Five years after the option, is Nebraska still searching for its identity?
6 comments so far
September 17, 2009 by
I doubt there’s an eye in Nebraska that doesn’t get a little misty watching Georgia Tech pop a triple option for a 70-yard touchdown run. Nostalgia’s a helluva drug, but it’s more than just that. It’s more than just validation that Nebraska’s old bread and butter still has a place at the modern college football table too. In fact, it’s not even about the option at all. It’s about identity.
The triple option is an identity. It used to be Nebraska’s identity, along with the physicality it necessitated, and its absence is all the more glaring when you consider that the Cornhuskers, more than five years removed from the last time Jamaal Lord rode his fullback out before delivering the ball at the last possible second to Cory Ross, are still looking for something to take its place.
I wasn’t dismayed or overly impressed watching Nebraska against Arkansas State last Saturday. I wouldn’t say the sky is falling nor would I say the phoenix is rising as the Huskers prepare for Virginia Tech this Saturday. Rather, Nebraska is somewhere in the middle which is fine when you factor in that this is only Pelini’s 16th game with a still developing defense and new talent almost across the board at quarterback and wide receiver. Of course, there were a lot of ways over the past five seasons to hedge the fact that Nebraska was a pretty good team that did a lot of different things pretty well too. But in the end one simple question has always remained unanswered: “What does Nebraska do well?”
What is well? In this case it’s a handy little bit of understatement. Under Tom Osborne you could’ve said that Nebraska ran the ball pretty well. Actually, that’s probably exactly how Osborne would’ve described his nation’s best running game year in and year out, but to simplify it even more think of it like a calling card. Back in the 80s and 90s, come hell or high water, for better or for worse, you knew Nebraska was going to run the football with success. Since Osborne left, what has been Nebraska’s calling card?
Still thinking? Me too. It hasn’t been the Blackshirts, though that’s why Pelini was hired and the hope for the future. It hasn’t been the offense by design.
Shawn Watson has gone on record a couple of times noting his preference for an offense so multiple you can’t even label it. You saw it at its best—and most unquantifiable—during weeks one and two. Week one Roy Helu runs wild. Week two, with Arkansas State stuffing eight in the box, Zac Lee goes crazy. It’s hard to prepare for, easily adaptable, and a maddeningly unsatisfying answer to the calling card question. What is it Nebraska does on offense? A little bit of everything and more or less it works.
Ultimately it’s winning, not identity, that matters but what role does the latter play in procuring the former? For a good example of that, the Huskers won't have to look far this Saturday. Virginia Tech is perhaps the best example of an identity team out there. You know the Hokies. Stout defense and opportunistic special teams that'll squeeze the life out of you like a python. Using that model, Virginia Tech is 89-29 this decade.
Texas Tech might be the next best BCS option for an identity team. The pass happy Raiders, while slightly less respected than their defense first fellow Techsters, are the only team to record a winning record in every year of the Big 12's existence and haven't had a losing season in 16 years. No matter which approach you prefer, you almost always know what you're going to get out of Virginia Tech and Texas Tech.
You could certainly find fault with those two examples--neither the Hokies or Red Raiders are counting their national title trophies right now--but identity doesn't have to be your scheme either. What do you know you're going to get from USC game in and game out? If it's a big nonconference game or the Rose Bowl and you're the opposition the answer is generally "crushed." Ohio State is the opposite, but they don't lose in conference, something the Trojans have struggled with of late. Nobody's perfect, but certain teams--good teams--know where they make hay.
Where would you, the Nebraska fan, say the Huskers make hay? Is it the renewed effort under Pelini? Better preparation? An aggressive, if not fully formed, defense? Or is it something further down the road?
You usually don't establish your identity in one game, but Virginia Tech, yet again, represents the potential for another high profile starting or stumbling block. Maybe this is the game where Pelini starts to build a reputation as a big game head coach. Maybe this is the year where Nebraska makes a name as road warriors. Maybe the Cornhuskers remain the only team other than Duke without a win against a top 20 opponent since 2001 (1-5 odds you'll hear that one on Gameday this Saturday). Maybe, maybe, maybe.
Sooner rather than later, if Pelini is to meet the already building expectations, maybe will no longer be enough. We're going to need to know what it is that no one can take away from Nebraska, one thing that the Huskers have earned. While the exact answer, insomuch as there is an exact answer, is still hazy, it feels like NU is closer than they were three years ago but they're not there.
Nebraska has some options. They just haven't found one solid enough to replace "The Option."
Maybe this week.
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WyHuskerFan Sep 17 09
I believe they have exactly what they want on offense. What happened to GT against LSU was the same MO for TO's Huskers. Run dominant and can't pass if you're forced to. I believe the identity of NU will be consistently flexible and adaptive. Take what the D gives you. When they adapt to your successes have the flexibility to take advantage of the shift. Unless a defense can dominate at the line they cannot deny everything on the field. General Lee will have to go into Dixieland and take everything they give, and continue to take it and continue to adapt. He has the weapons to do that and so far he's shown the maturity to not force the action.
To me it's the Blackshirts who have to step up a notch and earn that coveted jersey this week. GBR!
James Moore Sep 17 09
Yes, we are in terms of what we do well on the field. Our calling card if you will. But I would also put to you that we do have an identity in terms of a football culture now, off the field. The system and what we will eventually hang our hats on will emerge once a stable football culture is in place. Fortunately we have a football culture re-established, and under the steady eye of Dr. Tom Osborne and Coach Bo Pelini. There's no way you can go through the Callahan years and not do some soul searching. You learn a lot about life sometimes, anyone remember this line:
"Bud, when a man stares into the abyss and he sees nothing staring back at him, that's when man finds his character."
(Lou Mannheim to Bud Fox in "Wall Street")
Well we learned a lot about what is important to us. We will not allow apathy, demoralizing effort, or a failure to compete become accepted staples of our football culture. Everyone is against something. In life that's easy. Not hard to find things that you don't like the moment you walk out of your house. But what you are FOR is much more difficult. THAT requires conviction, character, and self-confidence. What we are for: effort, character, intensity, assignments, and merit. We can use this as the springboard for what will ultimately come to pass (not at the moment mind you but perhaps not that far off):
A physical, intense, swarming, sound tackling, assignment-oriented unit from the Blackshirts complimented by a "multiple" offense capable of operating out of a no-huddle from time to time, with one-back, to spread principles, and ultimately including a very credible under center power running package. On both sides of the ball the advantage of showing just about anything pre-snap and adjust accordingly. We are going to be the team in the Big 12 that plays defense in and out of conference, and hand our hats on that defensive identity first. Offensively it seems that we are moving to a day where we can show anything from a 10 spread to a power running game under center, eventually. . .
caveman99 Sep 17 09
I think the answer is simple and has already started to form. The Huskers have character and are resilient. They will give you everything they have and then some. They don't wallow in self-pity, they pick themselves back up and fight on. This is what the Huskers are all about now, they will give you their best shot win or lose.
darren Sep 17 09
Amazing as always, Brandon. I take my hat off to you...{lifts hat}
Now, to your topic. On an even bigger scale, I think that the football team as a whole is in the fabric of the state's collective identity. And, that is nothing to mess with, as we found out. And, the option was a big part of the team for so long. We came to adore it. I know I still do.
But...it wasn't ALWAYS our offense. Osborne himself created and used innovative (at their time) pass offenses as the O coordinator for Devaney, and early in his head coaching career.
And remember, even in the option heyday (1994) NU primarily THREW to beat CU at home during the 200th sellout game.
Still it is sad but true, the option is gone (though, we've seen some flashes of it this year...) and we will have to re-calibrate.
The new identity will be much of the same, just not in the option packaging - physicality on both sides of the ball - and that is what Pelini hopes to establish.
NU Identity = physical. If we have that, we have something real to count on.
Bob W Sep 17 09
I'm looking for a well-disciplined TEAM that doesn't quit. One that opposing teams Respect as much before the game as they do after. A team you need to schedule the following week off in order to heal the banged up bodies. A team dedicated to working hard for the sole honor of being called a Husker.
That is the Nebraska I grew up with. The one I remember and love. The one I see developing again.
Greg Morrow Sep 17 09
A question.
3rd and 2, whatcha gonna do?
3rd and 3, there's no doubt what it's gonna be. No need to ask.
Something about Osborne's system.
When he played a top defensive team like Free Shoes, Miami and Okie, (before they let Gary Gibbs go) it was high drama on 3rd and 2. Compelling, on a national scale. Usually, only teams soon to win a title could shut the I-option down enough to win the game.
This offense is never going to have experienced seniors up and down the lineup. Next season will come close to that. Pretty much what you have to have, with this offense.
Osborne played plenty of young QB's. Just usually after a redshirt.
Caveman99 mentions resiliency. That's about it.
I thought Nebraska's performance in the '05 Alamo was the picture of resiliency and a linchpin to what the offense would become. (When I still fantasized about a classic 49rs type WCO.)
Unless Watson has found the formula, I think the offense is too difficult to master, within college restrictions.
He just may have found the elixir. If so, then that makes him the "guru" like Osborne was, and he gets snapped up for an HC gig, following the season.
No one on the team knows about Nebraska's past successes, except Ron Brown and the coaching former players Cotton and Sanders.
What these 3 know, regardless of systems, is the process of success taught them by Tom Osborne.
"I began to realize that the process was probably more important than the end result."
That's Nebrska's identy.