LINCOLN, Neb.—Zac Lee remains Nebraska’s starting quarterback—for now.
Coach Bo Pelini didn’t, however, rule out a making a change for this week’s home game against Iowa State.
“That will be a game-time decision,” Pelini said Monday. “Right now, nothing has changed. If and when it changes, we’ll announce it.”
So the job is open?
“It’s always open,” Pelini said. “That’s how we kind of approach it.”
Nebraska’s offense has scuffled against BCS defenses. The Huskers (4-2, 1-1 Big 12) have averaged just 17 points and 297 yards while losing two of three games to quality opponents, including Saturday’s 31-10 loss to Texas Tech.
Pelini said this week’s practices will go a long way in determining whether Lee or freshman Cody Green starts against the Cyclones (4-3, 1-2).
“There are a lot of variables, a lot of things that could happen, but it would be hard for me to look into a crystal ball and say this is going to happen for sure,” Pelini said.
Pelini said he doubted he would rotate Lee and Green because it would be hard for either to establish a rhythm.
Pelini said after practice that Lee and Green went through their normal routines. Senior center Jacob Hickman said he thought Green spent a little more time than usual with the No. 1 offense.
Lee and Green weren’t available for interviews Monday.
Hickman said he had no idea whether a change is in store.
“They both are confident guys, so you don’t have much of a change in the huddle. Their demeanor is very similar,” Hickman said. “It’s not that big of a difference.”
Lee led four straight scoring drives to end the 27-12 win at Missouri on Oct. 8. But the Huskers have gone scoreless on 18 of the 19 other series quarterbacked by Lee against Missouri and Texas Tech. Lee was 16 of 22 for 128 yards against the Red Raiders, and he took four sacks.
Green played three possessions in the second half against Tech. He entered for the second series of the third quarter and took a delay penalty before Curenski Gilleylen dropped what would have been a 76-yard touchdown pass, forcing a punt.
Green returned for the final two series. He completed 5 of 7 passes during a 40-yard touchdown drive he ended with a 13-yard pass to Khiry Cooper. Green, who ended 7 of 16 for 87 yards, later moved the Huskers from their 38 to the Texas Tech 14 before throwing an interception.
“Cody did a couple good things. He didn’t grade out exceptionally well,” Pelini said. “He’s a young guy who went in there in a tough situation and he made a couple plays. He made some mistakes, he made a number of mistakes. He’s a young guy. He’s figuring some things out. He’s got a ways to go.”
Quarterback isn’t the only issue confounding Pelini. Nebraska averaged just 2.8 yards per carry against Missouri and Texas Tech. Receivers are dropping too many balls. And the offense has been penalized 21 times for 154 yards in the three games against BCS opponents, including eight for 60 yards against Tech.
“We’ve hit a rough patch and we’ll fight our way through it,” Pelini said. “It’s a matter of us executing, and we understand that. There are things we need to get fixed. We need to get better.”
