Will Lee Continue to Raise the Bar for NU Passers?
9 comments so far
June 4, 2009 by
It was no surprise when Bill Callahan was hired as head coach at Nebraska that many of the fairly meager passing records at the school would begin to fall. In fact, each year since 2004 has seen a new plateau for passers and there’s no reason to think that new ones won’t be reached in the years to come. But the question for 2009 is whether Zach Lee will do it again this year?
The mark Lee would need in order to set the single-season passing mark is 3,568 yards that Joe Ganz had in 13 games last year. That was an average of nearly 275 yards passing per game. But if the Huskers play 14 games as some predict, then Lee would need to average 255 passing yards per contest to eclipse Ganz. Throw in Ganz’s rushing yards and the total offense mark would require Lee to post 295 total yards per game. Ganz is also the man to beat when it comes to accuracy. His 68% completion percentage may be hard to match, let alone top. Then again, Lee was ridiculously accurate in the Spring Game.
Zac Taylor is the single season king of the touchdown pass, with 26 to his name. While Gerry Gdowski managed the most total touchdowns with 32 (only 19 of which came through the air). Both of those seem like attainable records.
If Lee does manage to outdistance Ganz as a single season passer and then goes on to top himself in 2010, he could contend for Eric Crouch’s career record of 7,915 yards of total offense and Zac Taylor’s career passing mark of 5,850. Both would be good marks to go after considering both players were named Big 12 Offensive of the year, and both won Big 12 North division titles (not to mention a Heisman trophy and a pair BCS bowl games for Crouch). Lee could also take out Taylor’s 44 passing touchdown mark. Crouch’s 88 total career touchdowns might be a bit much to aim for in just two seasons, though.
But can all of this be done in the context of team that could rush for 200 to 250 yards per game? Absolutely. If the spread option looks we saw last year become the norm, then Lee could become the type of player that rushes for 30-50 yards per game. While another 220-250 yard passing seems gaudy, recall that about half the quarterbacks in the conference seemed capable of that a year ago. We may be seeing the type of “can you top this” record-setting that’s become the norm at places like Texas Tech or BYU back in the day. Just when a quarterback grabs all the records at his school by putting up gaudy numbers, his successor comes along and shatters them. That could mean good things for Cody Green in a couple of years as well.
It’s awfully early to anoint Lee in this way, but then again will any of us be truly surprised if tallies 3,900 total yards and 33 total touchdowns this year?
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Husker@USC Jun 05 09
Its amazing how much is expected out of Lee. The guy has not even started a single game yet. I would save all or any expectation until 2010. In fact, I would be extremely happy if Lee executes the basics and the other more experienced components of our offense takes on the big load. That means the OL, receivers and the backs need to carry us most of the season. Lets use the legendary Nebraska Option in Watson's spread and settle things down before V.tech.
If I remember correctly, the games leading up to the V.tech game last year were horrendous. Ganz, the offense nor the defense stepped up. This with Ganz starting in 07 and experienced 'star' players returning.
The last thing we need is a big '?' at qb by the expectations. Not good for anybody else on the depth chart at qb.
iggy Jun 05 09
@Husker@USC
Production issues early last season had less to do with Gamz and more to do with a emphasis on a power running game which we lacked personnel to effectively execute. Ganz, Helu, and Lucky all started to show up when we spread out defenses a little bit more and created lanes for the RBs to exploit. We did that and BAM Ganz started to explode as well.
Now while I don't expect Lee to explode I do expect that he will make things 'look easier' becuase he posesses more natural talent than Joe. I'll be happy if he can avoid the two to six WTF moments a game that Joe seemed to attract by his play. He may have helped win nine games last year, but he pretty much sealed our fate in all of the four losses with his play as well mostly by making ill advised passing decisions, (VTech Pick Six, MU Pick Six, TTech pick in OT and OU Pick Six and a few other criminally stupid plays)
Now I don't consider myself a Ganz basher, but let's be honest here. He's nto going to be a hard act to follow. Nor was Zac Taylor when you really look at the numbers. Joe and Zac were gamers, tough as nails competitors, be neither were clutch and both were mistake prone (especially in big games.) Mistakes come from trying to do too much.
The situation is different this year. Zac Lee doesn't have to be a hero, he has a solid line, proven running backs, and the makings of a stout defense. Zac and Joe really didn't have either of those things with any consistency.
In conclusion, Lee is a better talent physically, and he has a better team around him than either Taylor or Ganz. Which would lead me to conclude that Lee will be more than up to what is expected of him.
Husker@USC Jun 05 09
@iggy
I agree with Zac Lee's physical attributes. I guess my point is, I do not want a Josh Freeman or even a Lebron James scenario here at UNL. Big chief, no team, is no good. I guess the same goes about Cody in the years to come.
Your are right, on paper it does not take a stretch of the imagination to assume Zac Lee can put up good numbers. However, we desperately need a full team firing. That means a lot of talented guy need to step up.
Speaking of that, any speculation on who will be the solid #3 RB?
Andy Jun 05 09
Speaking od quarterbacks, did anyone see our new QB commit? A young man from Missouri named...Gabbert. Check out www.huskerpedia.com for a link to the story.
GBR
James Moore Jun 05 09
Andy,
Lol man you beat me to it. I think that we have a pretty good group of coaches who know their stuff recruiting. Now let's hope we hold our commits and continue this momentum. It's hard not to feel good about what Coach Pelini and Dr. Tom Osborne have done in their short time at the helm. . .
throw46 Jun 07 09
As I remember last year, there was some talk about weather or not Ganz would last a season, being that Witt or Lee might take over if he struggled with turnovers. Yet NU knew alot more about Ganz than Lee
at the time.
Now, with no QB competition in the background,( Not sure as to why not) you've got Lee setting NU passing records. You guys also have no idea as to whether Lee has got more talent as a QB than Ganz, or for that matter anyone else in a College football game.
How about a game or two, even non conference, before going off the deep end?
throw46 Jun 07 09
As I remember last year, there was some talk about weather or not Ganz would last a season, being that Witt or Lee might take over if he struggled with turnovers. Yet NU knew alot more about Ganz than Lee
at the time.
Now, with no QB competition in the background,( not sure as to why not) you've got Lee setting NU passing records. You guys also have no idea as to whether Lee has got more talent as a QB than Ganz, or for that matter anyone else, in a College football game.
How about a game or two, even non conference, before going off the deep end?
iggy Jun 08 09
@USC... #3... hmmmm... I'm going on a limb and saying the Burkhead will surprise some folks. I think his utility will get him some looks in fall camp and that he'll contribute in a meaningful fashion later in the season. I would also say that barring injury it will be the Helu & Castille show (especially early in the year) I think those two will split the majority of the meaningful carries.
@46.... In my post I said he Lee was more gifted athletically, IE can run more effectively (Never really like Ganz's upright running style and I was always worried someone was going to break him in half when he ran.) and also I beleive Lee has a more lively arm and (based on the spring game) a better touch with the ball. Take nothing from Ganz, that guy had moments of brilliance, I'm simply saying that Lee has more (better) tools to work with and that leads me to conclude that with his spring game performance, Witt's apprehension and then subsequent departure, Watson's tutelage for the last two years, and the fact that he won't be expected to be superman that we can expect Lee to get the job done for NU this fall.
HuskerFaithful1 Jun 09 09
Well put iggy. I think the only thing that will limit mass potential from Lee is the unknown dreaded injury factor. I'm not projecting any injury I am just asking, "How risky will the Huskers be with the play style of Lee?" Especially with the semi-uncertainty of who will be backing him up. I expect that he will play conservative but not by his own choice. Let us not forget that the reason QB's like Frazier, Crouch, Taylor, and Ganz looked good is because they could take a hit and get back up. We have yet to see that from Lee, more talented or not.