Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said part of the process with bringing along Zac Lee has included getting the Husker quarterback to be more patient.

Even as recently as spring practice, Pelini said, the junior didn't want to stay in the pocket for long.

“He was a guy who at the first sign of somebody getting pressure he was going to take off,'' Pelini said. “You can't play football like that. You have to be able to push the pocket and sit in there, and let things develop for you.

“You get a feel for it. There's a time to run — we all know that — but there's a time to sit in there and not be antsy and let things develop.''

Pelini told a Big Red Breakfast crowd today that Lee has come a long way in that regard. The NU staff will know more when the 6-foot-2, 215-pounder from San Francisco makes his first Division I-A start Saturday night against Florida Atlantic.

“I really feel confident about where he is right now,'' Pelini said. “I think he's going to have a great year.''

Lee hasn't played regularly since being the starter at City College of San Francisco in 2006. He redshirted at Nebraska in 2007 and played very little as a backup to Joe Ganz in 2008.

Pelini's advice for Lee is to not try to do too much, a common problem for an inexperienced quarterback. It's something Pelini said Ganz was very good at and that Lee will grow into as he gets more playing time.

“He has to understand that he doesn't have to win the football game by himself,'' Pelini said. “Let the system work for him, let the guys next to him work for him, and just play the way he's been coached. Do what he's been coached to do and he'll be fine.''

Lee will be among seven new offensive starters as NU kicks off the season against Florida Atlantic. The Owls have made back-to-back bowl games under head coach Howard Schnellenberger.

Pelini said FAU will give the Huskers a good idea where they stand.

“I'm glad we have a talented football team coming in here, and I'm glad we're going to be tested,'' he said. “It's about time we found out where we are.''

One thing Pelini is concerned about heading into the season is chemistry. In fact, he tipped his cap to last year's seniors for their leadership in the transition of a new head coach and staff.

Pelini specifically mentioned Ganz, Todd Peterson, Nate Swift, Zach Potter and Ty Steinkuhler.

“We lost some very good leaders out of last year's senior class,'' he said. “Guys I felt like were the heart and soul of the football team last year, guys who really bought into how we wanted to go about things.

“The key to our season, the key to how far we go as a football team, is going to be how our leadership takes over, how good the chemistry of this football team comes together. And are we going to be able to persevere and do the right things for the whole year.''

Some other Pelini nuggets from his hour appearance at the Holiday Inn convention center:

-- On junior I-back Roy Helu: “I think Roy's going to have a great year. I'm excited to watch him play. I think he's one of the special running backs in college football.''

-- Asked about using defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh in some short-yardage offensive sets again, Pelini said: “Yeah, eventually you're going to see him.''

On Saturday night?

“I don't know. I could tell you, but I'd have to kill you.''

-- Pelini said it's “kind of a gut thing'' on passing out Blackshirts. “They'll be coming soon ... maybe.''

ŸOn the possibility of two redshirt freshmen (Sean Fisher, Will Compton) and a sophomore (Mathew May) starting at linebacker: “It's not an easy position to play in our defense. There's a lot that goes on at the linebacker position. We put a lot on their plate.''

Pelini called the trio capable but unproven, but added: “That's one of the positions, I think, where I really believe we can be better than we were a year ago.''

ŸAsked about talking with NU basketball coach Doc Sadler and comedian Larry the Cable Guy after a recent practice, Pelini said of Sadler: “He thinks his next life he's going to be Larry the Cable Guy's opening act.''

ŸOn Anthony Blue not being on the two-deep at cornerback: “He missed a whole year of playing football. I think he's finally starting to get back into having confidence in that knee. He's moving along, he's just not quite at that level that some of the other guys are at right now, mainly because of experience.''

Contact the writer:

444-1042, rich.kaipust@owh.com

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