Nebraska Cornhuskers Football Fanatics

Hey fellow Husker fans. I don't want to sound like I'm on Pelini's case, but I'm a little disappointed in our defense. Having seen the first two games on TV and sitting at Memorial Stadium against Washington, I thought I'd see a little more effort from the Blackshirts throughout the game. Sure, they turn it on at times, but we just don't seem to have that drive. I can't figure it out. At times Saturday, it reminded me a little of the Cosgrove defense. We seem to give up a lot of big plays for being a top defense.

Will they get it figured out or is there reason to be concerned?



Category: NCAAF

Nebraska has a new offense, a new conference and the same expectations.

Playing its first season in the revamped Big Ten Conference, the Huskers are eying a spot in the league’s inaugural conference championship game in Indianapolis.

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Nebraska played in the Big 12 Conference’s title game each of the last two seasons, losing both times.

Will a change in scenery help the Huskers win their first conference championship since 1999?

There’s no official Big Ten preseason poll, although a couple of media outlets conducted unofficial polls. Both revealed Nebraska as the favorite to win the new Legends Division; one said the Huskers will win the overall title.

Is it realistic to think a league newcomer can flex its muscles so quickly?

Much of Nebraska’s success will depend on how the Huskers adapt to the Big Ten style. Or maybe it’s vice-versa.

“We’re going to do what we do and we’re going to do it well,” Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said. “We’re not really going to adapt what we do to the conference. We’re going to hopefully make the conference adapt to what we do.”

Nebraska’s new hurry-up offense (something similar to Oregon, perhaps?) could cause headaches for Big Ten defenses. The Huskers have starting players returning at all skill positions, along with three starters back on the offensive line.

On defense, the Blackshirts will return to a traditional three-linebacker look after having retooled its scheme over the past three seasons to defend the many spread offenses of the Big 12.

Nebraska has cornerstone players returning at each level of defense—defensive tackle Jared Crick, linebacker Lavonte David and cornerback Alfonzo Dennard, who was limited in mid-August by a muscle strain but should be ready for the opener. All three are preseason All-America candidates.

“I’ve been really fortunate to be around some defenses that have been pretty stout, accomplished some great things,” Pelini said. “Do we have the opportunity to do that? Yeah. But it’s going to come through a lot of hard work and a level of commitment that allows our football team to get better on a daily basis.”

• It hasn’t been a great week in Lincoln. Late Monday, the Cornhuskers learned that top quarterback recruit Bubba Starling opted for professional baseball and a multi-million dollar deal with the Kansas City Royals and won’t play at Nebraska.

On Wednesday, they lost arguably their most important defensive player, cornerback Alfonzo Dennard, with a muscle strain that will sideline him indefinitely.

“I don’t know when he’s going to be back,” coach Bo Pelini said. “It could be two days, it could be 10 days. I don’t know. I don’t think the trainers know. I don’t think anybody knows. It’s just how quickly his leg responds.”

Nebraska opens the season Sept. 3 against Tennessee-Martin.

Dennard was second-team All-Big 12 last season and is NFLDraftScout.com’s top-rated cornerback for the 2012 draft. He started 13 of 14 games last season as a junior but missed most of the Missouri game and didn’t play against Iowa State because of a concussion.

NOTES, QUOTES

• Quarterback Bubba Starling took his decision of whether to play at Nebraska or sign with the Kansas City Royals down to the wire on Aug. 15, and ultimately chose to become an outfielder in Major League Baseball rather than hit fall camp in Lincoln.

The first-round pick of the Kansas City Royals had until midnight to agree to a Major League Baseball contract. The fifth overall pick, represented by Scott Boras, could earn $7 million to $10 million in his initial signing bonus. Terms of his deal weren’t immediately known.

He was also a top quarterback recruit, and his scholarship offer to play at Nebraska was on hold in the event he opts for college football over pro baseball. He was a top 120 player according to Rivals.com and inked his football scholarship with Nebraska after an all-state career at Edgerton High in the Kansas City area. He rushed for 2,471 yards and 31 touchdowns and threw for 812 yards and eight touchdowns as a high school senior in 2010.

Nebraska has five other quarterbacks in camp, including Jamal Turner, a true freshman who would have been listed at wide receiver if Starling had chosen to play at Nebraska.

• Linebacker Lavonte David set a single-season school record last year with 152 tackles and was named the Big 12 Conference defensive newcomer of the year as a junior college transfer. Expecting David to meet those numbers this season might be unrealistic. That’s mostly because David won’t be the only linebacker on the field anymore. He served that role in Nebraska’s “peso” defensive scheme designed to stop the many spread offenses of the Big 12.

Now that Nebraska’s in the Big Ten and facing more traditional run-oriented offenses, the Huskers are returning to a three linebacker format. David, who’s gained 15 pounds, will play the WILL position, the best spot for him to display his ball-hawking instincts. Will Compton will play MIKE, and Sean Fisher, who missed all of last season with a broken leg, will play SAM.

• Nebraska’s deepest and most-talented position will be defensive line, a group that brings a combined 58 starts into the season. That includes two-year starter Jared Crick, who will attempt to become Nebraska’s first three-time, first-team all-conference performer since 1997-99. He ranks seventh on the school’s all-time sacks list with 19.

• Husker seniors say improving team chemistry with team functions has been a major emphasis over the summer.

“Last winter, after the bowl game, we kind of took it upon ourselves to say, ‘This is our team now, this is what we want to get done,’” Crick said, referring to Nebraska’s humbling 19-7 loss to unranked Washington in the Holiday Bowl. “And to do those things, we’ve got to become a closer-knit group. Not knocking on the leaders last year, but we want to become a closer unit than we were in the past.”

Spotlight On September:   The highlight will be the rubber game of a three-game series with Washington. The teams were scheduled to play in 2010 and 2011, but a meeting in the Holiday Bowl to close last season makes for three meetings in 12 months. Nebraska won 56-21 in Seattle in September, and the Huskies exacted revenge with a stunning 19-7 victory in San Diego. The teams meet Sept. 17 in Lincoln. That’s sandwiched between a home game with Fresno State and a road game at Wyoming.

Keys To Success:   Nebraska will be running a quicker, more up-tempo offense under new offensive coordinator Tim Beck. Now, will it produce the desired, necessary results? Nebraska’s offense has fizzled badly over the latter half of the last two seasons. It led to Beck’s promotion from running backs coach; he replaces Shawn Watson, who’s now at Louisville. Look for Beck to implement an offense similar to what led to Kansas’ breakout season in 2007, when Beck was the Jayhawks’ passing game coordinator. It’s a no-huddle, hurry-up offense where the quarterback looks to the sideline for a play call. It could be a shock to Big Ten defenses … if run effectively.

Areas Of Concern:   Nebraska must replace talented cornerback Prince Amukamara, who was the Huskers’ top NFL Draft pick in April. One of the top candidates is sophomore Ciante Evans. Also gone is Alex Henery, the most accurate place kicker in the history of the NCAA. The offensive line also hasn’t lived up to expectations the past couple of seasons, partly because of injury. Now sophomores Brent Qvale and Andrew Rodriguez are looking to fill vacant starting roles at guard.

Quote To Note:   “We’re going to do our thing. We’re going to play our way. Obviously you have to make some adjustments according to who you’re playing in a particular week. But we feel like our style, the type of kids we recruit, the type of football team we put on the field can fit into any conference.”—Nebraska coach Bo Pelini, on changing styles of play entering the Big Ten Conference.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Head Coach:   Bo Pelini, fourth year at Nebraska, 30-12 career record, 30-12 at Nebraska.

Most Important Player:   QB Taylor Martinez—All eyes will be on the sophomore, who exploded on the scene early in his freshman season, then faded quickly after a severe midseason ankle sprain put a leash on his play-making abilities. Pelini says without a doubt that Martinez is Nebraska’s No. 1 quarterback entering fall camp. Players say Martinez has made great strides in becoming a leader. Now, the Huskers need Martinez to improve his passing and decision-making, regardless of what offense they run.

Breakout Star:   RB Rex Burkhead—The 5-11, 210-pound junior split time last season, but with Roy Helu now graduated, and with no other experienced running backs returning, Burkhead is the man. He’s up for the challenge, and Pelini couldn’t think of a better player to carry the load. Burkhead’s hard-nosed running style and blue-collar, no-nonsense attitude and work ethic is a microcosm of Pelini’s program. Burkhead rushed for 951 yards and seven touchdowns as a sophomore.

Newcomer To Watch:   WR Jamal Turner - A true freshman, Turner arrived in Lincoln in January and participated in spring practices. He quickly moved from quarterback to wide receiver and made a lasting impression in the Red-White Spring Game. He provides much needed play-making ability at a position where Nebraska has been lacking quality depth. Look for Turner to also play a key role in returning punts.

Roster Report:  

• QB Cody Green is transferring to Tulsa, where he will sit out this season and have two years of eligibility remaining. Green, who started two games last season, announced at the end of the spring semester that he was leaving Nebraska.

• DB Charles Jackson is the only recruit who hasn’t yet qualified academically. Pelini wouldn’t rule out Jackson, a freshman, eventually becoming eligible, saying the situation is “still up in the air.”

• CB Jase Dean is the only player expected to sit out fall camp because of injury. The walk-on from Bridgeport, Neb., who’s a special teams contributor, missed the second half of last season and all of spring practices with a knee injury.

Category: NCAAF

 

Fast times at Nebraska with new hurry-up offense

Nebraskahas a new offense, a new conference and the same expectations.

Playing its first season in the revamped Big Ten Conference, the Huskers are eying a spot in the league’s inaugural conference championship game inIndianapolis.

Nebraska played in the Big 12 Conference’s title game each of the last two seasons, losing both times.

Will a change in scenery help the Huskers win their first conference championship since 1999?

There’s no official Big Ten preseason poll, although a couple of media outlets conducted unofficial polls. Both revealedNebraskaas the favorite to win the new Legends Division; one said the Huskers will win the overall title.

Is it realistic to think a league newcomer can flex its muscles so quickly?

Much ofNebraska’s success will depend on how the Huskers adapt to the Big Ten style. Or maybe it’s vice-versa.

“We’re going to do what we do and we’re going to do it well,”Nebraskacoach Bo Pelini said. “We’re not really going to adapt what we do to the conference. We’re going to hopefully make the conference adapt to what we do.”

Nebraska’s new hurry-up offense (something similar toOregon, perhaps?) could cause headaches for Big Ten defenses. The Huskers have starting players returning at all skill positions, along with three starters back on the offensive line.

On defense, the Blackshirts will return to a traditional three-linebacker look after having retooled its scheme over the past three seasons to defend the many spread offenses of the Big 12.

Nebraskahas cornerstone players returning at each level of defense—defensive tackle Jared Crick, linebacker Lavonte David and cornerback Alfonzo Dennard. All three are preseason All-America candidates.

“I’ve been really fortunate to be around some defenses that have been pretty stout, accomplished some great things,” Pelini said. “Do we have the opportunity to do that? Yeah. But it’s going to come through a lot of hard work and a level of commitment that allows our football team to get better on a daily basis.”

NOTES, QUOTES

• Linebacker Lavonte David set a single-season school record last year with 152 tackles and was named the Big 12 Conference defensive newcomer of the year as a junior college transfer. Expecting David to meet those numbers this season might be unrealistic. That’s mostly because David won’t be the only linebacker on the field anymore. He served that role inNebraska’s “peso” defensive scheme designed to stop the many spread offenses of the Big 12.

Now thatNebraska’s in the Big Ten and facing more traditional run-oriented offenses, the Huskers are returning to a three linebacker format. David, who’s gained 15 pounds, will play the WILL position, the best spot for him to display his ball-hawking instincts. WillComptonwill play MIKE, and Sean Fisher, who missed all of last season with a broken leg, will play SAM.

• Nebraska’s deepest and most-talented position will be defensive line, a group that brings a combined 58 starts into the season. That includes two-year starter Jared Crick, who will attempt to becomeNebraska’s first three-time, first-team all-conference performer since 1997-99. He ranks seventh on the school’s all-time sacks list with 19.

• Husker seniors say improving team chemistry with team functions has been a major emphasis over the summer.

“Last winter, after the bowl game, we kind of took it upon ourselves to say, ‘This is our team now, this is what we want to get done,’” Crick said, referring toNebraska’s humbling 19-7 loss to unrankedWashingtonin the Holiday Bowl. “And to do those things, we’ve got to become a closer-knit group. Not knocking on the leaders last year, but we want to become a closer unit than we were in the past.”

Spotlight On September:   The highlight will be the rubber game of a three-game series withWashington. The teams were scheduled to play in 2010 and 2011, but a meeting in the Holiday Bowl to close last season makes for three meetings in 12 months.Nebraska won 56-21 inSeattle in September, and the Huskies exacted revenge with a stunning 19-7 victory inSan Diego. The teams meet Sept. 17 inLincoln. That’s sandwiched between a home game withFresnoState and a road game atWyoming.

Keys To Success:  Nebraska will be running a quicker, more up-tempo offense under new offensive coordinator Tim Beck. Now, will it produce the desired, necessary results?Nebraska’s offense has fizzled badly over the latter half of the last two seasons. It led to Beck’s promotion from running backs coach; he replaces Shawn Watson, who’s now atLouisville. Look for Beck to implement an offense similar to what led toKansas’ breakout season in 2007, when Beck was the Jayhawks’ passing game coordinator. It’s a no-huddle, hurry-up offense where the quarterback looks to the sideline for a play call. It could be a shock to Big Ten defenses … if run effectively.

Areas Of Concern:  Nebraska must replace talented cornerback Prince Amukamara, who was the Huskers’ top NFL Draft pick in April. One of the top candidates is sophomore Ciante Evans. Also gone is Alex Henery, the most accurate place kicker in the history of the NCAA. The offensive line also hasn’t lived up to expectations the past couple of seasons, partly because of injury. Now sophomores Brent Qvale and Andrew Rodriguez are looking to fill vacant starting roles at guard.

Quote To Note:   “We’re going to do our thing. We’re going to play our way. Obviously you have to make some adjustments according to who you’re playing in a particular week. But we feel like our style, the type of kids we recruit, the type of football team we put on the field can fit into any conference.”—Nebraska coach Bo Pelini, on changing styles of play entering the Big Ten Conference.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Head Coach:   Bo Pelini, fourth year atNebraska, 30-12 career record, 30-12 atNebraska.

Most Important Player:   QB Taylor Martinez—All eyes will be on the sophomore, who exploded on the scene early in his freshman season, then faded quickly after a severe midseason ankle sprain put a leash on his play-making abilities. Pelini says without a doubt thatMartinez isNebraska’s No. 1 quarterback entering fall camp. Players sayMartinez has made great strides in becoming a leader. Now, the Huskers needMartinez to improve his passing and decision-making, regardless of what offense they run.

Breakout Star:   RB Rex Burkhead—The 5-11, 210-pound junior split time last season, but with Roy Helu now graduated, and with no other experienced running backs returning, Burkhead is the man. He’s up for the challenge, and Pelini couldn’t think of a better player to carry the load. Burkhead’s hard-nosed running style and blue-collar, no-nonsense attitude and work ethic is a microcosm of Pelini’s program. Burkhead rushed for 951 yards and seven touchdowns as a sophomore.

Newcomer To Watch:   WR Jamal Turner - A true freshman, Turner arrived inLincoln in January and participated in spring practices. He quickly moved from quarterback to wide receiver and made a lasting impression in the Red-White Spring Game. He provides much needed play-making ability at a position whereNebraska has been lacking quality depth. Look for Turner to also play a key role in returning punts.

Roster Report:  

• QB Bubba Starling has until Aug. 15 to either sign a multi-million dollar contract with the Kansas City Royals, or stay in fall camp and begin his college career. Starling signed atNebraska to play both football and baseball, and was selected by the Royals as the No. 5 pick in the June draft. He arrived inLincoln in July, enrolled in summer classes and participated in all off-season team workouts, seemingly putting pressure on the Royals to up their signing offer.

• QB Cody Green is transferring toTulsa, where he will sit out this season and have two years of eligibility remaining. Green, who started two games last season, announced at the end of the spring semester that he was leavingNebraska.

• DB Charles Jackson is the only recruit who hasn’t yet qualified academically. Pelini wouldn’t rule out Jackson, a freshman, eventually becoming eligible, saying the situation is “still up in the air.”

• CB Jase Dean is the only player expected to sit out fall camp because of injury. The walk-on fromBridgeport,Neb., who’s a special teams contributor, missed the second half of last season and all of spring practices with a knee injury.

Category: NCAAF

Just to let my fellow Husker fans know. I started a BIG 10 football group and I welcome all of you to join it. We need all the Husker fans in there that we can get. So come join the Big 10 group and Support our Huskers as they start their first season in the Big 10. GO HUSKERS!

Category: NCAAF

Just wanted to start getting everybody fired up for the upcoming season -- let's roll thru the Big Ten and kick some tail in the BCS!!  Forever GO BIG RED!!!

Category: NCAAF