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Earlier today, we looked at the three offenses in the Big 12 most in need of repair. Here's how they rank in ease of improvement. Shortest road to recovery
1. Nebraska -- All the pieces seem to be there. The Huskers have one great receiver (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=241677Niles Paul) and a few solid options behind him (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=481581Brandon Kinnie, http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=189588Mike McNeill). They have two great running backs in http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=481556Rex Burkhead and Roy Helu Jr. running behind an offensive line that spent the spring getting healthy and drawing praise from coach Bo Pelini. If http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=232216Zac Lee can pretend every game is the Holiday Bowl, or the one of quarterbacks behind him, http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=481555Cody Green, http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=481547Taylor Martinez or http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=377824Kody Spano, can emerge, the Huskers could become scary fast. Arizona learned, but can the Huskers have a chance to teach the rest of the Big 12?
2. Baylor -- The idea is pretty formulaic. Bad offense + Robert Griffin III = good offense. We won't find out if the formula is faulty until the fall, but Baylor ranked 10th in total offense in Griffin's freshman season. He could battle rust as he returns to full speed from a serious knee injury, but he also got a season to sit back with a clipboard and learn the game, something he says helped him understand the finer points of the position more so than when he ran wild in 2008. He loses his biggest target in David Gettis, but keeps his main target, http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=379430Kendall Wright. If Griffin does emerge from the injury a smarter player and keeps his aggressiveness and accuracy, the Bears could be a lot better on offense.
3. Colorado -- The Buffaloes have talent at the skill positions. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=380362Rodney Stewart should embrace the role as the featured back this season. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=192272Scotty McKnight and http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=237966Markques Simas will be joined by http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=240512Toney Clemons to form perhaps the most underrated receiving corps in the conference. But none of it will matter if they can't get better on the offensive line and quarterback. The offense was just as bad in 2008, even when Hawkins started all 12 games for the Buffaloes. Hansen completed better than 60 percent of his passes in three starts last season. He completed fewer than 50 percent in two. The goal for the spring was 70 percent. If the offensive line doesn't get better, that's not going to happen. Max Tuioti-Mariner will return from injury this season, but he and tackle Nate Solder can't block everyone. If they don't get help, the Buffaloes could be at the bottom of the Big 12 again with nearly 800 fewer yards than any team in the conference like in 2009.
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