Posted: Friday, September 16, 2005 7:00 pm
Bill Callahan cried foul on comparing what his team does against Pittsburgh today to how Ohio and the man who preceded him at Nebraska, Frank Solich, handled the Panthers last week.
Can’t say I fault the guy for that stance — since Solich’s club posted a 16-10 overtime win that arguably was the biggest thing to ever hit Athens, Ohio.
On top of keeping his fingers crossed that this will be the day the Huskers’ offense finally loses its backfire and starts humming, Callahan has to expect that a cornered, 0-2 Pitt club will come out a little more geared up than it was last Friday.
And so, yeah, I agree with the guy. It’s unfair to compare the results.
But you know what they say about life in the fish bowl being fair, right?
So here’s another comparison that Callahan probably isn’t going to like. This team looks strikingly similar to the one Solich had in his fateful final season of 2003 (Of course, if Nebraska was to finish 10-3 like it did two years ago, it will be minus complaints from athletic director Steve Pederson.).
Short of major cosmetic surgery, we know Nebraska’s offense will lack a “Desperate Housewives” sex appeal that causes happily married men to sneak second looks in passing.
Watching the Huskers operate Callahan’s West Coast system is about as Hollywood easy on the eyes as Mrs. Doubtfire. On the babe-o-rama scale, the Huskers’ offense rates a 99 — as in where it ranks nationally in total yardage.
Even after facing two mediocre defenses, the Huskers are averaging just 273.5 yards per game and 3.9 per play. That’s nowhere close to where they were two games into the 2003 season, when the numbers were 375.5 yards a contest and 4.6 a play. That team would end up averaging 345 yards a game, the lowest output at NU since 1968.
I wonder if Callahan would consider 345 yards for the ’05 Huskers progress?
“We only made two plays last week over 15 yards, and that’s not enough for this offense,” said offensive coordinator Jay Norvell.
So what is, exactly? Five? 10? And should anyone really expect that from this unit?
“Our players understand they have to get better in order for us to get to where we want to go,” Callahan said. “But I can’t make any prediction as to whether it’s going to break out. Every game is different and every defense is different. We just want to become consistent and efficient enough to put points on the board. That’s all that matters.”
What will end up mattering more to the Huskers if they don’t find that consistency is the fact most of their opponents are fighting the same problem.
Only three teams on the schedule rank in the top 40 nationally in total offense. Texas Tech and Missouri are Nos. 1 and 3, respectively. But just as glaring is Pittsburgh being 95th, Iowa State 71st, Oklahoma 109th (yes, really) and Kansas State 68th.
Maybe that vastly improved defense will be all Nebraska needs to make a run at the Big 12 North title?
“They’re working out the kinks right now just like any other offense in the nation is,” linebacker Corey McKeon suggested. “That offensive line has some tough guys. As long as they stick together, I think they’re going to be fine.”
In case they’re not, the Blackshirts should be prepared to keep carrying the load — like they did two years ago.
That team was fueled by a swarming band that limited Oklahoma State and Utah State to an average of 210.5 yards in the first two games, finished No. 11 nationally at 297.2 and No. 2 in average points allowed.
It also tied a school record by coming up with 47 turnovers.
This year, Kevin Cosgrove’s troops rank No. 6 in total defense at 196 yards per game. They also have six takeaways and have delivered four of them into the end zone. If Callahan’s offense can keep ball security from being a major issue (remember, it went from five turnovers in the opener to one last week against Wake Forest), Cosgrove could wind up being as popular as Bo Pelini.
I’m not saying that’ll make you wild about this team. I’m not wild about it at the moment. But I could see how it could grow on a lot of folks. Just like Solich in 2003, Callahan has enough going on in 2005 to make me think the Huskers will have a decent shot of winning most every week.
Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@journalstar.com.