HuskerfaninOkieland
Heisman Trophy Winner
Omaha World Herald
Huskers are confident in plan of the man upstairs
BY RICH KAIPUST
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU
LINCOLN - It's been three seasons since Shawn Watson last called plays, a long time to be away from something so unique in the college football coaching ranks.
The Nebraska offensive coordinator should be reinvigorated, recharged, or something to that effect.
"I probably am, but I don't realize it," Watson said. "That's the best way to put it."
Watson will call the game Saturday night when Nebraska plays host to Western Michigan at Memorial Stadium. High up in the press box where the third-year Husker assistant can see it all.
"I think it's something like he was made to do," NU offensive guard Matt Slauson said.
Slauson and quarterback Joe Ganz said Watson has a good feel for calling plays. Where former NU head coach Bill Callahan relied heavily on what his charts told him, Watson maybe goes a little more on gut and instinct.
One thing Slauson foresees is a better balance coming from the Nebraska offense after the Huskers threw it more than they ran it in both 2007 and 2005.
"Just a more balanced game that's a little less expected, that's less tendencies," Slauson said. "We're going to line up and smash guys, and if it works we're going to keep on going with it. But we're also going to be able to surprise guys in certain sets."
Ganz said he likes Watson's "ability to be multiple without being confusing."
"We do a lot of different formations, a lot of different movements and looks, but basically it's the same core play," Ganz said. "It would have been a lot easier for me coming up if I would have had that kind of system to learn than the old one, but . . . "
"It helps out the younger guys. It helps them to play faster so they don't have to think so much."
Callahan handled the NU play-calling all four seasons as head coach, including a year ago after Watson was elevated from tight ends coach to offensive coordinator to replace Jay Norvell. The exception was the first half of an October game against Texas A&M - when the Huskers produced 284 total yards and a pair of scores - before Callahan reclaimed those duties shortly after halftime.
Previously, Watson had handled all the play-calling at Colorado under Gary Barnett from 2000 through 2005.
"I don't really understand play-calling and what situations to call what, just because I've never done that," Slauson said. "I don't know how to do any of that. But all I know is he's the best.
"He is really good at calling situational ball. We go over everything we can possibly go over throughout the week, and his precision in that is amazing."
Ganz liked having Watson on the field, for communication purposes, when he started the Huskers' final three games of 2007. But Watson wasn't calling plays then and Ganz said he understands how Watson sees things better from above.
"He's going to do what's best for us," Ganz said.
Watson, 48, said how he sees things on game day is the result of a week's work by not only the offensive coordinator, but the offensive staff.
"If the plan is right, you should be in good shape," he said. "Then it's being able to make the adjustments that need to be made."
Watson also is quick to say that calling plays is only part of the job.
"I think certain people have a good feel for calling plays, but I think being a good coordinator is a lot of different things," he said. "You have to be good organizationally. You have to be able to develop a plan that's multiple and has a wide scope, but yet is simple and streamlined enough that your plays can execute it. And then you have to create an environment where your coaches can coach and your coaches can add input."
Huskers are confident in plan of the man upstairs
BY RICH KAIPUST
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU
LINCOLN - It's been three seasons since Shawn Watson last called plays, a long time to be away from something so unique in the college football coaching ranks.
The Nebraska offensive coordinator should be reinvigorated, recharged, or something to that effect.
"I probably am, but I don't realize it," Watson said. "That's the best way to put it."
Watson will call the game Saturday night when Nebraska plays host to Western Michigan at Memorial Stadium. High up in the press box where the third-year Husker assistant can see it all.
"I think it's something like he was made to do," NU offensive guard Matt Slauson said.
Slauson and quarterback Joe Ganz said Watson has a good feel for calling plays. Where former NU head coach Bill Callahan relied heavily on what his charts told him, Watson maybe goes a little more on gut and instinct.
One thing Slauson foresees is a better balance coming from the Nebraska offense after the Huskers threw it more than they ran it in both 2007 and 2005.
"Just a more balanced game that's a little less expected, that's less tendencies," Slauson said. "We're going to line up and smash guys, and if it works we're going to keep on going with it. But we're also going to be able to surprise guys in certain sets."
Ganz said he likes Watson's "ability to be multiple without being confusing."
"We do a lot of different formations, a lot of different movements and looks, but basically it's the same core play," Ganz said. "It would have been a lot easier for me coming up if I would have had that kind of system to learn than the old one, but . . . "
"It helps out the younger guys. It helps them to play faster so they don't have to think so much."
Callahan handled the NU play-calling all four seasons as head coach, including a year ago after Watson was elevated from tight ends coach to offensive coordinator to replace Jay Norvell. The exception was the first half of an October game against Texas A&M - when the Huskers produced 284 total yards and a pair of scores - before Callahan reclaimed those duties shortly after halftime.
Previously, Watson had handled all the play-calling at Colorado under Gary Barnett from 2000 through 2005.
"I don't really understand play-calling and what situations to call what, just because I've never done that," Slauson said. "I don't know how to do any of that. But all I know is he's the best.
"He is really good at calling situational ball. We go over everything we can possibly go over throughout the week, and his precision in that is amazing."
Ganz liked having Watson on the field, for communication purposes, when he started the Huskers' final three games of 2007. But Watson wasn't calling plays then and Ganz said he understands how Watson sees things better from above.
"He's going to do what's best for us," Ganz said.
Watson, 48, said how he sees things on game day is the result of a week's work by not only the offensive coordinator, but the offensive staff.
"If the plan is right, you should be in good shape," he said. "Then it's being able to make the adjustments that need to be made."
Watson also is quick to say that calling plays is only part of the job.
"I think certain people have a good feel for calling plays, but I think being a good coordinator is a lot of different things," he said. "You have to be good organizationally. You have to be able to develop a plan that's multiple and has a wide scope, but yet is simple and streamlined enough that your plays can execute it. And then you have to create an environment where your coaches can coach and your coaches can add input."
