UNI offense seeks identity, improvement

CEDAR FALLS — The Mark Farley era at Northern Iowa has largely been headlined by top-tier defenses. Many times those defenses have led the Panthers into the FCS playoffs, and while the 2017 edition of the UNI defense is once again poised to be the strength of the team, it's this season's offense that has the potential to catapult the Panthers past Missouri Valley roadblocks North Dakota State and South Dakota State.

With only one holdover on the offensive coaching staff from last season — tight ends coach Nick Danielson — and a transition away from the scrambling quarterback in favor of pocket-passer Eli Dunne, Panthers fans are dreaming about an offensive renaissance taking place this season.

Asked about the identity this team's offense might have head coach Mark Farley stayed true to his philosophy that the players will develop the identity.

'Every team takes its own course. This team will find that course. It's already been started, it happened back in January. Some things happened this summer that they became stronger in some units. So it'll play itself out,' said Farley.

'You can't force anything upon them. It has to take the role of the players. It was (running backs coach) D.P. (Eyman) (who said) you've got to play to the personality of the players. We have changed every year based on the players we've had. We will identify what becomes our strength, and that's what we'll play to.'

Recent seasons have seen the offense underachieve and fail to establish and play to a strength like Farley alluded to. Two seasons ago the Panthers were able to establish an identity as a formidable run-first offense. However, that came back to bite them against quality opponents that could put them in a position to play from behind, forcing them to throw the ball.

This 2017 offense — on paper — has all the ingredients needed for a balanced attack. Or possibly a pass-first approach. Or even a run-first approach that could open opportunities for Dunne and his receivers in play-action. It all goes back to Farley saying that they'll let things play out and identify what the strength, or strengths, become for this offense.

Junior left tackle Cal Twait believes this year's offense could go in a number of different directions if he and his teammates along the offensive line hold up their end of the bargain.

'We've got to do our job better and I'm confident we will. We're excited about Eli leading the offense and the guys we have that can make plays,' said Twait.

'The offensive line has gotten bigger and better. I played at 290 pounds last season and I'm at 305 now and actually feel even a little bit better right now on my feet than I did last year at this time. (Offensive line and co-offensive coordinator) Coach (Mike) Simmonds is an old-school type of coach who preaches being physical. I think we'll run the ball better this year and that could make our play-action better.'

Now while Dunne and the offensive line have had to answer plenty of questions about their performances a year ago and how they spent their offseason trying to improve, senior wide receiver Daurice Fountain acknowledged that when Dunne took sacks or threw interceptions last season the wide receivers were not without blame.

'If our timing is off then it's our fault if Eli gets sacked or throws a pick. We've been working a lot on our timing. I've worked out with Eli a lot this offseason so I'm looking forward to what this offense can do once we get out there in a game,' Fountain said.

'I always tell the offensive line, give us 1.5 (seconds), that's all we need. Coach Farley will give us a hard time and say that's too much (time), but we know if we're doing our job Eli is going to get us the ball so we can make plays.'