LINCOLN — Tyrod Taylor has seen it all as Virginia Tech's quarterback.

Gimmicky defenses. Straight-up play. Schemes slightly adjusted to make him throw the football.

So what does he prefer as the Hokies prepare to host Nebraska on Saturday?

It doesn't matter, Taylor said. The Huskers can throw at him whatever look they'd like. Chances are, Taylor has faced it or something similar. And he'll play within his limits, he said, to give Tech its best shot to win.

“I just try to let the game come to me,” the versatile junior said Tuesday. “If we call a pass play and it's open, I think I have the arm strength to find my receivers. If it breaks down, I can always run.”

His acceptance to go with the flow represents a sign of maturity for Taylor.

In his third season as a starter, Taylor has learned the nuances of his position. He's no longer just an athlete lining up at quarterback — an ominous sign for Hokie foes this fall.

“I think he'll continue to develop,” Tech coach Frank Beamer said. “I think that's what experience does for you. He's an exceptional player. He does a lot of good things for us.”

Taylor reads defenses better than ever, according to Beamer. He knows where he wants to go with the football more instinctively. He's unloading it quicker. And, the coach said, Taylor's throws are more accurate.

Refinement in the passing game has ranked as an area of emphasis for Taylor since he arrived at Virginia Tech in 2007. A former Parade All-American rated as the nation's top dual-threat quarterback, Taylor was pressed into duty as a true freshman.

Beamer elected to redshirt Taylor a year ago but reversed the decision after one game. Taylor responded with a solid year, completing 57.2 percent of his passes (99 of 173) and rushing for 738 yards — most among quarterbacks in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

He threw for 171 yards and rushed for 87 in Virginia Tech's 35-30 win at Nebraska.

Still, Taylor needed work. And he knew it.

“Some things I didn't see last year,” he said, “I see this year. I do believe I'm becoming more of a complete quarterback.”

He's had mixed results this season. Alabama held Taylor in check, sacking him five times in a 34-24 victory over the Hokies on Sept. 5. Taylor responded by leading Tech to a 52-10 win last week over Marshall.

He threw for 161 yards and rushed for 58 — on par with the production from Taylor's best games as a sophomore.

The victory moved Taylor to 14-3 as the starter, including a loss to Florida State last season in which he was injured on the Hokies' first snap.

Taylor's numbers illustrate only part of his effectiveness. The threat of a Taylor run often affects the defense even when the quarterback has no intention to leave the pocket.

Marshall opened in a cover-zero look, Taylor said, featuring no safety help against the pass. Not much of anything worked for the Thundering Herd, who allowed Virginia Tech to rush for 444 yards — the third-highest total under Beamer in 23 seasons.

“Tyrod is a dangerous guy,” the coach said. “He can do it with his arm and do it with his feet.”

As for the Huskers' plan, don't expect anything too exotic. Asked Tuesday about the possibility of using a spy to shadow Taylor, coach Bo Pelini didn't seem interested in discussing such strategy.

“I've never understood the whole spy thing,” Pelini said.

The coach, seemingly perplexed, compared it to a box-and-one defense in basketball.

“If anybody ever sees that defense,” he said, “will you guys please show it to me?”

Taylor said he won't spend time worrying about the Huskers' strategy.

“We have a lot of playmakers,” he said. “It's my job to get the ball to them.”

Contact the writer:

402-473-9587, mitch.sherman@owh.com

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