Nebraska is 3-0 on the 2011 football season. Things are not perfect, blocks are missed, the defender doesn't finish a tackle, or bites on a play-action pass. Then on a gray September Saturday a light shines on the Huskers and all is right with the world.
Let me explain. Option football is complex and simple at the same time. Offenses are looking for mismatches, getting an extra blocker on one side to spring a play, spreading the defense out and then going inside the vacated middle. Nebraska has the tools to be a good offense and it showed in Saturday's 51-38 win over Washington.
Tim Beck appeared to find an offensive rhythm calling plays. An option look play-action pass on the first play of the game looked beautiful to Husker fans. Visions of Turner Gill faking to Mark Schellen sliding a step or two with Mike Rozier available for a pitch and then a deep post pattern to an open Irving Fryar flashed through my mind. The Big Red hit a fullback trap for 36 yards. Overall 309 yards rushing with effective passing too. Only one turnover and fewer penalties than the opponent for the third straight week. These are good signs.
The defense has struggled with points and yards the last two weeks. A young secondary is growing up. Freshman Josh Mitchell is learning. Andrew Green is being tested, with some solid play and a few mistakes along the way.These youngsters are gaining experience. Leadership is needed from players like Jared Crick on the field and Alfonzo Dennard on the sideline to get through the rough patches.
A bobble on a punt and yet several good returns. Ameer Abdullah shines when he has the ball. Brett Maher has looked solid. So far Nebraska looks like a squad with talent on special teams. Potential is moving to results on the field.
Now the Huskers go on the road. Wyoming awaits. Somewhere Bob Devaney is smiling when the program he took from mediocrity to the heights of college football for most of 50 years is ready to meet opponents he knew so well like the Cowboys of Wyoming as well as Michigan and Michigan State.
No, things are not perfect, but for now, I like what I see from the 2011 Nebraska Cornhusker football team.
Great weekend of college football. Like you I see positive progress in the players and the coaches.
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