Offense
Watson Interview Gives Clues to 2010
8 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...
Will the Big 12 Be a Rushing Conference in 2010?
4 comments so far
February 19, 2010 by
Two years ago, the talk was about all the good quarterbacks in the Big 12 and the pinball-like numbers they were ringing up in the passing game. But things can change quickly in college football and those standout signal callers...
What's 10 returning starters worth?
2 comments so far
January 26, 2010 by
One of the things I actually like about the off-season is the opportunity to answer any sort of question you can dream up. Doesn't matter how inane it might seem at the outset because it's all in the name of...
I Heart Helu
7 comments so far
November 10, 2009 by
This is a post that could have been written in the pre-season, or 3 weeks in to the season. In fact, I have re-outlined it many times over the course of this campaign so far. But his efforts versus Oklahoma...
How to Reignite the Offense
10 comments so far
October 22, 2009 by
In some ways, it feels like the waning days of the Frank Solich era all over again. The offense struggles, the defense wears down, and the product on the field leaves fans unsatistied. That may be an unfair way to...
With Burkhead down Watson's load gets heavier
13 comments so far
October 13, 2009 by
It's never fun to write about injuries. Out of necessity and self-preservation you're forced to take a "who's next" approach and move on. It's much like reading Cormac McCarthy novels: Life is a steady vacillation between periods of triumph...
Rex Burkhead Out with a Foot Injury
7 comments so far
October 13, 2009 by
Bo Pelini just confirmed that backup running back Rex Burkhead injured his foot and will be out for an unspecified amount of time. Pelini said, "We'll be all right. I feel bad for him. He's a good football player. A...
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...
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...
Winging It: Will Slot Runners Be Back En Vogue at NU?
5 comments so far
June 22, 2009 by
Next season, Nebraska's offense is likely to adapt and change based on its personnel. A good stable of running backs, a more athletic quarterback in Zac Lee and less experience at wide receiver makes an emphasis on the run game...
WANTED: A Few Home Run Threats
6 comments so far
March 31, 2009 by
How long has it been since Nebraska has had a true home run hitter? I'm talking a Percy Harvin/Johnny Rodgers type of player who was a threat to score every time he touched the ball. An absolute, unquestionable, game-changing threat...
The Difference Between 5-7 & 9-4 Part 1 - The Offense
13 comments so far
January 6, 2009 by
While it's never exciting to come to the end of another college football season, I will admit to looking forward a bit to this period between the end of this season and the start of spring practice as it provides...
Future Nebraska Offense? Could Mirror Florida Gators
11 comments so far
December 19, 2008 by
This season saw a change in offensive philosophy mid-season. The first few weeks the Huskers looked like the west coast offense of the Callahan years. Limited production and a huge blowout loss to Missouri sent the coaches to the drawing...
Learning From Mistakes
4 comments so far
October 23, 2008 by
The game against Iowa State was the first time that the Huskers adjusted from the lessons they learned this year. Since the Tom Osborne era, head coaches and coordinaters (including Bo Pelini's 2003 tenure) are no longer plowing through with...
Nebraska's Newfound Offensive Identity
10 comments so far
October 20, 2008 by
During Nebraska's win over Iowa State, we saw how playing to the strength of the Huskers offensive personnel led Offensive coordinator Shawn Watson to switch primarily to a spread-based attack. Doing so had major implications for all aspects of the...
Thoughts on the Nebraska Running Game
8 comments so far
September 8, 2008 by
Going in to the 2008 season, most fans were optimistic about the possibility of a revived Nebraska run game. Talk of more offensive balance, depth along the offensive line and a crowded and talented backfield had visions of 300+ yards...
Ganz and Lucky to Continue Success
5 comments so far
July 16, 2008 by
Overlooked last year because of the disappointing defensive performances, the Nebraska offense will be returning with two of the most explosive offensive players in the Big 12, if not the country. With Bo Pelini riding into Lincoln on a white...
Rushing to Victory?
6 comments so far
March 25, 2008 by
Friday’s Omaha World-Herald reinforced what many of us expected which is that the Husker offense will likely feature the run to a greater degree next year than this year. We at the Big Red Network had a lively debate internally...
Rushing Game Irrelevant in Big 12?
2 comments so far
July 3, 2007 by
“Run the ball, stop the run, win the game� is a quote attributed to the NFL’s Marty Schottenheimer that gained some traction among Husker fans. For many years, it seemed like the road to Big 12 supremacy was through having...
Keep ‘Em Coming
1 comment so far
July 2, 2007 by
You can never have too many friends and in college football you can never have too many running backs. No position takes quite as much punishment. Sure defenses tee off on quarterbacks and make some crushing blindside hits. But except...
Mike McNeil and Ryan Hill Better Eat Their Wheaties
1 comment so far
June 28, 2007 by
The Huskers have veteran options at tight end for 2007. J.B. Phillips, Josh Mueller, and Hunter Teafatiller are all battle-tested. But they’re also all upperclassmen. Phillips and Mueller will graduate this year and Teafatiller will the year after....
Where Are the Tight Ends Hiding?
7 comments so far
June 27, 2007 by
I’m the first guy to slam Frank Solich for poor recruiting but in his short time as head coach he landed some very highly touted tight end recruits (Chris Septak, Matt Herian, and Josh Mueller come to mind). So with...
Are the Receivers Really the Strength of the 2007 Team?
1 comment so far
June 26, 2007 by
Coach Callahan said it when he didn’t have to which means he probably meant it. He called the wide receivers the strength of the team. But that was before Maurice Purify’s off-the-field troubles began so it’s worth revisiting....
Wide Receivers Key to Unleashing West Coast Offense
6 comments so far
June 25, 2007 by
Not since Irving Fryar or perhaps even Johnny Rodgers have the Huskers had a receiver that was a major offensive weapon. Sure when you factor in the return game a guy like Bobby Newcombe becomes a bigger factor, but offensively...
Coming Soon: The Return of the Mobile Quarterback
4 comments so far
June 13, 2007 by
It seems funny to think that mobility could be lacking at the quarterback position in Nebraska. But not since Jammal Lord was starting back in 2003, have the Huskers had a real rushing threat at the quarterback position. Since Sam...
Game Managers and Gunslingers
4 comments so far
June 12, 2007 by
If you haven’t heard this distinction before, it’s a good way to think about how different quarterbacks approach the game. Brad Johnson is an example of the classic game manager. He seldom excites anyone with his approach to football, but...
Quarterback Most Important Player
1 comment so far
June 11, 2007 by
A few weeks back, I called the defensive line the most important unit on a football team. But there’s no doubt (and I’m not breaking big news) that the quarterback is the most important single player on a football team....
The 2007 Offensive Line
3 comments so far
June 1, 2007 by
The outlook for the 2007 Husker offensive line is not as bright as those that will follow it. Big-time prospect of 2004 Lydon Murtha gets on the field by virtue of Chris Patrick’s sudden departure. And no one was touting...
Offensive Line Xs and Os
4 comments so far
June 1, 2007 by
Probably because they do so much of the actual scoring with the ball in their hands, much is made of the role and assignments of the offensive skill position players. But, the reality is that effective offense starts up front....
Remembering Jake Young
3 comments so far
May 31, 2007 by
While there’s no shortage of great offensive lineman in Nebraska’s past to look at, Jake Young is one that stands out as we observe Memorial Day this week. Most people know the sad circumstances of the terrorist bomb that...
The Changing Look of NU’s Offensive Line
2 comments so far
May 30, 2007 by
If there was one word you’d use to describe the great offensive lines Nebraska had under Milt Tenopir, it might be “powerful�. If there’s one word to describe the offensive linemen brought in under Bill Callahan, it might be “rangy�....
No Offense to Offensive Lines
If the defensive line is the most important unit on a football team, as I wrote a week ago, where does the offensive line rank? After all, many of the great dynasties in football featured great offensive lineman. The “Hogs�...
Lineman in 2008 Recruiting Class Could Be Championship Group
5 comments so far
April 9, 2007 by
You could say great execution by quarterbacks is a common element among championship teams, but another one is outstanding lineman. Take any Husker national championship team, and you’ll find All-American offensive linemen....
Tight End Production Not Up to Expectations
When it was announced that Bill Callahan would be coming to Nebraska, many of us thought that the Huskers would finally take full advantage of tight end Matt Herian. Things got off to a good start in 2004 before injuries...
The Keller Plan
As an undergrad at the University of Nebraska, I took an introduction to Psychology course on the "Keller Plan". It involved studying on your own (no classroom instruction) and taking tests as a way to easily get an A and...
Huskers Move On at Quarterback
3 comments so far
August 9, 2006 by
One mark of the Bill Callahan era has been the Huskers ability to find the recruits they need when they need them. In 2004, with just a few weeks to recruit he landed big-time prospects in offensive lineman Lydon Murtha...
Winning Formulas
In the option era, Nebraska had a pretty simple offensive formula – rush for 300+ yards and win the game. Usually there might be another 100 or so yards passing, but that was mainly to keep the defense honest...
Playing Favorites
2 comments so far
July 13, 2006 by
While some people might be very deliberate in how they pick their favorite teams or favorite players, my favorite players have usually just been guys that won me over. For example, I began watching and supporting the Houston Oilers...
Running Backs Must Do More Than Run
1 comment so far
June 6, 2006 by
Few, if any, running backs have ever produced like Marshall Faulk did when he joined the St. Louis Rams in 1999. In 44 games over 3 seasons, Faulk accumulated 6,765 yards from scrimmage and 59 touchdowns. That’s an average...
All’s Well That End’s Well
Matt Herian and Josh Mueller, the #1 and #2 tight ends heading into the fall, arrived at Nebraska as highly rated prospects out of high school (junior college transfer Justin Tomerlin is another top prospect, but so far he...
OU freshman Chad Roark to transfer to NU
For the second year in a row, the Huskers have some "found money" on the offensive line. A year ago, the Huskers welcomed Matt Slauson to the fold as a late addition to the class of 2005. Matt "Pain...
Mulkey Goes Out with Class
Grant Mulkey is one of those players that could make a key play for your team (his specialty was hanging onto a ball after being smashed by a linebacker or safety), but in all likelihood won't be missed this...
Lining Up Nicely
1 comment so far
April 21, 2006 by
It's been a long time since Nebraska had a fearsome offense. Not coincidentally, it's been a long time since they had a fearsome offensive line. What happened? Bad recruiting, under-recruiting and just plain bad luck. Rome wasn't built in...
U.H., OK
U-backs? H-Backs? Uh, Okay. Nebraska fans feel like we knew option football as well as an old family friend. The switch to the West Coast offense has left the Husker Nation shaking its collective head trying to get its bearings....
We Need Backup!
Anyone who has ever served in any line of duty knows how vital backup is. I'm not talking about when authorities raid a drug house or are executing a precise military mission. Those operations often start with ample resources...
Slauson is a Bad Ass
Okay, I've read the reports of Matt Slauson being a real tough hoss. How he leads the O-line with is physical play and attitude. And yada yada yada. That is NOTHING compared to the report that came out in today's...
(Back)field of Dreams
You have to go back to the days of Tom Osborne as head coach to find a year where Nebraska entered a season with so many hot prospects at running back. As a die-hard Husker fan, I can’t tell you...
Developing a Powerful Fleet
Despite Nebraska's storied history of I-backs and option quarterbacks, and no matter what Coach Callahan has to say about a renewed emphasis on the running game this year, the fact remains -- Nebraska has a passing offense. Consider the Alamo...
Other Recent Stories
- Crick and Steinkuhler the Next Suh and Crick
- A Word of Caution
- Life IS easy for a boy named Suh...for now
- Early Odds Indicate a Big 12 Championship Rematch
- Watson Interview Gives Clues to 2010
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