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Weber State offense taking shape behind Bronson Barron’s confidence and improved offensive line

By Brett Hein - Standard-Examiner | Oct 13, 2022
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Weber State quarterback Bronson Barron (10) throws a pass against Eastern Washington during a Big Sky Conference football game Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, at Stewart Stadium in Ogden. (ISAAC FISHER, Special to the Standard-Examiner)
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Weber State offensive lineman Ethan Atagi (66) helps brother Noah Atagi (79) off the turf during a Big Sky Conference football game against Eastern Washington on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, at Stewart Stadium in Ogden.

OGDEN — Weber State’s offense is noticeably more explosive this season, from big-play capability to actual points on the scoreboard.

When compared to 2021, the Wildcats are up in almost every measure.

WSU is scoring 36.4 points per game, 15th nationally, through five games this season. Last year, that number was a solid 31.3 points per game, but only after three pick-sixes in the final week and a trip to mailed-it-in Southern Utah for a 62-0 win. Prior to those games, WSU’s offense averaged only 26 points per game last season and was held under 20 points four times, or for 36.3% of games. So far this season, WSU has been held under 20 once (a 17-12 win at UC Davis).

Weber State is averaging 436.6 yards per game, 19th nationally, which is up from 366 yards per game last season.

Sophomore quarterback Bronson Barron has raved about the system brought in by new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mickey Mental. Between the fast tempo and the way the offense is constructed, it’s made the game easier for him.

“He’s putting us in positions to have success,” Barron said. “I love our offense, I love our scheme. We’re really dispersing the ball around. We’re getting different guys a lot of touches, and we’re running the ball well.”

In the last three games (wins over Utah Tech, UC Davis and Eastern Washington), Barron has thrown 61 of 85 (71.8%) for 806 yards (269 per game), six touchdowns and one interception.

Mental said Barron is hitting the deep ball well (Barron said Mental is calling for those plays at the right time) and has been efficient on short and intermediate throws as well. Mental says that’s because of Barron’s approach while the Wildcats average a balanced 234.6 yards passing and 202 yards rushing per game.

“He’s not all about throwing for 400 yards. He’s about winning,” Mental said. “When you’re about winning, you’re selfless to the team and that shows up.”

Barron said as much as anything, success has come as he’s stayed healthy and been able to stack games of experience on top of each other every week. Head coach Jay Hill agrees.

“Last year was part of the process of what we’re doing this year. There’s a building process that occurs,” Hill said. “We’ve got a lot of guys playing for us right now who have played a lot of football and confidence should grow the more you play.”

Mental and Barron both gave praise to this year’s offensive line. The usual six to play this season are Ethan Atagi, Noah Atagi, George Barrera, Jake Eichorn, Jordan Lutui and Meleke Tauteoli.

WSU allowed 25 sacks last season, or 2.3 per game. This year: five, or one per game, with Barron taking four of them. The Wildcats are also rushing for 4.5 yards per carry, up from 3.7 last season.

“They are the reason our offense is playing so well. All the credit goes to those guys up front,” Barron said. “We’re staying ahead of schedule, not getting into third-and-long situations and having third-and-short, second-and-medium. That lets you use your whole playbook.”

Both OC and QB also praised the scout defense.

“They give us the right looks. When I go into a game it’s like yeah, I’ve seen this for four days,” Barron said. “I feel like I’ve worked hard to be prepared each week, so I can rely on the guys around me to make plays, and to take care of the football.”

“We’ve got a really good scout team that comes prepared,” Mental added. “Our scout looks have been tremendous to allow us to play fast on game day, to be efficient.”

There’s still plenty of room for improvement. Crucial fumbles nearly cost WSU at UC Davis and, for a time, kept Eastern Washington in the contest in Ogden.

Red-zone efficiency is still paramount. What’s improved this season is the Wildcats are taking tons more trips into the red zone, so the points are coming — 6.2 red-zone trips per game this season, up from 3.7 in 2021. They’re also hitting on more big scoring plays from outside the red zone.

But it’s what hasn’t happened with those frequent red-zone trips that have Mental and company hopeful of still creating an offensive juggernaut. Conversion and touchdown rates are actually down from last season.

WSU has scored 16 touchdowns on 31 red-zone trips this season, adding nine field goals. That’s 80.6% overall and 51.6% on touchdowns. Last season saw 28 touchdowns on 41 trips, with eight field goals, for 87.8% overall and 68.3% on touchdowns.

“I’ve got to be self-reflective of my process and put the players in better situations. That falls on me. We get stuffed on first-and-goal at the 3, I’ve got to do a better job of putting our guys in situations where they can be successful,” Mental said. “Because we’ve got great players who care about the right things here.”

Barron pointed out that players have caused self-inflicted failure in such situations. Against Eastern Washington, for instance, false starts and snap issues hurt several possessions.

“It’s just discipline and focus. The tempo, sometimes you think too much, you’re tired. So just focusing on that one play at a time and keeping that discipline. That’s something we know how to do,” Barron said. “If we eliminate some of the pre-snap penalties that we’re having, we’re hurting ourselves more than anything else. Just clean up those silly mistakes and we’ll continue to take off.”

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