Steven M. Sipple: Big 12 defenses will be under the gun
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In general terms, college football offenses have the upper hand on defenses. It’s actually been that way for the past few years.
Sharp offensive minds have devised numerous ways to create space for ultra-athletic players to operate, and many defensive coordinators are still trying to adjust, especially in the Big 12.
“When I first came back in the league (in December) ... I was a little bit blown away about how skyrocketed the numbers were on the offensive side,” first-year Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini said Monday during the Big 12 coaches’ post spring-practice teleconference.
Nebraska will face no fewer than six Big 12 teams in 2008 that run some form of a no-huddle attack:
Missouri: Senior Chase Daniel completed 22 of 28 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown in the Tigers' spring game. Mizzou also features one of the league’s most explosive weapons in wideout Jeremy Maclin.
Texas Tech: The return of the nation's most productive quarterback (Graham Harrell), arguably the nation's best receiver (Michael Crabtree) and the entire offensive line has Red Raider fans confident Tech can challenge Oklahoma and Texas for supremacy in the Big 12 South.
Baylor: New Bears head coach Art Briles is one of the coaches credited with introducing the spread offense to Texas high school football, doing so in the 1990s at powerhouse Stephenville High.
Oklahoma: Starting quarterback Sam Bradford threw three interceptions in the spring game and said the Sooners have a long way to go with their new-look no-huddle attack. "It's a lot different than what we've done," he said. "I think it's something that will give our offense an advantage if we can play at the tempo our coaches want us to play at."
Kansas: Kansas finished 2007 ranked No. 2 nationally in scoring offense, averaging 42.8 points. But the Jayhawks must replace two starting offensive tackles, a starting tight end and their leading rusher and receiver. However, they boast standout QB Todd Reesing.
Colorado: CU coach Dan Hawkins likes the thought of a no-huddle system combining with high altitude to wear down defenses. The Buffaloes' third-year coach apparently now feels his team has the personnel and experience required to run the system.
- Steven M. Sipple
“But it comes back around.”
The question is, how quickly?
Pelini resurfaces in the Big 12 during a rugged period for defensive-minded coaches. As if the Huskers didn’t have enough challenges on defense, they play in a conference that has 10 starting quarterbacks returning.
Here’s how potent the league is offensively: Nebraska last season finished ninth nationally in total offense, but only fifth in the Big 12, behind Texas Tech, Missouri, Oklahoma State and Kansas.
Nebraska in 2008 will face four of those teams — all except OSU — and each of the four returns its starting QB.
“People are going to score points more than they ever have,” said Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy. “I don’t see it going the other way.”
No wonder Tom Osborne hired a defensive-oriented head coach.
No wonder Mack Brown hired fiery Will Muschamp to coordinate the Texas defense.
“Will brings a great mix with his multiple defenses,” Brown said.
Good thing, too, because the challenges keep coming. For instance, Pelini is preparing to face a Big 12 schedule that includes no fewer than six teams — Missouri, Texas Tech, Baylor, Oklahoma, Kansas and Colorado — running some form of a no-huddle offense.
Oklahoma and Colorado began emphasizing no-huddle systems this spring.
The general idea is that an offense skips going into a huddle after a play, instead immediately lining up at the line of scrimmage. Signals are sent in from the sideline. Offensive coaches hope the result is more plays, not to mention more points.
“It gives you more opportunities,” Oklahoma quarterbacks coach Josh Heupel told the Tulsa (Okla.) World. “It’s like fast-break basketball. Up and down. You know, Billy (Tubbs) Ball. Get as many shots as you can.”
All this offensive talk might sound somewhat daunting to Nebraska fans who last season watched the Huskers allow more points (455), yards (5,722) and first downs (299) than any other team in school history. NU returns six starters on defense.
“You see so much no-huddle now,” Pelini said. “Everybody plays fast-paced on offense with the spread and some of the different things they’re doing. I guess I’m used to it.”
Pelini said each offense brings a different rhythm.
“Some teams, even though they get up to the football in a hurry, they’re not going really fast-paced,” he said.
It’s a fascinating chess match, really. Quarterbacks in the no-huddle check out the defense’s alignment, look toward the offensive coordinator on the sideline, and try to get into the right play.
Counters Pelini, the respected defensive guru: “So, you have to evaluate what the offense is trying to accomplish and try to offset it by how you disguise, how you hold your looks, and still be able to get your calls in and match personnel at the same time.
“It presents problems, but every offense is different and presents a unique set of problems.”
To wit: Missouri’s spread offense is markedly different than West Virginia’s spread, while Oregon’s spread attack is basically a mixture of the two, Tigers coach Gary Pinkel said.
Defensive coaches seem to face an increasing amount of problems as the game becomes more complex. Also, it seems the best athletes these days want the ball in their hands. It’s easier to get on “SportsCenter” scoring touchdowns than preventing them. What’s more, credit offensive coaches for their innovation.
However, “Eventually you’ll start to see the same levels of innovation defensively that you’re seeing offensively,” said Kansas State coach Ron Prince.
This much is certain: Pelini takes over at Nebraska during a period in which the Big 12 is stocked with talent on both sides of the ball. Texas’ Brown said he thinks the conference in 2008 will have the most balance in both divisions that he’s seen in the past decade.
As Colorado’s Dan Hawkins said: “It’s definitely a dogfight, but I think that’s what makes it fun.”
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
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