Don’t be fooled by the name of the offense or its reputation.

The new McNeese State football coach isn’t limited to one way of moving the football.

Gary Goff comes to town as a gunslinger, willing to fire the ball all over the field. His offense is even called the “Air Raid” attack.

Don’t think for a minute he’s one of those guys who is going to drop back and chuck the ball 60 times into the teeth of the defense just to prove a point.

“We will take what the defense gives us,” Goff said. “If they have eight up at the line, we will throw the ball. If they have eight dropping back, we will run it.”

Watching the first week or so of practice, one thing comes to mind: this is a team that has more weapons than before and is willing to use all of them.

“I like the backs we got,” Goff said. “They are different and can do a lot of things.”

If you don’t think that is the case, look at his club from a season ago. Goff had three players rush for more than 1,000 yards at Valdosta State, including his quarterback.

Deonta McMahon led the Cowboys in rushing last fall with 573 yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 5.1 yards a carry.

“The running game is just as strong as the passing game,” McMahon said. “We are way more confident in this offense.”

McMahon’s work in camp has caught the eye of his head coach.

“Deonta is a lightning bolt back there,” Goff said. “We are going to have to get him the ball.”

Goff said redshirt sophomore Josh Parker has also been impressive with big plays as the running game’s improvement is fueled by a rebuilt offensive line.

A pair of transfers have also looked good in camp, he said.

D’Angelo Durham (Savannah State) and a slimmed down Marcus McElroy (Colorado State) have given McNeese added weapons in the backfield.

McElroy especially looks improved from spring after losing some 15 pounds.

“I feel a lot quicker and I’m ready to go,” McElroy said. “I was a little overweight and didn’t feel right.”

But he said he feels like he can be the big back the Cowboys are looking for.

“I still have the power,” McElroy said.

Durham said he likes the diversity in the running back room, which should play well in the offense.

“We have some different types of runners,” Durham said. “I think we can do a lot of things.”

That includes catching the ball in Goff’s offense, and yes, blocking. With a pair of injured quarterbacks at the start of camp the running game has gotten more than its share of work.

That is fine with these guys.

“I feel this group is explosive and can hit you in a lot of ways,” McElroy said.

Explosive is the perfect word for Goff, who has said has promised his offense will “fire the cannon” in Cowboy Stadium.

He doesn’t seem to care if the fuse is lit through the air or on the ground.