Zac Lee

[np_husker]

QB Lee impressing with his arm, mobility

BY BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star

Tuesday, Apr 01, 2008 - 12:38:40 am CDT

 

No more watching from the sideline in a knee brace. No more directing the scout team offense, even if he was pretty darned good at it.

 

Zac Lee, at long last, can consider himself a part of Nebraska’s quarterback mix.

 

“This is definitely my chance to get everything down and see what I can do,” Lee said. “I’m hopefully to the point where everything kind of starts to click.”

 

If nothing else, Lee continues to impress onlookers with his arm.

 

“What I’ve seen so far, he’s got a ridiculously strong arm,” Nebraska senior wide receiver Nate Swift said. “He can make any throw. Today, he threw one 50 yards off his back foot. Didn’t even look like he was throwing it at all.”

 

That, Swift said, and mobility in the pocket are two of Lee’s biggest strengths.

 

As for his knowledge of the offense?

 

“I think that’s coming,” Swift said. “They tried getting him into a little bit of reading plays and stuff last fall, which is good for somebody who’s redshirting.”

 

Lee, a sophomore, redshirted last season after sitting out the spring season while rehabilitating from knee surgery.

 

“It was good to sit back and watch and see different guys in different situations and try to learn from that,” said Lee, who was Nebraska’s offensive scout team MVP last season.

 

A San Francisco native, Lee played the 2006 season at San Francisco City College and threw for more than 3,400 yards and 35 touchdowns while completing 64 percent of his passes. He came to Nebraska as one of the top junior college quarterbacks in the nation.

 

Now, in his second spring at Nebraska — and his first actually practicing — Lee is battling incumbent Joe Ganz and reserves Patrick Witt and Beau Davis. Kody Spano, a true freshman, also is enrolled in classes and participating in spring drills.

 

“Obviously (Ganz) gets a lot of the first-team reps out here,” Lee said, “but competition only makes everyone better, and we’re all out here trying to push each other, trying to get everyone better.”

 

Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Shawn Watson echoed those thoughts. He named each of his quarterback backups when asked to dissect that position.

 

As for Lee?

 

“Zac Lee’s a different guy,” Watson said. “He’s going to be in the mix.”

 

When asked to define “different,” Watson explained: “‘A,’ he can practice without being limited, and ‘B,’ he knows what he’s doing. He’s been really good.”

 

Lee said it’s too early to tell how different Nebraska’s offense will be under Watson, who’s in his first season solely in charge of play calling.

 

“It’s not like starting over, but Coach Watson obviously has a bunch of his offense now,” Lee said. “We’re excited with Coach Watson calling plays. We’re going to get a little bit of his flavor in there.”

 

Lee said he spent much of the winter months in the weight room and film room.

 

“I’d like to improve on everything that I do,” Lee said. “Obviously, I’d like to get all this offense down, to where it’s second nature, and just kind of get the feel back for playing football. Even though I did scout and stuff like that, it’s still not the same as really being out there and getting hit.”

[rkhufu7]

QB Lee impressing with his arm, mobility

BY BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star

Tuesday, Apr 01, 2008 - 12:38:40 am CDT

 

No more watching from the sideline in a knee brace. No more directing the scout team offense, even if he was pretty darned good at it.

 

Zac Lee, at long last, can consider himself a part of Nebraska’s quarterback mix.

 

“This is definitely my chance to get everything down and see what I can do,” Lee said. “I’m hopefully to the point where everything kind of starts to click.”

 

If nothing else, Lee continues to impress onlookers with his arm.

 

“What I’ve seen so far, he’s got a ridiculously strong arm,” Nebraska senior wide receiver Nate Swift said. “He can make any throw. Today, he threw one 50 yards off his back foot. Didn’t even look like he was throwing it at all.”

 

Possible he could beat out Ganz or get playing time?

That, Swift said, and mobility in the pocket are two of Lee’s biggest strengths.

 

As for his knowledge of the offense?

 

“I think that’s coming,” Swift said. “They tried getting him into a little bit of reading plays and stuff last fall, which is good for somebody who’s redshirting.”

 

Lee, a sophomore, redshirted last season after sitting out the spring season while rehabilitating from knee surgery.

 

“It was good to sit back and watch and see different guys in different situations and try to learn from that,” said Lee, who was Nebraska’s offensive scout team MVP last season.

 

A San Francisco native, Lee played the 2006 season at San Francisco City College and threw for more than 3,400 yards and 35 touchdowns while completing 64 percent of his passes. He came to Nebraska as one of the top junior college quarterbacks in the nation.

 

Now, in his second spring at Nebraska — and his first actually practicing — Lee is battling incumbent Joe Ganz and reserves Patrick Witt and Beau Davis. Kody Spano, a true freshman, also is enrolled in classes and participating in spring drills.

 

“Obviously (Ganz) gets a lot of the first-team reps out here,” Lee said, “but competition only makes everyone better, and we’re all out here trying to push each other, trying to get everyone better.”

 

Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Shawn Watson echoed those thoughts. He named each of his quarterback backups when asked to dissect that position.

 

As for Lee?

 

“Zac Lee’s a different guy,” Watson said. “He’s going to be in the mix.”

 

When asked to define “different,” Watson explained: “‘A,’ he can practice without being limited, and ‘B,’ he knows what he’s doing. He’s been really good.”

 

Lee said it’s too early to tell how different Nebraska’s offense will be under Watson, who’s in his first season solely in charge of play calling.

 

“It’s not like starting over, but Coach Watson obviously has a bunch of his offense now,” Lee said. “We’re excited with Coach Watson calling plays. We’re going to get a little bit of his flavor in there.”

 

Lee said he spent much of the winter months in the weight room and film room.

 

“I’d like to improve on everything that I do,” Lee said. “Obviously, I’d like to get all this offense down, to where it’s second nature, and just kind of get the feel back for playing football. Even though I did scout and stuff like that, it’s still not the same as really being out there and getting hit.”

[BIGREDIOWAN]

It sounds like we may have a QB race again. However, I still think Ganz is going to get the job next season, but the season after that it's probably going to be Lee.

[husker249]

Were going to be solid at QB for the next 3 years thats awesome

[ironmike]

It sounds like we may have a QB race again. However, I still think Ganz is going to get the job next season, but the season after that it's probably going to be Lee.

 

 

I really like that we're not going to need to be starting a freshman at QB for some time. Once Lee is done, Witt, Spano and whoever we get this year can battle it out. Hopefully we'll get that depth at all positions in the next couple years so we can just re-load instead of going through rebuilding.

[Touchdown Tommie]

It would be nice to have Lee in there....I do like Ganz, but if he starts to struggle, I hope Bo will give Lee a chance. I am not completely sold on Ganz (I know he had a monster couple of games, but it was against KSUcks and sCUm). Competition will bring out the best in both of the these guys.

[admo]

Nice aritcle.

 

I'm not gonna put him in the Hall-of-fame just yet (a Bill Parcells quote), but it's good to hear the coaches and players are impressed so far.

[zoogs]

Actually, it sounds like we are not going to have much of a QB race.

[husker249]

It would be nice to have Lee in there....I do like Ganz, but if he starts to struggle, I hope Bo will give Lee a chance. I am not completely sold on Ganz (I know he had a monster couple of games, but it was against KSUcks and sCUm). Competition will bring out the best in both of the these guys.

He also played against Kansas (orange bowl champs) and went for 405.....the numbers arent scewed. I think he is the real deal

[husker249]

Big 12 qb's vs KSU

Chase Daniel: 284 yds, 4 td, 0 int, and 4 yds rushing

Colt McCoy: 200 yds, 1 td, 4 int, and 13 yds rushing

Todd Reesing: 267 yds, 3 td, 3 int, and 12 rushing

Cody Hawkins: 223 yds, 1 td, 3 int, and -5 rushing

Zach Robinson: 181 yds, 3 td, 1 int, and 109 rushing

Blake Szymanski: 213 yds, 2 td, 1 int, and -3 yds rushing

Bret Meyer: 98 yds, 1 td, 1 int, and 41 yds rushing

JOE GANZ: 510 YDS, 7 TDS, 0 INTS, AND 18 YDS RUSHING

Ganz had the best numbers against kstate by far.....

[skersfan]

Just read on another board that Ganz was injured yesterday and is having an MRI. Not suppose to be too bad though is first indication. This may be an April fools day thing. Time will tell. There were no links to the message.

[hskrpwr13]

Just read on another board that Ganz was injured yesterday and is having an MRI. Not suppose to be too bad though is first indication. This may be an April fools day thing. Time will tell. There were no links to the message.

 

Until I hear otherwise, this wreaks of AFD nonesense.

[melscott62]

I think the real QB battle is going to be next year between spano, lee and witt

[BigWillie]

I think the real QB battle is going to be next year between spano, lee and witt

 

That's pretty much the truth.

 

Ganz would have to tank hard to lose the QB job this year.

[HuskerTrucker]

I think the real QB battle is going to be next year between spano, lee and witt

 

This year is between Lee and Ganz...if Lee isn't hurt, which I hope that is a bogus rumor.