If it seemed like the Nebraska offense was just a little off on Saturday night, it was probably because they were. But being just a little off still produced nearly 500 yards of total offense as NU quarterback Joe Ganz threw for 345 yards on just 20 completions.
To say the least, Ganz was positive about Nebraska's season-opening win.
"It felt real good until the fourth quarter," Ganz said. "I thought it went real well, but I will just have to look at the mistakes and get better off it."
These sorts of words aren't typically heard from a quarterback that threw for almost 350 yards, but most of the quarterback's attention was focused on two fourth quarter interceptions that are certain to loom in his mind until the next week's game.
The two picks might be the only poor stats of the evening, as the NU offense lit up the Western Michigan defense primarily through the air. The Cornhusker aerial attack wasn't to just one receiver, either. Four receivers had at least three catches, but all were led by senior Nate Swift, who reeled in five grabs for 121 yards.
It was an offense that many Husker fans may have expected, considering the offensive explosions showcased by the Big Red in the final four games. NU Coach Bo Pelini said it's an offense that starts and sometimes ends with the man under center.
"I think (Joe) had them off-balance early," Pelini said. "You better have a quarterback that knows what he's doing. We came out in a lot of different ways, and I think that's why we had so much success."
It was the mobility of the senior quarterback that caught the Western Michigan defense off guard as Ganz was able to rush for 47 yards on just six rush attempts. Ganz says a lot of that is with credit due to big men up front.
"I felt real comfortable (running)," Ganz said. "(The protection) was great. It was awesome to see two young guys out there. It was real inspiring to see those guys go out and play the way they did."
Ganz should be preaching his offensive line as the hogmollies didn't allow even one WMU sack. The Bronco offensive line can't get close to that statement, as the NU defense was able to collect four sacks on the night.
The Huskers were able to run out to a quick 17-0 lead before WMU found an answer. When the Bronco's put up points, so did NU. Western Michigan would cut the lead to 27-10, but less than a minute later, the Huskers were up 34-10.
The quick-strike capabilities of the offense have Ganz and the rest of the offense salivating over the potential it has in 2008.
"We worked on the 2-minute drill a lot this fall," Ganz said. "We knew we had to have an answer and we went out there and did it."
The Huskers not only answered every WMU score with a score of its own, but Saturday night marked the sixth-consecutive game NU has gained over 400 yards of offense.
In a season of changes, the Husker offensive attack might be one of the few consistencies as NU gets ready to take on San Jose State on Saturday. The Spartan defense held UC Davis to just 254 total yards of offense while showcasing a stifling run defense that held UC Davis to just 61 yards on the ground.
The rushing attack might be one of the main concerns as the Huskers head into its second game of the season. No Nebraska rusher gained more than 60 yards, but as a team, NU put up 138 yards on the ground in the season debut.
Pelini said every team knows a solid offense always starts with the ground game.
"You have to be able to stop the run to have a chance to win," Pelini said. "(Western Michigan) understands that. We will have to get better."
It is up in the air of how NU will choose to attack the Spartans of San Jose State come Saturday, but if the last six Husker football games have any foreshadowing powers, the Husker faithful will be hoping for another big offensive day out of Ganz and the Husker offense.
Pelini said what was on the field Saturday night against the Broncos was not a finished product, and most would assume the following Saturday should be a little bit closer to that goal.
"Overall we played with great effort," Pelini said. "It's now our job as coaches and players to come together and get some things fixed. Very few teams come into an opener and play perfect. That's why it's called an opener."
spencerschubert@dailynebraskan.com
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