Offense hits rock bottom

Just when it seemed like the University of Northern Colorado football team was done playing defense Saturday afternoon, Scott Downing arrived at his postgame press conference on an all-out blitz.

Knowing his Bears had just been shut out for the second straight game at home -- a feat that hadn't been accomplished at UNC since 1938 -- Downing didn't waste any time defending his team.

After explaining how being a victim of Weber State's first road shutout since 1966 was a tale of two halves, Downing said the Bears couldn't find a rhythm, "just can't get a break" and that the Wildcats made plays when the Bears didn't.

"For whatever reason, it seems like everybody plays a pretty good game against us and we are going to have to play one perfect in order to pull one out," Downing said. "But that's part of it. That's what we call pounding the rock."

If I were Downing, all I would have wanted to do after Saturday's 23-0 loss to Weber State is find a rock and hide under it.

Weber State is not a good football team.

The Wildcats (2-4, 2-2) came into the game ranked second to last in the Big Sky Conference in scoring offense -- just ahead of UNC -- and second to last in rushing defense -- ahead of, you guessed it, the Bears. Yet, UNC averaged a paltry 1.5 yards per carry Saturday and gave up touchdowns on back-to-back Weber State offensive plays in the first half.

But blaming the players for this loss is an exercise in futility. While the Bears' youth could be used as a scapegoat to explain how they were shut out at home this year after losing by just five (26-21) to Weber State on the road last season, the play-calling is just as much to blame.

Offensive coordinator Dennis Darnell's scheme was simple, predictable and downright ineffective against the Wildcats.

Not only were at least three third-down pass plays called that had little to no chance of resulting in a first down even if they were caught, the Bears' best weapon -- Ryan Chesla -- had only one reception.

If UNC is ever going to win a game this season, the Bears have to find a way to get the ball in the hands of their playmaker more than once a game. While I have my theories as to why the Bears didn't do that on Saturday, Darnell wasn't made available to media after the game to explain.

But Darnell wasn't the only UNC coach who made some questionable decisions against the Wildcats. Trailing 16-0 with 2:41 left in the third quarter, Downing decided to kick a field goal on fourth-and-two to change the contest from a two-possession game to a ... two-possession game.

The only sense I can make of the call is that Downing must have wanted to try and avoid his second straight homecoming shutout. Too bad it wasn't meant to be.

"I'm not disappointed in our kids, our coaches or anything, our support staff, our strength coach, our trainers," Downing said. "Everybody is busting their butt for us. These kids, they deserve a win but I don't know how it's going to happen."

I'm right there with you coach. I don't know either.

Tom Wright is the Tribune's sports columnist. He may be reached at (970) 352-0211 ext. 11228 or by e-mail at twright@greeleytribune.com