This group, said Bernardi, appears capable of doing both, but he added, "That's something you get a feel for after a couple of games. We really haven't had the whole unit healthy and together and we haven't been under duress in a game situation."
Playing right tackle is raw but talented sophomore Stephane Nembot, who continues to learn the position as well as the intricacies of offensive football. Backing up Harris and Nembot has been sophomore Marc Mustoe, and that's where depth at the position encounters a steep drop.
CU signed four offensive linemen, but first-year players working their way up, even onto the depth chart is rare. "The first-year freshmen are getting a lot of reps, but I'm not sure yet if they can play," Bernardi said. "It's tough at this position."
Being the line's lone seniors, Harris - he's one of six captains - and Handler find themselves teaching and setting the standard for the younger players. Assisting in that role, said Handler, are Crabb and Munyer: "The younger guys know they have to step up and kind of grow up. But I think Jack and I, Daniel and Kaiwi have definitely helped in that - teaching them little tricks, knowing the protections."
Added Harris: "I think it's been kind of a subliminal message . . . Losing (Bakhtiari, Lewis) was rough but I think the younger guys realize they need to step up now. I think they kind of knew; we all did. I know we've got to get the younger guys and some of the older guys moving. I think we've done a pretty good job of that this off-season. You can see it out here. We worked hard in the player-run practices. I think they're coming along."
THE INSIDE LOOK AT . . .
Offensive line
Coach: Gary Bernardi, first season on CU staff
Returning starters: C/G Gus Handler, Sr.; C/G Daniel Munyer, Jr.; RT Stephane Nembot, So.; LT Jack Harris, Sr.
Returnees: T Marc Mustoe, So.; C/G Kaiwi Crabb, Jr.; G James Carr, So.; C/G Brad Cotner, So.; T Jeromy Irwin, So.; C/G Alex Kelley, Fr.-RS; G Vincent Arvia, Fr.-RS.
Newcomers: OL Gunnar Graham, Fr.; OL Jonathan Huckins, Fr.; OL Sam Kronshage, Fr.; OL Colin Sutton, Fr.
Key losses: David Bakhtiari (declared early for NFL Draft), Alex Lewis (transferred), Ryan Dannewitz, Eric Richter.
Stat line: Among the returning O-linemen, Harris' 84.3 season grade is the highest. Next are Handler (83.5) and Munyer (83.2). Point of reference: Bakhtiari's 89.8 was last season's high mark. In the 2012 sack department, CU allowed 50. Not all of them could be pinned on the O-line, but that's a starting point in fixing the problem.
Bottom line: From all indications, the pistol offense appears to be an O-line friendly scheme - and if that proves true the Buffs hopefully can compensate for their relative inexperience at several positions up front. Handler, a Rimington Award candidate, is a solid center and Harris and Nembot have starting experience at tackle - although most of it is on the right side. Nembot (6-7, 305) passes anyone's eyeball test and will continue to develop. Munyer's return at guard will be welcomed, bringing another experienced, talented player back to the interior lineup. Bernardi wants eight to ten players ready, so returnees Cotner, Kelley, Crabb and Mustoe should see plenty of duty. It's rare for incoming freshmen to play right away in the O-line, but Bernardi won't discount any of four newcomers moving up the depth chart until he gets further along in camp.
Next: Defensive line
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU
