No matter if you have a dog in the Nebraska football quarterback fight between quarterback Tanner Lee or Patrick O’Brien, there’s another component of the Nebraska offense that head coach Mike Riley wants to be properly taken care of.
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There are the coin tosses, the split reps and the hype. Oh, the hype. Whether you’re for the hot-to-trot transfer from Tulane, Tanner Lee or highly-touted signal-caller out of San Juan Capistrano, Calif., in Patrick O’Brien, Mike Riley has news for you.
This offense isn’t all about who’s taking snaps under center.
"“We have all the makings of being able to protect the quarterback and then the other fact of the matter is you have to protect the line with your scheme. You really have to be thoughtful about that and what protects the line? It’s screens, draws, quicks.There’s no way in the world I want to be that team, 30 times a game, drop back pass, deep pass set by the quarterback and then hang on to all the blitzes you’re gonna see. We can’t go there,” Riley said in Saturday’s post-practice interview."
He also mentioned that his goal is to have 10 offensive linemen (a standard two-deep across the board). Riley said this is actually something he’s never had available to him during his coaching career.
Fortunately, that blessing may be available to him during his third season as Nebraska football head coach.
With Nick Gates, Jerald Foster, Michael Decker, Tanner Farmer and David Knevel, the first spring line has been set.
Then you factor in players like Matt Farniok, Boe Wilson, Jalin Barnett, Bryan Brokop, John Raridon, Christian Gaylord and Cole Conrad.
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While some of these individuals are young, they do possess the talent to step in and get some quality reps should they be needed down the home stretch or in emergency scenarios.
Riley also noted that running backs and tight ends have to step up and do their jobs, but ultimately he noted that “We also have to be thoughtful about what we do.”