We need variety in the running game and we need some success with big chunks down the field, then some versatility from where the quarterback throws the ball. – Nebraska coach Mike Riley said.

PROVO — First-year Nebraska coach Mike Riley is looking for one main thing from his offense as he enters the 2015 season.

Balance.

When BYU invades Memorial Stadium Saturday (1:30 p.m., MT, ABC), Riley is hopeful that the Cornhuskers will be effective in both the running game and the passing game.

Special Collector's Issue: "1984: The Year BYU was Second to None"
Get an inclusive look inside BYU Football's 1984 National Championship season.

“I don’t see us trying do one thing dominantly all of the time,” Riley said. “We need variety in the running game and we need some success with big chunks down the field, then some versatility from where the quarterback throws the ball.”

Much of the Nebraska's offensive success will hinge on the play of junior quarterback Tommy Armstrong.

BYU players and coaches said Armstrong, a 6-foot-1, 220-pounder from Cibolo, Texas, reminds them a little of Cougar QB Taysom Hill.

“He’s athletic, similar to Taysom. He’s a dual-threat guy that can take off running,” said defensive lineman Bronson Kaufusi. “At the same time, he can throw a good ball. You have to contain guys like that. We want to be in control and make sure that he doesn’t break out and have big plays from us breaking down.”

Armstrong has compiled a 16-5 record as a starter, dating back to 2013. He amassed 2,695 yards and 22 touchdowns through the air — completing 53 percent of his passes — while rushing for 705 yards and six touchdowns last season. He also accounted for 3,400 yards of total offense, the third-highest total in school history.

BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall called Armstrong “a really explosive player. Throws the ball well and certainly can run it well. Similar size to Taysom. He runs hard and physical. Certainly a scramble threat.”

Clearly, Riley would love to see Armstrong make big plays with his arm, particularly with play-action, to go along with big plays in the run game.

“I think there’s been a jump of good balance offensively. It will all be proven as we go,” Riley said. “With our quarterback’s ability to run, and with our running backs’ ability to run, and in doing with what we’ve done with receivers running, I like to think we’ll have a real good running game. With the play-action stuff out of that, that has to be proven, but it might be real or might be a continued hope of mine. That will add a lot to what we can do if we can hit some shots in the play-action game down the field.”

Armstrong has improved his passing ability in recent months, Riley said.

“His accuracy down the field has been good through practice through the scrimmage, he’s completed more balls for big chunks than we ever did in the spring or what we were doing early in fall camp. That has been encouraging.”

In his most recent outing, last December in the Holiday Bowl, Armstrong set Nebraska records for attempts (51), completions (32), passing yards (381) and total offense (422) against USC.

One position at which the Huskers have been hit with injuries is at wide receiver. For example, De’Mornay Pierson-El, who ranked second nationally in punt return average at 17.5 yards per return and who caught 23 passes for 321 yards and four touchdowns last year as a freshman, is out due to a foot injury. Nebraska's leading returning receiver is junior Jordan Westercamp, who caught 44 passes for 747 yards and five touchdowns a year ago.

Because the Huskers are breaking in a new coaching staff, the Cougars have been studying a lot of film of Oregon State, where Riley coached previously. BYU and OSU played three times from 2009-2011. Nebraska offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf has coached under Riley for years.

View Comments

Armstrong’s experience and Riley’s staff helps offset some of the growing pains Nebraska may go through early in the season, Mendenhall said.

“They have a returning quarterback and a really strong offensive line. Those two things give you some stability to do what most of what scheme Oregon State/Nebraska want to run,” Mendenhall said. “They can be methodical in moving the ball and they can be explosive. If you’re not sound, you’ll be exposed. If you stay consistent in what you do, they’re very good at scheming that. Through three years’ worth of research, this isn’t like a first game. It’s like a series of history now. We’re having to look at what we’ve done before and make sure it’s not identical because of how qualified they are taking advantage of things we may have done before.”

Riley’s staff has been trying to mix existing strengths on Nebraska’s roster with what worked for years at Oregon State.

“I think we’re on the right track. There are concepts in the passing game that we’ve carried forever,” Riley said. “ And then there’s some new stuff that has blended in there because of the quarterbacking we have here. We’ll see what the product of that looks like in the first game coming up. Offensively, it will be interesting. I feel good about every position, how that has shaped up. Now we just have to go play. A key factor will be balance.”

Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.