* * *
Nebraska's three touchdowns in the first quarter Saturday all came from the same personnel group — one running back, two tight ends, two receivers.
Each time, NU lined up its receivers to the wide side of the field and attacked the short side. That combination of personnel and alignment makes a potent formula.
Pay particular attention to the two tight ends— Ben Cotton (No. 81) and Kyler Reed (No. 25). Their versatility is critical to the Huskers' big-play offense.
Roy Helu 66-yard touchdown run: Ben Cotton doesn't line up in the backfield often, but on NU's first snap he slides across the formation and throws his body at a defensive end. That paves the way for Helu. The lone Tiger with a chance to grab him takes a bad angle.
Kyler Reed 40-yard touchdown pass from Taylor Martinez: The Tigers pack nine defenders in the box. That's the tendency when a defense sees two tight ends. Almost everyone bites on the play-action fake, leaving Reed one-on-one with plenty of space to make a move.
Roy Helu 73-yard touchdown run: Count the defenders on the short side of the field. Not enough, right? Cotton and Reed seal the corner and two offensive linemen pull behind them, giving Helu a band of bodyguards. He's too fast to catch from behind.
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Nebraska lulled Missouri to sleep, then flooded the Tigers for 27 points in a wet and wild fourth quarter.
That was last year. This time, the Huskers needed no such heroics. They jumped Mizzou like a thief in a dark alley.
But how?
How does NU pile up 256 yards and 24 points on four first-quarter possessions against the nation's No. 5 scoring defense?
Those first 15 minutes reveal the secret. They also illustrate why Shawn Watson's offense has come so far in one year. Stick around, we'll get to that later.
For now, focus on details.
Nebraska's most common personnel group is one back, one tight end, three receivers. But in the critical snaps of Saturday's first quarter, the Huskers benched a receiver in favor of an extra tight end.
It's called a “12” personnel package, and Nebraska runs it best from the shotgun.
The Huskers only used it four times in the first quarter. But look what those plays accomplished: 66 yards (touchdown), 22 yards, 40 yards (touchdown) and 73 yards (touchdown).
Just like that, game over. Don't let the door hit you, Tigers.
First play: Two receivers split wide right, two tight ends bunched on the right side of the line. Roy Helu, directly behind Taylor Martinez, takes a simple handoff.
Ben Cotton starts the play on the right tackle's hip, but pulls across the formation and levels the defensive end. That's one blocker Mizzou didn't see coming. Helu darts through a hole and outruns the Missouri cornerback for six.
Second play: This time, it's the first snap of the third drive. Two receivers wide right, tight ends bunched left, Rex Burkhead in the backfield.
Martinez fakes a handoff left to Burkhead; the offensive line slides left, too. Cotton, lined up behind the left guard, sneaks across the formation out of the backfield. Missouri linebackers never see him. An easy catch and run for 22 yards.
Third play: Nebraska has run a variation of this one from different formations all year. Two receivers and one tight end to the right, Kyler Reed flanking the left side of the line.
At the snap, Reed blocks the defensive end for a moment. Then he bursts toward the cornerback. He fakes to the corner and sprints toward the goal post. Martinez, after a play-action fake, hits Reed in stride.
Fourth Play: Maybe the prettiest one of the bunch. Two receivers wide left, the tight ends bunched right — the mirror opposite of the second play.
Martinez gives to Helu, who follows pulling Ricky Henry and Mike Caputo to the near sideline, where the Tigers are badly outnumbered. Mizzou never lays a claw on Helu.
That's three touchdowns.
And every time, Nebraska sends two receivers to the wide side of the field, then attacks the short side.
Why didn't the Tigers see this coming? Why couldn't they stop it? Good questions.
On most plays, the ball is spotted on the hash marks. In those situations, an offense can attack short side (to the “boundary”), or wide side (to the “field”).
Nebraska loves to run short side — especially when receivers are out of the way.
Watson's offense has eight rushes of 40-plus yards against five BCS-conference foes. An astounding number.
On six of those eight highlights, Nebraska lined up all its receivers to the wide side, then ran short side. Also on six of those eight plays, Nebraska was in “12” personnel.
Helu's 73-yard touchdown along the west sideline came from the exact same formation and personnel group as Martinez's 80-yard dash against Washington.
Different play, same look.
Two receivers wide side, two tight ends stacked short side.The defense shifts too much manpower to the wide side. Nebraska attacks the near boundary and makes ‘em pay.
It's not just the running game.
Look at Reed's 41-yard touchdown at Oklahoma State. Three receivers right, Reed flanking the left side of the line. He runs directly at the only cornerback on the short side of the field, makes a move to the goal post and scores.
Look at Reed's 79-yard TD at Kansas State. Same exact formation, same exact play.
Why are the Huskers so successful in these situations from these sets?
Speed.
A team simply cannot exploit the short side without blazing speed.
In the run game, defenders pursue from the middle of the field. They have tackling angles, and it takes speed to squeeze down the sideline. Martinez and Helu are fast enough to turn what looks like a 10- or 15-yard gain into a 60-yard touchdown.
Meanwhile, throwing to a tight end on the short side almost assures man-to-man coverage. That's perfect for Reed, who's fast enough to victimize a cornerback.
Do defensive coordinators know about Nebraska's big-play formula? Probably. Their players just don't have the horsepower to keep up.
Last year in late October, the Huskers jump-started a slumping offense with a different wrinkle — “22” personnel. Two backs, two tight ends, one receiver. Nebraska pounded the ball between the tackles — and exploited single wideout Niles Paul against man coverage.
Without the change, NU surely would've lost at Kansas — and maybe to Oklahoma.
A year later, tight ends are making a difference again.
The beauty of the position is the ability to block like linemen and catch like receivers.
“If you've got tight ends that can do both really well, it puts the defense in a bind,” Reed said.
Especially if two tight ends play together. If the safeties stay back, the defense is outnumbered in the box. If they come up, they risk the big play.
One crease in the line, one bad angle and Helu is home free.
One play-action fake, one safety misstep and Reed beats him deep.
“So they've got to make a decision,” Reed said.
Watson has endured some rough times the past 14 months, including that rainy night in Columbia, when Nebraska attempted to spread the field with four and five receivers and pick Missouri apart. Only the stunning fourth quarter prevented a debacle.
Now Watson's offense is thriving.
He's found ways to maximize his backfield speed. He's identified a big gun at tight end. And his offensive line is blocking.
Next time you notice two tight ends — with two receivers lined up wide side — don't turn away.
You might miss a touchdown.
