LINCOLN — The long ball has been missing from Nebraska's offensive attack, but that might be about to change.
The Huskers overmatched their first two opponents with their ground game, needing only occasional high-percentage passes to complement explosive ball carriers.
They have the nation's third-highest rushing average (324.5) through two weeks, and no team has averaged more yards per carry (8.8).
Why not run?
But starting Saturday, one has to assume that defenses' main goal will be to crowd the line of scrimmage with eight or nine defenders. Stop Taylor Martinez, Roy Helu and Rex Burkhead.
That's fine with offensive coordinator Shawn Watson. He wants foes to focus on the Huskers' run game. The result will be chances for his redshirt freshman quarterback to find openings on the back end of defenses.
“I think that goes along with having a good running game, having a good play-action game and having things that you can take down the field with,” Watson said.
And Watson and the NU staff insist that just because the Huskers haven't yet called those vertical passing plays doesn't mean they can't execute them. Coach Bo Pelini hinted Tuesday that the lack of downfield passes through two games is a calculated tactic.
By all accounts, Martinez can make all of the throws necessary. He just hasn't proven it in a game yet.
“We see him do it in practice,” Pelini said. “(We've) kind of been in a situation where we haven't called as much of it. Part of that's by plan. But he's got a big arm. I've seen him throw the deep ball very well, so it's not a big concern of mine.”
Last year, Nebraska had 33 passing plays of 20 yards or more. Ten of those accumulated more than 40 yards.
Pelini indicated that the Huskers are still capable of connecting on those big gainers through the air.
“We had certain things going,” he said, “and we really didn't want to show our hand.”
Martinez's longest pass play came Saturday against Idaho when he floated a pass down the sideline to Burkhead, a well-thrown ball that was caught before an Idaho defender knocked Burkhead out of bounds. It went for 31 yards.
The only other time Martinez threw the ball downfield last week, he missed a wide-open Mike McNeill.
Martinez, aided by his decisiveness when reading coverages and his ability to deliver the football quickly, has been effective as a short- to mid-range passer. He's completing 66 percent of his throws.
But even the best short passing offenses make sure to keep opposing defensive backs honest by throwing downfield every now and then.
The only two squads that have rushed for more yards than Nebraska in 2010 are Air Force and Georgia Tech. The Falcons lead the nation with an average of 20.6 yards per completion. G-Tech is second at 18.3. Nebraska's average is 11.9.
It seems like it's only a matter of time before the Huskers start taking advantage of their opponents' run-stopping game plans by finding guys like Niles Paul and Brandon Kinnie in one-on-one situations. That's Paul's hope, anyway.
“We all know coach Watson is going to call our number one of these games,” Paul said. “We can't wait. ... It's a long season ahead of us, and we're going to have to start passing eventually.”
Contact the writer:
402-473-9585, jon.nyatawa@owh.com
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• Video: The Big Red Today Show, Sept. 15, 2010:
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