Knevel wants O-line to set tone early versus Ducks

By Brian Rosenthal / Huskers.com

Oregon coach Mark Helfrich, at his weekly news conference, rattled off the heights and weights of each player along the Nebraska offensive line.

He did so in an impressive fashion.

“They’re huge,” Helfrich said. “They’re giant humans, and they can move.”

The biggest one of all, 6-foot-9, 315-pound tackle David Knevel, knows exactly what the Husker Pipeline needs to do in Saturday’s 2:30 p.m. game (ABC) between Oregon (2-0) and Nebraska (2-0) at Memorial Stadium.

Be aggressive.

“It’s going to be great, set the tone early,” Knevel told reporters after Wednesday’s practice. “We’re really excited to run those power plays. We want to shove it right up there. Let’s go.”

Knevel wants more of what the Huskers did in their season opener against Fresno State, when Nebraska rushed for 292 yards and averaged 5.2 per carry.

“You look at Fresno State, we got out there and really, really pushed them back, and once we had them on their heels, the tempo of the game was totally different,” Knevel said. “If we can come out and do that, it would be monumental in our success.”

That Nebraska wants to establish a consistent running game isn’t lost on Oregon’s defenders, who allowed 193 yards on 40 attempts Saturday in a 44-26 home victory over winless Virginia.

“They’re going to try to run the ball down our throats,” Oregon junior safety Tyree Robinson told local reporters, “try to expose us from the games we’ve already played.”

Oregon will be wary of committing too much against the run, though, and risk quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. making big plays through the air, as he did in throwing for 377 yards against Wyoming.

That came after the Cowboys were successful in holding Nebraska to 138 rushing yards, or 3.2 yards per attempt.

“It’s just getting bodies on bodies,” Knevel said. “We had seen it a lot, practiced on scout team what we thought they were going to do, and they didn’t really show it the way we thought they were going to show it. We couldn’t foresee the blitzes they were going to bring.

“I feel like I could’ve played the scheme a little bit better. I thought I played all right. I feel like I can always do better.”

A better view

Nebraska offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf has enjoyed serving his role from the coaches’ box as opposed to the sideline, where he spent last season.

One obvious benefit, he said, is a better view.

“I do like being able to see,” Langsdorf said. “I think my conversation with the staff and with the quarterback have been good. I probably have better information to give (Armstrong). When you’re able to see some things and help them with, ‘OK, this is what they’re doing coverage-wise, or pressure-wise,’ and then making sure we are getting everything communicated correctly.”

Offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh has returned to the sideline after spending the season’s first game in the coaches’ box with Langsdorf.

Striving for balance

Nebraska leaned very heavily on the run against Fresno State, when it attempted a mere 13 passes, then aired the ball out against Wyoming.

While that may appear the Huskers aren’t even, Langsdorf pointed out that against Wyoming, the run plays (43) and passing plays (35) do indicate balance.

“I don’t think the production was (balanced),” he said. “We kept trying (to run), but we needed to hit some passes, too. I think if we can have success running, the more run you’ll see, and when it’s tough, try to do some different thing to open that up.

“Whether we pass to open that up or just keep trying some different things, it just depends on the game.”

Staying even-keel

Langsdorf has been around enough quarterbacks and fervent fan passes on both the collegiate and professional level to understand that not everybody can see the “big picture” when it comes to the man under center.

Sometimes he shoulders too much blame, sometimes he gets too much credit.

To that end, Langsdorf is pleased with how even-keel Armstrong, a senior and four-year starter, has been heading into a big game.

“Sometimes things go wrong that aren’t all his fault, and then sometimes there are things he could do better, too,” Langsdorf said. “If he can be consistent in his preparation each week and improving on the fundamentals and throwing accurately and making good decisions, then he’ll be just fine.”

Reach Brian at brosenthal@huskers.com or follow him on Twitter @GBRosenthal