Running back Mark Rodgers took a pitch from quarterback Doug Shumway, rolled to the right and threw a 41-yard bomb to Ryan Taylor running up the right sideline.
It was one of many passing plays the Mustangs strung together Saturday at their annual spring game; one that featured a first-team offense that looks poised to take the Great West by storm next season.
But this time, the Mustangs have a few more passing plays.
“Are we going to be able to throw it 40 to 50 times a game?” head coach Tim Walsh said. “Probably not. But the reality is, we are going to work on the things we are deficient at right now, and that is one of them.”
Showcasing its new uptempo passing offense, the Cal Poly offense fell to the Cal Poly defense 33-32 Saturday afternoon in Alex G. Spanos Stadium.
“The one thing we learned is, you got to be in condition to run this offense for the entire game,” Walsh said. “That is going to be an emphasis for us and we were definitely a tired second half team (today), but we had four good drives in the first half.”
Two of those first-half drives ended in touchdowns for the Cal Poly offense. One coming from on a one yard touchdown run from Rodgers in the corner of the end zone, and the other was a leaping catch from wide receiver Lance Castaneda in the back corner of the end zone.
On those drives, Cal Poly lined up in multiple four and five receiver formations — many of which are new to Cal Poly’s playbook this year. It came as a result of the lack of a passing attack the Mustangs displayed in 2010. They averaged a conference worst 116.5 yards per game through the air, after going 7-4 last season.
The shift is one favored by most of the team, even by running backs like Rodgers — who led the Great West with 882 yards rushing last season.
“I love it,” Rodgers said. “We’ll get used to it as we get conditioned. It will just throw other teams off, wear them out.”
But the strength of a new passing game relies on the Mustangs’ depth at wide receiver. They enter next season without last season’s leading receiver, Dominique Johnson who caught a team-high 47 receptions for 634 yards. He caught 27 more receptions and 427 more yards than the next closest receiver on the roster.
Even with the inexperience, starting quarterback Andre Broadous is hardly concerned.
“They are catching along pretty fast,” Broadous said. “Lance (Castaneda) is looking great and (Ryan Taylor) is looking more elusive. So, I mean guys are stepping up and if we keep getting better, working on our timing, then I think they can be pretty dangerous.”
Broadous could be a weapon, himself. He took over when last year’s starter Tony Smith was sidelined with injuries and played in five games. He threw for 510 yards and four touchdowns — including a 212-yard passing day against Old Dominion.
With Broadous’ confidence in his new wide receiving corps, he might be poised to post bigger numbers.
“We’re just trying to take what the defense gives us,” Broadous said. “Our coaches think that our receivers have the ability to take that five yard hitch into big plays.”
But he may have another weapon on offense as well in the form of running back Deonte Williams.
Williams transferred to Cal Poly last season after starting his collegiate career at Northern Arizona. He became the Big Sky Newcomer of the Year in 2008, after rushing for 950 yards and 12 touchdowns. He then transferred to Sierra College and ran for 1,037 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Now, he is one of the newest members wearing the green and gold.
“I can bring experience to this team,” Williams said. “I always feel like I can make the first guy miss, and if it’s necessary, I’ll make the second and third miss to get up field.”
Walsh said Williams spot in the starting lineup is still up in the air. In fact, the Mustangs played with many starters Saturday, so fans only got a small glimpse of what Cal Poly will look like next year.
But Saturday was about the younger players on the squad, and Walsh said he was impressed with some of the second and third-string players who played in the game. It’s effort he wants to see continue as the Mustangs get further in the offseason.
“That’s what you want your young players to do,” Walsh said. “To take their opportunities and use them to the best of their advantage so that they can prove to us that they will be on the field next fall.”