Neugebauer calling all plays

After splitting the play-calling duties last season, Adam Neugebauer will take over full-time for the Cowboys this fall.

In his second season at McNeese State, Neugebauer has far more weapons at his disposal than a year ago when he and head coach Gary Goff shared the play-calling job.

“Yes, this year I’m calling all the plays,” Neugebauer said Tuesday after a long morning Cowboy workout in the heat.

Goff said earlier in the camp that this was a natural progression and that he would still have his hands in the offense.

“Coach Goff is going to be a big part of what we do,” said Neugebauer. “Why would we not use somebody with his abilities and experience.

“This is his offense. We will keep our same fundamentals but we will have some new wrinkles.”

That could mean more running thanks to a host of new backs and a few returning guys who are healthy. With five or six runners, a new tight end, and transfer quarterback Clifton McDowell, the offense Neugebauer calls plays for could look very different.

“We want to get the ball to our playmakers,” said Neugebauer. “That is our job. It is my job to make that happen.”

Officially Neugebarer’s title is still Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach. It is the same position he held when he worked at Tiffin University under Goff.

In Neugebauer’s first season as the OC in 2015, Tiffin broke multiple school records on offense, including amassing 5,011 yards of total offense and averaging just under 35 points per game. Six offensive players earned All-GLIAC honors.

“Coach Goff lets me do this and that but he is a big part of the plan,” Neugebauer said. “Yes, it is the same offense but it is different too.”

Over the past two seasons, McNeese has had trouble passing the football. A lot of that was because the offensive line struggled in protection as both the quarterbacks and receivers also had issues.

However, the Cowboys had success on the ground at times, though far too often they were put in third down and very long situations.

“We have to be disciplined and avoid that,” said Neugebauer. “Our goal is to control the chains. We have to be able to run the football and get chunk plays.”

Neugebauer hopes an improved and experienced offensive line can lead to big plays from new receivers like Purdue transfer Curtis Duville. He is also expecting a different attitude from this group of Cowboys.

“We have to come out and attack,” Neugebauer said. “We want to set the tempo.”

It will be his job this season to try and do just that.