Out of the mouths of babes comes the identity of the Nebraska offense.It appears to be a spread or spread option. That’s according to Birmingham, Ala., running back Ameer Abdullah, who told the Birmingham News that Bo Pelini shared his vision of the future of Nebraska’s offense; a spread option to take advantage of Taylor Martinez’s speed. The article also implied a move away from power football and toward Oregon’s offense.
This is starting to make sense. NU already secured a commitment from Texas scatback Aaron Green, while big back Dontrayevous Robinson just left for Montana State. Abdullah, who hasn’t committed, would give Nebraska more speed in the backfield.
This will raise eyebrows from the crowd that thinks NU has to bulk up and go big, with an I-formation fullback, to win in the Big Ten. But think about it: Former NU defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove had a big linebacker mentality from the Big Ten and he had no idea what to do with the Big 12 spreads, particularly Kansas’ spread and spread option.
Michigan led the Big Ten in offense last year (488.7 yards per game) with a spread. The Wolverines’ problem was a porous, last-place defense.
Don’t know what this would mean for offensive coordinator Shawn Watson or if running back coach Tim Beck, who learned the spread at Kansas, would be more involved. Pelini did not return phone calls Monday.
But if it means the official end of the virus known as the West Coast offense at NU, we can all throw a parade.