Depends what we are trying to accomplish. Maybe the goal was to gain any positive yards forward - in that case, it was a average to poor call. Maybe the goal was to score on the first play - in this case, a slightly better call. Maybe the goal was to confuse the defense for the next play - in this case, ok. Maybe the goal was to set up future games - so the defense has to be prepared for both ( similar to the 2 point conversion by Zach Darlington - do you think they ran that play because it was going to effect that game or a later game? Maybe the goal was to challenge their 4 year starting QB to see what he has - in this case, they found out what they may get going forward.
I know this is a message board and we all have opinions, however I'm shocked at how some try to make our staff look like they are not capable of coaching grade school flag football when it comes to play calling.
You're over-thinking it.
Most defenses line up to stop the run on a first and goal because a rushing play is the statistical probability.
Making a quick roll-out with multiple receivers and the option for the quarterback to tuck and run a perfectly reasonable call.
Even if unsuccessful, it might loosen things up for the running play on second down.
The call wasn't cute. It wasn't gimmicky. It was just football.
And our quarterback made a terrible decision.
The same quarterback went on to make several successful completions with a higher degree of difficulty.
If a coach is supposed to scale the game back so far that Tommy Armstrong can't possibly make a stupid play, then Tommy simply shouldn't be playing.
But it would be pretty weird to bench the most prolific offensive player in Nebraska football history.