The new 'O' in P-town

PALMER -- This season Palmer is showing a new look.

Traditionally known as a team to live and die with the Wing-T, the Moose have surprised people this season with a shotgun formation and spread-style offense. But with a closer look, the change is not as drastic as it might seem to be. The Moose are like your old friend with a new haircut. He may be sporting something new, but look past the difference and you will find your same ole buddy.

"It's based on a lot of Wing-T stuff, just out of the shotgun," Palmer offensive coordinator Brad Hanson said. "If you understand the terminology, it's the same stuff.

"A shotgun adds a complexity to the same old stuff."

Hanson said he had toyed with the idea of adding the shotgun to Palmer's offensive repertoire for about a year. And with 11 new faces lining up on offense, Hanson thought the 2004 season was a perfect opportunity to introduce the new style.

"We didn't have a single returning starter on offense," Hanson said.

An issue for the Moose going into the new season was inexperience on the offensive line. Each of Palmer's five frontmen in the week-one starting lineup played on the junior varsity squad last season and Palmer's most experienced lineman, Jake Heun, was moved from fullback to guard following the second week. Heun was a reserve offensive tackle for the 2003 Railbelt champion Moose. This season the Moose have not had the luxury of boasting a mammoth set of lineman the program had in the past.

"One advantage for us, we don't have to be so heavily reliant on big veteran lineman," Hanson said. "If we had them we'd be a heck of a lot better, but we can get by with less."

Now a young group of Moose lineman are not exploited by their lack of size and can use their added quickness to Palmer's advantage.

"With lineman, the biggest thing is staying engaged," Hanson said. "Regardless if you are pushing guys, you keep you're feet moving."

Hanson likened the blocking and running style of the offense to the work on kick returns. The team opens up lanes and allys, and Hanson said as long as you're blocking, the

team is okay.

And also like a kick return, the style widens the field for the Moose offense.

"We have always been looking for ways to spread the field," Hanson said. "Get teams out of playing nine people in the box."

Hanson took into consideration not only his young, but quick line, but also a set of skilled athletes who were expected to inherit the backfield positions, when he implemented the new formation for the Palmer offense.

And the skill players have thrived in the offense, improving every week. The Moose have a pair of shifty players, Devon Conroy and Jeremy Weber, who have each played quarterback this season and the shifty back with power -- Steel Tubbs.

While Weber recovered from an off-season hand injury, Conroy started the first three games of the season at quarterback. Conroy proved to be a threat running the ball from his quarterback position, rushing for more than 200 yards in the first three games. Since Weber took over the quarterback spot in week four, Conroy has moved to the backfield and has become a weapon in both the running and passing games. Conroy now has 489 yards rushing and three rushing touchdowns; and 17 catches for 251 yards and two touchdowns. He is also averaging 14 yards per catch.

With Conroy and Weber spreading the field, Tubbs has stayed busy bursting through the interior of the field. The junior has 705 yards rushing, eight touchdowns and is sixth in the state in total rushing.

And with each week Palmer continues to become more comfortable with the offense and improve. After just 167 total yards in a week one loss to Juneau-Douglas and 105 total yards in a week two loss to Eielson, Palmer has topped the 200-yard mark in total offense in each of the last five weeks and has topped the 300-yard mark in total offense twice. All with a group of athletes that did not have a combined start at the varsity level last season.

Considering the improvement of his players and the fun they are having with the new offense, Hanson is happy with the 2004 season.

"Everyone likes to be 7-0 with a hotshot team that is going to the playoffs," Hanson said. "But in reality, everyone doesn't get to be those guys.

"We've embraced doing something different," Hanson said. "It's hard to ignore how much we are improving and how much fun we are having, regardless of record."

It doesn't hurt the mindset of the Palmer coaching staff and Moose players that virtually everyone on the Palmer roster is returning next season. Plus Palmer is still alive for a playoff spot.