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LINCOLN — So, you want to know if you can make early hotel reservations for Indianapolis for the first week of December? Or Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 2?
Good luck.
Hey, Mr. Big Ten Media guy. You want to know where to slot Nebraska in the inaugural Legends Division? Behind Michigan State or ahead of Michigan and Iowa?
Consult your local Ouija board.
Predicting a Nebraska football season has never been riskier business. Even the usually reliable crystal ball, which is always up for a good guess, held up a sign late Saturday that read, “Come back in September.''
You know, it's hard enough not knowing what to expect out of Bucky and Brutus and Sparty and Herky on this first spin around the Big Ten. But when you throw in a ton of uncertainty about two-thirds of Nebraska's makeup, well, that's a good sign to stay away from the betting window.
The spring game on Saturday at Memorial Stadium was no help. The 15th practice basically confirmed what we already suspected.
The Huskers will play a bunch of defense next year. They might be giants, they should be maniacs. The front four looks especially terrifying, and now with Eric Martin playing with his hair on fire at defensive end, the Blackshirts should represent. They should keep NU in every game. You want to call Indy hotels? Fine.
Make sure that you can get the deposit back.
What we don't know is if the Huskers will be able to score points, or how many, or how often. There's a new offense, and a new guy calling the plays, for the first time in his career. But Tim Beck kept his new offense and the catalog of plays locked in a vault for the day.
If this new offense has problems finding the end zone, can Nebraska make a field goal? Alex Henery was on the scene on Saturday, but he was in street clothes and holding something that looked like the Lombardi Trophy. Henery isn't in the NFL yet. But Ol' Thunderfoot won't be kicking in Lincoln anymore.
Brett Maher, who figures to be Henery's replacement, made kicks from 39, 25 and 39 yards, but also missed a 34-yard attempt. So who knows?
Coach Bo Pelini saw all 15 practices and said he feels good about the new, attacking offense, the one that wore a muzzle on Saturday.
“I think we're going to have a pretty good offense,'' Pelini said. “I think we'll be really balanced.''
Beck held back in the name of gamesmanship with Big Ten defensive coordinators. In any case, he said, you couldn't take much away, positive or negative, from the day.
“I really don't know how long it will take,'' Beck said. “They'll learn things as they go. It's like developing a new pitch. Until you go out and throw it in a live game, you don't know what you can do and can't do with it.''
Here's what we know, or think we know, after Saturday:
• Jamal Turner is a football player. The freshman from Arlington, Texas, was moved from quarterback to receiver because, in Beck's words, “he's a guy who needs to get on the field.'' If that reminds you of someone named Bobby Newcombe, that's not a bad comparison. Beck admitted that Turner could move back to quarterback at some point in his career but said he won't play at quarterback next season.
Bravo, coach Beck. Turner caught four passes for 93 yards and a touchdown and had two kick returns and a punt return for a combined 135 yards. Nice day's work. Keep your eye on Mr. Turner. It won't be hard. He will play a bunch.
• There could be a quarterback “situation'' next fall. Look for Brion Carnes to push Taylor Martinez.
Not so much because of what Martinez did wrong here, though he wasn't sharp passing. He still throws behind a receiver, which caused that interception that was tipped by Brandon Kinnie. Martinez wasn't allowed to do much. And it was an offense he won't run, anyway. Reports from the previous 14 practices were that Beck's new attacking, no-huddle offense fits Martinez like a glove.
The news of the day, other than Turner's splash, was Carnes' big game. The redshirt freshman from Tommie Frazier's neck of the woods was terrific. He throws a ball with zip and was 11 of 15. He also managed nine runs for 49 yards, with a 24-yard gain.
Again, we didn't see Carnes in the offense he'll be running, but his skills and poise indicate that he will be motoring up the chart, perhaps past Cody Green, if he hasn't done so already. And the word from spring practices was that Carnes was efficient at running the option. Oops. Did we say option? Pay no attention, Kirk Ferentz.
• Junior running back Rex Burkhead keeps getting better, which is saying something. The problem is putting it on Superman's back all season. He'll need some help. There are three new sets of fresh legs on the way, including Braylon Heard, who reportedly has been cleared. Can NU run the ball, and who will run it? It's a point of uncertainty worth watching.
• The no-huddle offense was nowhere to be found, so it's still too early to say how the offensive line will adapt to it and clean up false starts. Did we say no-huddle? Sorry, Bret Bielema. That's just what I heard. Could just be a rumor.
• The Blackshirts were solid, and the good news for Carl Pelini was watching corner Josh Mitchell and defensive tackle Thad Randle step up and make big plays. And just the mere sight of Martin was reason for optimism. The former linebacker will be a load for any Big Ten tackle to block off the edge but also should be strong enough to hold his own against the run.
The question is, will the defense have to carry the offense through a season of low-scoring scrums?
“I'm hoping that's less true next year,'' Carl Pelini said. “I think it's going to be a really good offense. The things they make it hard for us to defend this spring, you didn't see today.''
Which were?
“Sorry,'' Pelini said, smiling. “I can't say.''
Contact the writer:
402-444-1025, tom.shatel@owh.com
twitter.com/tomshatelOWH
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• Video: Nebraska football spring game highlights:
• Video: Nebraska spring game postgame analysis with Jon Nyatawa:
• Video: Nebraska coach Bo Pelini after the spring game:
• Video: Nebraska's Taylor Martinez after the spring game:
• Video: Nebraska's Rex Burkhead after the spring game:
• Video: Sights and sounds from the spring game:
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