Nebraska offensive line coach Dennis Wagner made no bones Friday about the No. 1 issue that’s dogged his struggling line through two games.

“Our tackle play is what’s really hurting us,” Wagner told a crowd of about 200 at the Big Red Breakfast in Omaha. “Our tackles have to improve for us to take the step we need. Our inside guys — (center) Kurt Mann and (guards) Brandon Koch and Greg Austin — are playing pretty well.

“But the two outside guys are causing us some problems in regard to pass protection and with our edge blocking.”

NU has allowed only three sacks in 69 passing attempts. The problem is, quarterback Zac Taylor “is getting hit a lot right as he releases the ball,” Wagner said.

This week’s return of redshirt freshman tackle Lydon Murtha, who missed the first two games because of injury, should push starting tackles Cornealius Fuamatu-Thomas and Seppo Evwaraye to improve quickly, Wagner said. In fact, the 6-foot-7, 315-pound Murtha likely will play significant minutes against Pitt today at Memorial Stadium, the coach said.

“He’ll spell those two guys, and the pressure’s on,” Wagner said. “We’ll create a little competition there, and that should help us.”

Wagner feels NU made progress offensively in the second half of last week’s 31-3 win against Wake Forest. He wants to see more progress.

“It’s time for our guys to step up and answer the call and match what the rest of the guys are doing,” he said. “I’m not going to stand up here and make excuses, in particular with my group.

“That’s my resume and my players’ resume, and right now it’s not a good one. So we’re going to change it.”

He later added, “We have not played with the focus and intensity we need. It’s my job as a coach to generate and create the intensity we need.”

Murtha, ranked by Tom Lemming as the nation’s No. 1 tackle prospect as a senior at Hutchinson (Minn.) High School, has battled foot, knee and shoulder injuries since arriving on campus. He was cleared for full contact last week, though he had been practicing with the team on a limited basis since the start of preseason drills.

“He has a lot of talent,” Wagner said. “If I can just keep him locked in my office and bring him food, hopefully he won’t get hurt.”

Briefly

Wagner hinted Nebraska may go back to a secret weapon: Mike Stuntz. The senior safety, who played quarterback in high school, is a possibility for “gadget plays,” Wagner said.  In 2001, Stuntz threw a 63-yard scoring strike to Eric Crouch on a reverse pass to clinch a 20-10 win against Oklahoma.

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