Explosive Offense Looking to Take Next Step in 2021

3/10/2021 12:33:00 PM | Football, Les Johns

“For us to be as good as we want to be, we have to be better than we were last year. We want to be an elite team in the ACC.” - Coach Ruggiero

By: Les Johns

The Mad Scientist is back in the lab, cooking up what is next for the Wake Forest Football offense.

The 2017, 2018 and 2019 seasons were the three most-prolific in Wake Forest history in terms of total yardage and points scored. Then, despite having to replace nine starters, the Deacs went out and put up the most points per game (36.0) in program history in 2020.

The mind boggles at what is possible in 2021 with all 11 starters returning.

"I watched our tape and we're locking ourselves in a room analyzing every play from the 2020 season," Wake Forest offensive coordinator Warren Ruggiero said. "We're analyzing our roster, digging through the schematics of it and figuring out the best things to do with the people we have.

"Where are the best places to put these people? What are the competitions that need to happen to make us better? It's all just a constant lock yourself in a lab process for three weeks, before we settle in and go. Then, we will start installing and meeting these kids as we get ready for spring football."

Although all 11 starters on offense return, that certainly doesn't mean they're all locked into their roles as the Deacs hurtle toward spring (and then fall camp). The key to growth on the football field comes through competition, according to the Demon Deacon football staff.

"You're always going to put the players out there who give you the best chance to win," Ruggiero said. "The players know that. It's always fair that they're always competing for their spot.

"We have a challenge in front of us. We have a lot of people back. Last year, you would say we were very inexperienced on offense. Now, you would say we're very experienced. I do feel good about what we have coming back. For us to be as good as we want to be, we have to be better than we were last year. We want to be an elite team in the ACC. So, instead of scoring 36 points a game, we need to now score 40 points. If you want to be elite, we have to be number one. That's our goal and that's our challenge. We're in the middle of figuring it out right now."

The Deacs figure to have great options at running back in 2021, with Christian Beal-Smith leading the way after rushing for 770 yards and five touchdowns a season ago.

There's a bevy of options to play alongside him, including Justice Ellison, Ahmani Marshall, Quinton Cooley and Michigan transfer Christian Turner.

On the offensive line, the Deacs return all five starters plus will finally add Terrance Davis, and the two tight ends from last season, Brandon Chapman and Blake Whiteheart, also are coming back. At the slot position, Jaqaurii Roberson proved to be one of the top threats in all over college football, breaking out for 962 yards and eight touchdowns on 62 receptions — setting a new program record with 102.89 yards a game.

But for a variety of reasons, nobody ever emerged at either of the two outside receiver positions, meaning that will be the biggest opportunity entering 2021.

"That was certainly one of our big concerns last year," Ruggiero said. "Sage (Surratt) left us late and really had no opportunity to replace him. He was obviously a guy we were counting on really to be our top performer on offense. Anytime your top player leaves during training camp, that's certainly not good. We were hoping Donavon Greene would be the second guy, without a lot of the pressure on him.

"Then all the sudden, Greene really had to perform and he had only been in four games the season before. He was inexperienced and needed some more time to handle that load."

For other outside receivers like A.T. Perry, Donald Stewart and Taylor Morin, it was a mixture of issues that kept them collectively limited throughout the 2020 campaign.

"It was musical chairs as we were moving people around every week," Ruggiero said. "It put a lot of stress on those players. We were so thin and they were getting so many reps. We were undermanned at that position. We took a lot of hits with injuries through the year aside from being inexperienced."

Those three, along with Jahmal Banks, Nolan Groulx and Illinois transfer Casey Washington could all make an impact in camp this year and find themselves contributing during the season.

"The good thing is we have six months to get them right," Ruggiero said. "Last year, we had no time as they were sitting at home. If we can get them in shape and where we want them to be, we'll be much better at that position."

Despite all the obstacles, the Demon Deacons advanced to the Duke's Mayo Bowl to face Wisconsin, extending the program-best bowl streak to five-straight seasons.

"Number one, we made it to the end," Ruggiero said about what he's most proud about in 2020. "We played in a bowl game. Other teams packed up their stuff and went home, with no interest in going on. It was a hard year. I don't know that everyone appreciated what those kids went through at their age. It wasn't easy. To make it through to the end, and to prove the season important enough to them to work hard and stick together I think was a huge accomplishment for our program."