SB Nation - Curenski Gilleylen

Should Shawn Watson and Barney Cotton Be Fired?

Jon Johnston — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:03:22 -0000

More photos » by Amy Gutierrez - AP

I know one of our guys is somewhere down at that end of the field.... here goes.....

Before I start, let me note that it's always an easy proposition to suggest firing people, especially when you're not the one that has to pull the trigger. If you've read my writing long enough, you know that I have a weak spot for firing people - I'm not part of the crowd that's constantly asking for someone to be shot in the head. It's too easy a solution, although I admit, a popular one.

I like the Shawn Watson's philosophy of a "multiple offense". I'm not ignorant of the fact that a powerful running attack is part of Nebraska's heritage, but the ability to shift into a spread and use the zone read and spread option plays give us a huge advantage over our opponents - we just didn't execute them well this season.

I disagree with the notion that Nebraska can't recruit skill position players that can run anything other than a power running game. If Bill Callahan could recruit decent quarterbacks (Zac Taylor, Joe Ganz) and receivers (Maurice Purify, Nate Swift), then why can't this staff?

You can write off some of the offensive problems as turnover in players, but only some. Still, the West Coast offense is largely dependent upon timing and that timing has to be developed between a quarterback and his receivers. We knew it would be tough to replace Joe Ganz, Nate Swift, and Todd Peterson, but I don't think anyone could have foreseen the difficulties Watson faced early in the season when the receivers were not performing as well as was needed. Menelik Holt started the first five games, then disappeared along with Curenski Gilleylen and Chris Brooks. Holt had 15 receptions for 175 yards, none after the Iowa State game. Brooks had 13 receptions for 177 yards, but none since Texas Tech when he had five receptions for 66 yards to lead the receivers. Gilleylen had 16 receptions for 299 yards, none after Iowa State.

They were replaced by Khiry Cooper and Brandon Kinnie. Kinnie finished the regular season with 13 receptions for 129 yards, with 12 of those receptions coming after Iowa State. Cooper's receptions were split throughout the season, as he finished with 13 receptions for 80 yards, with seven coming after Iowa State.

The only consistent receiver all season was Niles Paul and even he had problems (turnover at the goal line, Iowa State). Paul finished with 36 catches for 673 yards to lead the receivers, having six receptions against Iowa State and 13 the rest of the season.

That level of turnover doesn't allow a quarterback to develop the much heralded "chemistry" with his receivers. Granted, Lee's accuracy didn't seem to improve over the season, so you could argue it didn't make much difference as to whom he was throwing the ball.

As for Barney Cotton, the offensive line did progress somewhat throughout the season although the offensive output did not. The number of holding calls and false starts dropped as the season went on, and the line was asked to do a lot with defenses stacked against them to stop the run.

Add to that a general lack of depth. Jacob Hickman played well at center, and Ricky Henry started every game at right guard (the position that was unsettled before the season began). Marcel Jones and D.J. Jones played in rotation at right tackle while Mike Smith started every game at left tackle. Derek Meyer started when Keith Williams was injured, then Williams took over the starting left guard position for the final ten games. The loss before the season of Jaivorio Burkes at tackle and incoming freshman Brent Qvale certainly didn't help the depth issue. Off the top of my head, what we didn't see is the level of in-game rotation that we've seen in past seasons. (I"ll look into this more in the off-season.)

I suspect that most people would like to see Cotton fired because of his association with failed coaching regimes of the past (Solich at Nebraska, McCarney at ISU) rather than knowing much about offensive line coaching. In his defense, keep in mind that, other than Ricky Henry, these are still Bill Callahan's offensive linemen (In other words, Callahan's preference for size over speed still plagues the offense).

Going back to Watson, I'm not 100% sure what to think, other than he got hit with a perfect storm this season - a new starting quarterback, inconsistent receivers, and an offensive line that, well, had its problems. Add to these the fact that one quarterback left before the season started (Patrick Witt) while another was lost to injury at the start of the season (Kody Spano). Running back depth was severely hampered by dismissal (Quentin Castille) and injury (Roy Helu, Rex Burkhead).

A counter argument would point out that every team has to deal with injuries and then list all of the teams that did well despite them. For that, I have a response: Oklahoma.

The biggest problem with firing a coach, especially an offensive coordinator, is that you're going to throw away a year while the new guy implements his system. The counter argument here (I assume) is to bring in someone who runs a much simpler offense, so easy that you and I and a trained monkey can run it. Or perhaps magic happens and everyone instantaneously learns the new offense by having chips implanted in their brains or something like that. (If you're voting for a simplified offense, I vote for Texas Tech's then, because they replace quarterbacks and receivers year after year and seem to get the same fantastic results.)

So, give me your answer to the title question. Does one of these guys need to answer for this season? Or maybe both?

Revamping the Offense in Midseason: Causes and Effects

Husker Mike — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:30:14 -0000

More photos » by Dave Weaver - AP

Menelik Holt and Curenski Gilleylen played themselves out of the Husker lineup. Is this a failure of coaching, talent, or development?(AP Photo/Dave Weaver)

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For the second year in a row, Nebraska offensive coordinator Shawn Watson has had to go back to the drawing board and revamp the Husker offense at midseason. Last year, it was to implement a spread offense around a ball-control offense. This year, that spread look was abandoned in recent weeks to implement a power formation with multiple tight ends and (gasp!) a fullback. In recent weeks, Tom Osborne has been advising Watson as Watson and longtime Husker assistant Ron Brown have dug into old Husker playbooks to find alternatives to an unproductive offense.

There are two ways to look at this situation; it's a variant of the old "glass half-full/glass half-empty" discussion. On one hand, you have to admire the ability to recognize what's not working and adjust. Last spring, I dug into Watson's background as an offensive coordinator for an article in "Cornhusker Kickoff" and came away more impressed with Watson. Throughout his career, he's seemingly always played to his strengths. Some years, it was the running backs, others, it was the quarterback's arm. Sometimes it was a mix of the two. Sometimes he even found the need to switch quarterbacks. But I don't think Watson ever has had a situation like he's faced at Nebraska.

This year's situation is a multi-faceted problem. A new, inexperienced quarterback would be taking the field along with new receivers. The quarterback situation was further complicated by the defection of Patrick Witt to Yale and repeated ACL injuries to Kody Spano. Then by mid-October, Nebraska was digging deep on the depth chart at I-back. In late August, Quentin Castille was kicked off the team for violating team rules. Roy Helu hurt his shoulder at Missouri, and was hampered for nearly a month. Rex Burkhead injured his foot after the Missouri game, and might return in a couple of weeks. Even Traye Robinson was banged up late against Baylor, meaning that Nebraska finished that game with their fifth string I-back.

Receiver is another dilemma. Deep down, I think the number one issue at receiver is simply a talent gap created by the previous regime. Almost everywhere else on the roster, development has improved the performance of players. Just look at the defense; two years ago, they were one of the worst in college football, and now statistically, they are one of the best. Offensive line seems better, and the depth at I-back looks pretty good with Helu, Burkhead, and Robinson. But wide receiver seems to be the exception, as Khiry Cooper and Brandon Kinnie have been thrown into duty despite their inexperience and unfamiliarity with the offense.

And that situation at receiver might explain the Huskers situation best. Whether this staff overestimated the receivers going into the season, or realized that's what they had to work with and tried to make it a go is irrelevent at this point. Once you get into a season, the only thing that matters is making adjustments. Those adjustments became necessary at the same time the depth at I-back disappeared, which created a dilemma for Watson and the offensive coaches. I reject the idea that the power offense was the solution in mid-October. Roy Helu wasn't healthy enough to carry the load, and there was nobody behind him ready to go. So Nebraska turned to their receivers, who simply weren't able to step up when needed. Whether it was the dropsies against Texas Tech or the turnovers against Iowa State, those two games illustrated the Huskers problems.

But what were Shawn Watson's options this summer while he tried to pencil in the Huskers offense? Count on Cooper, the baseball player, or Kinnie, the Juco who he hadn't had a chance to coach yet? Or count on guys like Menelik Holt and Curenski Gilleylen to step up? In hindsight, the answer probably was to count on the tight ends, who looked so good in spring practice...but hindsight is always twenty-twenty, especially from us amateurs. That's the fundamental question that Bo Pelini and Shawn Watson will need to address in the offseason: why was there a need to revamp the offense midseason? Did the coaches make faulty assumptions or faulty decisions? Or did the players simply fail to step up and deliver, despite the best actions and interventions of the coaches. Only the staff can really answer that, and that's a fundamental question that this staff will need to answer after the season is over.

Now is not the time to ask that question. There's a Big XII North championship waiting to be won, and this team still has goals to meet. Right now, the solution is to do exactly what Watson, Brown, and Tom Osborne have been doing. Roll up their sleeves and adjust the offense based on what these players can do. In my job, I've encountered similar situations where all heck has broken loose, and you've got to resist the temptation to place blame when things are broken. Get things fixed as best you can, using whatever means necessary, and get things back in operation. Then, when things stabilize, you look at what went wrong and make the necessary changes at that time.

Is Shawn Watson part of the problem or part of the solution? That's not a question for Bo Pelini to answer in October and November. Pelini will need to answer that question in January, and probably should start asking that question in December. Certainly all aspects of the Husker program need to be questioned: at it's core, was the offenses struggles related to recruiting, development, training, coaching, or simply bad luck?

I won't pretend to definitively know the answer, but it's important that Bo Pelini find an answer because revamping the offense at midseason is a horrible habit to get into. It's great to see this staff making those adjustments when they are necessary, but it shouldn't be necessary to keep making those major adjustments in the middle of the season.

Reality Check Time for the Huskers

Husker Mike — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:47:15 -0000

More photos » by Dave Weaver - AP

Matt O'Hanlon: Three interceptions, Zero Stars. What means more? (AP Photo/Dave Weaver)

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One of the biggest dangers of a big win is forgetting that unless it's the final game of the season, it's just one win. There's always another game coming up that needs to become the focal point right away. So now that Sunday has come and gone, it's time to focus on the next game. We can all be excited about the play of the Huskers, but there's a danger in reading too much into the victory.

Remember the elation from the monsoon victory over Missouri? All those positive emotions evaporated after losing to Texas Tech. Every week's a war, and as we learned a week after that, anybody can beat anybody in the Big XII.

The Husker offense is still an ongoing concern, though I'd suggest the situation isn't quite as bleak as it might appear. Oklahoma's defense might be the best the Huskers will face this season. Shawn Watson dialed down the offense and went ultra-conservative rather than risk turnovers. I'd like to think that opportunities exist in upcoming weeks to open up the offense and try to establish something in the passing game. Brandon Kinnie looked good on the rollout, and you never know if exiled receivers Curenski Gilleylen or Menelik Holt will step up their game.

Nebraska now has control of it's own destiny, win all three games, and the Huskers will win the Big XII North. All three games are winnable. Kansas has lost four straight, Kansas State is in Lincoln, and Colorado is, well, Colorado. But as Nebraska learned a couple of weeks ago, no game is a sure victory either. (See eight fumbles against Iowa State.)

But that hasn't stopped some from focusing on a potential matchup with Texas. And while it's easy to see how Nebraska's defense matches up well against almost anybody, it's way too soon to wonder if Alex Henery can drill Jerry Jones TV set. Three more games still remain, and the focus needs to be on Kansas first and foremost.

Others are focusing on the commitments from potential recruits this weekend. This one is more surprising and more disappointing. If Husker fans should have learned one lesson from the Bill Callahan years, it was to disregard the hype of recruiting. So-called recruiting "experts" told us how Nebraska's recruiting had improved, when in fact, the evidence shows otherwise.

No, the lasting impact of Saturday night's game might be Bo Pelini putting his signature on the Husker program. It was a physical game where the entire defense approached the level that Pelini wants. No matter where you looked at the Blackshirts, you saw it. Whether it was Ndamukong Suh tormenting the offensive line and quarterback, Phillip Dillard's emergence as an all-conference candidate at linebacker, Alfonzo Dennard making waves as a shutdown corner, or Matt O'Hanlon proving hard work and dedication matters so much more than star rankings, we saw the Blackshirt defense being reinvented and reborn out of the ashes the previous regime left behind.

All that means nothing if Nebraska fails to take care of business on Saturday afternoon in Lawrence. That's the focus for this week. Not Texas, not Oklahoma, not recruiting.

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.

Husker Report Card: Baylor

Husker Mike — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:35:54 -0000

More photos » by Duane Laverty - AP

Nebraska Jared Crick sacks Baylor quarterback Nick Florence (11) in the second quarter. (AP Photo/Waco Tribune Herald, Duane Laverty)

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Some week's, I go back and forth as to whether it's better to watch games in person (from my high end zone perspective) or on television. TV gives me many more replays, a bigger picture of the game, and the benefit of statistics. In person gives me the perspective of watching the entire field and the ability to watch key matchups through my binoculars. Yesterday's game was one of those games where watchig in person would have been clearly superior, because the Versus coverage was so bad. Most of the game action was shown from a high camera showing the entire field. That's great for identifying coverages early on, but it was nearly impossible to figure out who was who out there without the aid of replay. On my television, all I could make out was the color of jersey and where they lined up originally. So I feel somewhat uncomfortable grading action away from the ball this week, because I don't feel that I got as good of a read of the game.

QB: One thing is clear; Nebraska's offensive struggles weren't solved by changing quarterbacks. Cody Green brings positives (strong running) and negatives (inexperience and a more erratic arm) to the position. Green looked OK in the first half, but less though in the second half. His pick-6 interception will be a "teaching moment" for Shawn Watson. Grade: D-

IB: Once again, Roy Helu tried to go...and simply can't. I'm not sure I understand the point in putting an obviously limited Helu into the game and risk reaggravating his shoulder, rather than shutting Helu down for a week or two and get him back sooner. Dontrayevous Robinson did fine for the most part while he was in the game...but then joined the cast of injured I-backs on the sideline. Nebraska tried to scour the bottom of the depth chart to find an I-back..and couldn't. Lester Ward wasn't terribly productive and Austin Jones even less so. Grade: C

WR: In 2004, it was understandable that Nebraska didn't have the receivers to be really successful in a passing offense. So Bill Callahan recruited receiver after receiver to Nebraska. Five years later, other than Maurice Purify, those Callahan receivers are turning out to be a waste of good scholarships. Yesterday, the Huskers' starting wide receivers were Niles Paul, nephew of Ahman Green, Khiry Cooper, redshirt freshman outfielder for the baseball team, and Brandon Kinnie, a sophomore who just transfered from junior college. To be sure, that inexperience didn't help playcalling at all, but we also didn't see nearly the same mistakes made by the more experienced receivers. Whether giving Menelik Holt and Curenski Gilleylen the Phillip Dillard treatment is going to improve things down the line But yesterday, that gives the receivers a C-.

OL: It all starts up front when it comes to offense, and as the game wore on, Baylor's defense stacked the line recognizing that the Huskers were green at all of the skill positions. While that's not entirely the line's fault, the line was Nebraska's best chance to break out of the offensive funk they found themselves in. And they couldn't. Grade: D+

DL: Spend too much time worrying about Ndamukong Suh, and you've got Jared Crick to worry about instead. If you want to find something positive to think about yesterday's game, keep in mind that Crick is just a sophomore and still has plenty of time to improve his game under the Pelini brothers. Grade: A-

LB: This is where the Versus coverage did me wrong, as I simply didn't get a good feel for linebacker play from the coverage. I did see a few good things from Sean Fisher, and Phillip Dillard was involved as well. I'll weasel out and put down a B, though I really can't defend it very well.

Secondary: Alfonzo Dennard and Dejon Gomes have really upgraded this unit over the last month...but sadly, Dennard reinjured his shoulder. When Anthony West replaced Dennard, you realized just how good Dennard has been this season. Gomes had an interception, but also a somewhat questionable (in my eye) roughing call when he came on a blitz. Prince Amukamara had a beautiful interception, making a break as soon as the ball was in the air. Grade: B-

Overall: C Defense had another good performance, but needs help from the offense. If 273 yards is all that this offense can produce against Baylor, what can we expect this week against Oklahoma? Wait, don't answer that question.

Elsewhere in College Football

Missouri: B- First half showed that Missouri is much better than their 0-3 start in the Big XII...but the second half has to raise concerns about the Tigers. Or maybe it's just the general suckage that is the Big XII North.

Kansas State: B Took the kids out trick-or-treating with the Sooners rolling...so imagine my surprise to find the Wildcats fighting back in the second half. Maybe Bill Snyder has another miracle left in him after all...

USC: D- The only thing funnier than watching Southern Cal implode will be listening to ESPN Radio's Colin Cowherd try to blow off this one.

BCS Voters: F Funny how suddenly you forget how dominant Alabama has been all season once Florida and Texas finally play a complete game. Fer shame.

Iowa: First three quarters: F 4th quarter: A+ The first three quarters it looked like Iowa was finally going to get it's just desserts...then suddenly they come to life. I still think that eventually the Hawkeyes will get knocked off, but that fourth quarter is the type of quarter that a BCS title contender puts on the board. Usually not after total suckage for the first 45 minutes of the game, however.

Poll

Rate the Huskers performance against Baylor

A Everything you could ask for with a true freshman starting at quarterback.

7 votes

B Defense continues to be outstanding, and the offense is getting untracked with Green

16 votes

C Defense is playing at an elite level; offense is playing at a whole other level entirely.

98 votes

D Doesn't matter what the defense did when the offense is that pedestrian.

58 votes

F That second half was most discouraging.

30 votes

209 votes | Poll has closed

Big 12 Cob of The Week: Niles Paul, Nebraska Coaches And Dan Hawkins Keeps His Idiot Streak Alive!

Cobby — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:01:21 -0000

More photos » by Nati Harnik - AP

Paul Rhoads did not suck this week. The coaches that opposed him.... well, they're nominated, aren't they?

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What a wretched, wretched week, and I'm not just talking about Nebraska, I'm talking about most of the Big 12 North. Well, not even the whole Big 12 North, but Nebraska, Missouri, and Kansas. The three teams that was expected to win the upper half of the conference can't get out of their own way. Neither can Colorado. Or Texas Tech. Better include Texas A&M in that. And Oklahoma State for the Dez Bryant thing. And Oklahoma because their offensive line got their quarterback killed and they just suck this season.

Come to think of it, just about everything and everyone in the Big 12 sucks with the exception of Texas, Iowa State and Kansas State. The first because they keep winning. The latter because everyone thought they were jokes at the start of the season when the joke is on all of us. Maybe the media and the fans suck too.

Maybe it's just one giant season of SUCK.

You know how this works right? Every week we nominate three of the worst performances in the Big 12. You vote on them, picking the weekly winner. At the end of the year we have a Big 12 Cob of the Year, a cobapalooza, and we select the Big 12 Cob of the Year!

The way this year is going, everyone will get a chance to win, especially Dan Hawkins!

Husker Mike:

While Menelik Holt and Curenski Gilleylen also deserve mention for their dropsies against the Cyclones, my Cob of the week nomination goes to Niles Paul. I don't know if there is some sort of magnetic force field on the west sideline at the north 20 yard line as Paul fumbled the ball once again. This time, rather than resulting an opponent touchdown, it merely wiped a Husker touchdown off the board as Paul streaked towards the endzone. And in a two point Husker loss...that touchdown was the difference in the game.

Why, Niles, why? I would have believed that Holt kid. Or maybe Will Henry? But you?

JLew:

Go here and see if you find anything interesting about the drive charts for the KSU/CU game. Notice anything odd at Colorado at 1:11? Yep Hawkins puts in his son to play! Nothing like ruining your starting QB's confidence. The ralphiereport breaks it down for us-

All one had to do is look at Hansen's face towards the end of the first half to see the combination of anger, sadness and frustration residing within because he was replaced perhaps when the offense needed him most. Did the coaches forget what happened in CU's last two drives just the week before? After sputtering for most of the second half against KU, the offense came alive in time to score the winning touchdown and then gain an important first down and use up 3 1/2 of the remaining few minutes to preserve a victory. Those drives were led by and starred Tyler Hansen.

So how did the younger Hawkins do? 10/23 95 yards 0 TD 2 INT. And now I have to hear about KSU leading the B12 North for another 2 weeks.

So we'll continue the CU streak of cobs and give one to Dan Hawkins for his QB decisions, again, and again.

Corn Blight:

I thought about trying to nominate Texas Tech quarterback Taylor Potts. Thought about Missouri, too, being smashed by Texas. But, unfortunately, my nomination has to be the Nebraska coaching staff. Enough of this thought that the Iowa State loss was some sort of "fluke" game because it wasn't. It was the tale of a coaching staff who had their players ready to play and another one that didn't. If you need proof of that, look here and tell me I'm wrong.

The only possible exception is Barney Cotton, whose offensive line played fairly well, didn't drop passes or turn the ball over and cut down on their mistakes (penalties) this week.

Maybe the Huskers spent all week worrying about whether or not they'd get booed again this week. That won't be a problem at Baylor, now will it?

Poll

Your Choice For the Big 12 Cob of the Week:

Dan Hawkins starring in "Idiotic Handling of Quarterbacks - The Sequel"!

42 votes

Niles Paul - for not paying attention to little things like holding onto the ball

85 votes

Nebraska's Coaching Staff - for letting Iowa State show up more prepared and losing to them in Lincoln for the first time in 32 years

122 votes

249 votes | Poll has closed

Husker Youth Movement Shows A Positive Future - But Is The Future Now?

Jon Johnston — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:41:41 -0000

More photos » by DAVE WEAVER - AP

I don't know how you could find Dontrayevous Robinson's play Saturday anything but encouraging.

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Over half way through the 2009 season, you'd swear there wasn't much positive happening with the offense. After two consecutive home losses, and trying to get the idea of eight turnovers in a ball game out of our heads, that's not surprising.

Still, the Huskers have had some positive output from first-year players. For a team looking for playmakers, that's not such a bad thing. If the more experienced players aren't going to win games, perhaps there are difference makers to be found amongst the first-year guys.

Against Iowa State, true freshman Dontrayevous Robinson showed that he could contribute to the offense, carrying the ball 15 times for 77 yards for a 5.1 yard per carry average. He scored his first career touchdown, the only touchdown scored by the Husker offense against the Cyclones. Robinson was impressive, giving the Huskers some tough rushing yards despite having a fumble near the goal line. Given the state of the running game, he should see many more chances in upcoming games.

Despite a foot injury that derailed his season, true freshman Rex Burkhead remains the team's second-leading rusher with 23 carries for 118 yards. Burkhead provided a straight-ahead, tough running style that gave the offense a boast when he was in the games. He also provided an alternative to Niles Paul in fielding punts, and while he had only four chances, he has the highest average in that category.

After Roy Helu Jr, the top leading rushers (in order) are Burkhead, quarterback Cody Green, and Robinson, all first-year players. Zac Lee gained 128 yards, but has also lost 55, netting him 73 and putting him behind the aforementioned players. That should speak volumes about the state of the offense.

JUCO transfer Brandon Kinnie has gotten involved in the offense, with three receptions for 27 yards against Iowa State, giving him four total receptions this season. At 6' 3" and 215 pounds, Kinnie is a big receiver of the Maurice Purify mold. Husker fans can hope the experience gave him some confidence and we'll see more of him as the season goes on.

Antonio Bell has already burned his redshirt season as well, but has only one reception. If Menelik Holt and Curenski Gilleylen have been regulated to the scout team, perhaps it'll mean more playing time for Bell this week against Baylor.

Quarterback Green remains a center of fan focus. The status of Green remains a mystery. Pelini stated after the Iowa State game that Green isn't ready, yet he was ready enough to insert into the Texas Tech game, told to take risks if necessary, and not hold back.

In fairness to the coaches, it's relatively easy to learn the running back and wide receiver positions. The only thing you have to know is what you're supposed to be doing - a running back doesn't have to know what the receivers are doing and vice versa. But as a quarterback, you must know and understand what everyone is doing. Hence the learning curve is higher - any any offense, not just Shawn Watson's.

In deference to Pelini's post-game comments, Zac Lee wasn't the problem this past weekend. He played a reasonable game. Unfortunately, his offense has no heart right now, and if you're going to burn Green's redshirt season, then why not give him some series in a game just to see what happens?

Pelini's recruits are showing that they're ready to get on the field and play some football. At what point does this offense tip over and start giving way to the youth movement?

It's Time To Play "Rank That Turnover!" (In Other Words, Which One Was The Worst?)

Jon Johnston — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:11:07 -0000

It's the Monday after your favorite team tied a school record for turnovers and set another one for turnover margin. The only thing you can do today is stare at your monitor and try to remember all the stupid crap you said and did because you started drinking too much after the three turnovers in the first half. Then you spent Sunday secretly enjoying the fact that the Minnesota Vikings lost because you wanted other people to experience pain. Now you're at work and everyone is depressed, looking for answers.

Vikings fans have an easy solution. Blame Brett Favre. Husker fans - not so much. There are too many options.

Well, here at CN, we understand your pain. In an effort to assist, we've decided to run a poll that will allow you to pick the absolute worst of all of the turnovers in Saturday's game. That way you won't have to think about all of them, just the one that Husker fans collectively pick.

Then we can blame that play for being the one that ultimately lost the game for us.

For a refresher, here's the list of Nebraska turnovers:

- Roy Helu's fumble on Nebraska's first offensive play of the game

- ISU's James Smith stripped a pass from Mike McNeill, then Helu tried to get it and knocked it up in the air just enough for ISU's David Sims to intercept it.

- Niles Paul dropping the ball after doing a great job tip-toeing the sideline, a play which looked like a sure touchdown until Paul got shoe-string tripped and dropped the ball into the end zone for a touchback.

- Helu's second fumble near the Iowa State goal line in the second half.

- Dontrayevous "Tray" Robinson's fumble at the five while fighting for extra yardage.

- Menelik Holt's fumble after a pass reception

- Zac Lee intercepted after throwing high and behind Curenski Gilleylen, who got two hands on it but ultimately tipped it to an ISU defender.

- Zac Lee's interception on a bad pass with less than two minutes left in the game.

You are only allowed to vote for one turnover. Please explain your choice in the comments section.

Poll

What's your vote for worst turnover in the 2009 Nebraska - Iowa State game?

Roy Helu's fumble on first offensive play

11 votes

Freakish, bouncing interception off Mike McNeill

3 votes

NIles Paul dropping the ball after a long pass you swore was going to be a TD

245 votes

Helu's second fumble near the goal line when you were sure we were going to score on that drive

28 votes

Tray Robinson's fumble near the goal line when you were sure.... you get the idea

10 votes

Menelik Holt's fumble after a pass reception

2 votes

Zac Lee's interception after throwing high and behind Gilleylen

4 votes

Zac Lee's final interception on a bad pass that ended all hope forever

19 votes

322 votes | Poll has closed

Q & A with Corn Nation

Seth C — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:00:20 -0000

Thanks to the fine friendly folks over at Corn Nation, DTN and CN have traded questions and answers regarding tomorrow's game (see all sorts of game-day coverage here). Enjoy.

I asked this same question of TB of Bring On The Cats and I'm curious as to what you believe to be the biggest change in philosophy of Bo Pelini from the Callahan regime? Name one thing on the field and one thing off the field.

Husker Mike: I about lost my lunch on Monday night when Jon Gruden started praising Bill Callahan for his teaching ability. Maybe that was true as a position coach, but all that when out the window when he became the man in charge. Teaching never really happened; Callahan just pushed as much as he could of his system, and never worried whether it was ever mastered or even understood. Pelini on the other hand is just the opposite; he wants players to know and understand their roles on the team and what they are doing right (and wrong, if you've ever caught him on the sidelines). Last year, he tried to get to fancy against Missouri and the team got slaughtered. He simplified the defenses the rest of the year, and the team finally started to get the concepts. On the field, he's concentrated on making the team more agile. Look at Ndamukong Suh now; he wouldn't even be considered in the NFL draft if Callahan was still at Nebraska. They wanted players bigger, and he wouldn't be in position to run down quarterbacks. He certainly wouldn't have been agile enough to be able to jump up, deflect, and intercept passes. In fact, that's a skill that Pelini had to teach the defensive linemen when he arrived.

JLew: Seems like an odd thing to ask TB, what does he care about Callahan and Pelini? I kid I kid. Can I say everything? Because it seems like everything in the program is different. I was going to talk about player development but Mike got to it first. So I'll say team toughness. There is a toughness that Bo's teams have taken from him, which the Huskers were missing under Callahan. Down in and to Missouri, in a cold rain the Huskers never gave in. That's not the case before Bo. Also Bo has the players believing they can win games.

Corn Blight: There's night and day difference between the two. Callahan had not a clue about how to manage people which is a requirement as a head coach. He has poor communication skills, micromanages instead of allowing others he's hired to do their jobs, and would give you up without ever being tortured. Bo Pelini is the exact opposite.

2. The Nebraska defense has been stellar all year, do you think there's an inherent advantage in playing a spread team like Missouri prior to Texas Tech and do you expect Nebraska to carry-over the same type of defensive scheme and game-plan this week?

Husker Mike: Well, it's better than playing a triple-option team, but Tech does things quite a bit different than Missouri. I do want to see how Tech tries to defend Ndamukong Suh with those wide splits. Missouri struggled with double-teaming Suh and Jared Crick, and forcing Blaine Gabbert to scramble with a bad ankle. Whichever Tech quarterback is going to need to be ready to either scramble or fire the ball, being careful to not let Suh get his mitts up.

JLew: Spread is such a ubiquitous word to describe those offenses. Pelini said this week that they are different, and so defending them is different. I think covering the Missouri receivers will be a good experience for our defensive backs though.

Corn Blight: I think there's a benefit to it, yes. There are enough similarities between Missouri's and Texas Tech's offenses that the coaches can be consistent in how they teach defense and make sure that the overall philosophy is intact before introducing the nuances of the week. Repetition is the key to getting something down so that you're no longer thinking about what you're doing, it becomes instinct.

Not only that, but playing against Missouri's spread allowed us to get more defensive backs experience on the field. I don't think you can say enough about the Husker secondary. They're all playing very well right now.

The same defensive scheme will apply - Nebraska will expect the front four to contain the run and put pressure on the quarterback. This will allow the back seven to be more flexible in what they're doing, whether it be cover or blitz.

One key to the Husker defensive line - they're not just blowing up the field. This is why you're not seeing high sack totals. Note that Suh has a lot of pass break-ups, but not a lot of sacks. They're plugging holes on the inside, while the ends are containing on the outside, not just pushing up the field.

3. NU has been more successful on offense than people give them credit (15th in the nation in scoring offense), what's the biggest reason for the success of the offense?

Husker Mike: Most Husker fans wouldn't agree with that assessment; Nebraska went 7 quarters without a touchdown against Virginia Tech and Missouri. Much of those stats were put up against Sun Belt teams, so you have to take those stats with a grain of salt. You did see a spark late against Missouri; the key is getting wide receivers like Curenski Gilleylen and Niles Paul deep to open up lanes underneath. That opens up tight end Mike McNeill and opens up the running game as well.

JLew: I think the offense has played well. Lee has struggled some on the road, and against better competition. But one game was against VaTech in Blacksburg, which was Lee's first start on the road and the other was in the driving rain in Columbia so we'll see how he plays as the season progresses. Watson has said that the offense will take what the defense gives them. Being adaptable has helped. Also NU has avoided turnovers on offense.

Corn Blight: Opposing fans keep expecting us to revert back to the glory days and run the ball a lot more than we do. I think a lot of Husker fans have that expectation as well. However, the versatility of Nebraska's offense is what makes it successful. If the defense stacks against the run, the pass is available. And vice versa.

Zac Lee has been pretty accurate at home, and it has been his accuracy that's hurt him in road games, not a lack of receivers being open or there being a lot of pressure.

4. Normally, Ndamukong Suh deserves his own question, but Suh's gotten so much press, tell us a bit about some of the other defenders who aren't getting as much credit because of the dominating presence of Suh?

Husker Mike: Jared Crick doesn't allow you to triple-team Suh. On one play last week, the Tigers tried to double-team Crick...and couldn't until they finally had to haul him down for a holding penalty. Another guy to keep an eye on is cornerback Prince Amukamara. He dropped a pick in the monsoon last week, and he's been stout on run defense as well. Dejon Gomes and Alfonso Dennard were inserted last week and are proving to be quite the playmakers back there as well.

JLew: I'd agree with Crick. The young linebackers have been playing well, with Dillard in there as well. As a whole the defense has been tackling well, they were lights out against Missouri.

Corn Blight: How the hell could you guys not mention safety Larry Asante? He's played very well this season.

5. Last year, Joe Ganz was outstanding at moving the chains and the Nebraska receivers did a tremendous job of just taking what the defense gave them, can you envision Zac Lee having a similar performance this year or do you foresee a different game-plan offensively?

Husker Mike: With injuries at running back, I think it's going to be almost a necessity for Zac Lee to keep the chains moving. Nebraska offensive coordinator Shawn Watson is a firm believer in taking what the defense gives you, and last week, that almost killed Nebraska. In that monsoon, the Tigers dared the Huskers to throw the ball, essentially using the weather as an extra 3 defensive backs. And throw they did, with miserable results for the first three quarters until the rain let up a bit.

JLew: I don't think as much. The game of keep away was really dependent on NU protecting a suspect defense. I think NU will take some shots down the field, and let the defense cause havoc.

Corn Blight: Well . . . I don't see much difference in the game plan, but I wouldn't expect the same performance. It'd be nice, but you have to give credit to the Ganz/Swift/Peterson threesome last season. Swift and Peterson were incredibly dependable and great at getting open. I'm not sure we have the same kind of receivers now. Do I sound a little skeptical about our offense.…. yeah, I do. That's because I am. Put it this way - we have a new quarterback with a lot of potential whose performed well at home against suspect competition. We have a bunch of decent receivers, but until Niles Paul's big play performance last week, none of them had particularly shown greatness. We have one of the best running backs in the Big 12, but our offensive line is only decent, not great. His backup, Rex Burkhead, is out "for a while" and had done a good job doing the tough running, but we now need to find a quality backup. There's a lot of reasons to be skeptical about the Husker offense. If they can sustain drives against Tech this weekend, more of those questions will be answered.

Nebraska's Keys To Victory Over Texas Tech

Jon Johnston — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:15:21 -0000

More photos » by Jeff Roberson - AP

Nebraska quarterback Zac Lee celebrates after throwing a 13-yard pass to wide receiver Niles Paul for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game against Missouri Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

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If this game doesn't worry you at least a little, you're not paying attention. Forget that Tech is on the road. Forget that they don't have Michael Crabtree or Graham Harrell, they're still the same ol' Texas Tech that can put up yardage and points at a faster rate than nearly anyone in the nation.

Last year's Tech game was a freakazoid affair with Nebraska holding the ball for 40 minutes. The Huskers controlled the game with a ball control passing offense. Can that happen again this year? With Zac Lee as Joe Ganz, Niles Paul as Nate Swift, and a whole gob of other guys playing Todd Peterson, why not?

As much as you'd like to think Nebraska can line up in tight end heavy sets and pummel the Tech defense, it's not going to happen.

Take What You're Given

Much has been made this week about the Huskers throwing the ball so often in the rain at Missouri. Mid-week we discovered that Watson's calls were biased toward the rain, but changed to passes by Lee after reading the Missouri defense. I don't understand the angst over this, especially given the outcome of the game.

If Tech moves up to stop the run, then take what you're given and throw the ball. It would be foolhardy to run when you're outnumbered at the line of scrimmage. If that means throwing the ball 40 times, then so be it. Zac Lee has performed well at home, as has his receiving corps. There's no reason to expect that this game will be any different.

Keep in mind, it's not the Huskers who are looking for an offensive identity. It's the media that creates this "run the ball" frenzy so they can feed off it. The team is looking to win football games by whatever means they can. Keep in mind that we have one very good running back, while we have quite a number of very good receivers - Niles Paul, Mike McNeill, Curenski Gilleylen included.

If winning means Roy Helu gaining 150 yards on the ground, then yay for him. If it's Zac Lee throwing for 250 yards, then there's nothing wrong with that either.

Win First Down

This key, along with the first, are just another way of saying "ball control", and that is just another way of saying to win we need to keep Tech's offense off the field. I wouldn't expect the same level of a ball control offense we saw last season, but things will go much easier if we get solid yardage on first down.

Play selection is much easier when you're working with second or third and three as opposed to seven. Rex Burkhead will be missed because of his straight ahead tough running style, but Shawn Watson will have to discover that talent in another of his young running backs.

Eliminate Stupid

Last week, Nebraska recorded 12 penalties for 108 yards. Some of those can be written off because of the inclement conditions, but many of them were the result of poor discipline. Husker fans don't need to be reminded of the drive-killing nature of penalties.

We're midway through the season. It's time for the stupidity to end. Nebraska's offense can't afford to lose points because of it, especially not against a team that's known for rolling up yards and points like Tech.

The bottom line is this - the offense can't expect the defense to bail them out of every game this season, so stop shooting yourselves in the foot.

Control The Lines

Ndamukong Suh has played with such a fervor that it's difficult to imagine him being stopped by anyone, but in this game he'll be going up against one of the Big 12's best offensive linemen in Tech guard Brandon Carter. Let's assume that Carter is able to control Suh better than most, which means it will be time for Jared Crick, Pierre Allen, and Barry Turner to get some big plays.

The rest of Suh's counterparts will need to get pressure on Tech's quarterback, but they'll also be responsible for stopping Tech's running game, ala the 11 touchdowns on the ground alluded to earlier this week. That means controlling the gaps, standing your ground and getting an even push upfield. It does not mean exploding up the field in an all-out pass rush.

The offensive line must perform better to win this game. They'll need to pick up the short yardage situations to sustain drives. They must also be better disciplined in run blocking, not allowing linebackers to shoot through and blow up a play because someone missed an assignment.

It will be a good sign if Nebraska is able to run the ball in the middle of Tech's defense. Last week we were all about running wide. If we're going to run the ball, we need to make sure we're getting yardage in the middle as well as the edges.