I could write a 7 page dissertation about the personnel issues which completely hampered Nebraska's offense last season. But I won't due to time and indifference. But a lot of people who want to cast all the blame on Adrian Martinez are failing to forget a few things about the personnell last season:
1. Kanawai Noa ran a 4.9 forty. He was brought in to be Andre Hunt's backup. Hunt turned into a rapist. Noa was left to start and didn't cause a single eye raise from opposing DCs.
2. Mike Williams was playing on the boundary, in the Big Ten, despite being one of the smallest players in the Big Ten. When Spielman had to go out, was injured, or when Noa was out, Williams was really just a place filler. He was inneffective as a blocker for run support, and was constantly knocked off schedule by bigger DBs.
3. Kade Warner missed the first half of the season, and it should've been real telling to all Husker fans that his return was treated as a pivotal positive moment for the team. I like Warner, but the fact we were all excited about a walk on with 12 career catches coming back should've been a giant red flag to the offense.
4. Dedrick Mills is a good running back. he might be the best returning RB in the Big Ten West for 2020. But Mills didn't really get on track until about week 5. With the dismissal of Mo Washington, Mills was backed up by Wyatt Mazour.
Nebraska basically had 3 weapons:
Wandale, Spielman, and Mills. If one of them was injured, or they needed a break, Nebraska's offensive personnel moved into bottom of the Power 5 territory.
Bottom line is opponents didn't have to defend Nebraska the way Frost's scheme needs to be defended. They were able to cheat and box in Martinez, spy him, or take away intermediate routes.
I expect Nebraska football's offense to be a lot better in 2020 with Manning, Betts, Wandale, Mills, the Tight Ends and some legit back ups at RB, plus second year wideouts in the system.