Husker Future to Call on Pass
8 comments so far
September 14, 2009 by
Nebraska football established its dominance with a reputation for rushing excellence. Saturday's game serves as evidence that, while the Huskers may resume a prestigious position in college football one day soon, that success won't look a whole lot like the offensive success posted by Bob Devaney, Tom Osborne, and Frank Solich.
That's something fans are going to have to get used to.
It's not going to change.
The forward pass, as a preferred method of attack, has been well established at Nebraska. Coach Shawn Watson calls his plans multiple and doesn't identify his team as running the West Coast passing attack. Nebraska talks of being physical and rushing the football.
On Saturday, however, the Huskers threw much more than they rushed. Roy Helu, the established I-back of choice, didn't run the ball 30 times, or
25, or 20. He didn't even hit 15. Helu ran 14 times for 60 yards. The Huskers only had 28 rushes in 69 offensive plays. And football analysts will talk about Helu's total offense being over 100 yards, but that includes 44 yards on four catches. That's West Coast talk. And just like every West Coast team, the quarterback is the engine that powers the offense.
Zac Lee's efficiency and ability to see the field will determine whether the Huskers succeed at Blacksburg, Va., against Virginia Tech. On Saturday, the efficiency of Lee couldn't have been much better. Lee hit on 27-of-35 throws for 340 yards. Included in those throws were short, middle and long range passes to spots all over the field. He passed for four touchdowns and didn't throw an interception.
Afterwards Coach Bo Pelini praised Lee as he praised the offense. In order to praise the offense, Pelini has to praise Lee. Such was not always the case at Nebraska.
Husker I-backs used to be the stars. Quarterbacks simply needed to learn the rhythm of the option game, when to give, when to pitch and when to keep. What's interesting to note is that the true option offense hasn't been seen for over a decade at Nebraska. Scott Frost's 1997 team was the last Husker squad to run the option the way it was intended. Frost ran effectively, but the Huskers had running backs, like Ahman Green, that were the star players. The fullback and quarterback were just ways to distract the defense from focusing on the I-back.
As time went on, the quarterback became the star of the offense. Eric Crouch was the major running threat on his teams and Jammal Lord, it seemed, was the only running threat on his teams. After two coaching changes, the Husker option attack has faded further into history books, but the quarterback has been empowered like never before.
If the quarterback can run, that's great. If he can hand it or pitch it to the I-back, that's better. But he better be able to throw. That's essential.
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caveman99 Sep 14 09
Nice article Kirt. Your comments about "TRUE" option football at NU being dead since the departure of Scott Frost and TO are well founded IMO. The inside run game was the straw that stirred the drink, the option was TO's version of the pass.
Greg Morrow Sep 14 09
Interesting topic, Kirt!
I've learned to accept the old offense's "passing."
Osborne's last 5 frontline I-Backs were Ken Clark, Derek Brown, Calvin Jones, Lawrence Phillips and Ahman Green.
Nebraska's next 5 were Dan Alexander, Dahrran Deidrick, Josh Davis and Cory Ross. With Alexander being recruited by Osborne as a fullback.
You could call that a drop off.
This multiple offense (in college terms, even Callahan's offense was considered "multiple") has produced and developed about the same I-Back quality and per carry run efficiency as the last five, with Ross doing an impressive job adapting, from and to.
With this offense they're looking for play calling balance. Running efficiency, too. In a collge pro style offense, coordinaters seem to indicate that all they really need from run plays, is an average of about 4 to 4.5 yards a pop. Since '06, Nebraska's been right about there, at 4.3, 4.2, 4.5 and total offense has ranked well, Nationally.
Coaches have to be pragmatic, with their systems. Just consider for example, that Switzer was willing to scrap his amazing "Wishbone" for a pro set when he recruited Troy Aikman. What does that say?
Osborne would've loved to have had Zac Lee and Cody Green. They're very good athletes, playing QB. Had he lost Tommie for good, with the blood clots, his offense in '95 would have been much more "multiple," with Brooke's carryover from '94. Maybe no titles, though...
Nebraska might lose Watson, this year. He's a peach and he looks to be ripe for the picking.
If he leaves, his replacement- Beck, or Cotton, or whoever, will still be multiple.
Pelini knows what offensive systems drive guys like him crazy.
James Moore Sep 14 09
I still sometimes get nervous that split second between when the ball leaves the QB's hand and is on the way to intended receiver. It's been 5 years now but it's still a little weird throwing the ball sometimes. But I'm almost there. . .
Greg Morrow Sep 14 09
Oh, I didn't include David Horne, as number 5. He didn't establish himself as a clear starter in '03 and quickly lost his position to Davis, who lost his to Ross.
I didn't mention Buckhalter, because I don't think he ever started a game over Alexander. I always thought he was better. His career since sure indicates other people thought so.
Depth dropped off just as much. Robin Miller? Deidrick wasn't close to Buckhalter and Alexander, through his 3rd year.
Ty Hughes Sep 14 09
Consider also that with the game well in hand, passing vs. running accomplished two things.
Helu enters the VT game well-rested and not battered. Lee enters the game have executed more of the playbook and earning confidence.
I think the first two games have been coaches brilliantly. Earn some confidence, get the kids lots of PT (even some backups), but keep it vanilla. Then....unleash the hounds this Saturday.
Ed Sep 14 09
We have become just like the teams that we used to love to beat.
Jonathan Sep 15 09
College football is a different game these days. Like the NFL, parity abounds and with that, an offense must be more balanced. With the athletes on defense their days, its very hard to simply line up and run over people like we used to do. The "multiple" offense is surely more pass oriented but make no mistake, you still have to be able to run the ball to win championships.
Grant Sep 15 09
James Moore:
Thank you for your comment. I thought I was a little wierd the last few years as I am the exact same way! Every time we throw, I catch my self holding my breath. If Z. Lee can keep throwing at a 70% rate, I'm hoping that will get me over the fear!