Obsessions of a Husker mind: Topic No. 1
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BY BRIAN CHRISTOPHERSON / Lincoln Journal Star
Some might call them obsessions. Conversation starters might be a nicer way to put it.
What we present to you today is the first in a weekly series looking at topics that constantly find their way into conversations among Husker football fans.
They are often things that might seem silly to an outsider. But bring up one of these subjects at the dinner table and soon there will be animated discussion, perhaps a little arm flailing.
Not always but often, these conversations begin out of some fan’s frustration. An example of a popular one a decade ago: Why does Nebraska always run the option to the short side of the field?
Of course, the Huskers did not always run the option to the short side of the field, but exaggeration obviously plays a role here.
Another popular obsession each spring: Will the No. 1 offense go against the No. 1 defense in the Spring Game?
Asked that very question Saturday, Husker coach Bo Pelini said: “It seems like everyone’s obsessed with that.”
Obsessed. Fair enough.
Today we present another Husker fan obsession. It’s one you’ll hear whenever Big Red gives up a big pass play.
Why don’t Husker defensive backs turn around and look for the ball?
Let the conversation begin.
Topic No. 1
The grin comes to Marvin Sanders’ face before the question is finished. Oh, he’s heard this one a few times.
He played in Nebraska’s secondary two decades ago, after all.
Why don’t Husker defensive backs turn around and look for the ball?
Contrary to popular criticism, they do sometimes. But in the heat of the moment, after a big pass play by the other team, this is how the question is often asked by red-faced Joe Fan.
Joe has yelled at George Darlington and Phil Elmassian about this. It’s a safe bet he’ll probably holler at Sanders after some 45-yard gain, too.
But just so Joe knows ahead of time, Nebraska’s secondary coach isn’t telling guys not to turn for the ball. Of course, that doesn’t mean they always will turn for it. The feat is not always as easily accomplished as is believed.
“It’s always been kind of a controversial subject. Everybody has an opinion,” Sanders said. “I know everyone wants defensive backs to turn around for the football and I do, too, being the No. 1 fan of turning around for the football. But we have to make sure they get themselves in the right position to turn around for the football.”
Sanders compares trying to make an interception to catching and dunking a basketball off a full-court pass.
“It is harder than people realize,” Sanders said. “You are running at full speed. You have your back to the quarterback. You’re 30, 40 yards down the field, and now you have to turn around and find where that ball is in the air and make a play on it. That’s difficult.”
Such is life on cornerback island. Errors are magnified there. Not every fan notices what the linebacker did wrong to give up the long run. But most can still remember on Monday the corner who didn’t turn quite quick enough to bat away the game-turning catch.
As Darlington once said of life as a corner, “You’re in a position where everyone can see you, and if things don’t go extremely well, pretty much everybody knows it.”
Things didn’t go so hot for Husker cornerbacks last year. They made only four interceptions and the guys who got them are gone now.
Elmassian — who coached the Husker corners last year — once said turning for the ball while in man coverage was a risky move unless the corner had the receiver pinned to the sideline. His thinking: You look back, you lose your man.
“The old adage, ‘Why doesn’t he look for the ball?’ Well, if he looks for the ball with 5 yards to run on him, the quarterback’s going to throw the ball up the sideline, and how are you going to adjust?” Elmassian said.
Sanders admitted it takes some confidence to turn for the ball, but said he’s trying to make it a habit of his players during spring drills.
“So how I try to practice that right now, I’m a little more forgiving about the position they’re in, but I want to see them turn around,” Sanders said.
“I want them to have confidence to turn around and pick the ball off.”
Reach Brian Christopherson at 473-7439 or bchristopherson@journalstar.com.
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