Bowling Green Football: Falcons look to build for future in 2020
Loeffler to build consistent offensive system
The Falcons were affected heavily by injuries and inconsistencies last season. Bowling Green finished 2019 ranked 128th in points per game (16) and 120th in total offense (319.1 total yards per game). The Falcons rarely found opportunities to build their offense due to their short drives and few chances to score.
Bowling Green returns six offensive starters from last season for 2020. Two of the starters in redshirt junior Andrew Clair and redshirt senior Bryson Denley will be sharing the backfield. Clair only played in four games this past season as he encountered a foot injury. Of the three playmakers that accumulated 100 rushes, only one running back in Denley returns.
The Falcons will rely on these two efficient running backs to establish the basis of their offense. Last season, Bowling Green ranked 65th in the nation in rushing yards per game (161.8). The Falcons only return two starting offensive linemen from last season in redshirt senior right guard Tim Tanner-Blair and redshirt junior right tackle Derek Downs.
The Falcons will rely on former Boston College Eagles quarterback in Matt McDonald, who sat out last season due to NCAA transfer rules. McDonald spent his first two seasons playing for the Eagles in 2017 and 2018, which is the last two years that Loeffler spent as the Eagles’ offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach.
McDonald followed Loeffler from Boston College to Bowling Green so he knows his system well. He only played in two games for the Eagles in 2018, which shows his lack of experience in the collegiate ranks. McDonald’s relationship and vast knowledge of the playbook and system of Loeffler will help him transition well as the starting quarterback of the Falcons for 2020.
There is some good news with the passing game as they return five of their top seven leaders in receiving yards last season.
Only one of those players is a wide receiver in redshirt sophomore Julian Ortega-Jones. As a redshirt freshman last season, Ortega-Jones caught 20 receptions for 298 yards (second on team). McDonald will rely on the Falcons’ star tight end Quintin Morris, who was named second-team all-conference last season with 55 receptions for 649 yards and four touchdowns.