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Huskers improve running game but still want more
BY BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star
Wednesday, Nov 22, 2006 - 12:17:38 am CST
Nebraska football players and coaches spent the spring, offseason and fall camp pointing at one area of much-needed improvement.
If the Huskers were going to win a Big 12 North title, they said, it’d have to come with help of a dependable running game.
Well, Nebraska enters Friday’s regular-season finale against Colorado having clinched the North. Statistics show the Huskers have nearly doubled their rushing output from last season.
Mission accomplished? Hardly.
Coach Bill Callahan, offered a chance Monday to perhaps brag a bit about a running game that’s gone from one of the nation’s worst a year ago to No. 19 this season, instead expressed some frustration.
“I thought we’d be better,” Callahan said. “As we beat ourselves up as a staff, in the film room, we think we’ve left a lot of yards on the field, at times. There are some reads and cuts and blocks that we could’ve done better. We could’ve done much better.”
Nebraska is averaging 182.6 rushing yards per game a year after averaging 96, which ranked 107th nationally. In Big 12 Conference games, the Huskers are averaging 158.8 rushing yards.
“We always want to go into every game being able to run the football, and for the most part, we’ve been able to do that this year,” said offensive coordinator Jay Norvell, who also noted Nebraska still as room to improve.
Some of the frustration stems from that Nebraska has had times when the running game became less dominant as the game progressed. The Huskers, for instance, totaled 211 rushing yards in a loss at Oklahoma State but ran for only 46 yards in the second half after a blazing start, when running back Brandon Jackson had nearly 100 yards by himself in the first quarter.
A similar scenario unfolded at Texas A&M, although the Huskers managed to escape with a victory. Of Nebraska’s 123 rushing yards, only 43 came after halftime.
“Most of the time, we just have to, like Coach (Randy) Jordan said, keep on our course and finish off the ball game,” Jackson said. “We’ve got to close the door.”
Jackson, who leads Nebraska with 739 rushing yards, said the running backs have yet to turn in a maximum performance.
“We could improve,” he said. “We just have to do certain things. We have to learn how to adjust to certain plays.”
Norvell said Nebraska “hasn’t come close” to having its best game running the football. He did, though, note the improvement from last season, crediting the offensive line and consistency of the running backs, four of whom have run for more than 300 yards.
“Just guys being on the right page, less mental errors, more consistency in our combinations up front,” Norvell said. “Zac (Taylor) had something to do with that, too, with the identification of fronts.”
Callahan said he’s looking forward to the bowl preparation month of December, when coaches will have an opportunity to look more in depth at the running game.
“As we get into the offseason, our backs and staff will see those errors and those areas we’ve got to clean up and get better at,” Callahan said. “It will provide a great incentive for the offseason and for spring ball.”
Huskers improve running game but still want more
BY BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star
Wednesday, Nov 22, 2006 - 12:17:38 am CST
Nebraska football players and coaches spent the spring, offseason and fall camp pointing at one area of much-needed improvement.
If the Huskers were going to win a Big 12 North title, they said, it’d have to come with help of a dependable running game.
Well, Nebraska enters Friday’s regular-season finale against Colorado having clinched the North. Statistics show the Huskers have nearly doubled their rushing output from last season.
Mission accomplished? Hardly.
Coach Bill Callahan, offered a chance Monday to perhaps brag a bit about a running game that’s gone from one of the nation’s worst a year ago to No. 19 this season, instead expressed some frustration.
“I thought we’d be better,” Callahan said. “As we beat ourselves up as a staff, in the film room, we think we’ve left a lot of yards on the field, at times. There are some reads and cuts and blocks that we could’ve done better. We could’ve done much better.”
Nebraska is averaging 182.6 rushing yards per game a year after averaging 96, which ranked 107th nationally. In Big 12 Conference games, the Huskers are averaging 158.8 rushing yards.
“We always want to go into every game being able to run the football, and for the most part, we’ve been able to do that this year,” said offensive coordinator Jay Norvell, who also noted Nebraska still as room to improve.
Some of the frustration stems from that Nebraska has had times when the running game became less dominant as the game progressed. The Huskers, for instance, totaled 211 rushing yards in a loss at Oklahoma State but ran for only 46 yards in the second half after a blazing start, when running back Brandon Jackson had nearly 100 yards by himself in the first quarter.
A similar scenario unfolded at Texas A&M, although the Huskers managed to escape with a victory. Of Nebraska’s 123 rushing yards, only 43 came after halftime.
“Most of the time, we just have to, like Coach (Randy) Jordan said, keep on our course and finish off the ball game,” Jackson said. “We’ve got to close the door.”
Jackson, who leads Nebraska with 739 rushing yards, said the running backs have yet to turn in a maximum performance.
“We could improve,” he said. “We just have to do certain things. We have to learn how to adjust to certain plays.”
Norvell said Nebraska “hasn’t come close” to having its best game running the football. He did, though, note the improvement from last season, crediting the offensive line and consistency of the running backs, four of whom have run for more than 300 yards.
“Just guys being on the right page, less mental errors, more consistency in our combinations up front,” Norvell said. “Zac (Taylor) had something to do with that, too, with the identification of fronts.”
Callahan said he’s looking forward to the bowl preparation month of December, when coaches will have an opportunity to look more in depth at the running game.
“As we get into the offseason, our backs and staff will see those errors and those areas we’ve got to clean up and get better at,” Callahan said. “It will provide a great incentive for the offseason and for spring ball.”
