It's a new year, new system, new coach and new mind-set.
But one thing is barely changing for the Nebraska football team - the offense.
Senior Joe Ganz is back at quarterback for his final year after putting up record numbers in just 3 ½ games of work in 2007.
Returning starters and seniors Nate Swift, Todd Peterson and Marlon Lucky off the line will join Ganz. In the trenches, the NU offense will be bolstered by years of experience with seniors Lydon Murtha, Matt Slauson and Mike Huff heading up the front five.
This means there won't be a big transition from what fans saw against Texas, Kansas, Kansas State and Colorado last fall.
"It's going to be the same besides some of the running and option," Swift said. "The big thing in this camp is that the tight ends have brought their game to another level - the running backs, too. I don't even know who is going to play because they are all playing so well."
Nebraska's tailback situation is providing additional intrigue in fall camp, Swift said.
Lucky has been doing what is expected of him and more, and right now is still seen as the top back.
However, sophomores Roy Helu Jr. and Quentin Castille aren't far behind. Helu is considered to be an equal of Lucky in the tailback attack for NU this fall, and Lucky says it's something that pushes each back harder every day.
"We are all helping each other out," Lucky said. "We are pushing each other in our strive for success. We're all running really well, and it's just about helping each other out."
Lucky said he thinks the idea of maintaining the offense's essential look while adding emphasis on the running game is better for the team in the long term.
"We just took some plays out, but we're running the same offense," Lucky said. "Being a running back, we love the added run plays. (Coach Bo Pelini) loves running it, and that's making us compete for the position even more."
One of the main reasons the offensive plan will stay the same is the retention of NU Offensive Coordinator Shawn Watson. Watson sharpened the playbook at the end of last season, putting up 25, 39, 73 and 51 points in the last four games using former NU Coach Bill Callahan's West Coast offense.
Now the offense is his, but Watson says it's nothing new.
"I've been in this position before, so it's not unfamiliar territory for me," Watson said. "I've done this for seven years, but it's been really fun. Every other day is another experience because this defense we're facing is so good."
In a season where a lot of fans wanted a lot of changes, the offense proved to be one of the few bright spots in the 2007 campaign. The Huskers averaged 33.4 points per game while doing most of it through the air.
In the four games Ganz played in, the Huskers threw for more than 300 yards in each of them. Ganz broke the 400-yard barrier in all three games he started, showing he thrived in the system because he was able to find receivers downfield. He also found himself downfield running on designed - and sometimes not designed - runs.
Having Ganz with a stocked backfield and a bruising offensive line has Watson excited about the potential his offense has for 2008.
"We're always moving the chess pieces," Watson said. "We see football from both sides of the ball, and it's been really competitive on both sides. This year should be fun."
Although Pelini is known for his defensive abilities, Swift said it is still a surprise to see his head coach attending offensive meetings.
"He sits in our meetings sometimes and puts a word in here and there to help us out," Swift said. "I think fans are just going to start seeing a lot of the old game where we run some more options and make more of a running threat."
If the offense is anything like last year's, it's safe to expect a high-scoring attack.
Both Swift and Lucky agreed there will be one thing about this team that wasn't there in 2007, and there won't be anything stopping it this year.
"Expect excitement," Swift said. "The biggest thing is Pelini motivating everybody and getting them up. It's going to be a lot different. There won't be guys moping around the sideline and every game we're going to start fast and every player will be hyped every play."
spencerschubert@dailynebraskan.com
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