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It has been an offseason of tremendous change for Nebraska with the hiring of new head coach Mike Riley and the departure of standout running back Ameer Abdullah. Yet, the one constant is quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. Having to learn a new offensive system, Armstrong’s ability to adjust is key if the Cornhuskers are going to make a run at the Big 10 West Division title.
It is no secret throughout the conference that Armstrong is one of the most talented and explosive quarterbacks in the Big 10. With the 2015 season approximately one month away, expectations are swirling in Lincoln that he will be able to put everything together in route to his best season as a starter.
With the arrival of a new head coach comes the added pressure for Armstrong to transition to a brand-new offensive system. Riley brings a pro-style system to Nebraska — a system that allowed him to become the winningest coach in Oregon State history. Given Armstrong’s status as a dual-threat quarterback, this transition will likely be more challenging.
The real question for the Nebraska quarterback, and the rest of the offense, is how well Armstrong can adjust to the new system, and also how well Riley can adjust to Armstrong’s unique skill set.
At first glance, Armstrong had a relatively solid 2014 campaign. In leading Nebraska to nine wins last season, he threw for 2,695 yards with 22 touchdown passes. He also rushed for 705 yards and six touchdowns.
When one digs deeper, Armstrong’s weaknesses come to the forefront. Last season, he posted a very average 53.3 percent completion percentage. In five conference games last year, he had a completion percentage below 50 percent. Most alarmingly, Armstrong had three games where he posted a raw QBR under 15.
Many of these numbers, particularly completion percentage, must improve if the Cornhuskers are going to make the leap to the conference elite. In the new offensive system, Armstrong must improve as a pocket passer and going through his progressions.
It simply is not enough, though, for Armstrong to adjust to the new system. Riley also must adjust to what his quarterback brings to the field instead of forcing him to play in an offense not suited to his skills. It is imperative that Riley tailor certain aspects of his offensive scheme to allow Armstrong to use his speed and ability to throw outside the pocket.
This is the only way Nebraska will be able to construct an offense that combines Tommy Armstrong’s strengths as a quarterback and Mike Riley’s strengths as a head coach.
With a rather tough non-conference schedule on tap in 2015, the Nebraska offense must kick into full gear right off the bat. Teams such as BYU and Miami are looming large.
Dan is a Big 10 Football Beat Writer for www.RantSports.com. You can follow him on Twitter @danescalona77.
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