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LINCOLN — Before the season, I-back Roy Helu and tight end Mike McNeill were considered Nebraska's potential All-Big 12 players and difference-makers at the offensive skill positions.

Helu has gone on to get at least 17 touches in all six games, including 16 rushing attempts and a reception against Texas Tech on Saturday when he was hurting. At Virginia Tech last month, Nebraska handed Helu the football 28 times and he caught four passes.

As of late, McNeill isn't getting nearly the same chance to help.

The junior has just six receptions in the past four games, including two against Texas Tech and one at Missouri. As NU struggled mightily in those games, McNeill was on the field for a combined 65 plays — fewer than half the snaps.

Assistant coach Ron Brown said his tight end is having a good season. Brown said McNeill isn't doing anything wrong.

But against Texas Tech, his presence and impact were limited by the decision to regularly employ four-receiver sets.

“We're not worried about getting him going,'' Brown said. “That's not the main thing. I think the main thing is being able to move the football down the field — via the run or the pass, via a wide receiver or a running back or a tight end.

“It was one of those deals where we felt schematically that we should have been with four wide receivers in the game, and that's what we went with.''

With just about everybody disappointed in the way things are going offensively, McNeill carefully discussed his frustration twice this week.

“You just got to take advantage of your opportunities,'' he said. “The two times I caught the ball (Saturday) I got a first down. That's what I try and do.

“You've got to make a play when you get a chance. I can't obviously control how many chances I get, but when the opportunity arrives for me I just need to take advantage of it.''

McNeill started the season with four receptions against both Florida Atlantic and Arkansas State, becoming a nice security blanket for quarterback Zac Lee in his first two starts. It immediately put him on pace to surpass his 32 catches from a year ago, when McNeill set a single-season record for Husker tight ends.

Asked if he feels he's getting open as often as before, McNeill paused and said: “I don't know.'' If there is any extra defensive notice being paid to him, he said it's usually just help over the top on some deeper routes.

But maybe things have changed for the 6-foot-4, 240-pounder from Kirkland, Mo.

“I feel like a lot of times last year obviously (Nate) Swift and Petey (Todd Peterson) drew a lot of coverage away, and that left me open a fair amount,'' McNeill said. “But like I said before, I don't feel like anyone's adding more attention to me this year. Those guys probably took a little bit of heat off me, but not too much.''

Brown expects McNeill's production to still come in other areas, such as blocking or helping others get open. McNeill will be counted on no differently during the second half of the season.

“In terms of numbers or how many touches he gets and all that type of stuff, aw, we just got to get the ball to who we've got to get it to in a certain situation,'' Brown said.

McNeill said he feels as if he's “running OK routes right now.'' He also jokes that Lee knows he wants the football.

“I tell him every day to throw me the ball,'' McNeill said with a wry grin. “I tell all the quarterbacks to throw me the ball. Whether or not they actually think I'm being serious, I don't know.

“Like I've said a million times, I like getting the ball, but I like winning games. If I got to go zero catches the rest of the year and we win the rest of our games, that's fine.''

Asked by an NU media relations member Tuesday if he knew that he was on the updated John Mackey Award watch list, McNeill said yes but expressed some surprise. His numbers are modest at 14 receptions for 160 yards and three touchdowns.

McNeill won't press, though, but rather stick with the process. Brown said everybody will benefit when the Huskers get untracked offensively, including his talented bunch of tight ends who so far have accumulated 23 total catches.

“We just haven't executed as well as we should,'' Brown said. “I mean, if we execute well, we keep the ball longer, possession time is going to be greater and we're able to run the gamut of our offense and guys get production.

“When we're three-and-out and not executing, then nobody gets a share of touches.''

Contact the writer:

444-1042, rich.kaipust@owh.com

• See Wednesday practice video as the Zac Lee-Cody Green QB battle continues:

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