Watson Interview Gives Clues to 2010
9 comments so far
February 22, 2010 by
Nebraska offensive coordinator Shawn Watson was interviewed recently by the Omaha World Herald's Tom Shatel and some interesting nuggets came out. The big one being that Watson and head coach Bo Pelini spent two days with athletic director Tom Osborne and former offensive line coach Milt Tenopir to understand what they did and how they practiced and to get a feel for the development of what they did. If that sounds a bit vague (except for the practice part), understand that that's how Watson described it to Shatel.
The practice reps, situational reps, and the organization were among what they were hoping to download. Presumably to see how they were able to develop not only the starters but the reserves and with a big playbook but managed it with how they practiced. If Watson and Pelini truly crack the code on how to replicate the development and volume of what Osborne's team had, the implications would be huge. You're talking about a deeper team with better execution.
Think back to 1994, when Nebraska had to replace Tommie Frazier, Brook Berringer, and Mike Minter due to injury yet the team still performed at a national championship level. Or how that team could look so different one week to the next depending on what they faced defensively. The team force-fed the I-backs against Missouri then the next week against Colorado they unleashed the quarterback runs, gives to the fullback and passes to the tight ends. Then against Kansas they air it out to the wide receivers. It was still the same offense, but they made it look very different and still executed at a high level.
Watson also pointed to the Holiday Bowl as the blueprint for what's to come. That's got to be music to your ears as a Husker fan, since that's about as good as the offense looked all year against a good defense. He talked about injuries almost across the board offensively that really made it harder to practice, let alone do everything they would have liked to in games. That just reminded us what we already knew, these coaches will never give us the straight scoop on injuries until it's too late to matter.
Watson also addressed the South Florida rumors by pointing out a connection he had there and also with his forthright "I want to be a head coach someday" statement that he'd made before.
Of course, the big unanswered question is why Barney Cotton wasn't a part of the meeting. If it was just Osborne, then you wouldn't expect Cotton to be present, but if the best offensive line coach perhaps in history is holding court, why not include Cotton? Ron Brown could tell them anything they wanted to know about the wide receiver or tight end positions. And Frank Solich probably isn't going to be too quick to come back and talk running backs. But having Cotton present just would have seemed sort of natural.
The fact that Cotton wasn't there lends credence to what we've heard from Pelini and Watson all along. That is, nothing from Osborne is being forced on these guys. Rather, he's available when they seek help. Letting Watson make up his own mind about how (or whether) to incorporate the practices of Osborne and Tenopir is probably better than getting a larger portion of staff indoctrinated with the old school approach. You'd imagine Tenopir or Osborne would be available to Cotton too, if Watson (or Pelini) wanted.
With no green jerseys this spring and more quarterback runs on the horizon, watching Cody Green and Taylor Martinez competing this Spring should be a treat. For that matter, LaTravis Washington and Kody Spano may put on a show. The calendar says 2010, but it sort of feels like the 1990's again.
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Husker MT Feb 22 10
Thanks for the analysis. I think Nebraska is in a great state right now to do this & to let the cream rise. I just wonder due to supposed "lack" of depth at skill positions (I'm speaking primarily of lack of depth at WR & with Zac's injury & untested QB's save Green, hope for progress) does this put the Huskers in a situation where they're exposed early? Meaning if the cream doesn't rise and it's apparent by the first conference game like it was last year, does that hurt is in terms of being able to change the offense as they did last year when needed? Barring injury (hardly likely) does Watson handle the personnel correctly?
darren Feb 22 10
Good thoughts, Steve.
My reactions:
- News of the number and seriousness of the injuries makes the coaches looke like super-star managers and coaches. But, really, this is football. If Shatel asked ANY coach in America about injuries you'd hear the same kind of thing. Still, it makes you proud of the coach's efforts, and explains their choices.
- Well, of course he wants the bowl game to serve as a blue print...it was NU's best (most consistent) offensive game.
- I keep hearing "multiple" over and over. Still trying to define it. I think they mean for the O to be adaptable...capable of changing and adapting to go against any sort of D.
Makes sense, but it still flies in the face of creating or defining an "idenity", in my opinion.
- The offensive line competition will be very, very interesting next year.
- We don't *know* for certain that Cotton wasn't in those meetings. He is not named specifically in the Q&A, but that doesn't mean he didn't meet with Osborne and Tenopir. Maybe Milt drops by and has coffee with Barney regularly...we don't know.
Dwayne Feb 22 10
Darren,
I don't see Uncle Milt as a coffee drinker.
jeff Feb 22 10
Not so fast my friends.
I'm not sold on Watson. He sure loves to hear himself talk and at the end of it you sure feel like you heard a lot about nothing.
If you can teach an old dog new tricks, then I might be swayed but the facts speak for themselves. Watson is a WCO disciple. Nuff said.
Chris Feb 22 10
I Would Like To See More Shotgun Plays
And That Would Open More For Cody Green And The Running Backs
GBR
Bill in Iowa Feb 22 10
It takes a lot of humility and patience to go through a pathetic offensive season and not point the finger at all the mis-fortune this offense withstood. Lets think this through a little: Castille who looked awesome against Clemson and would have been a great 1-2 punch w/ Helu is gone before the season starts. Helu himself is hurt most of the season and simply doesn't play to the level we are used to seeing from him. Burkhead does a fabulous job and sits out the last half of the season. The Qb competing for the #1 spot (Spano) goes down before the season and Lee is nursing a bad arm by the time we go into Big 12 play. The next QB in line is a true freshman who clearly is not ready for the limelight. Burkes is out before the season starts and alot of the o-line is nursing injuries throughout the season. There is very little help from the WR position. Lee clearly is not a QB who can run the ball and his throws are not as accurate as we would expect, Green even less accurate. What is an offensive coordinator to do? Maybe that is why they are taking some time talking to Oz about building depth. They realize, ultimately they have to a 2nd string as good as the 1st string to get through a Big 12 season. Ultimately, when the O got healthy again for the bowl game, they put up 33 points and we were left wondering, where was that all season? Well, it was on the sideline.
teamster Feb 25 10
The Osborne blueprint was to run two (2) offensive and two (2) defensive practice stations. That was unique and was very, very beneficial at building depth. Coach Ron Brown alluded to that when he returned with Bo.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think the NCAA allows as many coaches today as they did at that time? The large number of walk-ons helped with providing the practice bodies, also.
Jim Melton Feb 27 10
I am making a prediction. Based on NU football history, I am predicting Bo & crew are going to win an NC much sooner than Bob Devaney or Tom Osborne. NU wasn't much of a program when Devaney came here. He was a 3 yards and a cloud of dust guy on offense and had good success with it but he changed the offense to a pro-style run/pass offense and won his 1st NC in only 9 years with it. We were the passing leader in the old big 8 but they were balanced offenses because we had a strong running game. Tom Osborne became HC and he switched offenses to the triple option a one dimensional running team that really doesn't have hardly any flexibility. Opponents always know pretty much what you are going to do. It took Tom 22 years to get his first NC. Bo is going to a "multiple offense" so I predict that he will get his 1st NC even sooner than Devaney did. Multiple offenses are hard to defend against because they do everything and are very unpredictable and they are able to exploit a defenses weaknesses week to week. They can be a run 1st team one week and a pass first team the next week and balanced run/pass teams like Devaney had during his championship years and like what Bo is developing keep defenses off balance and constantly guessing. With a triple option team, you have to mold the players you recruited to the scheme. With a multiple team you mold the scheme to the available talent you have that year. "Multiple offenses give you a lot of advantages that a triple option offense doesn't have.
Megan Apr 28 10
i think that even though Suh has been drafted tat we will be a strong team this upcoming season becasue we also have steincooler and our great team.!! :)