Huskers get ready for option attack
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BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star
Nebraska features plenty of quarterbacks with strong arms on its roster.
This week the Huskers are hoping for a modicum of speed and rushing skills from their scout-team quarterbacks, what with Nicholls State’s triple-option offense coming to Lincoln on Saturday.
Brian Hildebrand gave the option game a try in Nebraska’s practice Monday.
“I was joking with him because he was running the ball and pitching it six yards before the (defender) got to him,” said Husker strongside linebacker Stewart Bradley. “I was like, ‘Have you ever run the option before?’ ”
Defending Nicholls State’s run-oriented offense was a hot topic Tuesday during Nebraska’s weekly media luncheon.
Another frequently asked question at the luncheon: Can the Huskers stay focused on the Division I-AA Colonels even with a showdown against Southern Cal looming Sept. 16 in Los Angeles?
“You can’t look forward any week,” said Nebraska senior defensive end Jay Moore, noting Husker coach Bill Callahan already has reminded his players of Colorado’s loss to Division I-AA Montana State this past weekend as well as Kansas State’s 24-23 win against I-AA Illinois State.
“We’re on our screws this week to make sure the job gets done,” Moore said. “It was an eye-opener seeing what happened to those teams. You have to remember that these I-AA teams don’t have anything to lose when they come play us. Everyone expects them to lose, so they can throw everything at you.”
Callahan said Nebraska will spend no practice time this week on Southern Cal.
“I want to be very clear about that,” he said.
Callahan said many a college team has made “the great mistake” of overlooking an opponent and paying dearly for the transgression.
“I really believe good teams keep their focus,” he said.
Nebraska picked up some momentum with last week’s 49-10 home win against Louisiana Tech in the season opener for both teams.
Meanwhile, Nicholls State defeated Southern Arkansas 35-0 before a crowd of 6,735 at the Colonels’ stadium in Thibodaux, La. The Colonels rushed for 195 yards while attempting only four passes. Their two quarterbacks were sacked a total of five times.
Callahan said Nebraska must adjust to Nicholls State’s offensive linemen using cut-blocking techniques — a typical modus operandi for option-oriented teams.
Moore said Nebraska defensive linemen will strive to keep Nicholls State’s offensive linemen from reaching Husker linebackers.
“That way the linebackers can roam free and get to their quarterback or get to the pitch guy,” Moore said. “You also have to take care of the dive because most every play comes off of a play-fake.”
Nebraska didn’t blitz much against Louisiana Tech and won’t this week, either.
“You don’t really want to run a blitz into a triple option, unless you’re crazy,” Bradley said. “One of the benefits of running the option is you basically know what kind of defense you’re going to see. You’re going to play a one-deep safety or two-deep safety.
“That’s pretty much all you can play against an option attack if you want to stay sound, or else they’re just going to gash you with the dive all day, which is what Nebraska used to do back in the day.
“We just have to line up, play sound defense, read our keys, and we’ll be fine.”
Callahan said Nicholls State’s offense is designed to chew up large chunks of time to keep the opposing offense on the sideline.
Said Husker quarterback Zac Taylor, “We’re not going to get a lot of possessions, so it’ll be tough to put a lot of points on the board.”
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com
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