Shatel: Either way, QB choice a risk

If it’s Saturday and it’s an 11:30 a.m. kick, then I’m having a Husker burger for breakfast and I’m wondering:

• Have we ever needed a football game more? No. In 18 years, I still can’t get over how Nebraskans — coaches, fans and media — lose their minds over one loss. It’s part of our charm. But my head is spinning from the past week. I don’t know about you, but I really need a football game.

Who’s going to start at quarterback?

To me, this comes down to trust. Which quarterback and offensive style does offensive coordinator Shawn Watson trust more? Zac Lee is anything but an effective runner. So if you go with Lee, it’s because you think the light will go on and he’ll efficiently run the Joe Ganz short-passing game that worked so well last year. Even though Lee doesn’t turn it over a lot, that’s a risk.

Cody Green is another kind of risk. You don’t know how he’s going to react to pressure. He might be great, he might not. But, again, Green offers the running dimension that allows Watson to use that zone-read and give his offense an extra running back — not a bad thing with Roy Helu not near 100 percent. And, by the way, that running dimension is what Bo Pelini says he wants.

My hunch is that Lee will start and have a short leash, but Green will play and they will see who runs the offense better. Some folks think Green should start now because he can grow against Iowa State and Baylor. I guarantee you Pelini is just trying to win a game, any game, with this offense.

• Are the coaches really paranoid? I don’t think Pelini has a paranoid bone in his body. But he has to be careful when he says things like “the whole state is against Zac Lee.’’ Of course they’re not. Pelini knows that.

Then there’s Watson. He defended his offense to a reporter this week by saying, “Did you play the game?’’ That’s a defense mechanism coaches use when they have no defense. Usually, the best response to this is “Have you ever tried to figure out a bad game plan on deadline?’’ But, I digress. The fact is, Texas Tech coach Mike Leach, Kansas’ Mark Mangino and Georgia Tech’s Paul Johnson never played the game, either. But they sure can coach it.

Bottom line: coaches can provide unnecessary drama, too. Usually, answering the question truthfully works wonders.

• Did Watson suddenly forget how to coach offense? No. Watson isn’t the greatest offensive coordinator nor the worst. But he’s put himself and his philosophy in the crosshairs. And now that Pelini has the defense up and running, the head coach should look at what he wants his offense to be. I think that starts now.

Here’s the thing about Watson: he’s worked under Gary Barnett and Bill Callahan, both offensive guys who ran their own systems. Now Watson is running his system. Last year, it saved the season. Funny, but Joe Ganz, Nate Swift and Todd Peterson look better all the time.

Watson doesn’t have those playmakers at quarterback or receiver this season. It seems to me that Helu, tight end Mike McNeill (when used) and perhaps Green are the playmakers whose numbers should be called. But Helu is not 100 percent and the offensive line has struggled. It’s a tough spot for Watson.

But this is where offensive coordinators should be judged. Not when they have playmakers, but when they have to create a strength and make it work. Tom Osborne was never more brilliant than the K-State game in 1994 with walk-on Matt Turman handing off to an injured Lawrence Phillips (behind a great line, yes) over and over.

The spotlight is on Watson now to find a strength where one may not exist. What you’d like to see is Watson try some other players and options. McNeill. Kyler Reed. Marcus Mendoza. A shovel pass. Screens. Can anyone run the “Wildcat?’’ I don’t know that Watson can sit back and hope Lee figures it out. It seems that some risks, and imagination, might be in order.

• Whatever happened to that offense at Virginia Tech? I thought the line and entire offense played well at Virginia Tech. They didn’t finish in the red zone, but they had several drives that consumed time and got them into the red zone.

• Is Pelini out of control on the sidelines? No. People have over-reacted to Pelini’s rant last week. Those who say his behavior is chronic haven’t watched Nebraska this season. Pelini had a relapse, but he’s been good. He’s grown since last year. I know. I’ve watched for it every game.

Pelini should have been a college basketball coach. They lose their minds all the time. Joe Cipriano once fired a starter’s pistol during a game to get the attention of an official. Johnny Orr and Billy Tubbs were madmen whose antics made us love Big Eight basketball. Orr calls the official a bad name and he’s a comedian. I once heard Orr at a press conference say he wished the official had broken his leg. Everyone laughed. Can you imagine if Pelini said that?

Football coaches are supposed to be different. Why? Who knows? I do know that you can’t expect every Nebraska coach to act like Tom Osborne. It’s impossible. Pelini has to be himself. I like his fire. I like a football coach with a personality. Pelini is better than he was last year and he’ll be better next year. We’re watching a young coach grow into the job. I say give the guy some room. But — no unsportsmanlike penalties that cost NU a game.

• Who should start at quarterback? I don’t know. It’s a game-time opinion. Just kidding. I would go with Green, just because of the spark he might provide and the lift he can bring the run game.

But what do I know? I never played the game.

Contact the writer: 444-1025, tom.shatel@owh.com

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