Spring Scheme Changes
5 comments so far
March 25, 2009 by
Spring Football provides many things. It gives young players more opportunity to develop. It creates competition for starting jobs and roster spots. It gives bloggers something of substance to write about. Oh, and it also provides coaches the opportunity to try and adjust, augment or improve their schemes. They can try new things, add a wrinkle or two, or sometimes overhaul an entire offense or defense. Based on last year's results, the likely make up of this year's Husker squad and the impending change at quarterback, I expect to see quite a few scheme changes or enhancements for NU this spring, at least on the offensive side of the ball.
A Chance to Tinker
Spring is a great opportunity to tinker. Coaches can install some new ideas, sets or terminology without the worry of it blowing up in their face during a game. If it works, they keep it. If not, they can throw it out.
For the Huskers, this will almost surely include more shotgun and read option looks. It's been stated in many places that the likely starter at quarter back - Zac Lee - is comfortable running the shotgun. We also saw him operate the read option in limited snaps last year. Perhaps most importantly, both players and coaches have talked about Lee's athleticism and ability to run. I doubt that ability will go to waste. I think the QB run game is back with a vengeance at NU.
The Will To Run
There is also no doubt in my mind that this coaching staff wants the NU offense to be more physical. If you look at what NU did in last year's Spring Game and in the early part of last year, it is pretty obvious. The Huskers wanted to line up and mash people. It's a mentality that needs to be established. Everything starts with the will to do it. And, that is not lacking.
What was lacking in 2008 was the personnel to do it, at least effectively. Go look at the tape from early last season. The Huskers lined up in much heavier packages early in the year. Despite their best efforts, the ground game sputtered. They just didn't have the hosses to line up and shove it at people. That likely won't be the case in 2009. Even a quick review of the roster illustrates it.
Identity Through Personnel
Remember the Huskers finally establishing their offensive identity midway through last season? How did that happen? They played to their strengths. They had an experienced and gutsy QB, hard charging wide receivers and a line adept at patrolling space. So, they spread people out, got the ball to the outside, and ran it more effectively.
Compare that to 2009. Joe Ganz and his experience are gone. Enter the inexperienced but fleet footed Lee. Sounds like a recipe for a simpler system and more quarterback running.
Last year's line struggled on the interior, especially after losing Christiansen, arguably their best guard. For 2009, Keith Williams has more experience after coming on strong late in 2008. Ricky Henry is a pit bull in waiting. Christiansen may actually return. Jacob Hickman is a senior center. NU could be downright nasty on the interior.
What about on the perimeter? Niles Paul is the most physical wide out I've ever seen at NU. Menelik Holt is big and strong too. Last year's team was missing middleweights - tight ends and fullbacks. This year's roster is much deeper at both spots. Opposing linebackers and corners need to be prepared for NU blockers to be coming at them much more frequently.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, NU will likely run the ball significantly more because it looks like they have the backs to carry the load. Roy Helu is heavier, and could play between 215 and 220 lbs. If he keeps his speed, that's scary. Quentin Castille is actually 10 pounds lighter. If he keeps his power, that is even scarier. Both sound like they could be more complete backs in 2009.
Inexperience at quarterback, improved blocking at nearly every position and serious talent at running back. No doubt I'll be looking for an augmented NU ground attack in April. And if not, oh well. It's just some spring tinkering, right?
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James moore Mar 25 09
Darren,
I REALLY like the tone of your article here. What gets me the excited is that ALL of your scenarios are not pie-in-the-sky types by any means. All I want to hear when spring practice is done is that Crick, Moore, Jackson and Steinkuhler were healthy, and had good springs providing Coach Pelini with capable, and numerous options to team up with Suh. THAT would get me kind of bullish for next year. . .
Dwayne Mar 25 09
What I like about this offense even under Callahan was its versatility. As long as you have a coaching staff that understands that and plays to that. Pelini and his staff "get" that aspect of it. I think the qb run game will be important like you mention, but unlike what we saw under Solich, it will still be very versatile and very dependent on the ability to pass the ball as well. It's a defense's nightmare to anticipate what is coming next.
Darren Mar 25 09
Yeah, I think "multiple" the word Pelini used about 50 times last year to describe the NU offense. West Coast, Spread, doesn't matter what you call it. He wants multiple.
What does that look like? Well, last year it was a lot of one back with 3 4 and and even 5 WR sets. That's where NU had players.
In 2009, you might see more some 1 back with 2 TE and 2 flankers. Or you might see some jumbo - with 2 TE, 2 backs and just one near flanker. Even in those sets, you can put 4 people in to pass patterns, McNeil and Young will be a bigger factor in the pass game.
So... multiple.
Andrew Mar 25 09
Are there any insiders who can figure out why those 4 players left NU? Never heard any news on Leverson, or Stafford (who seemed like a good recruit). Any news would be good, like any good company, somtimes I am more worried about why people leave they why they stay.
Bill in Iowa Mar 25 09
I think Lee is going to be a lot more comfortable with the z read and possibly the option. I am not saying we should go back to the 90's option game, but I would love to see us develop an option package. I remember even Osborne ran the option out of the gun once in a while. How cool would that be, if we ran both a zone read play and an option play out of the gun!