Coaches want Husker offenseto be physical and flexible

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BYSTEVEN M. SIPPLE

When Bill Callahan took over as Nebraska's head coach and announced he was bringing his West Coast offense, visions of flying footballs danced in the heads of Husker fans accustomed to an earth-chewing attack.

Contrary to initial perception, the running game will remain prominent in Nebraska's attack, according to the Huskers' new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

"This system is flexible,"said Jay Norvell, who was part of Callahan's coaching staff with the NFL Oakland Raiders. "We adjust to players, whether it's run or pass. We played games in Oakland where we threw the ball nearly 70 times in a game. There were other times we ran it nearly 70 times.

"I think it's important, as a coach, that you're not so structured that you can't adjust to what your players do well. It's our job to find out what our players do well and accentuate it. We'll do whatever it takes to move the ball and put points on the board."

Nebraska will enter games with the mind-set of trying to establish the run, Norvell said. The Huskers need to be physical up front, he said.

"That's what we'll always strive for,"Norvell said. "But part of offensive coaching is making adjustments. We'll be prepared to do that."

Nebraska quarterback Joe Dailey is preparing himself for a challenging adjustment period when the Huskers begin spring practice Wednesday. The spring season ends April 17 with the Red-White scrimmage.

"It's going to start off rough because everyone's not used to the principles in this offense that you have to follow," Dailey said. "You have to be very detail-oriented. Once everyone gets a feel for it and an understanding of what the whole concept is, it'll be smooth."

Well, maybe.

Asked to put in perspective the complexity of the new playbook, Dailey sighed and said, "There are pass plays for days. I never knew that many existed."

Dailey, a sophomore, appeared in eight games last season and enters spring drills atop the two-deep chart. Junior Mike Stuntz is No. 2.

Norvell said Nebraska coaches will meticulously evaluate the quarterbacks, making sure to remain open-minded about holdovers from the old system.

"We don't want to pigeonhole anybody,"Norvell said."They come from an option background, but in this system, we like quarterbacks who can move their feet. So that should be a plus."

Nebraska, 10-3 in 2003, returns eight starters from an offense that averaged 345 yards per game to rank 83rd nationally.

Norvell sounds determined to push the Huskers to another level, starting this spring.

"We want guys who are disciplined and explosive," Norvell said. "We want guys who play with great tempo and guys who finish. You'll hear those words a lot from coach (Callahan) during spring practice.

"We want the players to make it a part of their personality."

While Callahan will call offensive plays on game days, Norvell will be stationed in the press box watching coverages and fronts and communicating them to Callahan.

Norvell served the past two seasons as Callahan's tight ends coach in Oakland. The two also coached together at Wisconsin during the 1990s.

"I've been around him long enough to have a pretty good feel for what he wants done," Norvell said. "He's basically trained me since I've first known him. It's natural. That's why I wanted to be here."

Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@;journalstar.com.