The ‘Osbone’ is still the best offense ever devised in cfb history. Nobody did it better because nobody ever tried, seriously anyway. It helped to have TO manage it of course. But it was a simple yet complex offense that attacked a defense inside and out with great power and speed, from a variety of formations, with well trained athletes that executed at a very high level.
Every position was recruited to and developed carefully and systematically. TO recruited well but never needed the fabulous WRs and QBs to win at the highest levels. By being able to develop 2-3 star players at a number of positions, he was able to devote more recruiting efforts in and to defense and STs.
Ultimately, he did get some special players in the RB spot. But his QBs didn’t need NFL arms and WRs could be ‘average’ pass catchers with exceptional non-ball skills.
TO also was adept at maintaining exceptional scout team squads to prepare his defense for the offenses they would face. This, while most opponents had very little capability to prepare for NU offense. His system gave Neb advantages that offset any disadvantages he may have had in recruiting, etc.
The only way Neb wins championships using the same basic schemes as most of our competitors is to recruit the very best across the entire team. That’s where even minimal recruiting handicaps will make it so difficult to win consistently. Great running QBs with average arms are much easier to find and develop. Passing is a skill that is largely genetic and hard to really develop. You either have great throwing skills or you don’t.
That said, a modernized (I don’t use that term but since so many insist an option style offense is antiquated I will use it) Osbone can be devised. Frost was supposed to be an offensive wizard who could do something creative. We never saw it all. Half or more of our opponents for the past decade run basically our offense. Zero surprise. They run it better than we do and defenses know it. Result: a anemic run game and sputtering inconsistent passing game reliant on great QB passing skills. Adrian was pretty talented but not special. And Palmer appears to be our first of dozens of WRs with special skills. And the O line has been basically ignored and far below any standard suitable to this ‘modern’ offense. Even basic run plays are below the 4 ypc level and erratic at best. 2-3 yard gains are the norm, even in play action with a lot of pass formation/look built in. First and goal at the 5 yard line is a crap shoot with our run game.