Essentially the same article in the OWH:
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=3918...;u_sid=10447246
• NU football schedule
• 2009 NU football commitments
• On the Web: Big 12 Football
• On the Web: Missouri Football
• Related Coverage: The Columbia Daily Tribune
• On the Web: Big 12 Football Stats
• On the Web: NU Football
RELATED
• NU football schedule
• 2009 NU football commitments
• On the Web: Big 12 Football
• On the Web: Missouri Football
• Related Coverage: The Columbia Daily Tribune
• On the Web: Big 12 Football Stats
• On the Web: NU Football
LINCOLN - Coach Bo Pelini seems to recognize there's a problem with the running game, even if the offensive coaches have been reluctant to admit it.
He expressed concern on Sunday, a day after Nebraska recorded just 55 yards on 25 rushes against Virginia Tech. And again on Tuesday, he addressed the same inept aspect of the offense, eventually hinting that there may be a new starter at I-back.
Asked why senior Marlon Lucky has started the Huskers' first four games instead of sophomore Roy Helu, Pelini paused. "Is he?"
So does that mean that you anticipate a change there?
"Possibly. Find out on Saturday."
It may be the first time that Pelini, who often takes a hands-off approach when the Huskers have the football, is forcing his offensive cohorts to do things his way.
Offensive coordinator Shawn Watson and offensive line coach Barney Cotton made it sound like the rotation would stay the same after they watched the Huskers fail to establish an effective run game against the Hokies.
Watson skated around the ineffective run game question by clarifying that the early 9-0 deficit changed the way he made his play calls. Cotton was asked about the inability to run and he told reporters that he thought they "make way too much of that."
Pelini's take on Tuesday was different, a little more critical and a little more definitive.
"We need to run the football better than we did last week," he said Tuesday. "That's always an issue and always something we want to establish. It's a big part of the game. I've said from day one, you've got to stop the run and you've got to be able to run the ball on people to win championships."
Pelini did say during Tuesday's press conference that Lucky didn't lose Saturday's game for the Huskers, but Pelini didn't go out of his way to offer up any specific compliments about the way Lucky has played.
His tone changed when a reporter brought up Helu, though.
"He gets north and south," Pelini said. "He makes good cuts. He's strong. He does a lot of good things. He's very decisive in his running style. I like that. He gets up and hits the hole quick. He's running the ball well."
Now, Pelini could just be playing the old coaching trick in which he tries to motivate his top guy by opening up competition for his spot.
Lucky, the Big 12's top returning rusher from a year ago, has just 186 rushing yards in four games, 103 of that coming against the untested New Mexico State defense. He had just 17 yards against Virginia Tech.
With just four carries, Helu recorded 21 yards against the Hokies, bettering Lucky's output. Helu's 6.1 rushing average in 2008 is 1.7 yards better than Lucky's.
But Helu said Tuesday that the coaches haven't spoken to him about getting the start or receiving any more carries than he's already been getting. "That's news to me. I didn't know about that," Helu said minutes after Pelini talked about the starting spot.
Helu's 12-yard touchdown run - when he made a late cutback and lunged into the end zone with a defender on his waist - capped the Huskers' 75-yard drive late in the third quarter against Virginia Tech.
It was similar to Helu's 14-yard touchdown run that sealed the win over San Jose State, when he made one defender miss and then accelerated for the score.
Lucky just doesn't have any rushing highlights like that in 2008. Instead, it's been Helu who's brought the perfect mix of power and agility. And it seems like Pelini wants more of that.
