All’s Well That End’s Well
Matt Herian and Josh Mueller, the #1 and #2 tight ends heading into the fall, arrived at Nebraska as highly rated prospects out of high school (junior college transfer Justin Tomerlin is another top prospect, but so far he has yet to seriously challenge for playing time). Expectations were high for the pair. Herian lived up to expectations almost from day one and was having a great career before an injury during the 2004 season put his future in doubt. Mueller has yet to see much time on the field in his three years at Nebraska (including a redshirt). Both would like to end their careers on a high note, which could mean big things for the Husker offense.
Reports out of spring camp were that Nebraska will feature a renewed emphasis on the running game. No doubt, they hope to take some heat off Zac Taylor, so he won’t have to take as many hits this season. If the running game becomes a feared part of the arsenal in 2006, there is no better way to compliment that than with a big play tight end.
Fans can look back on the Ahman Green- Sheldon Jackson tandem that befuddled the Tennessee defense in the 1998 Orange Bowl or the Calvin Jones-Johnny Mitchell duo that helped lead NU back to the top of the Big 8 in 1991. Examples abound of NFL offenses propelled by running back-tight end pairings like Emmitt Smith-Jay Novacek, Terrell Davis-Sterling Sharpe, and Priest Holmes – Tony Gonzales to name just a few.
It’s not hard to see why a big play tight end is such a weapon when paired with a standout running back. A good tight end creates mismatches for the offense because they are too quick for a linebacker to stay with and too big for a defensive back to stop. Nevertheless, if a tight end is the only weapon, opponents can focus on taking him away. However, when a tight end is combined with a strong running game it becomes a nightmare for defenses. Defenders don’t know whether to stick close to the tight end or to try and get around him. The wrong decision can often mean six points for the opposing team.
Prior to his injury, Herian had all the speed needed to outrun linebackers. That year the Huskers went 5-3 with Herian in the lineup and 0-3 without him. If he can get back to his pre-injury form by the fall, watch out. Mueller has all the potential to be a big weapon next season as well. As a good friend put it after watching the spring game, “Cody Glenn looked like he was shot out of a cannon”. Not only is that good news for the running game but good news for the tight ends. If the Huskers can field an all-conference caliber pair at running back and tight end, that’s bad news for the defenses on Nebraska’s schedule and can mean a storybook ending to the careers of Herian and Mueller.
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