Husker offense at least resembles continuity

For the first time since the 2006 season, Nebraska returns both its offensive coordinator and starting quarterback for a second consecutive season.

OK, hold the snarky comments. Yes, the Huskers finished last season ranked 66th nationally in total offense (379.9 ypg) and 104th in passing offense (162.7). You have to think the Huskers will make significant improvement in both areas in 2012. Right?

Junior Taylor Martinez returns as the starting quarterback and Tim Beck returns as offensive coordinator despite pleas from some Nebraska fans for a change at both positions. However, let’s not diminish the importance of continuity. Does that mean the 2012 Huskers are going to suddenly make us forget the Scoring Explosion of 1983? No. Far from it but when a team has to learn a new system there is so much involved as far as the most basic points of the system. That’s not an excuse by any means but continuity is no small advantage.

After watching a year of Beck’s offense, the Huskers are closer to having a definite identity but are still caught in the ‘tweener phase. Under Shawn Watson as offensive coordinator, the Huskers tried to marry the West Coast offense with the zone read and pistol. With Beck last season, the Huskers alternated between zone read, pistol, and traditional option but with the passing game either being too vertical or horizontal.

There was plenty to like about Beck’s offense and plenty of room for improvement. I’m not looking for so much as “Well, I hope we find someone to play tackle,” as much as “I hope our offense does more of X as opposed to Y.” Either is fine, though, if you believe it pertains. Personally, I hope the offense becomes better tailored to fit Martinez’s strengths, or at least the strengths I think he has. I don’t think Martinez has the agility to run traditional option. He’s too close to the line, doesn’t have that great lateral movement, and didn’t make correct reads very often last year. However, when he’s back in the shotgun with more room to spare, his running skills and read skills seemed significantly better. I hope we see less traditional option and more shotgun option.

On the passing side, I would like to see more short routes (7-8 yards). These are statistically Martinez’s best throws. Use bubble screens and jailbreak screens as long handoffs and the long ball to keep the defense honest and try to force the safeties out of the box.

I hope we see more of the diamond formation. This consists of a quarterback in the shotgun formation flanked by a triangle of running backs. It can be effective for a run or pass play. The diamond fits Nebraska's talent perfectly; it seems that whenever this formation was utilized it produced.

It just creates so many options and matchup problems, not to mention the multiplicity of possible changes at the line of scrimmage without showing your hand. I know a lot of last year was experimenting for Beck in trying to find the right combinations with so many young players and a new offense. I think this year we’ll see a lot more of a focus on certain aspects that we
know are/will be successful, and hopefully the diamond becomes one of those mainstays.

In addition, I say keep the creativity as long as it doesn't make the offense too cutesy. Beck seemed to do a good job last year.