Husker Football Notes, 11/2: Tigers’ spread offense will have a lot to offer

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BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star

Although several Big 12 teams have gone to spread attacks on offense, each system has its own nuances.

Missouri, for instance, strongly favors an empty backfield, said Nebraska cornerbacks coach Phil Elmassian.

“You’re going to see an empty backfield probably over half the time,” the coach said, noting quarterback Chase Daniel’s tendency to run zone sweep plays out of the empty-back sets.

“He’s like a linebacker carrying the ball,” Elmassian said of the 6-foot, 225-pound sophomore. “He’s gotten the crap knocked out of him, and he doesn’t flinch.”

Unlike some spread attacks, Elmassian said, Missouri uses a wealth of vertical routes.

Missouri ran a spread offense in 2004 when Nebraska beat the Tigers 24-3 in Lincoln. But that version of the spread attack was much different than the one Mizzou is using now, Elmassian said.

“Two years ago, it was spread to run the ball,” he said. “It was almost absurd what we did, because we played them with a 10-man front the whole game. I think after that game, they said, ‘We can’t do this anymore.’”

TURNER LIMITED: Nebraska sophomore defensive end Barry Turner, who exploded onto the scene last season with five sacks in the first seven games, has cooled considerably. He has no sacks this year and only one in the past 14 games dating to 2005.

Nebraska coaches are hoping that changes this week.

“He’ll have a lot of playing time this week because we’re trying to get as much speed as we can on the field,” said Husker defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove, referring to the defense’s “speed team.”

On obvious passing downs, the 6-3, 250-pound Turner plays one defensive end spot in place of Adam Carriker, who slides into a tackle spot. Jay Moore typically plays the other end position. Ndamukong Suh, a 6-4, 305-pound redshirt freshman, typically enters as the other tackle.

Turner, a freshman All-American last season, has 12 tackles this season after recording 14 last year.

INJURY UPDATE: NU linebackers Corey McKeon and Steve Octavien were held out of contact during Wednesday’s practice as a means to improve their health for Saturday’s game, Husker coach Bill Callahan said. Both players were involved in the workout mentally, the coach said. He said they will return to practice in full capacity today.

McKeon, a starting middle linebacker, has been slowed by knee and ankle injuries, while Octavien, a backup weakside linebacker, has been plagued by hamstring and ankle problems, though his ankle apparently is the only issue now, Cosgrove said.

Octavien played only six snaps last week against Oklahoma State. One of the snaps was quarterback Bobby Reid’s 56-yard run. Octavien was in position to make the play on the back side, but didn’t because he couldn’t push off on his sore ankle, Cosgrove said.

“A healthy Steve is going to make that play,” the coach said.

BREAK TIME: This week marked the period of the season when Nebraska coaches cut back on practice time by about 20 minutes and increase meeting time for players. Callahan said the Huskers used the approach in the last few seasons around the start of standard time.