SB Nation - Cameron Meredith

Where Was the Husker Defensive Line Against Kansas?

Jon Johnston — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:00:31 -0000

More photos » by Orlin Wagner - AP

Kansas made themselves bigger in the middle with the influence of head coach Mark Mangino.

Nebraska's defensive line has been incredible most of the season, but against Kansas they looked somewhat pedestrian. Nebraska managed only one sack, that on a corner blitz where Prince Amukmara chased down Todd Reesing who was rolling to the opposite side of the field. The defensive line unit managed only 3.5 tackles for loss, with five total for the team.

Strategically, Kansas did a couple things very well to neutralize Nebraska's defensive line. They double and triple-teamed the best defensive lineman in the nation for most of the game. They also ran a fair number of misdirection plays, having Reesing roll in the opposite direction of the offensive line blocking. On those plays the defensive line doesn't have much choice but to go in the direction of the offense, as that's the point of misdirection - to disguise the play by moving the offense in one direction while the ball goes in another.

Kansas tried a couple of plays early with a single blocker against Ndamukong Suh, but his upfield push was too strong for tackle-converted-to guard Jeff Spikes. (Last week Husker fans were told a freshman would be getting his first start against Suh. Apparently Mark Mangino isn't that crazy.) Given that result, Suh was double-teamed and triple-teamed for the rest of the game. Normally Jared Crick would benefit from the extra blockers handling Suh, but in this game Crick was frequently caught up in KU's blocking scheme. Carl Pelini called some line stunts in an attempt to cross up the blocking, but the Huskers were burned by them on a few occasions.

That's not to say the defensive line didn't have some great plays. Kansas was limited in the number of downfield passes they could throw. When they tried to develop longer passing routes, Reesing was frequently pressured into bad throws. Kansas had one play where their receiver had gotten behind Nebraska's defensive backs, but the ball was dropped.

Dezmon Briscoe's biggest gain of the day came on a short pass where Briscoe spun around and ran past two Husker defenders who had taken bad angles on the play. Those are the kind of plays Briscoe can make. Reesing's biggest gain came on a 17-yard quarterback draw when he barely escaped the grasp of a defensive lineman. Other than Reesing's draw, the longest ground gain was by running back Toben Opurum for a mere six yards. That's not anywhere near suck territory.

The most impressive defensive line play of the day came when Barry Turner tracked down Dezmon Briscoe on a reverse, running him to the sideline for a one-yard loss. Turner showed impressive speed on the play and kept the angle of pursuit to his advantage. Turner ended up with four tackles, while fellow linemen Suh, Crick, Pierre Allen, and Cameron Meredith had 2.5 apiece.

To date, Nebraska has averaged 6.9 tackles for loss and 2.8 sacks per game. Kansas was successful in eliminating negative plays, largely due to Reesing's ability to scramble and find just enough room on his draw plays. The Jayhawks made the best of Briscoe's ability to make plays and Kerry Meier's ability to catch anything thrown at him.

Overall, it wasn't a bad game for the defensive line, we just didn't see the bone-crushing tackles that we've become accustomed to this season. Don't worry about it too much - Kansas State quarterback Grant Gregory isn't nearly as mobile as Todd Reesing, and the Wildcats only have one big playmaker in speedy receiver Brandon Banks.

Count on seeing a Husker defensive line back in form this weekend. Contain the Wildcat ground game, get some sacks, and everything should be good.

The North in 2010

Bill C. — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:00:31 -0000

The 2009 Big 12 North race is, to say the least, intriguing heading into November, but the way my brain works, I can't help but keep an eye on the future as all of this plays out. And since it's in my head, I might as well type it out too, huh? As November 2009 begins, let's take a look at...2010.

What we're going to do is simple: we're going to take the most recent two-deeps listed on each team's website, remove the seniors, and see what's left. Obviously there will be plenty more analysis to come, but this will be a nice, preliminary peek. I can't help myself.

Missouri

Projected 2010 Depth Chart
QB	Blaine Gabbert (Jr) Jimmy Costello (So)	DE	Jacquies Smith (Jr) Marcus Malbrough (So)
RB	Derrick Washington (Sr) De'Vion Moore (So)	DT	Dominique Hamilton (Jr) Marvin Foster (RSFr)
WR	Jerrell Jackson (Jr) Brandon Gerau (Jr)	DT	Terrell Resonno (Jr) Bart Coslet (Sr)
WR	T.J. Moe (So) Rolandis Woodland (So)	DE	Aldon Smith (So) Brad Madison (So)
WR	Wes Kemp (Jr) Michael Egnew (Jr)	WLB	Zaviar Gooden (So) Donovan Bonner (So)
TE	Andrew Jones (Jr) Beau Brinkley (Jr)	MLB	Will Ebner (Jr) Luke Lambert (Sr)
LT	Elvis Fisher (Jr) Justin Britt (RSFr)	SLB	Andrew Gachkar (Sr) Tyler Crane (Jr)
LG	Austin Wuebbels (Jr) Travis Ruth (So)	CB	Carl Gettis (Sr) Trey Hobson (Jr)
C	Tim Barnes (Sr) J.T. Beasley (Jr)	CB	Kevin Rutland (Sr) Robert Steeples (So)
RG	Jayson Palmgren (Jr) Travis Ruth (So)	FS	Jasper Simmons (Sr) Munir Prince (Sr)
RT	Dan Hoch (Jr) Jack Meiners (So)	SS	Jarrell Harrison (Sr) Kenji Jackson (Jr)

K	Grant Ressel (Jr)	P	Matt Grabner (Jr)
PR	Carl Gettis (Sr)	KR	Jasper Simmons (Sr)

I've got to say, this is the most complete team heading into 2010. Blaine Gabbert will be the most accomplished North QB heading into 2010 and Derrick Washington the second-most accomplished RB. The improved secondary will return just about everybody of importance, and a deep LB corps could be well-positioned to absorb the loss of Sean Weatherspoon with as little drop-off as possible.
Two major question marks: a) who replaces Danario Alexander, and b) who replaces Jaron Baston? Multiple candidates exist to replace Spoon, so that's actually less of a worry, but the WR situation is at least a bit worrisome. Wes Kemp has shown flashes, and if he continues to grow, he could be the deep threat this team needs, but what is it I always say? Until you actually prove it, it's a question mark. Beyond Kemp, guys like Jackson, T.J. Moe (remember him?), Rolandis Woodland, and one of the redshirting freshmen (L'Damian Washington, Jaleel Clark, Kerwin Stricker) will fill out the depth chart, and at least one of them will need to take a step forward.
Of course, you know who else could absorb the loss of Danario? Tight ends. Novel concept, I know.
I really like what I've seen out of Dominique Hamilton recently, but Terrell Resonno seems to have disappeared. Either he or one of the underclassmen (Marvin Foster, Jimmy Burge, George White) will need to raise their game. If somebody competent steps up at WR and DT, this team is loaded.

Colorado

Projected 2010 Depth Chart
QB	Tyler Hansen (Jr) Cody Hawkins (Sr)	DE	Marquez Herrod (Sr) Josh Hartigan (Jr)
RB	Rodney Stewart (Jr) Darrell Scott (Jr)	DT	Curtis Cunningham (Jr) Nate Bonsu (So)
FB	Ryan Deehan (Jr) ?	DT	Will Pericak (So) Conrad Obi (Jr)
WR	Scotty McKnight (Sr) Jason Espinoza (Jr)	DE	Forrest West (So) Nick Kasa (So)
WR	Markques Simas (Jr) Will Jefferson (So)	WLB	Jon Major (So) Tyler Ahles (Jr)
TE	Ryan Deehan? (Jr) ?	MLB	Michael Sipili (Sr) ?
LT	Nate Solder (Sr) Ryan Dannewitz (So)	SLB	B.J. Beatty (Sr) Doug Rippy (So)
LG	Ethan Adkins (Jr) Blake Behrens (Jr)	CB	Jimmy Smith (Sr) ?
C	Keenan Stevens (Sr) Mike Iltis (Jr)	CB	Jalil Brown (Sr) Arthur Jaffee (Jr)
RG	Matthew Bahr (Jr) Max Tuioti-Mariner? (So)	FS	Ray Polk (So) Anthony Perkins (Jr)
RT	Ryan Miller (Jr) Bryce Givens (So)	SS	Travis Sandersfeld (Jr) ?

K	Aric Goodman (Sr)	P	Aric Goodman (Sr)
PR	Jason Espinoza (Jr)	KR	Brian Lockridge (Jr)

I mentioned this past offseason that while Colorado was going to stink in 2009, they might actually be positioning themselves to actually fulfill the role of sleeper that has been foisted upon them for most of the last half-decade. Ironically, they might actually emerge as a sleeper just as everybody finally gives up on them.
Of course, there will still be some major question marks. You know I'm not at all impressed with Rodney "Another Short Gain By" Stewart, and while Scotty McKnight (how is he still an underclassman???) is a great possession guy, he'd be a helluva lot better as a #2 or #3 threat than a #1. Unless Markques Simas finally starts to live up to the potential everybody says he has, this team is still severely lacking at WR, and they're losing both of their top tight ends. (I'm going out of my way not to mention Darrell Scott here, as he...whatever. I have no expectations whatsoever for him at this point, and I'm going to let him surprise me.)
I really like Jimmy Smith at CB, but CU's going to be searching for some replacements in the secondary. Jalil Brown has potential, and Ray Polk is young, but depth could be an issue.
Same can be said for the LB corps. Luckily for CU, they should have a strong D-line to maybe deflect some of the concerns.
If CU really does live up to its annual sleeper reputation, it will be in the trenches, where a struggling O-line will at least have experience on its side, and the D-line could be strong. Then again, after watching CU's O-line attempt to handle MU's improving-but-not-amazing D-line, maybe returning a bunch of these guys might not be a good thing.

Iowa State

Projected 2010 Depth Chart
QB	Austen Arnaud (Sr) Jerome Tiller (So)	DE	Patrick Neal (Jr) ?
RB	Alexander Robinson (Sr) Beau Blankenship (So)	DT	Bailey Johnson (Jr) Stephen Ruempolhamer (Jr)
WR	Jake Williams (Sr) ?	DT	Austin Alburtis (Sr) ?
WR	Sedrick Johnson (Jr) ?	DE	Roosevelt Maggitt (So) Cleyon Lang (So)
WR	Josh Lenz (So) Darius Darks (Jr)	SLB	Jacob Lattimer (Jr) ?
TE	Collin Franklin (Sr) ?	MLB	Matt Tau'fo'ou (Sr) A.J. Klein (So)
LT	Kelechi Osmele (Jr) Brayden Burris (So)	WLB	Jake Knott (So) ?
LG	Alex Alvarez (Sr) Mike Bangston (So)	CB	Leonard Johnson (Jr) Jeremy Reeves (So)
C	Sean Smith (Sr) ?	CB	Jacques Washington (So) ?
RG	Ben Lamaak (Sr) Trey Baysinger (Jr)	FS	Michael O'Connell (Sr) ?
RT	Scott Haughton (Jr) Zack Spears (Jr)	SS	David Sims (Sr) Zac Sandvig (Sr)

K	Grant Mahoney (Jr)	P	?
PR	Leonard Johnson (Jr)	KR	Leonard Johnson (Jr)

So Paul Rhoads' second year in Ames will potentially see a downright strong offense and a thin, depleted, inexperienced defense. I don't want to overstate the offensive potential (the WR situation is iffy, to say the least), but ISU might have the best O-line in the North blocking for what is at least decent skill position talent.
Arnaud vs Tiller. Could be interesting to watch this competition.
Really, if ISU returned just a couple more decent playmakers on defense, I could talk myself into them being a darkhorse contender. But while I do like what Rhoads has done with the talent on hand this year, I just can't figure they'll be that great next year. They will need another year or two of Rhoads developing his own recruits before I feel a lot more comfortable about the potential of their program.

Kansas

Projected 2010 Depth Chart
QB	Kale Pick (So) ?	DE	Jake Laptad (Sr) ?
RB	Toben Opurum (So) ?	DT	Jamal Greene (Sr) ?
WR	Dezmon Briscoe?? (Sr) ?	DT	John Williams (So) Richard Johnson (Jr)
WR	Johnathan Wilson (Sr) Tertavian Ingram (Sr)	DE	Quintin Woods (Sr) ?
WR	Bradley McDougald (So) Chris Omigie (So)	SLB	Justin Springer (Sr) ?
TE	Tim Biere (Jr) Ted McNulty (Jr)	MLB	Drew Dudley (Sr) ?
LT	Tanner Hawkinson (So) Ian Wolfe (Sr)	WLB	Huldon Tharp (So) ?
LG	Brad Thorson (Sr) Carl Wilson (Sr)	CB	D.J. Beshears (So) Daymond Patterson (Jr)
C	Jeremiah Hatch (Jr) Brad Thorson (Sr)	CB	Chris Harris (Sr) Calvin Rubles (Sr)
RG	Sal Capra (Sr) Trevor Marrongelli (So)	FS	Lubbock Smith (So) ?
RT	Jeff Spikes (Jr) Michael Martinovich (Jr)	SS	Phil Strozier (Sr) ?

K	Jacob Branstetter (Sr)	P	Alonso Rojas (Sr)
PR	Daymond Patterson (Jr)	KR	Bradley McDougald (So)

So KU's biggest question mark (offensive line) will return completely intact next year, while most of the known skill position talent disappears. I listed Dez Briscoe on the two-deep above, but I've got to be honest: I'm about 92% sure he's going pro this year. His stats are ridiculous, he's got decent NFL size, he's been suspended for academic reasons, and supposedly he was tied to those football-vs-basketball brawls earlier in the year. That's not a recipe for someone who's going to go out of his way to stick around campus for another season.
Without Briscoe, I have to figure this is going to be a run-heavy offense next year. Kale Pick's got a lot to prove, but with Toben Opurum and an experienced line, they might (might) be able to rely on the run. Then again, they'll still need some sort of passing attack, and...who will be the #1 receiver? Johnathan Wilson, I guess? Color me unafraid.
I'm not even going to try to figure out if KU's D is going to be any good. They've improved recently, but they lose Darrell Stuckey and two linemen, and the depth from LB corps vanishes. I assume this will be a decent unit, and really you can start to maybe see the identity KU might be going with--defense first, run-heavy, grind it out.

Kansas State

Projected 2010 Depth Chart
QB	Carson Coffman (Sr) ?	DE	Brandon Harold (Jr) ?
RB	Daniel Thomas (Sr) ?	DT	Prizell Brown (Sr) ?
FB	Braden Wilson (So) Lucas Hamm (Sr)	DT	Raphael Guidry (Jr) ?
WR	Lamark Brown (Sr) ?	DE	Antonio Felder (Sr) Joseph Kassanavoid (So)
WR	Collin Klein (So) Chris Harper (So)	LB	Kevin Rohleder (Sr) ?
TE	Travis Tannahill (So) ?	LB	Alex Hrebec (Jr) ?
LT	Zach Hanson (Jr) ?	LB	Troy Butler (Sr) Thomas Ferguson (So)
LG	Zach Kendall (Sr) Trevor Viers (Sr)	CB	Joshua Moore (Sr) Darious Thomas (So)
C	Wade Weibert (Sr) ?	CB	Stephen Harrison (Sr) David Garrett (Jr)
RG	Kenneth Mayfield (Sr) Colten Freeze (Jr)	FS	Emmanuel Lamur (Jr) ?
RT	Clyde Aufner (Jr) Ethan Douglas (So)	SS	Tysyn Hartman (Jr) Torrell Miller (So)

K	Josh Cherry (Sr)	P	Ryan Doerr (So)
PR	Tysyn Hartman (Jr)	KR	Daniel Thomas (Sr)

Like Kansas, this looks to be a pretty run-heavy, can't-pass-on-them team, with Daniel Thomas running behind a super-experienced line and a well-coached defense that is iffy in the front seven but stout in the secondary. In other words, this looks like a Bill Snyder team (sans the All-American linebackers). We've made a big deal out of the fact that they're losing about 35 seniors this year (and that's only a slight exaggeration), and that will absolutely murder their depth, but if they stay reasonably healthy, the Snyder identity might be able to take shape a bit more.
Now, I say they'll have a good secondary...I'm still unsure about how good the secondary is now, but returning all four current starters certainly suggests decent improvement for next year.
I believe I heard that Chris Harper is moving to WR instead of competing at QB, right?

Nebraska

Projected 2010 Depth Chart
QB	Cody Green (So) Zac Lee (Sr)	DE	Cameron Meredith (So) Josh Williams (So)
RB	Roy Helu, Jr. (Sr) Rex Burkhead (So)	DT	Baker Steinkuhler (So) Terrence Moore (Jr)
FB	Tyler Legate (So) Mike Hays (Jr)	DT	Jared Crick (Jr) ?
WR	Niles Paul (Sr) Antonio Bell (So)	DE	Pierre Allen (Sr) ?
WR	Curenski Gilleylen (Jr) Khiry Cooper (So)	Will	Blake Lawrence (Sr) Matthew May (Jr)
TE	Mike McNeill (Sr) Dreu Young (Sr)	Mike	Will Compton (So) Micah Kreikemeier (So)
LT	Mike Smith (Sr) ?	Buck	Sean Fisher (So) Eric Martin (So)
LG	Keith Williams (Sr) ?	CB	Prince Amukamara (Sr) Dejon Gomes (Sr)
C	Mike Caputo (Jr) ?	CB	Anthony West (Sr) Alfonzo Dennard (Jr)
RG	Ricky Henry (Sr) ?	FS	Eric Hagg (Sr) Austin Cassidy (Jr)
RT	Marcel Jones (Jr) D.J. Jones (Sr)	SS	P.J. Smith (So) Courtney Osborne (So)

K	Alex Henery (Sr)	P	Alex Henery (Sr)
PR	Niles Paul (Sr)	KR	Niles Paul (Sr)

How the hell is Pierre Allen still an underclassman? I was completely convinced that both he and Barry Turner were seniors, but I guess not.
Next question: how much of Nebraska's defensive identity is grounded in Ndamukong Suh? He and Turner depart, but will Allen and the stout Jared Crick be able to keep the great D-line play coming? And how much of Crick's success is due to offenses' fear of Suh?
The shine is quickly wearing off of Roy Helu, Jr., but he does return next year (lord knows he's not going pro), and with yet another experienced O-line, NU should be able to run the ball pretty well. That will obviously take some pressure off of Cody Green if Green is not, after all, ready to be NU's savior.
I really like what NU has returning at CB, but...safety? I think I like their second-string CBs more than their first string safeties. Will be interesting to see if there's some position shifting when all is said and done.

As a Missouri fan, I look at this information and quickly conclude that Missouri will be the 2010 favorite, and really I'd say I have pretty good basis in fact for that opinion. That said, Nebraska is intriguing, and even though K-State is not a stat-friendly team (I've already accepted that they're better than the stats say--I just can't figure out how much better), Bill Snyder really might get them back into the hunt despite the youth and lack of depth. Colorado could be interesting depending on who the head coach is (ahem), Kansas has recruited well and will see plenty of talented-but-young players hitting the field, and Iowa State might have the best offensive line in the division. I'd like to think Missouri might run away with this thing, and I'm sure it could happen (the trip to Lincoln aside), but with five of six North teams (all but Kansas) looking potentially better next year than this year, we might have another fun race on our hands.

Nebraska Cornhuskers vs Louisiana-Layafette Ragin' Cajuns Postgame Overreaction

Jon Johnston — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 13:30:45 -0000

More photos » by Nati Harnik - AP

Oh, man. Hippies not from Colorado? I was disappointed that I didn't see more crewcuts with butchwax and horn rimmed glasses.

Browse more photos »

The 300th sell-out went as expected, with Nebraska crushing an inferior opponent into the ground as they've done so many times over the past 47 years. It wasn't great football, but it was a great celebration. The game was a good old-fashioned Nebraska butt-kicking, with the Huskers taking a 34-0 halftime lead on their way to the first shutout since 2006.

It was a game in which everyone got to play and there was plenty of time to talk about past games and recognize Husker legends without having to worry about the game being close. The Husker defense made sure the Cajuns could do nothing while the Husker offense scored on their first five possessions, piling up three touchdowns and two field goals.

There are some things to be concerned about. Even in a 55-0 route, Nebraska's offense isn't nearly as crisp as it should be, especially if we expect to make a lot of noise in the Big 12.

More after the jump.........

Some quick notes on what we saw from the offense:

- Zac Lee is a work in progress. He made some throws that were way off the mark. If this shocks you, it's kind of your fault for setting your expectations so high. He's a first-year starter, and everyone knew going in there would be some growing pains. Still, maybe I'm just picking nits, as he was 15 for 18 for 238 yards and a touchdown.

- The rushing offense had some issues. Short yardage wasn't good, and Helu's fumble into the end zone. The Huskers had a 3.9 yard per carry average as a team, but it doesn't help when you're losing yardage on bad snaps either.

- Is there any doubt left that Cody Green is not a suitable replacement for Zac Lee at this point in time? Someday the guy might be an incredible quarterback, but right now he just needs to grow and learn.

- Work out the long snapping, Jacob Hickman!

- For that matter, what is with the wide receivers and tight ends having false start problems? Did you love the look that Bo Pelini gave Kyler Reed after he got one attempting to convert a fourth and short?

The defense is exceptional, possibly the best in the Big 12. Having a solid front four is an unbelievable benefit.

- It was cool that Cameron Meredith got the first sack against ULL that they'd given up this year. I don't know why, but I like this guy.

- Do they track batted balls? Maybe they should. Ndamukong Suh would be leading in that category, easily.

- Larry Asante AND Rickey Thenarse injured. That sucks a lot. Hopefully neither is serious, especially Asante's. The guy is playing at an All-Big 12 level. It isn't just that we can't afford to lose him, it's that it's hellacious fun to see how well he's playing now after what he's been through the past couple years.

Should the Blackshirts be handed out after this game? No. It's Louisiana-Lafayette, for crying out loud. They were supposed to be destroyed. Beat Missouri, and you can hand out Blackshirts, unless Bo Pelini uses them for motivation before the team heads to Columbia.

There's still time to get Ndamukong Suh's throwback uniform, but if you want it, you're going to have to sell out the bucks. As of this writing, it's at $3,125.

Why They Will Win the Big 12 North - A Focus On Strengths

Jon Johnston — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 12:00:17 -0000

Last week I looked at the weaknesses of Big 12 North teams. I also stated that the Big 12 North will come down to a finish between three teams - Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado. This article focuses on the strengths of the Big 12 North teams. I did not pick the strengths nor weaknesses based solely on units (offensive line, linebacker, etc) nor on great players, but on what I felt were the most positive characteristics that would help each team to win games, and therefore win the conference division.

The teams are in no particular order of predicted finish - that will come later this summer.

Nebraska

Primary Strength - The Lines

It might have been easy to rank the primary strength as the defensive line with secondary strength as offensive, but it would be both lazy and a little hopeful with regards to the offensive line. While the Husker offensive linemen showed signs they were bringing back memories of "The Pipeline" days of the ‘90s, the fact is they still have a ways to go. It was relatively easy to develop a strong running game when they had a ball control-based passing game last season. This year their will be much more pressure on the offensive line to perform - if they can develop into a strong unit, Nebraska should win the North.

The defensive line is in exellent shape, with potential All-American Ndamukong Suh up front and defensive ends Barry Turner and Pierre Allen bringing pressure from the outside. Sophomore Jared Crick must play well to keep the double teams from Suh. Two highly ranked redshirt freshman, Baker Steinkuhler and Cameron Meredith will add to the rotation.

Secondary Strength - Turnover Margin

It might be an odd pick for a strength, but turnover ration might be the biggest key to a successful Nebraska season. Bo Pelini’s defenses are known for generating turnovers - in his three years at LSU, his defense went from 105th to 58th to 2nd nationally, improving from -9 to even to +20. In his first season at Nebraska, the Huskers finished -11 and dead last in the Big 12. Despite the low finish, Nebraska finished tied for first in the Big 12 North. What happens with improvement can’t be anything bad.

Kansas

Primary Strength - Offensive Production

Quarterback Todd Reesing, wide receivers Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier and running back Jake Sharp make up the most productive offensive set in school history. Coming into his final season, Reesing already owns over 30 school records, while Briscoe set a school record for single-season receiving yardage with 1,407. As much as Briscoe provides flash, Meier provides clutch, setting a school record for single-season receptions with 97 and a single-game reception record with 14 against Missouri, including the last minute game winning touchdown.

If Sharp sounds anti-climactic, consider that he finished last season with the third-most carries amongst Big 12 running backs - this after Kansas used a running back by committee approach during the non-conference season.
Given this group, Kansas can’t be counted out of any game they’ll play against a Big 12 North opponent.

Secondary Strength - Defensive Secondary

On defense, the Jayhawks are replacing three linebackers that combined for 103 starts and 821 tackles. While that sounds daunting, Kansas will be switching their defensive back to the nickel package, which will somewhat alleviate the loss of experience.

Kansas returns a secondary that remains intact from the last half of 2008. They’re lead by First-Team All-Big 12 safety Darrell Stuckey, who finished second in tackles and with five interceptions. The unit should be better, after finishing third in conference pass efficiency defense despite shuffling starters the first half of the year.

Colorado

Primary Strength - The Running game

Colorado suffered so many injuries last season, it’s difficult to base any prediction on who started how many times or in what position. However, it isn’t difficult to see that the injuries may be of benefit to this season because of the number of young players getting experience when otherwise they would have been watching.

Another not-so-difficult observation was the talent borne by the pair of young running backs Rodney Stewart and Darrell Scott. Neither have been around long enough to gain much attention - on top of that, both were injured during the season with Scott never being fully healthy and Stewart suffering a broken leg against Texas A&M. Demetrius Sumler got a fair amount of work as a third back, so the depth is there.

Injuries didn’t just kill the running backs last season, but took quite a tool on the offensive line. Looking at averages or rankings doesn’t tell that tale. Despite the loss of Devin Head, the only senior of the bunch, to academics this is the best line unit the Buffs have had in years. Add to that a deep tight end unit and the running game will be fine.

Secondary Strength - Defensive Back Seven

Colorado finished first in conference pass defense last season. While that may drop due to having to retool the defensive line, the linebacking unit is one of the better in the Big 12. Top returning tacklers are linebackers Jeff Smart and Shaun Mohler, and while the Buffs lose three starters in the secondary, the return five players with starting experience. Cha’pelle Brown will get a lot of attention, but it’s Jimmy Smith fans will need to watch. Husker fans will remember him as the player who returned a botched fake field goal for a touchdown last season. Benjamin Burney adds experience after missing lsat season due to injury.

Kansas State

Primary Strength - Schedule

Bill Snyder might not have much of an overall team to work with in 2009, but he does have scheduling on his side. The non-conference cupcakes will give him a chance to find out who his players are before moving into Big 12 play. The Wildcats have only three conference road games (not counting the neutral site game in Kansas City against Iowa State), and although they’re against Oklahoma, Texas Tech, and Nebraska, they get the rest of their Big 12 North counterparts at home.

If Snyder can find his players, the Wildcats might shock some people.

Secondary Strength - Pass Defense

The Wildcats have a rising star in sophomore defensive end Brandon Herald, who finished as the top freshman in tackles for loss last season. He’ll provide the pressure while the back seven provides the experience. Of the back seven, four projected starters are seniors. Sophomore free safety Tysyn Hartman will gain some notoriety this season.

Missouri

Primary Strength - The Running Game

Missouri’s offense last season was pass-happy and prolific, but the majority of those players have moved on. The good news for Tigers fans is they have one of the best offensive line units in the conference with three starters returning and a fourth who received plenty of playing time last year. That fourth player in Dan Hoch, who originally committed to Nebraska, but went to Missouri after Bill Callahan’s firing at the end of 2007.

Running back Derrick Washington gained over 1,000 yards last year despite being slowed by injuries late in the season. Washington is a strong runner who’ll be backed up by speed burner De’Vion Moore.

Secondary Strength - Linebacker

It can border on silliness to base a strength on a single player, but Sean Weatherspoon might be that good. He returns as the top tackler in the Big 12 with 155, nearly more than all Husker linebackers had combined. While the unit loses the second leading tackler Christopher Brock (who finished with 105 tackles), the drop off won’t be bad.

Iowa State

Primary Strength - Overall Athleticism

You wouldn’t know it from their 0-8 Big 12 finish, but the 2008 version of the Cyclones was an improved team relative to their recent predecessors. Between quarterback Austen Arnaud and cornerback/kick returner Leonard Johnson, the team’s overall athleticism was much better than the previous season.

Secondary Strength - Coaching Staff

Gene Chizik’s bolting for Auburn after two lousy seasons might be the best thing that’s happened to Iowa State in a while. Chizik left with a 5-19 record, but replacement Paul Rhoads was just what the Cyclones are looking for - a coach that wants to be in Ames. Rhoads hired offensive coordinator Tom Herman from Rice, and defensive coordinator Wally Burnham from South Florida, both excellent hires in their own regard. Herman’s spread is prolific, while Burnham’s defense will attack. The aggressiveness of both coaches should find Iowa State improved over the past couple of years.

The new coaches come into a good situation. After ten straight losses and a 17-game road losing streak, Cyclone fans will be happy with anything that looks like improvement.

2009 Nebraska Spring Football: The Defensive Line Identity Starts With Ndamukong Suh

Jon Johnston — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 11:00:11 -0000

I know, I know. This isn't exactly a spring preview anymore, but I'm continuing through the units anyway. I have a need to understand the 2009 team as much as anybody, and that only comes through careful examination. For me that means writing about them. So, here you go - your 2009 Nebraska defensive line.

Nebraska’s defensive line has the potential to become one of the best in the Big 12 in 2009 and the primary reason for that comes down to the emergence of Ndamukong Suh. His is the one name that will represent the Huskers as they move out of spring and into the beginning of the 2009 season.

You couldn’t ask for a better position in which to have your best player. A good defense, just like offense, starts with a good line. Get yourself two big, strong athletic guys in the middle to keep teams from running up the gut and two defensive ends that can contain runs to the outside and put pressure on the quarterback when he’s throwing and everything else is easier after that.

Ndamukong Suh - The Husker Defensive Line Has An Identity. It's not his name. It's what he stands for.
Photo By Dennis Hubbard

If there is any question about the need for a good defensive line, one need only look back to 2007 when the defensive line (including Suh) was manhandled early and often. The result was a defensive breakdown on a historic level, one that Husker fans would rather forget.

Move forward one season.

The same defensive linemen under a different set of coaches obtained completely different results. The sack total increased from 13 to 27.5. The rushing defense ranking went from 116th to 21st, while passing defense faltered slightly, moving from 84th to 89th (although taking into account the “perfect storm” of quarterbacks in the Big 12 in 2009 that’s not bad), and total defense went from 112th to 55th.

Let’s go back to that guy named Ndamukong Suh. His emergence wasn’t all about the fact that he finished the season first on the team in 2008 in total tackles with 76 and had 7.5 sacks. It was the plays he made throughout the season. Suh had two interceptions on the season, the first being an interception returned for a touchdown against San Jose State. It occurred when the Husker defense was trying find it's identity.

The second one came against Colorado, a play in which Suh ran over Colorado quarterback Cody Hawkins on his way to the end zone turning him into a rag doll in the process. It was a play that crushed the hopes of a hated rival as Husker football hoped to continue it’s resurgence and for that play alone Suh will be forever loved - identity found.

If those big plays weren’t enough, Suh generated offensive stats as well. If Suh wasn’t the only defensive lineman/fullback in the nation to catch a touchdown pass on a play-action fake, scoring as many touchdowns as Menelik Holt and Niles Paul, he was the only one to do it from a formation called “Ducky”.

But one great player does not a defensive line make. The Huskers must find someone to complement Suh lest he be double-teamed throughout the season and his production limited. Someone must replace Ty Steinkuhler and the first step to doing that begins this spring.

Sophomore and Cozard native Jared Crick is the most likely guy to assume that role. Crick saw action in nine games in 2008, finishing with two tackles. Terrence Moore figures in the mix, having seen time in seven games last season, garnering eight total tackles and two sacks. Along with him is junior Ben Martin, who played in only one game and finished with a tackle.

The other notable name at the defensive tackle position is redshirt freshman Baker Steinkuhler. Steinkuhler sat out his inaugural season, but was highly ranked as an inbound recruit for either an offensive or defensive line position. His high ranking and his name lead to high expectations - the biggest hope that he fulfill them early and often.

At the defensive end spot, Pierre Allen and Barry Turner return as projected starters as long as Turner is successful in recovering from a leg fracture. Turner was injured in the San Jose State game. Pierre Allen did a good job of stepping into Barry Turner's vacated position. As a sophomore last season Allen finished behind Suh and the departed Zach Potter with five sacks, not bad for a sophomore.

Turner and Allen are the expected starters, but they’ll get a fight for position from redshirt freshmen Cameron Meredith and Josh Williams. All four, Turner, Allen, Meredith and Williams should figure in the four-deep rotation. Meredith saw some playing time in 2008, but was injured. He retains a year of eligibility as he was granted a medical hardship from the Big 12 conference - good news for Husker fans as both Meredith and Williams have the ability to turn in some big plays in 2009.

Others to consider:

Defensive Tackles:
Justin Jackson - RFr
Josh Molek - RFr
Cole Pensick - RFr

Defensive Ends:
William Yancy - So
Jonathan Santin - So
Faron Klingelhoefer - So
Luke Lingenfelter - So
Conor McDermott - RFr
Kenny Anderson - RFr
Jason Ankrah - Fr - New Recruit - Probably Redshirt
Spencer Long - Fr - New Recruit - Probably Redshirt

Shooting Pointe Blank: Get Out N’ Vote Edition

Blankman — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:00:08 -0000

First, if the polls are still open and you haven’t: GET OUT AND VOTE!

Now then: Norman, Oklahoma. I spent a month there one night. One thing I’ve learned in the game of football is that when a cornerback can not only jump your quarterback’s pass but do so in stride perhaps you’ve become too predictable. That pass is Shawn Watson’s Solich moment and reports indicate he hasn’t left the shower since Sunday trying to scrub that stank off. Yes, Nebraska got clobbered and they should’ve and why? Because a team, not just an extraordinarily loaded team, a team executed well. There are other Big XII North teams that have given Oklahoma more of a fight than Nebraska did. Take Kansas State for example.

I was chatting with a good friend of mine who pointed out KSU was tied with Oklahoma at 28-28 during their game at one point. Now the Okies did score four touchdowns in seven minutes to go into half at 55-28. Why is it that Ron Prince, a man that will surely not make it through the rest of the year, can coach a team that can come back from a 21 point deficit with 3:04 left in the first quarter against a team like Oklahoma yet Bo Pelini cannot? As my friend dutifully pointed out talent can be used as an excuse for half of that argument only and he’s right.

You know what I found interesting? There’s a young man by the name of Travis Lewis on Oklahoma’s roster. Travis was down to Nebraska and Oklahoma before deciding to go to OU at the last moment. I see a lot of talented true freshman on Nebraska’s sideline. David Whitmore, Josh Williams, Cameron Meredith, Sean Fisher, Will Compton. None of these young men have played. Travis Lewis is a fantastic talent and indeed, he redshirted, but he could afford to. He plays for Oklahoma in 2008. He led the team in tackles against Nebraska last Saturday. More than half he made himself.

I’m going to preface my following statement with this: I have no reason to dislike any player on the Nebraska roster until I hear a reason to do otherwise and you guys know that I make my dislike unknown. Vast majority of ‘em are probably great guys, I’ve gotten to meet a few really great ones, but you know what? Josh Williams would beat out Pierre Allen. Cameron Meredith would beat out Clayton Sievers. There is an answer to Larry Asante and Matt O’Hanlon and yet it’s not being scribbled down on the test that is athletic competition on Saturdays and I ask why?

If you can tell me, I’d love to know. Oh, of course the coaches play the best players, right, I forgot. So when these same guys who are not on the field beat out the same guys who are playing now next Spring then what? S&C Magic? Here’s a better question: WHEN, not if, WHEN these players beat out their competitors, what happens because they haven’t seen a down of Division 1-A football? I’ve said it before and I’ll said it again until I drop dead: Talent can only cover up so much.

Nebraska plays Florida Atlantic and Arkansas State before travelling to Blacksburg to play the Virginia Tech Hokies and return the favor for this year before coming home to play my lovable losers, the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns. Be glad. Be VERY glad because next comes Missouri in Columbia and while they may not be as good as 2008, they will be good enough to put a hurting on a team with a new starting QB and a lot of new faces on both sides of the ball.

I think Nebraska beats Kansas, I really do. I think Nebraska goes 3-0 in these final three games, beats a mediocre Big 10 team in a hot place and goes 8-4. Decent record, but there are still many management changes that need to be made both in personnel and staff. 2008 ain’t done yet, but I can still see glaring errors a mile away. Dave Gillespie recruited for Nebraska once. I know trouble when I see it.

Mizzou-Nebraska: Preview and Predictions thread

Bill C. — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 21:30:05 -0000

I was looking back at the first posts made on RMN recently...and it reminded me that last year, along with the BTBS piece, I threw together a unit-by-unit preview of the upcoming game as well. How's about we try that again?

Oh yeah, and leave your own predictions and/or random comments in the comments below.

QB vs QB

I can honestly say without hesitation that Mizzou would win this category against any team in the country. This one needs no explanation. Advantage: Mizzou.

MU RBs vs NU LBs

I'll say this: Cody Glenn has worked out better at LB than I thought he would--you'd figure there would be a one-year transition period, but he's stepped up well and is leading the Huskers in tackles from his weakside LB position. He's even 3rd on the team in tackles for loss, plus he's broken up three passes and forced a fumble. Problem is, his counterparts have been underwhelming. Phillip Dillard is okay, but the strongside LB position has produced next to nothing. Granted, they'll likely be in a nickel most of Saturday, but regardless, this LB unit is still limited.

Oh yeah, and Derrick Washington is really, really good. Advantage: Mizzou.

MU WRs/TEs vs NU DBs

NU Secondary = work in progress. MU receiving corps = best in America. Advantage: Mizzou.

MU O-line vs NU D-line

This is an interesting matchup; it will probably be where the game is decided. The starting front four for Nebraska--Zach Potter, Ndamukong Suh, Ty Steinkuhler, and Pierre Allen--has been downright solid for the Huskers. There are two problems, however.

1) Though we've heard pretty good things about freshman DE Cameron Meredith, there is almost no depth whatsoever with this unit. Their rotation is small, which means either a) they continue with their small rotation against Missouri and wear down by the third quarter, or b) they open up a big rotation to keep guys fresh, and a lot of guys who are either too inexperienced or not good enough to have earned playing time get a lot of snaps. Either way, that's a bad thing for Nebraska.

2) Illinois' D-line is likely better than the Husker unit, and Illinois got little to no pressure on Chase Daniel. Maybe you've heard this once or twice on RMN, ahem, but getting pressure on Chase Daniel with your front four is your only means of survival against the Mizzou offense. Elvis Fisher and Colin Brown are proving to be a ridiculously good set of bookend tackles.

In other words, Advantage: Mizzou.

NU RBs vs MU LBs

Even though I've never been as high on Marlon Lucky as some, I still always saw him as a solid back, particularly on 3rd down. He's picking a bad time to not live up to even my expectations. Granted, there's still a lot of time left in his senior season, but he just hasn't been very dynamic at all. Sophomore Roy Helu Jr. seems to have passed him in terms of potential and upside, and fellow sophomore Quentin Castille is getting the short-yardage carries. It's now a three-headed RB attack for Nebraska, and last week's 15-carry, 46-yard performance from the RBs against Virginia Tech didn't exactly fill me with the fear that Nebraska will be able to control the pace and grind out the clock with the running game. They'll have to rely on the short passing game for that.

Oh yeah, and Brock Christopher and Sean Weatherspoon are freaking fantastic. Advantage: Mizzou.

NU WRs/TEs vs MU DBs

I realize I'm a lot more confident than some regarding the Mizzou secondary. I think an 85%-healthy William Moore is still possibly the best safety in the conference, and I think Carl Gettis continues to be the most underrated defensive player in the country. Seriously, people haven't started wondering why seemingly every #1 WR playing Mizzou in the last 18 games has been a complete non-factor? Gettis is the primary reason why, and while I'm sure Nate Swift will get some catches, the Huskers will likely have to rely on other receivers for the big-play threat.

The Huskers have some potential at WR--I like big Menelik Holt quite a bit, and Niles Paul has proven himself valuable in the return game at least (which means there's some athletic potential there). Plus, Todd Peterson is nothing if not steady. I can see a solid 5-catch, 65-yard day out of him. And any day now, Chris Brooks is going to live up to his 4-star billing. Just kidding.

This unit doesn't scare me to death, and since half of Mizzou's secondary is as rock solid as rock solid gets, I'm almost giving Mizzou the advantage here. But until the unit gels as a whole--until whatever communication problems that have existed get remedied, and until a consistent second CB comes to the forefront--I can't do it. Advantage: Nebraska.

NU O-line vs MU D-line

It's been hard to figure out the Mizzou defensive line. Ziggy Hood dominated August practices like no other--not a day went by when a new story of him torturing a right guard didn't emerge--but he didn't do a whole lot against Illinois. He's steadily improved each game since, but we'll see what he can do against another BCS-level O-line. Meanwhile, Stryker Sulak was amazing against Illinois, but he's done next to nothing since. He's actually been outplayed by fellow starting DE Tommy "Perpetually Underrated" Chavis. If Sulak, Chavis and Hood ever start finding a rhythm at the same time, the sky is the limit with this unit.

Meanwhile, the NU O-line has been...decent. Not great, not terrible...not a strength, not a liability. If Sulak's only playing okay, this matchup is a draw. But big games bring out good things from him, so...Advantage: Mizzou.

Special Teams

As I mentioned the other day in my BTBS piece, Nebraska's got a solid special teams unit. Problem is, Mizzou's got a really, really good one. Advantage: Mizzou.

Coaching

The first time a Gary Pinkel team took on a Bo Pelini defense, this happened. Oh yeah, and only one of the two head coaches has thrown a hissy fit on the sidelines and gotten his team a crippling penalty because of it. Hint: it wasn't Pinkel. Advantage: Mizzou.

Karma

Here's a tough one. Thirty years of bad results in Lincoln = Advantage: Nebraska. Chase Daniel wanting to avenge the worst performance of his career = Advantage: Mizzou. Because I'm a still-scarred Mizzou fan, I'll lean toward the latter, but barely. Advantage: Nebraska.

You know what? The scars healed last year. Advantage: Mizzou.

Summary

That's a 9-1 advantage for Mizzou. Throw in home-field advantage, and it's 9-2. I'll say one more time that we're going to get everything Nebraska has tomorrow, but you know what? It's not going to be enough. I'll stick with what I said on Tuesday: Mizzou 45, Nebraska 24.

Keys to the Game: Missouri

Blankman — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:00:05 -0000

I’ve been pretty busy this week to get pissed off at Missouri too much but with that said it’s time to take a look at the black and gold and take a look at how Nebraska can pull off the upset of the #3 team in the land with a little bit of luck.

1.) Keep Chase Daniel off the field – If this is the case, Nebraska is doing all of the right things. Whether it’s playing quality defense, sustaining long drives or just keeping Joe Ganz upright, the Cornhuskers need to establish themselves, get confidence and do it quickly. Chase Daniel is easily one of the best quarterbacks in the country and a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate.

Keep him off of the field and Chase Coffman, Jeremy Maclin, etc. can’t hurt you. A feat far easier to say than accomplish, but if turnovers become available, Nebraska will need to capitalize on taking each and every one of them. I’d rather see Chase on the sideline pickin’ his nose again than scorching the NU secondary.

2.) Chase Chase Suh-ner rather than later – Several Mizzou blog pundits have mentioned it, so I’ll take them at their word. Pressure Daniel and hey, it’s not a bad idea considering that Nebraska has simply not gotten consistent pressure. Ndamukong Suh has been playing well throughout the season sans a few foolish personal fouls. He’s shown he can be a manbeast and needs to show up Saturday. This doesn’t let the ends off of the hook either. Zach Potter I’m not too concerned with, but Pierre Allen has given me pause while Cameron Meredith has shown excellent technique and quickness in his brief playing time.

I think that this could very well be the game where Meredith can be utilized to rattle the Mizzou QB and could be one of Nebraska’s deadliest weapons even for a true freshman. Meredith uses his speed well and may miss a time or two, but if speed is what prevents Chase from making sound decisions, send Cam and let Suh & Co. play cleanup.

3.) No special teams letdowns – Jeremy Maclin is going to be a terror to contain, but beyond that Nate Swift showed some serious wheels and the punt return team itself got a chance to show the nation that despite losing to Virginia Tech they’ve got some decent special teams chops as well. Protection for Dan Titchener is key as well. Nebraska spent quite a bit of time practicing their special teams this week and I’m looking forward to see the fruits of their labors. Hey, Gary: It’s a fake!

4.) Grow a spine – Last year against Mizzou the Cornhuskers had been beaten senseless by USC and Mizzou added to that. Quite literally in some situations. This squad won’t let that happen. If Mizzou comes in and wants to brawl, watch for yellow flags to match the color of the Tiger uniforms because people may get tossed. I criticized Bo Pelini for the foul he snagged against VT, but I do not disagree with his passion. He needs to remain on the sideline where the head coach should be. Defend your players, but do it with composure and poise. Be smart, be strong and be a Cornhusker.

In summary: Many people feel that Nebraska needs a miracle to beat Mizzou. I even predicted a 45-20 loss to the Tigers. Does that mean I don’t think Nebraska can win? No. Does it mean I expect them to lose? Not necessarily. Do I think it’s probable? From what I’ve seen yes, however I do know all too well that any team can beat any team on any given Saturday. Common knowledge. Mizzou’s got this in the bag…or at least they should. It was said very well that the bar is essentially in the sand and that the nation expects a Nebraska clock-cleaning, but if the Cornhuskers knock the Tigers off of their perch, it won’t just be an upset. It will be a win that Bo Pelini and his team can hang their hat on and build a season off of. The Pinkel factor’s been absent lately, hasn’t it?

Crossfire: Nebraska Q&A

RPT — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:15:04 -0000

To get a better look at what we should expect from Nebraska this weekend, we turned to our colleagues at Corn Nation for a Q&A. My responses to CN are available here.

1. So, four games into the Pelini era, what have we learned about Nebraska so far?

Blankman: This is clearly a rebuilding year for the program as a whole. There is solid talent but I would argue that there is not the proper staff to coach every aspect of the team and perform other duties. I think that Bo is finding his head coach identity and it’s going to take a year or two to truly find if it’s simply intensity that defines him.

Husker Mike: Sadly, the coaching change hasn't corrected as many problems as we had hoped. While our red zone defense has improved significantly, we still struggle with fundamentals. On offense, we're way too inconsistent and struggle with running the ball.

Corn Blight: It’s going to be a tough road back and it isn’t going to happen all in a single season. I knew that already. I fear for the sanity of those who thought that the return of Tom Osborne and hiring Bo Pelini would automatically give us seven points to start the game.

With regards to the team on the field, I’m disappointed that we’re not more physical than we are, and that particularly is true on the offensive line. I had hoped these guys would be monsters, and so far that’s not been the case. Apparently you can’t flush Bill Callahan’s influence in only a few games.

I figured the secondary would be a work in progress, but I thought that our safeties would be fine.

2. What are the biggest lessons Nebraska took out of the home loss to Virginia Tech? What deficiencies exposed during the game worry you the most when it comes to matching up with Mizzou?

Blankman: If you want to beat Nebraska, put eight men in the box and throw on offense.

Husker Mike: Several times, Nebraska's secondary couldn't cover Tech's young receivers. Fortunately, Tech's Tyrod Taylor missed those wide-open receivers. Chase Daniel won't.

Corn Blight: There’s still a lot of work to do in the secondary, and there’s still a huge problem with consistency. Some of this is due to playing young guys and learning a new defense, but some of it is a lackadaisical attitude that hasn’t yet been cleansed from the program.

3. The blueprint for slowing down Mizzou's offense is generating pressure with four down linemen. Do you expect Nebraska to be able to generate that kind of pressure?

Blankman: Not unless changes are made. Pierre Allen looked far too slow against Virginia Tech whereas Cameron Meredith appeared to look very fast and capable of playing from a linebacker or lineman’s spot. If Meredith doesn’t get his fair share of snaps against Mizzou, someone’s got naked pictures.

Husker Mike: One area where there is clear improvement on defense is on the defensive line. Ndamakong Suh has been living up to his reputation, and Ty Steinkuhler has been a force as well. Zach Potter has continued his strong play from last season. By that same manner, Nebraska hasn't faced an offense like Missouri's yet. But there is a glimmer of hope that the defensive line can get Daniel out of rhythm occasionally.

Corn Blight: Yes, I do. Ndamukong Suh has played pretty well (other than a costly penalty against VaTech), coming up with a couple sacks, an interception which was returned for a TD, and a forced fumble. I disagree with Blankman in that I think Pierre Allen has done decently for a young guy taking over for the injured Barry Turner. Allen is third in tackles and has a sack of his own.

We could see more rotation on the front four so they’d stay fresher later in the game.

(More questions after the jump)

4. What should Mizzou fans expect from the Nebraska offense? Are the Tigers going to get a healthy dose of Castille, Helu and Lucky out of the backfield?

Blankman: Marlon Lucky and Roy Helu will be Mizzou’s primary concerns out of the backfield. I would also look to see a concentrated effort to get Nate Swift, Todd Peterson and Menelik Holt the ball via the air. Joe Ganz will run some option as well.

Husker Mike: We'd like to think so...but the I-backs were spectators for the most part against Virginia Tech. Marlon Lucky will start, but beware of Roy Helu when he gets into the game in the second half. Otherwise, watch out for the tight ends on play action and the wide receiver screens. Unless, of course, Shawn Watson has been playing rope-a-dope the last few weeks.

Corn Blight: I would prefer that we run the ball consistently and only go to the air when play-action is necessary. The only way I see us winning this game is in limiting the Tigers’ opportunities, keep the game relatively low scoring.

Okay, honestly, Husker fans don’t even know what to expect out of this offense. Part of that is because it’s multiple - meaning we should be able to run or throw dependent upon what the defense is giving us. Part of that is because one week we look like we could run over people, the next week we miss a bunch of assignments, aren’t physical enough or the quarterback decides to have a bad game as was the case against Virginia Tech. We’ve yet to play a complete game. Maybe we’re due.

5. You've made no secret of your belief that Lincoln will once again harness Chase Daniel like it did in 2006. As an opposing fan, what do you think it will take for Daniel to exorcise the demons you love to mention?

Blankman: Throwing the football.

Husker Mike: I think if Daniel plays like he has this season and Gary Pinkel doesn't interfere, he stands an excellent chance of exorcising those demons.

Corn Blight: I haven’t have I? Ha! If you were in my shoes, what would you do - maybe play up the biggest asset you have (haven’t won in Lincoln in 30 years mantra), over and over until people are tired of hearing it (think: election year)?

The only thing Daniel has to do is be himself. He’s an excellent quarterback and Mizzou has an excellent team. The biggest thing I’d be worried about is whether or not his head swells too large to fit into a helmet.

On the other hand, Nebraska was embarrassed in Columbia last season and they haven’t forgotten it. The fourth quarter fake field goal provides all the bulletin board material the Cornhuskers need for this game. If Missouri comes into the game believing that all they need to do is show up, then we may see Oregon State vs USC again this week.

Staying with that theme, this is a great game to see whether the whole of Nebraska’s team is going to play with urgency. I would love to see us win this game, but it will be more interesting to see if every one of our guys fights until it’s over.

6. In June, you predicted a 35-31 win for Nebraska. Do you stand by your prediction, or would you care to tweak it?

Blankman says: Missouri 45 Nebraska 20

Corn Blight: Slightly. Nebraska 31-30.

I based the prediction on Nebraska getting turnovers and I’ll stick with that. Is it a homerific pick? You’re damned right it is.

There’s one more thing to mention. It’s been a while since Missouri experienced their famous bad luck, so perhaps the good karma well has run dry. Maybe we’ll see another "Fifth Down" or "Flea Kicker" play that determines the outcome of the game. I’ve been extra nice to everyone around me this week just to see if it’ll tip the scale.

Shooting Pointe Blank: New Mexico State

Blankman — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 20:50:42 -0000

As stated in the “Keys to Victory” article this past Friday, I mentioned that NMSU would be the last opportunity that Nebraska would be able to solidify and find an identity let alone a running game. Boy howdy, that was a pretty fine exhibition last night and, guess what? It was supposed to be. I believe a great man once said, “I always love it when a plan comes together.”

Hand me the keys!

Establish a running game:

Marlon Lucky: 15 rushes for 103 yards, 2 TDs, a career-record long run of 58 yards and a 6.9 YPC average

Quentin Castille: 10 rushes for 75 yards and a 7.5 YPC average.

Joe Frickin’ Ganz: five rushes for 69 yards, a TD and a 13.8 YPC average.

Yeah. We ran the ball well. 345 of total rushing well. I not only heap praise on the backs, but also the offensive line (Yes, that includes you, Mike). This was a good game for the line, but again, it should’ve been. Talk to me again in two weeks and we’ll see what’s what regarding Nebraska’s rock-pounding attack.

Super Ganz:

Joe Ganz was definitely super, but as mentioned in the previous article he did it on his own terms. The deceptively fast #12 burned linebackers, he made a nice connection with Marlon Lucky and became the first Husker since Eric Crouch to throw for, run for and catch a touchdown. Joe showed a lot of versatility against New Mexico State and he showed that he’s dangerous in a number of areas. The game did wonders for Joe just as much as the OL and the RBs.

Defensive Line:

Pierre Allen definitely stepped up and it was good seeing him on the bike at the end of the game. I’m hopeful that his wheel stays on for a while, but we did get a look at true frosh Cameron Meredith and as I pointed out in Sea of Red 2008, Cameron wasn’t exactly all-world from the get go, but he showed fantastic speed, play recognition and I greatly look forward to seeing what Pelini will use Meredith for should Allen or another DE step up into Turner’s place.

Cody Glenn:

Cody wasn’t really the defensive story, but rather…the secondary? Prince “Lake Minnetonka” Amukamara, Eric Hagg and Armando Murrillo, heck even Mr. Asante and Lance Thorell got in on the act and looked pretty good against an attack that wasn’t afraid to throw directly at them. That Suh guy continues to dominate at the point of attack and Zach Potter may go down as one of the best kick-blockers in
Nebraska history.

This was a game Nebraska needed. They needed to establish themselves, their identity and they needed to turn New Mexico State into mush. Barring a fumbled snap by Pat Witt, that scoreless streak of NMSU versus Nebraska still stands. It was a good outing, a lot of guys got reps and Nebraska is 3-0. Right now? That feels pretty good regardless of the competition. The Cornhuskers take a week off before facing Beamerball and this is truly something to look forward to. I’m curious to see what Shawn Watson and Bo Pelini can do with two weeks. Tip of the cap all around, mates. You done good.

Poll

After two weeks of prep work, how do you think Nebraska will play against Virginia Tech?

Nebraska wins by at least two touchdowns

45 votes

Nebraska sneaks by with a three to seven point win

96 votes

Nebraska just misses and Bo gets his first loss

16 votes

Nebraska gets creamed and should stay away from East Carolina

1 votes

158 votes | Poll has closed