New faces and faster legs have Shawn Watson tinkering with the Nebraska offense.
The NU offensive coordinator said changes in personnel will allow the Cornhuskers to stretch the field more this season.
But it’s not only Husker relievers who are enjoying the new wrinkles in Nebraska’s offense.
Latravis Washington had to take a moment to calm his excitement when asked about the offense going downfield more in 2009.
“Hey, that’s fine with me,” Washington said, laughing. “I’ll tell them ‘Go get it.’”
The big-armed quarterback said the team has kept a similar base from last year. But with new faces at wide receiver and new tight ends stepping up, Watson said new options will be available for the Cornhuskers this fall.
“We’ve got a good mix, and we’ve got depth with speed,” he said. “We’ll push it down the field because of that. We can make some matches with those guys on the outside linebackers.
“The thing that’s different this year is that we have speed and we can go past those (cornerbacks). We’ll push that ball down the field.”
Niles Paul said the plan for expanding the offense included spreading the formations out, not just going downfield. The junior wide receiver said those changes have included tight ends lining up at wide receiver and running backs motioning out of the backfield.
Paul thinks his coaches may have changed things up because of Nebraska’s success toward the end of last season.
“We saw more opportunity when we went with the spread and the shotgun,” he said. “Receivers were making plays, and running backs were making plays.”
Watson agreed. He said the team found that a downfield attack worked well against the coverage Clemson Tigers used in the bowl game.
Now, the plan is to run past that coverage, according to Watson.
Paul said he was looking forward to challenging defensive backs in the fall, and he would appreciate any opportunity to make a big play.
Menelik Holt said receivers need to build a level of trust with NU coaches to get more big pass plays called their way. With more of a downfield threat, the senior wide receiver continued, the running game will also get a boost.
Holt said a mixing of spread formations will give running backs Roy Helu Jr. and Quentin Castille more room in the middle of the field.
NU tight end Mike McNeill said the running backs will be even more important this year – not only with them motioning out and catching the ball – but also with pass blocking and being an outlet for the team’s new quarterbacks.
“For breaking in a new quarterback, you’ve got to have your check-down ready,” McNeill said. “They’re really focusing on getting the running back out there for a check-down, and so far, they’ve done a good job. “
McNeill has had to make some changes of his own in the revised scheme.
He said moving out wide allows him to get down the field faster, because he doesn’t get held up at the line.
“We pretty much mastered it toward the end of the season last year,” Holt said. “This year we’ve just got to use the new faces and get some of the younger guys along and even some of the older guys that are polished up, because Watson’s really been that deep in the playbook.”
Even with all the added plays and personnel shifts, Watson said he wants to stick with the multiple formation offense he ran last season.
With a stable of fleet-footed quarterbacks and speedy receivers, Watson said it was time to turn up the heat on defenses.
“It’s kind of an experiment for us, and it’s going pretty well – we’re just using talent.” Watson said. “We did it in 2006 with Frantz Hardy and a big guy like Mo Purify. One thing we’ve developed through position moves and recruiting is speed, and we have that.”
davehoufek@dailynebraskan.com
Football team using speed as secret weapon
Published: Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Updated: Wednesday, April 15, 2009
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