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Weber State football: ‘Plan to win’ still in effect under Mickey Mental

By Brett Hein - Standard-Examiner | Mar 31, 2023
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Weber State football head coach Mickey Mental claps during a spring practice March 21, 2023, at Stewart Stadium in Ogden.
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Weber State kicker Sloan Calder (69) boots a field goal attempt during a spring practice March 21, 2023, at Stewart Stadium in Ogden.
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Weber State defensive backs LJ Anderson (32) and Pierre Hunter (21) take the field during spring practice March 21, 2023, at Stewart Stadium in Ogden.

When Jay Hill left Weber State after nine seasons as head coach, three assistants were interviewed to take over the program.

But whatever happened for offensive coordinator Mickey Mental, offensive line coach and associate head coach Brent Myers, and co-defensive coordinator Joe Dale, they were united on one thing: whoever gets the job, it should be one of them.

“We felt like we needed to keep going in the same direction,” Myers said. “We felt if we could keep it in-house, our players would buy into it because the kids on our team love playing here. We didn’t have an exodus of kids going in the transfer portal … and that’s one of the things we were all on board with. We’re a very close staff, we get along well and love coaching these players here.”

For those reasons, Mental’s promotion three months ago was met with enthusiasm from the staff. About midway through Mental’s first spring camp at the helm, Myers says things are going well.

“We all wanted it to be one of us and whoever got it, we’d be behind it,” Myers said. “I’m more than fired up about the direction of the program and where we’re going. I think we can continue to be a top FCS program … I think it’s been a seamless transition. I think Mickey’s a fantastic hire.

“He carries himself with a great calm … he’s very steady. He was that way as the coordinator and he’s that way as the head coach. We’ve had some things to deal with in these first eight practices, like you always do, and he’s been fantastic in how he handles it.”

As players deal with a new head coach, a “spring” full of snow and torn-up east bleachers which means no access to the east sideline, linebacker and senior captain Winston Reid says the consistency has helped.

“Their coaching styles are different but the locker room culture is about the same. (Mental) has his little tweaks that are different but that’s pretty normal,” Reid said. “The goals haven’t changed, expectations haven’t changed.

“We get geeked every time we get our helmets and shoulder pads on. The energy is there, though it’s been a little weird because of the snow and the construction. But it’s just little adjustments.”

Myers is the grizzled veteran at Weber State. Entering his 10th season at WSU, he’s been coaching college football for 40 years.

One of the things that remain with Mental in charge is what the Wildcats call the “plan to win.” It’s a focused formula that analytically details the components of the game for offensive, defensive and special teams victories that result in coming out on top on the scoreboard when the clock hits zeroes.

“The offense helps play good defense. That’s about field position, possession of the ball, limit turnovers, making the other team play on their side of the field. So on the offensive line, we have to know who to block, how to block and why we’re doing what we’re doing so we don’t turn the football over and do our part in the plan so we protect our defense,” Myers explained. “Special teams leads to great defense by protecting kicks, downing punts. The defense helps play great offense by turning the ball over or winning field position. And the other huge one is great red-zone offense, scoring touchdowns in the red zone.”

It’s a concept Myers learned at Utah under Urban Meyer 20 years ago that he says goes back, at least, to Meyer’s time with Sonny Lubick at Colorado State. The components of WSU’s plan to win all live on a big, magnetic board just outside the locker room. Each component or in-game goal gets a row on the board’s table, and the games of the season each have a column. Magnets are affixed to each row if that part of the plan to win was met after each game.

Mental bought into the plan from Day 1 and it continues through yet another head coach.

“So we’re not tilted toward the defense, we’re not tilted toward the offense. We’re a team that is winning together,” Myers said. “You play in a way that helps the other units, to get a lead and maintain a lead so you win the game.”

The plan is one reason Weber State players have learned to love each other and play hard for each other, Myers says — but this has unintended consequences, something that falls under the “good problem to have” variety of issues.

“When my (offensive linemen) come to the sideline during a game and I sit them down … I have the hardest time keeping those guys’ attention because they want to watch their defense play. Their boys are playing,” Myers said. “My guys loved watching Kalisi Moli, Doug Schiess, Jared Schiess, Adam Rodriguez, the defensive linemen they compete with every day, they love watching them play. I’m like ‘hey sit down, we’re not done yet.’

“They’re so excited about our football team and their buddies are playing. They want to see them succeed. And I think our defensive guys are more excited about how we play on offense than we are, sometimes. I really do believe they play hard for each other and when they do well, they are excited for each other.”

Reid said it’s been exciting to see the offense flourish under Mental’s scheme and game plans, and Myers expects a jump in production that often comes between Year 1 and Year 2 of a new offense.

SPRING CAMP CONTINUES

Despite the unrelenting snow, Weber State has only missed one day of spring practice, that being the first scheduled day of camp. Even Friday, when at least 7 inches of snow had fallen on the turf at Stewart Stadium by 9 a.m., the field was cleared and the team practiced in the afternoon. Aside from having to stage one day’s practice as split sessions in the indoor facility, it’s been mostly business as usual.

Spring is a time when leaders can emerge and younger players are on the field often, trying to catch up to the proven veterans (of which WSU returns many).

Kylan Weisser has naturally taken a leadership role as a junior quarterback with the most signal-calling experience.

“Kylan has stepped up. He’s doing pretty well so far,” Reid said.

“Kylan is athletic, he’s getting rid of the ball on time, a big arm,” Myers added. “And he’s got something to him, he’s a competitor.”

Myers raved about a healthy trio of running backs in Dontae McMillan, Damon Bankston and Kris Jackson, and he has veteran returners of Noah Atagi, Ethan Atagi and Jordan Lutui on his offensive line who help set the tone along with Hayden Meacham at tight end.

Defensively, both Myers and Reid first had something to say about Jack Kelly. The third-year sophomore had 28 tackles (including eight for loss with six sacks) as an outside edge rusher on the defensive line last season. But he’s playing at rover linebacker in spring camp and his athleticism is shining.

With Reid anchoring the front seven, Garrett Beck returns as a linebacker but is testing the waters at outside edge as well. Reid said youngsters Mapa Vaenuku, Alema Tupuola and Kevin Enriquez are coming along well.

In the secondary, Kam Garrett, Marque Collins and Maxwell Anderson are playing well as expected, with Jalon Rock expected to play a role. Myers said EJ Evett has been playing well as a safety. Zeke Birch and Steven Bryant are both expected to take big steps to boost the interior line, and Myers said Okiki Olorunfunmi is “really coming into his own” as a defensive end.

“And I’d be really stupid if I didn’t say how good a football player Winston Reid is as a linebacker,” Myers said. “He’s fantastic.”

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