• Video: Watch a postpractice interview with Husker offensive coordinator Shawn Watson from Saturday's spring football practice:
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LINCOLN — The Huskers' first major scrimmage of the spring didn't change the overall outlook of their offensive coordinator.
Shawn Watson watched his players execute the most basic forms of the playbook for two hours Saturday inside Memorial Stadium. He liked what he saw.
But still, it's the spring. The Huskers are now halfway through their set of 14 offseason practices before the April 17 spring game. And Watson knows there is plenty of room for improvement.
“We're probably right where we want to be,” he said. “We're seeing execution on film with a bunch of younger players, sorting through what a week ago was new has become familiar. It's just a process.”
Saturday's scrimmage likely will still serve as a key evaluator, as soon as the staff gets a chance to rehash the players' performances in the film room.
Watson said units were typically on the field for no more than eight plays before coaches ended a possession and substituted in a new personnel group. They totaled 150 snaps Saturday. Play calling was basic, according to Watson.
No QB singled out to battle Lee as starter
Watson had a pretty bland evaluation of all of the Husker quarterbacks Saturday, presumably hoping that no player is prematurely singled out in an offseason-long race for the top QB spot.
He doesn't want to falsely convey the idea that the coaching staff has already tabbed a frontrunner to battle senior Zac Lee for the No. 1 quarterback job when the former starter returns healthy next fall.
So Watson avoided giving a player-by-player breakdown of the position group's performance during Saturday's scrimmage.
Instead, he said, all of the guys are getting better, but they haven't tapped their potential yet.
“They're all at the same spot. They're all developing,” Watson. “You see them growing. You see them doing the things that I want to see them do, in terms of managing us. We're getting better.”
Reed performing as other tight ends mend
A couple minor injuries have limited two NU tight ends, and the healthy Kyler Reed is already starting to take advantage of extra on-field opportunities.
Senior Dreu Young and sophomore Ben Cotton both missed Saturday's scrimmage with undisclosed injuries, though Watson characterized the two players' status as “day-to-day.”
They might want to hurry back as soon as possible.
Reed, the 6-foot-3, 230-pound sophomore tight end, has stepped in and performed well, according to Watson.
“Sometimes, hardships bring a blessing to somebody else, and that's what it's been,” Watson said. “He's getting better because of reps.”
Receivers called on for more consistency
A few unproven Nebraska receivers are finally giving Watson some sporadic glimpses of acceptable execution, but the NU offensive coordinator would still like more consistency.
Senior Niles Paul and junior Brandon Kinnie emerged as expected contributors at the receiver position last fall and again during winter conditioning. Watson knows what to expect from them.
It's that next tier that still needs to take the next step, according to Watson.
He said senior Will Henry has “had a nice spring.” Junior Curenski Gilleylen makes impressive plays every now and then. Sophomore Antonio Bell had a few catches during Saturday's scrimmage.
Watson's not seeing it enough, though.
“We've still got to develop consistency,” he said. “It's what we're looking for and that's where we're not quite at yet.”
— Jon Nyatawa
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