There's a fine line that separates quarterbacks whose bold decisions result in big plays from ones who tend to force the issue, Nebraska head coach Bill Callahan said Tuesday.

At times, Callahan said, Husker quarterback Joe Dailey pushes the envelope.

Problem is, Dailey sometimes pushes it to the wrong address.

"We tell Joe, ‘You're the mailman here and you have to deliver the mail to all these different houses,'" Callahan said. "Well, Joe wants to go to the mansion all of the time."

As Nebraska prepares for Saturday's home game against Southern Mississippi, Callahan will continue to preach to Dailey the importance of shuffling the ball to secondary receivers when the primary receiver isn't available down the field.

Said Callahan, "We'd like for Joe to go to the low-rent district and (throw it) to the backs."

Perhaps most important, Dailey will be reminded that a Nebraska quarterback's first priority in Callahan's system is to avoid turnovers. Dailey's generally strong performance in last week's season-opening win against Western Illinois was marred by four interceptions.

The turnovers notwithstanding, Callahan is careful to avoid suppressing Dailey's playmaking ability. A 6-foot, 205-pound sophomore, Dailey is adept at scrambling from the pocket and firing on the run, or tucking the ball and sprinting into open spaces.

"It's a very fine line, when you get out of the pocket and you're trying to make a play down the field — as long as it's open, I'm OK with it," Callahan said.

Dailey for the most part managed the offense well in his first official go-round in the West Coast offense, Callahan said. Dailey's performance was particularly impressive when one considers it was his first college start.

The New Jersey native completed 15 of 30 passes for 218 yards and four touchdowns while also rushing for two scores in a 56-17 triumph.

Dailey, though, rated his performance at "about 60 percent." In the second half, he was 2-for-6 for 5 yards and tossed his final two picks.

Consequently, Callahan will continue to remind Dailey of the importance of proper footwork, of being in tune with his receivers.

"If you're not on the same page as your receiver, your timing's going to get thrown off," Callahan said. "It's important for Joe to learn that he has to set his feet, spit the ball out of his hand as quickly as he can, and live for another down."

Of course, one needs to remember Dailey is a neophyte operating an NFL-level system.

"He's making tremendous strides," Callahan said. "At this point, he's growing. There's going to be some error."

All told, Nebraska committed six turnovers against Western Illinois. Such errors could become a bigger factor Saturday against a Southern Mississippi team that figures to be significantly more talented than the Leathernecks.

Indeed, the Golden Eagles, who were idle last week, captured Conference USA in 2003 with an 8-0 mark and finished 9-4 overall, including a 38-14 home loss to Nebraska.

"The thing that jumps out at you is they are able to play so many different fronts on defense," Callahan said.

Indeed, Southern Miss' myriad stunts and fronts will challenge Dailey and Co.

"We're going to have our hands full," Callahan said. "It'll be a huge test for our offense. We have to do a great job of setting our (quarterback) protection plan and giving Joe the necessary options and tools to win with."

Dailey, as usual, projects an aura of confidence, a trait his coaches and teammates appreciate.

"They're going to have to adjust to what we do — we're going to take what he want," Dailey said, echoing Callahan's comments a week ago. "We have great players like they have great players. As an offense, we're very disciplined, very strict.

"We're believing what the coaches are selling us."

Against Western Illinois, Nebraska averaged nearly 8 yards per play on first down and had 16 plays that went for 15 yards or more — nine running and six passing.

The Huskers were 5-for-5 in the red zone.

"That's something we really challenged our players to work hard on," Husker offensive coordinator Jay Norvell said.

Callahan said he was pleased with the offense's overall execution, noting that Nebraska's plethora of pre-snap shifts created matchup problems and general confusion for the Leathernecks.

Southern Miss, though, poses a more formidable challenge.

"They are as athletic as anybody we will play all year," Norvell said, noting the Golden Eagles' tradition of solid defense.

On offense, Southern Miss employs a multiple scheme that includes a smattering of option plays, Nebraska defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove said.

"We're going to have to work hard on the option this week," he said.

Southern Miss boasts tall, fleet and physical receivers, and quarterback Dustin Almond is "a winner," Cosgrove said.

Almond, however, struggled against Nebraska last season, going 4-for-24 with two interceptions.

Nebraska on Saturday will have the advantage of having a game under its belt.

On the other hand …

"We really don't know what to expect from Southern Miss, beside what we've seen on film from a year ago," Callahan said. "We'll have to be ready for the unexpected."

"They deserve our total respect," Callahan added. "Let me tell you something, it ain't going to be easy."

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