Video: Jon Nyatawa's postgame anaylsis
Photo Showcase: Nebraska vs. Washington
Photo Showcase: Husker fans in Washington
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LINCOLN — Quotes like the following could fill a Nebraska football history book:
“There ain't nothing better than getting up there and telling the defense, ‘Hey, we're running right at you.' And then you smack them right in the mouth and keep moving the ball.”
Who said it?
Dave Rimington from the dominant NU lines of the early 1980s?
Maybe Brenden Stai or Aaron Taylor from one of the '90s pipelines?
None of the above.
Try Keith Williams, offensive guard. Nebraska 2010.
It's been a long time since an offensive lineman with an “N” on his helmet talked like that — and was able to back it up.
After NU's dominating 56-21 win at Washington on Saturday, there are three games' worth of statistics that show the Huskers are running it like the old days, but so far, and albeit against somewhat dubious competition, there is one difference.
Nebraska doesn't grind it out on the ground so much as it sprints right down the field.
The Huskers' three-man ground assault possesses big-play potential on seemingly every carry. Fleet quarterback Taylor Martinez is one defensive assignment breakdown away from a long run. Then, there's Roy Helu and Rex Burkhead, an explosive duo that has capitalized when defenses are preoccupied with Martinez.
And there is the suddenly assertive offensive line, exhibiting tenacious play at the line of scrimmage and effectively clearing openings.
The results have been explosive, more fireworks than one could have imagined from a unit that struggled so mightily a year ago.
“The offensive line, that was the key to the whole game,” Burkhead said after the Washington game. “They were opening up some tremendous holes and they were just making our job easier.”
Through three weeks, the Huskers rank as the nation's fourth-best rushing offense, averaging 344 yards per game. Only Air Force, Oregon and Georgia Tech are better.
What's most impressive: NU ball carriers are gaining an average of 8.06 yards per carry. That's more than a full yard better than any other squad nationally and a little bit more than double the average the Huskers boasted last year (4.02).
Martinez leads the nation's qualified rushers with an average of 10.5. Helu, at 10.3, is second. Burkhead, at 8.8, is sixth.
Certainly, it should be emphasized that the first three Husker opponents weren't necessarily known for their ability to contain running games.
Western Kentucky's run defense was third worst in the nation in 2009. Idaho ranked 77th and Washington 64th.
Nebraska, benefiting from a few changes and a healthy offensive line, has shown the kind of big-play threat it lacked at critical points in 2009.
There is Martinez, of course, whose dual-threat nature requires extra attention. Helu said one Washington defender was assigned to Martinez on every zone read play early on Saturday — something that ultimately opened up the middle for the two NU I-backs.
Also aiding NU is the fact that Burkhead and Helu, along with the offensive line, are healthy.
The Huskers' play-calling can be a little more sophisticated and less predictable, too. They ran it a little less than three-fourths of the time during the final half of the season last year, but many of those plays were from jumbo formations that screamed smash-mouth to defenses.
Through three weeks in 2010, Nebraska is running at the same rate, but mostly out of the shotgun with at least three receivers on the field. But the Huskers have been physical doing that, according to offensive line coach Barney Cotton.
“It's the same blocking scheme underneath the center than it is out of the (shotgun),” Cotton said. “We've been saying that for two or three years. People equate the gun with finesse football. We don't teach gun football as a finesse type of deal.”
So far, the Huskers have won the mentality war up front. Agile and elusive play-makers, like Martinez, Helu and Burkhead, aren't missing their chances.
And the offensive line is having some fun — just like old times.
Contact the writer:
402-473-9585, jon.nyatawa@owh.com
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