Finally, it’s game week!! And that means that we’re close to watching the Cornhuskers sprint out of the tunnel to an awaiting throng of 91,ooo plus screaming Husker fans, eschewing in the Mike Riley era. Since last December, we’ve heard how excited and anxious Mike Riley is for his first Husker opener. Yesterday, Riley met with the media for about a half hour and reiterated those same sentiments as well as answering questions about the depth chart and the forthcoming suspensions for this weekends game.
Without knowing exactly who Riley has suspended for this game, makes predicting how this game will go a little more difficult. Regardless of who is suspended, Tommy Armstrong will be making his 22nd career start for the Big Red. All off-season and depending on who you talked to, the hot button’s were Tommy’s completion percentage and interception’s. What was and is often overlooked are his composure and leadership capabilities. He has a commanding presence around his teammates and as a sophomore last season, he showed the composure of a seasoned veteran. Armstrong is the unquestioned leader of the Huskers. No one disputes that, but what does he need to do in order for Nebraska to win this coming Saturday?
Tommy isn’t the prototypical Langsdorf/Riley quarterback, but they know how to cater an offense to Armstrong’s skills. They came to Nebraska to win early and often, so familiarity will be key. Armstrong needs to trust the game plan that Offensive Coordinator Danny Langsdorf will devise for him, as it will most likely be tailor-made to his strengths. It’s fairly safe to say that we can expect to see a good balance of run and pass mixed in with a lot of play action. Although Langsdorf and Riley have never coached a player quite like Armstrong at Oregon State, his ability to escape the pocket gives Nebraska an added dimension at the coaches disposal. Therefore, Riley has a myriad of options to showcase a balanced Husker attack.
The biggest key for Armstrong’s success is working patiently within the offensive flow. Once Armstrong is facing blitzes and disguised coverage packages, it will be clearer how far he has come, but the tools are there for him to flourish. If he is able to make the correct reads, check down when needed, and know when to throw the ball away, he should have a successful season. Whether that translates into an increased completion percentage, and fewer interceptions remains to be seen.
During the Week 1 showdown with BYU, don’t expect any radical changes in the offense from Tim Beck’s system. The Huskers may control the pace by huddling up, but they will use the tempo to keep opposing defense off balance. In addition, there will be a few fly sweeps, and some short controlled pass plays called. Those have been Oregon State staples over the years. Outside of that, Cornhusker fans should come away feeling confident in the coaching staffs ability to put Armstrong in the best possible situations.
Next: Nebraska faces Taysom Hill in first game back?
GO BIG RED!