Quarterbacks coach dishes position updates

Nebraska offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Shawn Watson is entering his fourth season at NU. It might be his most challenging when it comes to the quarterback position.

Junior Zac Lee emerged from spring ball as the top candidate for the starting job, but he's only attempted two passes in his NU career.

Behind Lee, a group of young and inexperienced passers will compete for playing time. Only one of them – Latravis Washington – has appeared in a game, and he did so as a linebacker and special teams player.

The development and preparedness of Lee and his backups will prove vital for a Cornhusker team that will begin the season with high expectations and, most likely, a top-25 preseason ranking.

Watson took time out of preparing for one of NU's many summer camps to talk with the Daily Nebraskan about the progress of his passers.

DN: Are you happy with how spring workouts ended?

Watson: We got a lot accomplished, and I think we discovered some things about every player and at all positions, especially at quarterback. We found things about every player that kind of found a new level. They found out what they have to do, and I think we have a clear picture of what it's going to take. We saw progress.

DN: How important are these summer workouts for quarterbacks?

Watson: They're huge. For the players, no matter what position you play, the summer conditioning program is huge. It's where you get ready for the season. Your durability and strength, which is huge for a quarterback, this is where it gets made.

The quarterbacks need to be, in my opinion, the most conditioned athlete on the field. He has to play a mental game as well as a physical game. Fatigue can't be a part of what goes on in his world, so you've got to be in great shape.

The natural leadership abilities come out of the quarterback position. They have to organize a lot of things because we can't be involved in what they do. They need to take possession of the team.

DN: How do you feel about Zac Lee at this point? Has he shown that he's ready to be the starting quarterback?

Watson: I think Zac showed a lot of things in the spring. Zac's a very confident player, and he's really improved his game. I think he grew a lot and he has more growing to do.

The thing where Zac has changed so much is that Zac gets that he has to be coached, and he gets that he's got to improve and compete every day.

I've seen just a totally different guy, it's not even close to being the same guy that was here last year at this time. Zac has stepped up big and is a totally different player. I'm really proud of him.

DN: How is Kody Spano coming along from his ACL injury and surgery?

Watson: He's doing good. He's way ahead of schedule, and he's a hard worker. He's way ahead of where anybody thought he would be, the doctors, the trainers.

We have a great trainer in Mark Mayer, and Mark's really pushed the envelope with him. He's way ahead of schedule because Mark's pushed him and because he's a willing soul. He's really done a remarkable job; he's practicing now.

DN: Does he have a lead in the battle for the No. 2 job, or is that an open competition?

Watson: There's no clear-cut No. 2, and we haven't even named the starter yet. I think he has a chance, but he has a lot of competition.

(Lee) has both Kody (Spano) and Cody Green and Latravis (Washington), and they all have to battle for depth. Hopefully one of those guys will be pushing Zac for the starting job.

DN: How beneficial was it to get freshman Cody Green to enroll early?

Watson: It's big. I think he has a grasp of how we do business around here and what's expected of our program. We've gone through all those speed bumps with him, which is huge for any player. Coming out of high school, when they get here it's different. The culture, the work ethic and the standard we hold ourselves to are different.

He's now thriving and pushing himself forward and gaining in the weight room. He gets how to condition his body, how to eat, how to sleep – all those things you spend six months trying to teach a freshman.

He's been introduced to the offense, and that's big for him if he continues to study. Cody continuously studies, and he knows this is a demanding offense for a quarterback. He just keeps grinding, and that's the kind of guy you want to coach.

DN: How do you feel about the development of Latravis Washington? Do you think he's picking up the demands of the quarterback well?

Watson: Latravis, his personality is what makes him one of the favorite players on our football team for the players and the coaches. He's always positive, and I think that has a lot to do with how far he's come. He dove into it and had a great outlook on what he was doing and his expectations.

I think he really senses that he can (play quarterback) and he's now learning the details of playing college quarterback in a system like ours. I'm really proud of what he's done, he's been remarkable just in his attitude, and it's taken him a long, long way.

DN: What are your plans for incoming freshman athlete Taylor Martinez? Do you still intend to start him off as a quarterback?

Watson: We're probably going to start him off there. We'll look at him there and look at him at safety. When we recruited him, he was evaluated as an athlete.

He's certainly a fine football player, and we're going to play him at the best place for him to help the football team and make an impact. I doubt he'll be here until July.

DN: Nebraska went after two transfer quarterbacks this spring, Duke's Greg Paulus and Miami's Robert Marve. Neither selected NU, but are you still interested in landing a transfer quarterback?