OC Max Warner Confident In Pieces Of UMass Passing Game
Minuteman offensive coordinator Max Warner believes Pop Watson is throwing the ball better than ever and has a versatile collection of targets capable of complementing the Minutemen's ground game.
UMass has made no secret about what it wants its offensive identity to be this season.
The Minutemen plan to run the football, play physically and make defenses deal with that approach first.
But offensive coordinator Max Warner knows there will be times when UMass has to put the ball in the air, and as preseason camp progresses, he’s becoming increasingly confident the Minutemen have the pieces to do it.
That starts with quarterback Pop Watson.
Warner has been impressed by Watson’s development as a passer, particularly the progress he’s made with his timing and understanding of how the pieces around him fit into the passing game.
“The way he’s throwing the ball right now, I’d venture to say it’s the best he’s thrown in his life,” Warner said of the transfer from Virginia Tech.
“He’s really figuring out rhythm and timing and spacing with the receivers, doing a really good job in the pass game, kind of working through those things, not being a repeat offender, making a miss and then going to correct it, which is what training camp is about.”
Watson’s ability to create with his legs will remain an important part of what makes him dangerous, but Warner has made it clear, Watson is a passer above all.
“He’s a football player, number one,” Warner said. “It’s hard to classify him as a quarterback. He’s just a football player and loves being out there, loves to compete, loves the ball in his hands. I think his mentality and demeanor and the way he prepares feeds through the offense. Guys feel that, guys feel that energy.
“I think from a football playing standpoint, obviously his mobility is really crucial to his game, being able to move around and create, but still being disciplined and playing quarterback. And that’s what we’re kind of just focused on in training camp. He’s a quarterback first, no doubt about it.”
Of course, developing the passing game isn’t solely about Watson.
“Getting that spacing and timing with our receivers and tight ends is critical,” Warner said. “Obviously the mobility that he brings to the position is huge, but I think it’s just the general football savviness that he has is outstanding and it’s fun to coach.”
The Minutemen believe they have considerably more options for Watson this season, including a wide receiver in Joe Griffin Jr., who should present unusual mismatches on the outside.
The 6-foot-3, 208-pound Griffin transferred to UMass after spending the past two seasons at Wisconsin following two years at Boston College. Warner has seen big receivers create problems in the MAC before and believes Griffin possesses physical traits defenses won’t encounter every week.
“You don’t see them like that often,” Warner said. “Just the size, you don’t see that size on the perimeter. The 6-3, 215-pound. There are physical players in this conference, a lot of fast players in this conference. I think it’s what you see sometimes. You don’t see the outright length that he has.
“He’s using that length. He knows how to use his body. He has great body control for a big kid, plays with good pad level, is physical. So he’s going to be a weapon on the outside for sure.”
What may make UMass more difficult to defend is the versatility in the receiving corps.
Griffin brings one skill set. T.Y. Harding brings another. Kezion Dia-Johnson and Dallas Elliott give Warner additional options as the offensive coordinator continues determining exactly how each player should be used.
“They’re different players, so it does help,” Warner said of Griffin and Harding. “You’re not trying to ask Joe to do things he can’t do. And TY can’t do some of the things that Joe does. Kez, Dallas, those guys, everyone’s kind of fitting into their roles right now in training camp and that’s what it’s about is trying to figure out what they do best so that you can go feature them.
“It helps every receiver room if you have another person that you can get the ball to and facilitate the offense in different ways. He’s not counted on to do everything. And so those guys are working hard. I think we’re getting better. And you see that daily.”
The options in the passing game extend beyond the receivers.
UMass returns an experienced tight end group led by Reece Adkins and Max Dowling, along with Jax Markovich, Matt Ogunniyi and Owen Anderson.
Warner sees Adkins and Dowling in particular as examples for the rest of the offense, not simply because of what they can provide on Saturdays, but because of the way they prepare under tight ends coach Matt Layman.
“Reece Adkins is a professional,” Warner said. “He’s in here as much as we are as a staff. He spends a ton of time with Coach Layman. Max Dowling, same thing. They just know how to prepare. They know how to go through training camp. They know how to take care of their bodies. There’s never missed assignments. It’s all physical technique stuff that you’re trying to coach them, which is what you want.
“Those guys are professionals at this point in their careers.”
That experience also gives younger players in the room a model for how they’re expected to operate.
“Having those two cats in the room for guys like Jax and Matt O,” Warner said. “And even Owen, Owen’s been around the block a bunch. So I think they just kind of take care of themselves and they do a great job with that. People look at that room and go, ‘Man, that’s what it’s supposed to look like.’
“You use them as the example of all the things that we talk about from meetings, to walkthroughs, to taking care of your body, to nutrition, to all of that.”
UMass’ offensive identity may ultimately be built around its ability to run the football and play physically, but Warner certainly doesn’t intend to be one-dimensional.
With Watson as the triggerman, different skill sets emerging at receiver, including perhaps the most physically-gifted wideout in the MAC, along with an experienced collection of tight ends, the Minutemen believe they have the pieces to make defenses pay when it’s time to put the ball in the air.
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