Bo Pelini selected Beck. In fact, he selected every coach on the staff save for Gilmore and Watson. I have been pleased with all of his selections, save maybe Cotton.
I think Cotton is almost as much administrator as he is a coach. It's in his title...Associate Head Coach/Offensive Line. Cotton could draw the plays, but he lacks some fire and intensity that's needed in the trenches. In the end, Cotton deferred to Watson, who was even more cerebral.
Watson had control of the offense. Gilmore relayed the plays. Brown and Beck have fire, but they were forced to live within the system we had in the hopes of limiting transition from the Callahan years.
It didn't work.
Pelini has now changed the chemistry on the offensive staff to fit the aggressive style of defense which the Huskers play. Cotton is still an administrator type, but Garrison is the fire that the offensive line needs. We want to run the ball aggressively and Brown is the perfect fit for adding that fire. He has mentioned that he learned a lot from working with Coach Solich, who was excellent in terms of coaching the run game. And everyone who talks about Rich Fisher says that he is very aggressive as well. He will do nicely mentoring the receivers who need to build up confidence after having worked with the robotic Gilmore. Nice selections. Beck has a vision that Pelini agrees with. Beck will call the plays and work with the QBs. And because of the relationship the two share, Pelini and Beck will work well together whereas the relationship between Watson and Pelini always seemed forced.
Sure, there is an element of unknown with every change. But I trust Pelini's football mind. He hasn't let us down. And he won't.
If there is any question looming over the Huskers, it's whether Martinez has the same burst that dropped jaws last year. If he does, and he stays healthy, this offense will be deadly. If not, the Huskers will have to hope that Brion Carnes' spring game success will transition quickly into success in actual contests.
