Again, it’s hard to say for sure since we’ve seen almost nothing live and lucid from the offense, but we can be sure of two things.

First, what Dana Holgorsen likes to do can sometimes be defined as finesse. Let’s not misinterpret that. It’s not an insult. I’m going somewhere with this. Honest.

Speaking with several coaches who are working with Holgorsen now and who have worked with the man in the past, it’s clear to see his players must rely on precision and timing and similar subtleties that require a skill to conquer the forces attempting to stop them. Finesse is just a good, identifiable word to use. I suppose I could have used adroit, or adroitness, when needed, but the point remains.

And it’s practical for this application because finesse can be a bad word in some circles. It suggests a team is soft and light and not capable of being physical. And that leads to my second certainty. This offense doesn’t like that label. It’s borderline libel. Please, tell Holgorsen or his offensive assistants that their players are not physical. I’d love to hear — or see! — the reaction. Can it top this?

“It’s a mentality,” Dawson said. “When you give the offensive guys the ability to be on the attack, which is what we do, then that’s what makes them physical. That’s running the ball or when we’re throwing screens, but even when you’re pass blocking, you can be nasty. I’ve seen guards get set and have nobody to block and then go ear-hole the nose guard. I guarantee you the nose guard after that play thought it was a pretty damn physical play when he was picking himself up off the ground.”