In 2025, Utah used an extra offensive lineman in 48% of snaps. It boosted their run game success by 8%. On 3rd downs, it boosted their overall play success by 24%. Former Utah OC and current Michigan OC, Jason Beck, calls this the “Rhino” package. In this article, you will see why he utilizes the extra offensive lineman so much.
Meet The Guys
The main player Utah used as an extra offensive lineman was #49 Solatoa Moea’i. He originally wore #62 and played offensive guard; however, they gave him an eligible number and primarily played him at tight end. He is listed at 6’4”, 325 lbs.
Another OL they used was #74 Keith Olson. Olson plays offensive tackle, but would come in to serve as an extra OL at times. They also put him in a #48 jersey in some games. He is listed at 6’6”, 307 lbs.
The last guy they used was #99 Semi Taulanga. He was recruited as a defensive lineman; however, they put him in an eligible number and made him an extra TE. He would play in a wing, sniffer, or backfield position, and they even threw him the ball a few times. He is listed at 5’11”, 317 lbs.
Better Down Blocks
Gap schemes work great with extra offensive linemen. Instead of asking a tight end to block down or double up to a linebacker on a defensive lineman, now Utah has an extra offensive lineman do it.
Jason Beck dials up a QB Long Trap, and #49 Solatoa Moea’i is going to block down on a linebacker walked down as a 7-tech. He is able to easily wash him down and allow the kick by the backside guard to create a huge hole.
Utah is going to run Belly-G and #49 Solatoa Moea’i is going to get a double team with the right tackle to allow the frontside guard to kick the defensive end.
Box Defenders Get Lost
With bigger bodies blocking in the box, it makes it harder for LBs to scrape over the top and harder for DBs to fit into the box.
Utah is going to run a QB Long Trap, and the blocks by #49 Solatoa Moea’i and the TE make it harder for the cornerback and safety to play the run.
Here is another QB Long Trap, but this time #74 Keith Olson and the TE get a double team on the Sam LB, making it harder for the Mike LB to play over the top.
They Understand Blocking Rules
The defensive front and box movement isn’t always static. They are going to try to slant, stunt, twist, and blitz to mess with the blocking rules. Because Jason Beck utilizes an offensive lineman at tight end, they are able to understand how to combat these defensive games.
Jason Beck dials up GR Counter and #74 Keith Olson is able to pick up the 9-tech who slants into the C gap. Now the backside guard kicks out the outside LB and the wing wraps for the safety.
Kick Outs on Defensive Backs
Jason Beck likes to attach the extra OL to the boundary and motion an outside receiver away to the field. He locks the extra OL onto the defensive end and has the backside guard kick out a cornerback or a safety rolling down.
Utah runs a QB Long Trap to the boundary with a wing, #49 Solatoa Moea’i at TE, and motions away a receiver. The safety rolls down and gets kicked out by the backside guard.
Here is a GH Counter to the boundary with the receiver motioning away and #48 Keith Olson blocking down on a 7-tech. The cornerback rolls down after the motion and gets kicked out by the backside guard.
Tendency Breaker
Another great reason to use an extra OL is because you can catch the defensive in the pass game. Utah was primarily run with an extra OL; however, would occasionally break this tendency with a pass.
Here we have 3 extra offensive lineman in heavy formation. Utah got into this formation to run the ball in short-yardage situations, but decided to break the tendency with a play action pass.
Here is another one that is dialed up exactly like their QB Long Trap with #49 Solatoa Moea’i at TE. But instead of running the ball, they play action it and hit the vertical route from the slot receiver after the safety flies down.
Forgotten About in Pass Game
No one expects the offense to throw to the 317 lbs lineman, right?
Utah motions #99 Semi Taulanga to run the flat route on a Hank concept. The curl/flat defender is not worried about him, so Taulanga is able to catch it in the flat and get vertical for a first down.
Destroy Defenses’ Wills
Lastly, using extra offensive linemen breaks the wills of defenses. Utah had 422 rushing yards against Colorado. You can see in the videos below how badly Colorado wants to get on the bus and go home.
Utah is winning 46-7 with 3:55 left in the 4th quarter. They put #49 Solatoa Moea’i at TE and #99 Semi Taulanga in a wing position to run Wildcat Long Trap for a touchdown.
Up 53-7 with 1:47 left in the 4th quarter, Utah puts #49 Solatoa Moea’i at TE and #99 Semi Taulanga in the backfield to run GR Counter. Defenders clearly have no interest in playing anymore.
The Rhino in Michigan
Jason Beck was asked about the Rhino package during the 2026 preseason, stating, “You know, the past couple of years, so this, the Rhino thing, it’s something that went back to my time at Virginia. When we were at Syracuse, the kid that did it for us, his name was Chris Elmore. But his nickname was Rhino.”
Beck has been utilizing the Rhino package for over 5 years and used it in 444 snaps in 2025. It will certainly be interesting to see how he deploys it for Michigan’s offense in 2026.