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 6 yards before the (defender) got to him,” said Husker strongside linebacker Stewart Bradley. “I was like, ‘Have you ever run the option before?’ He was like, ‘No.’ He’ll get there, but it was like, ‘Dude, that’s not …’ He’s learning, but yesterday wasn’t his finest hour.”

Nicholls State ran for 195 yards in its 35-0 victory Saturday over Division II Southern Arkansas. The Colonels attempted four passes and were sacked five times.

Expect more action this week for Nebraska’s starting linebackers, who combined for only seven tackles in Saturday’s victory over Louisiana Tech.

“For the linebacking corps, playing an option team is exciting,” Bradley said. “You know they’re going to run the ball a lot.

“We’re taking this game serious. We’re not looking past them by any means.”

LIMITING POSSESSIONS: Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said one of Nicholls State’s primary goals is to control the ball and limit its opponent to eight possessions per game, or two per quarter. He also noted the Colonels’ penchant for attempting fourth-down plays; they averaged three per game last season, he said. The last time Callahan prepared for an option team, he said, was when he was at Illinois and Illinois lost to Army in the Peach Bowl. “I think they threw three half-back passes in that game,” Callahan said. “It comes down to discipline and assignment, and a lot of explosive and big plays occur because of a missed assignment.”

WHO’S WHO: After such a balanced effort in the season opener, does it really matter who’s playing running back? Not to quarterback Zac Taylor. He said there’s no adjustment needed when a new back enters the game. “Those guys all look the same, so when I turn around, I don’t even notice what jersey I’m handing off to, really,” he said. “They’re all pretty much the same guys.” Taylor said he just calls the plays and trusts that everyone knows what he’s doing. “To be honest, I’m not even looking at which guys are in the huddle. I’m just making sure we’ve got 10 guys, besides myself.”

SERIOUS BUSINESS: Nebraska players and coaches only mentioned about 1,000 times Tuesday how they’re totally focused on Nicholls State this week, and not looking toward USC, the Huskers’ opponent the following week. But Callahan seemed especially serious when he said: “The good teams handle their business. We have got to handle our business on Saturday.”

PINPOINT ACCURACY: You may have noticed that none of Jordan Congdon’s kickoffs crossed the goal line for touchbacks Saturday. That doesn’t mean Congdon wasn’t effective in Callahan’s eyes. “We were trying to pin the ball down in there between the numbers and the hash. I thought Jordan did a very good job,” Callahan said. “We can get better, but I thought overall, we did a nice job. You’re always looking for optimal hang time, optimal position and location of the ball, try to pin a return team into the boundary, force them to come to the wide field, or force them to come up the short field into the boundary.” Callahan did say Nebraska’s coverage could improve. Tech averaged 17.6 yards per kickoff return. “We’re just trying to fill voids and gaps and techniques in coverage right now. We’re just trying to be more solid in terms of our leverage on the ball. We have some guys outside of their lanes that we’re trying to discipline a little bit better.”

TICKETS AVAILABLE: There are a limited number of tickets available for Saturday’s game with Nicholls State. They were returned tickets from Nicholls State. Tickets are available online at Huskers.com or by calling the Ticket Office at 1-800-8 BIG RED.

ETC.: Callahan said Isaiah Fluellen (ACL) could apply for a medical hardship but seemed doubtful the NCAA would grant the request because Fluellen hasn’t had two years of medical hardship. … Nebraska and Nicholls State have never met in football … A victory would extend NU’s winning streak to five games, its longest since the start of the 2003 season.