5 things we learned about Nebraska football this spring

Spring practices wrapped up for Nebraska football on Saturday with the annual spring game.

There has been talk about how there wasn’t great attendance, even though there were more fans at Nebraska’s spring game than Clemson’s, and about how this spring has been low-key.

That’s fine. From a Nebraska football perspective, that’s a good thing. This program needs to prove something before being given the burden of expectations.

It will be nice to underrated for once, after being overestimated every year for what seems like forever. This team is better than people realize. Or it will be. That’s a prediction I’ll continue to make. Will that mean 7-8 wins?

With this schedule, who knows.

But there are some positive signs, and they go beyond the glorified practice we saw Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

With that in mind, here are five things we learned this spring about the Huskers.

Offense will be different with a mobile QB

Dana Holgorsen’s offense hasn’t really looked like his offense the past two seasons. Maybe that was because of Dylan Raiola, or maybe he didn’t trust the offensive line.

However, the offense feels different with Anthony Colandrea running it. Holgorsen talked about the difference it makes having a playmaker at quarterback. You could feel it in a limited way on Saturday.

It’s not going to be textbook. Colandrea will make mistakes, like the interception he threw on Saturday. That’s been an issue, but it didn’t prevent him from being the Mountain West Player of the Year.

I don’t expect him to be that in the Big Ten. He will be an upgrade over Dylan Raiola, though, or at least a better fit for Nebraska.

Nebraska running back room is just fine

Jamal Rule rushed for 119 yards on nine carries and had a 75-yarder in the spring game. He stole the show. Yet, Isaiah Mozee and Mehki Nelson were solid all spring. I liked what Kwinten Ives and Conor Booth did, too.

It made you wonder when Nebraska didn’t add a transfer portal running back. After the spring, I’m not so worried.

O-line is much better

Geep Wade basically admitted to the media this week that the three transfers Nebraska football brought in will be starters, as if we didn’t know that already.

There are some other solid players capable of starting, such as Tyler Knaak, Grant Brix, or Gibson Pyle. You also have Gunnar Gottula and Sam Sledge. The depth is strong. Wade’s coaching has improved that group, which also has more talent.

There isn’t a single projected starter who hasn’t been a starter, at least for half a season. You could see the offensive line’s run blocking was improved, and so was the pass protection.

One of Matt Rhule’s biggest mistakes was hiring and keeping Donovan Raiola for too long. That mistake has been rectified, finally.

New defense is a better fit

You can just sense that the 4-2-5 run by Rob Aurich is a better fit for Nebraska’s personnel. Last season was like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.

Riley Van Poppel has talked about how the new staff brought the fun back to the game. He will play better in a four-man front, along with others on the defensive line.

Jashear Whittington looks like a good get. The pass rush wasn’t overly impressive on Saturday, but it’s hard to judge in a spring game when the coaches don’t want you hitting the quarterback.

There is work to do, but the pieces feel like they fit this defense much better.

Secondary will be a strength

One of the things I took away from the spring game was that the secondary is going to be good. Jamir Conn came up with a big play. Dwayne McDougle looks great, and the corners look like they haven’t dropped off.

Danny Odem looks ready to play right away. The receivers had a hard time getting open. It could be they still have a hard time separating, or the secondary might be really good again.

If the pass rush and the run defense can improve, this defense could and should be much improved.

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