Nebraska's defensive coaches have a secret.
They've devised a plan for stopping the no-huddle offenses that have flourished recently in the Big 12 Conference.
Of course, they'd prefer to keep the strategy under wraps.
"I don't want to give too much away of what we're trying to do," linebackers coach Mike Ekeler said. "I'll give you a very generic answer. We're just trying to stop them."
The new system, named "Check with me", provides NU coaches a vital tool for battling no-huddle offenses in a chess match of audibles and adjustments.
Most no-huddle offenses require each player to line up and then look over at coaches. Once the offensive coaches evaluate the how the defense has lined up, the offensive coordinator orders shifts and alterations in hopes of catching the opposition off guard.
The Cornhuskers' plan is to fight fire with fire. When the opposing offense checks with its coaches and coordinators, NU players will look to their own sideline and receive new instructions.
The strategy is to trick the tricksters, and it has a number of NU's returning starters excited about its possibilities.
"It's going to be great for us," said defensive end Pierre Allen. "They're probably not going to know that we can do it, too."
NU coaches began implementing "Check with me" during its second practice of the spring season on Friday. Junior outside linebacker Blake Lawrence said getting comfortable with the system will come with time.
"We're experimenting with it and seeing how well it flows in spring ball," Lawrence said. "We don't want to change too much and put too much on our shoulders that's different."
Conference foes Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas Tech all utilized some form of no-huddle offense last season.
"It's what everybody's going to now," said cornerback Anthony West. "There are a lot of good quarterbacks and receivers, so they're trying to get the ball to them quickly and not give defenses time to get ready."
NU faced each of those teams in 2008 and learned first-hand the capabilities of an effective no-huddle offense in blowout losses to Missouri and OU.
Defensive coordinator Carl Pelini admitted the coaching staff has talked about using the "check with me" system and said stopping the no-huddle requires players who are alert and can make quick adjustments.
"You've got to teach your guys to disguise a little bit and get them different calls and coverages when they start checking," Pelini said.
The foundation that NU's defense established in his first season as defensive coordinator has allowed the staff to introduce new wrinkles to the gameplan. Ekeler said his players' knowledge of the defensive playbook is already allowing them to grasp new concepts.
In order for NU's no-huddle strategy to thrive, players at every position will have to be more mentally prepared for games than ever.
"At any given time, we've got to look over to the sidelines and know the signal," Allen said. "We could switch up to something completely different, so you've got to be focused."
Trying to stop high-powered no-huddle offenses will likely be a topic of focus for teams across the nation as spring practices begin. Husker players feel their answer to the offense is one-of-a-kind.
"I have yet to see a defensive team do it, so we might be one of the first. It could be surprising," Lawrence said.
The team may need to use "check with me" right away, as season-opening opponent Florida Atlantic has been known to utilize the no-huddle in its offense. That would allow Nebraska to test-drive its new system against a lesser opponent before pitting against its conference rivals
It's also possible that Pelini will save the strategy until the team's road game against pass-happy Missouri on Oct. 8.
West said he's excited to debut the strategy on unsuspecting no-huddle opponents.
"I think we surprised a lot of teams this past year and we weren't too comfortable, so it's going to be fun going out and surprising teams with this year."
For now, players will continue acclimating to checking to the sideline and adjusting schemes.
Fulfilling the potential of the system will require confidence - something Allen said he's never been short on. He's certain they've found the solution to the no-huddle.
"After teams see all the success we're having with it," Allen said, "They'll try to copy our style."
maxolson@dailynebraskan.com
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You don't understand my point. First, when is the last time we beat Kansas @ Kansas. Second, they still hung 35 on us at home. The only reason we won that game was great offense and good d-line play. Kansas had a patch work o-line with first year JUCO's starting. Finding three starting linebackers and more consistent o-line play is priority #1 for KU this offseason. If you don't think their not going to give us everything we can handle and more...your not being objective.