LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -He’s the Big 12’s top-rated passer and ranks as one of the most efficient in the country. Old-timers look at the zip on his throws and compare him with 1970s-era Nebraska quarterback Vince Ferragamo.
His offensive coordinator describes him as a “cool dude.” Yes, after just two starts for the 19th-ranked Huskers, Zac Lee is the man.
Now comes the hard part.
Picking apart defenses in the comforts of home against the likes of Florida Atlantic and Arkansas State is one thing. Doing it on the road against No. 13 Virginia Tech on Saturday will be quite another.
Lane Stadium, where the straight-up seating lends itself to maximum noise from 66,000-plus fans, is one of the most hostile environments for a visiting quarterback.
Bring it on, Lee says.
ball. That’s why it’s fun. You go to these different places and see these different fans who just love ball and love their team, and you get to compete in a different atmosphere.”
Lee has completed 43 of his first 59 passes as successor to Joe Ganz. Three of his six touchdown passes have covered at least 28 yards. He’s been intercepted only once.
The statistics don’t elicit much excitement from Lee.
“It’s after two games, so a lot of things can change, a lot of things can happen,” he said. “I’m definitely happy about how I performed but there are things I can definitely do better. That’s something more to look at at the end of the year and judge it from there.”
While Lee’s talents as a pure passer have drawn comparisons to Ferragamo, the Husker All-American who went on to start for the Los Angeles Rams in the 1980 Super Bowl, he also has a knack for scrambling and running a little option.
He even has a fan in Hokies cornerback Rashad Carmichael.
“Man, I really like that quarterback, his ability to throw and run that traditional option,” Carmichael said.
After two games, Nebraska offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said, Lee’s decision-making is more important than his passing numbers.
“Zac has been 100 percent in his checks,” he said. “He’s gotten us into good plays. He’s ahead of where I thought he would be.”
o 80 percent on passes deemed by the coaching staff to have been made in pressure situations (third downs, blitzes, heavy pass rush, etc.)
Lee said he expects the speed of the game to increase dramatically for him Saturday and all the Huskers are preparing for the Hokies’ crowd as well as their defense.
Virginia Tech is 46-7-1 at Lane Stadium against non-conference opponents since 1991, and they’ve won their last 31 out-of-conference games at home. Since 2003, according to Virginia Tech, the crowd has directly or indirectly induced 82 false starts and 31 delay penalties by opponents.
Nebraska is pumping in crowd-noise audio at practice this week and plans to use a silent snap count.
“Zac and I have to get on the same page with how we’re going to orchestrate that,” center Jacob Hickman said. “There is no substitute for going out there and playing in it. It might be a little tough at first, but everyone understands what we have to go in there and do and what to expect. If everyone has their mind right, we’ll be OK.”
Hickman said he and his linemates are confident Lee will be able to handle his first road environment.
“Zac’s got pretty good poise,” he said. “You can tell by his pocket presence the first couple games. That was a little better than I expected. He comes in with confidence and poise on every play, and even if he’s going to get hit he carries himself the right way, which insinuates that in a hostile environment he’ll be able to do that.”
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