When one reads about the 2008 version of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, the general feeling out there seems to be one of cautious optimism. Most people agree, the combination of a new coaching staff along with some good, if thus far underachieving, talent should result in a much better squad. Unfortunately, last year while the Big Red was taking a big step backward, several other teams in the Big 12 were taking huge leaps forward.
I too fall in the "cautiously optimistic" camp. While I'll go into greater detail with a full team preview as we get closer to Fall Camp, I see the elements of a potentially great Husker offense in 2008. Joe Ganz's performance at the end of 2007, combined with the return of a very deep stable of running backs and a very solid and experienced offensive line (and the return of Offensive Coordinator Shawn Watson), has me believing that this offense should be able to put up points against anyone on the schedule.
Of course, the big question is the defense. Last year's D was horrendous -- so much so that the Huskers lost games in which they put up 31 points, 39 points and 51 points. Yikes. The good news is that Bo is back. Wherever Coach Pelini has overseen the D in the last five years, success has followed. And, while there may not be many pre-season All-Americans on the 2008 Blackshirts, the cupboard isn't completely bare either. I expect drastic improvement and look forward to seeing the Blackshirts fly to the ball carriers again. Still, there are some big holes here, most notably at linebacker and depth along the D-line.
So what does it all mean? How will the season break down? Here's my shot at a prediction:
August 30, Western Michigan -- I've already read many columns and articles suggesting the beginning of the Bo era could be an ambush. Western Michigan returns 11 starters on defense, and last year upset Iowa on the road, blah, blah, blah. I'm not buying it. The Big Red players, coaches and fans will be too pumped for this one to end in a loss. NU 56 W. Michigan 24.
September 6, San Jose State -- SJ St. coach Dick Tomey, who came out on top of NU in the 1998 Holiday Bowl while leading the Arizona Wildcats, will lead his relatively talented Spartan team into Lincoln. Tomey is a very good coach, but the talent won't be there to pull off an upset. NU 38 San Jose St. 21.
September 13, New Mexico St. -- I've always told people that one of the key ingredients for an upset is the underdog having a very good quarterback. That is the case here as the Aggies bring in senior Chase Holbrook and a crazy passing attack to try to upset the Huskers. This will be closer than we'd like in the first half, but the Aggie D won't be good enough to stop Joe Ganz and the Huskers. NU 48 NM St. 28.
September 27, Virginia Tech -- This is the first of what I will call "swing games." These are the games that could really go either way. Virginia Tech is a quality opponent, but has some significant holes to fill, especially at running back. I say the Big Red pulls this out in the fourth quarter. NU 28 Va Tech 24.
An undefeated non-conference. Pretty nice start. But things get much tougher from here. I'll tackle the conference schedule in my next blog entry.
G0 Big Red!
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
How Relevant is QB Height?
The other day I was reading about Tyler Gabbert, a 6-foot, 175-pound QB about to begin his junior season at St. Louis' Parkway West. Of course, Husker fans recognize the last name of Gabbert, since Blaine Gabbert (Tyler's older brother) was a 5-star NU commit until everything fell apart for the Big Red last year and he, along with many other big name commits jumped ship.
As I was scanning the younger Gabbert's bio on one of the recruiting sites, his listed height of a mere 6-foot temporarily gave me pause. He doesn't fit the quarterback prototype we've been brainwashed to seek. He isn't 6-5. He isn't 230 pounds of muscle (although he is only 15 years old, so he'll likely get quite a bit bigger). After initially bemoaning the fact that a potential future Husker didn't have the ideal measurements, I thought for a second, "Wait. Does it matter?"
I'm here to propose that in college football, while a quarterback's height isn't completely irrelevant, it doesn't mean that much. Consider the Big 12 -- a league completely stocked with talent behind center. Missoui's Chase Daniel had few problems tearing up opposing defenses despite his sub-6-foot frame. Same with 5-11 signal callers Todd Reesing of Kansas and Cody Hawkins at Colorado. And, of course, our own Joe Ganz who is generously listed at 6-1, clearly outplayed the taller Sam Keller when he got his chance at the end of last season. Other college quarterbacks who will never be asked to stand at the back of the team photo and yet are all-conference candidates include: West Virginia's Pat White, South Florida's Matt Grothe and Wake Forest's Riley Skinner.
The idea that tall quarterbacks were always preferable has always come from the thought that their height would better allow them to see over the linemen and scan the field. This is still valid. However as so many college offenses have begun to move to some version of the spread, where the offensive linemen, the receivers and by necessity the defenders are spread throughout the field, it offers better vision for shorter quarterbacks and lessens the importance of height. Also, because generally smaller quarterbacks tend to be quicker in the pocket than their bigger peers( I know there are exceptions), they are able to evade an oncoming rush more effectively, and can limit the aggressiveness of opposing defenses.
So, is the height of a QB important? Yes and no. If I were creating the ideal college quarterback, I would probably give him the skills and measureables of a Vince Young: 6-3 to 6-5, fast, elusive, accurate with a strong arm. However, there aren't that many out there like Vince. That said, here's how I would rate the importance of the attributes of a college quarterback:
1. Accuracy/smarts -- the ability to run an offense and put the ball where it needs to be are musts.
2. (tie) Quickness and arm strength -- A quarterback who is a threat with his arm and his feet can cause sleepless nights for opposing defensive coordinators. While arm strength is important and will wow the pro scouts, it's certainly possible to be a very effective college QB without a cannon.
3. Height -- Again, I'd take a tall, quick, accurate QB over a short, quick, accurate QB, but I would also take a short, quick, accurate QB with average arm strength over a tall, lumbering, accurate QB with a strong arm.
The effectiveness of smaller college QBs who don't fit the prototype seems to support this kind of ranking. And, for schools that aren't traditional gridiron powers (see: Missouri, Kansas, South Florida) recruiting effective smaller quarterbacks who are turned away by the bigger schools looking for Matt Ryan clones, represents a chance to strengthen their programs and play with the big boys.
One last thought: notice that I have been careful to say "college" quarterbacks when making my claims. In NFL offenses, where the quarterbacks tend to stay in the pocket more and the relative skill of defensive backs and pash rushers make getting rid of the ball and putting some serious zip on it hugely important, size still matters. But even in the NFL, there is still a place for a heady, non-traditional QB like a Drew Brees.
What does it all mean? To me, it means we're in good hands with Joe Ganz, and if Tyler Gabbert wants to wear the red some day, it's fine by me. And if his 6-5 brother wants to transfer too...
As I was scanning the younger Gabbert's bio on one of the recruiting sites, his listed height of a mere 6-foot temporarily gave me pause. He doesn't fit the quarterback prototype we've been brainwashed to seek. He isn't 6-5. He isn't 230 pounds of muscle (although he is only 15 years old, so he'll likely get quite a bit bigger). After initially bemoaning the fact that a potential future Husker didn't have the ideal measurements, I thought for a second, "Wait. Does it matter?"
I'm here to propose that in college football, while a quarterback's height isn't completely irrelevant, it doesn't mean that much. Consider the Big 12 -- a league completely stocked with talent behind center. Missoui's Chase Daniel had few problems tearing up opposing defenses despite his sub-6-foot frame. Same with 5-11 signal callers Todd Reesing of Kansas and Cody Hawkins at Colorado. And, of course, our own Joe Ganz who is generously listed at 6-1, clearly outplayed the taller Sam Keller when he got his chance at the end of last season. Other college quarterbacks who will never be asked to stand at the back of the team photo and yet are all-conference candidates include: West Virginia's Pat White, South Florida's Matt Grothe and Wake Forest's Riley Skinner.
The idea that tall quarterbacks were always preferable has always come from the thought that their height would better allow them to see over the linemen and scan the field. This is still valid. However as so many college offenses have begun to move to some version of the spread, where the offensive linemen, the receivers and by necessity the defenders are spread throughout the field, it offers better vision for shorter quarterbacks and lessens the importance of height. Also, because generally smaller quarterbacks tend to be quicker in the pocket than their bigger peers( I know there are exceptions), they are able to evade an oncoming rush more effectively, and can limit the aggressiveness of opposing defenses.
So, is the height of a QB important? Yes and no. If I were creating the ideal college quarterback, I would probably give him the skills and measureables of a Vince Young: 6-3 to 6-5, fast, elusive, accurate with a strong arm. However, there aren't that many out there like Vince. That said, here's how I would rate the importance of the attributes of a college quarterback:
1. Accuracy/smarts -- the ability to run an offense and put the ball where it needs to be are musts.
2. (tie) Quickness and arm strength -- A quarterback who is a threat with his arm and his feet can cause sleepless nights for opposing defensive coordinators. While arm strength is important and will wow the pro scouts, it's certainly possible to be a very effective college QB without a cannon.
3. Height -- Again, I'd take a tall, quick, accurate QB over a short, quick, accurate QB, but I would also take a short, quick, accurate QB with average arm strength over a tall, lumbering, accurate QB with a strong arm.
The effectiveness of smaller college QBs who don't fit the prototype seems to support this kind of ranking. And, for schools that aren't traditional gridiron powers (see: Missouri, Kansas, South Florida) recruiting effective smaller quarterbacks who are turned away by the bigger schools looking for Matt Ryan clones, represents a chance to strengthen their programs and play with the big boys.
One last thought: notice that I have been careful to say "college" quarterbacks when making my claims. In NFL offenses, where the quarterbacks tend to stay in the pocket more and the relative skill of defensive backs and pash rushers make getting rid of the ball and putting some serious zip on it hugely important, size still matters. But even in the NFL, there is still a place for a heady, non-traditional QB like a Drew Brees.
What does it all mean? To me, it means we're in good hands with Joe Ganz, and if Tyler Gabbert wants to wear the red some day, it's fine by me. And if his 6-5 brother wants to transfer too...
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Face of the Team, Last Four Decades
If you visit espn.com, you probably have seen their list of the "Faces of the Program" from each D-1 school. For Nebraska, it was a no-brainer: Tom Osborne was the clear choice. Given that T.O. was too easy of a pick, I've decided to jot down who I think are the Husker Faces of the Program (players only) for the decades of the 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s. Here we go:
1970s Face of the Cornhuskers: Johnny Rodgers -- This one is pretty easy. Johnny R. Superstar won NU's first Heisman Trophy and was a lethal weapon for Bob Devaney's offense. His incredible punt return against OU in the 1971 Game of the Century will always be one of the iconic moments in college football history. Honorable mention goes to Rich Glover, John Dutton, I.M. Hipp.
1980s Face of the Cornhuskers: Turner Gill -- This was the toughest choice. It isn't easy turning down 1983 Heisman Trophy winner Mike Rozier for this prestigious honor, but whereas Rozier was sickly talented, Gill was the leader of scoring explosion. Gill, the current coach of the Buffalo Bulls, was really the prototype QB for the Huskers' option system, and has continued to represent the program with character and integrity. Honorable mention goes to: Rozier, Dave Rimington, Dean Steinkuhler.
1990s Face of the Cornhuskers: Tommie Frazier -- This was another easy one. Through most of the 90s, the Huskers were overflowing with great talent. Still, Tommie was unquestionably the catalyst and the player most thought of when mentioning that golden era. Surprisingly, of the four decades in question, this is the only one without a Heisman winner. Of course, we all realize this was a joke, as no college football player was more deserving of the award during the 90s than Touchdown Tommie. Honorable mention: Grant Wistrom, Trev Alberts, Scott Frost, Ahman Green.
2000s Face of the Cornhuskers: Eric Crouch -- The new millennium obviously hasn't lived up to the previous three decades, but there were some good times closer to Y2K. That's back when Eric Crouch was using his speed and quickness to shred opposing defenses. Though Crouch didn't win a national championship ring like Frazier, Brook Berringer or Scott Frost, he did walk away with the Huskers third Heisman Trophy. Honorable mention: Toniu Fonoti, Zac Taylor, Maurice Purify, Barrett Ruud.
That's all for now. Spread the word about the Cornhusker Blog.
1970s Face of the Cornhuskers: Johnny Rodgers -- This one is pretty easy. Johnny R. Superstar won NU's first Heisman Trophy and was a lethal weapon for Bob Devaney's offense. His incredible punt return against OU in the 1971 Game of the Century will always be one of the iconic moments in college football history. Honorable mention goes to Rich Glover, John Dutton, I.M. Hipp.
1980s Face of the Cornhuskers: Turner Gill -- This was the toughest choice. It isn't easy turning down 1983 Heisman Trophy winner Mike Rozier for this prestigious honor, but whereas Rozier was sickly talented, Gill was the leader of scoring explosion. Gill, the current coach of the Buffalo Bulls, was really the prototype QB for the Huskers' option system, and has continued to represent the program with character and integrity. Honorable mention goes to: Rozier, Dave Rimington, Dean Steinkuhler.
1990s Face of the Cornhuskers: Tommie Frazier -- This was another easy one. Through most of the 90s, the Huskers were overflowing with great talent. Still, Tommie was unquestionably the catalyst and the player most thought of when mentioning that golden era. Surprisingly, of the four decades in question, this is the only one without a Heisman winner. Of course, we all realize this was a joke, as no college football player was more deserving of the award during the 90s than Touchdown Tommie. Honorable mention: Grant Wistrom, Trev Alberts, Scott Frost, Ahman Green.
2000s Face of the Cornhuskers: Eric Crouch -- The new millennium obviously hasn't lived up to the previous three decades, but there were some good times closer to Y2K. That's back when Eric Crouch was using his speed and quickness to shred opposing defenses. Though Crouch didn't win a national championship ring like Frazier, Brook Berringer or Scott Frost, he did walk away with the Huskers third Heisman Trophy. Honorable mention: Toniu Fonoti, Zac Taylor, Maurice Purify, Barrett Ruud.
That's all for now. Spread the word about the Cornhusker Blog.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Info from athletic dept. re: possible pay-per-view
I got a nice message from Marc Boehm at the NU Athletic Department regarding the possibility of pay-per-view broadcasts for the first three Husker games, which otherwise wouldn't be televised. In short, it sounds like plenty needs to be worked out, but the athletic department is pursuing that possibility. Here's Mr. Boehm's message:
Bill-We are currently working with FSN Midwest to get the games on pay-per-view. Obviously these things take a little time, but I see no problem in getting this done. Many thanks for your support. Marc
Sure is nice to get a prompt, friendly response.
Bill-We are currently working with FSN Midwest to get the games on pay-per-view. Obviously these things take a little time, but I see no problem in getting this done. Many thanks for your support. Marc
Sure is nice to get a prompt, friendly response.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Best Old Games to Watch
Hey everyone,
Even though I just kicked off the Cornhusker Blog, I figured it was fairly lame to only have one post, so I thought I'd throw one more post out there before hitting the sack. This time of year, when I'm seriously jonesing for some Husker football, but the season is still months away, I start pulling out tapes from my well-worn Nebraska football video collection. Of those tapes, here are my five favorites...
1) Huskers vs. Hurricanes, 1995 Orange Bowl -- Okay, this is an easy one. Dr. Tom's first national championship. I watched this epic tilt again about a week ago and still got a little emotional when Kareem Moss picked off the Frank Costa pass to end the game. I dropped a few notches in the eyes of my wife and kids that day, but I still enjoyed it. A quick bit of trivia: if you watch that game closely, you can see Dwayne Johnson, aka the Rock, playing as a reserve for the Miami defensive line.
2) NU vs. Florida, 1996 Fiesta Bowl -- Yeah, another easy one. The previous year's national championship was far more dramatic and probably meant more since it was T.O.'s first, but the mauling of the Gators was more fun. There were just so many great plays in this one, from Tommie Frazier's "how many tackles can one man break?" touchdown run, to the tide-turning safety of Danny Wuerrfel, to Michael Booker's interception return for a TD near the end of the first half. Despite what Kirk Herbstreit might think, the 1995 version of the Big Red is the standard for great college football teams. Period.
3) Huskers vs. Mizzou, 1997 -- It's hard to come up with a more exciting finish to a game than this gem. Tigers signal caller Corby Jones played lights out and stymied a tough Blackshirt D all day, but in the end (of regulation, anyway) Scott Frost, Matt Davison and Shevin Wiggins' Addidas saved the day and made it possible for Tom Osborne to win a share of the national title in his final season as coach. It was also a fitting end to the game when Missouri natives Grant Wistrom and Mike Rucker converged on Jones to seal the Husker victory.
4) Huskers vs. Sooners, 2001 -- Of all the epic NU/OU games over the years, this is the best one...I have on tape. Seriously, you could argue this was Nebraska's last great win (a fairly depressing statement). It wasn't a pretty, highlight-filled game, but it had plenty of drama and the reverse pass to Eric Crouch certainly goes down as one of the most memorable plays of the last 40 years of Husker football. The Blackshirts really played tough in this one, making it so mind-bloggling when they played so badly against Colorado three games later.
5) NU vs. CU, 1994 -- With Tommie Frazier out with a blood clot in his leg, Brook Berringer filled in marvelously as the Huskers upset a tough Colorado team. While Berringer was understandably got most of the headlines afterward, it was the tough as nails Husker D that set the tone in this one. Future NFL'er Kordell Stewart was hit hard and hit often as the men in red rolled to a decisive 24-7 win.
Honorable mention: 2000 Alamo Bowl win over Northwestern (good, old-fashioned running up the score), 1997 victory over Oklahoma (Dr. Tom's 250th win, OU was horrid, Bobby Newcombe made some nice plays), 1986 season opener against Florida State (Steve Taylor was impressive, Bobby Bowden was still old back then).
Even though I just kicked off the Cornhusker Blog, I figured it was fairly lame to only have one post, so I thought I'd throw one more post out there before hitting the sack. This time of year, when I'm seriously jonesing for some Husker football, but the season is still months away, I start pulling out tapes from my well-worn Nebraska football video collection. Of those tapes, here are my five favorites...
1) Huskers vs. Hurricanes, 1995 Orange Bowl -- Okay, this is an easy one. Dr. Tom's first national championship. I watched this epic tilt again about a week ago and still got a little emotional when Kareem Moss picked off the Frank Costa pass to end the game. I dropped a few notches in the eyes of my wife and kids that day, but I still enjoyed it. A quick bit of trivia: if you watch that game closely, you can see Dwayne Johnson, aka the Rock, playing as a reserve for the Miami defensive line.
2) NU vs. Florida, 1996 Fiesta Bowl -- Yeah, another easy one. The previous year's national championship was far more dramatic and probably meant more since it was T.O.'s first, but the mauling of the Gators was more fun. There were just so many great plays in this one, from Tommie Frazier's "how many tackles can one man break?" touchdown run, to the tide-turning safety of Danny Wuerrfel, to Michael Booker's interception return for a TD near the end of the first half. Despite what Kirk Herbstreit might think, the 1995 version of the Big Red is the standard for great college football teams. Period.
3) Huskers vs. Mizzou, 1997 -- It's hard to come up with a more exciting finish to a game than this gem. Tigers signal caller Corby Jones played lights out and stymied a tough Blackshirt D all day, but in the end (of regulation, anyway) Scott Frost, Matt Davison and Shevin Wiggins' Addidas saved the day and made it possible for Tom Osborne to win a share of the national title in his final season as coach. It was also a fitting end to the game when Missouri natives Grant Wistrom and Mike Rucker converged on Jones to seal the Husker victory.
4) Huskers vs. Sooners, 2001 -- Of all the epic NU/OU games over the years, this is the best one...I have on tape. Seriously, you could argue this was Nebraska's last great win (a fairly depressing statement). It wasn't a pretty, highlight-filled game, but it had plenty of drama and the reverse pass to Eric Crouch certainly goes down as one of the most memorable plays of the last 40 years of Husker football. The Blackshirts really played tough in this one, making it so mind-bloggling when they played so badly against Colorado three games later.
5) NU vs. CU, 1994 -- With Tommie Frazier out with a blood clot in his leg, Brook Berringer filled in marvelously as the Huskers upset a tough Colorado team. While Berringer was understandably got most of the headlines afterward, it was the tough as nails Husker D that set the tone in this one. Future NFL'er Kordell Stewart was hit hard and hit often as the men in red rolled to a decisive 24-7 win.
Honorable mention: 2000 Alamo Bowl win over Northwestern (good, old-fashioned running up the score), 1997 victory over Oklahoma (Dr. Tom's 250th win, OU was horrid, Bobby Newcombe made some nice plays), 1986 season opener against Florida State (Steve Taylor was impressive, Bobby Bowden was still old back then).
Five Questions for the Upcoming Season
Hey Husker Fans! Welcome to the inaugural post of The Cornhusker Blog.
If you're like me, you are starting to get a little impatient for the start of the 2008 Nebraska football season. It has already been a loooooonnnnng, strange off-season, and we've still got about a month-and-a-half until Fall Camp starts. Passing the time isn't easy. I've begun pulling out old VHS tapes from the glory years, reading all the national publications and scanning the Web for any serviceable Husker scoop.
It's just not enough.
Therefore, I figured I'd post five intriguing questions for the upcoming season and what I consider to be the answers. Here it goes...
1) How will the Huskers be different under Bo Pelini and the (mostly) new coaching staff?
Changing mindsets isn't a piece of cake, but from what I've seen out of Bo Pelini during his previous stint as the Husker DC as well as his stops at Oklahoma and LSU, he is a coach who inspires his minions to play with uncommon intensity. That intensity was sorely lacking during the debacle of 2007 -- especially on defense where the Blackshirts typically looked slow, confused and uninterested. Bo's pedigree encourages me that even if we don't yet have the overall talent to be a top-flight defense, we should expect to see far more turnovers, improved quickness and a nastier attitude. As for the other coaching hires, I love the return of Marvin Sanders as the DB coach, and am jazzed to see if the linebacking corps can possibly play with as much energy as is displayed by new backer coach Mike Ekeler.
2) Other than the obvious (Lucky, Ganz, Swift), who on offense will stand out?
I'll start with a few of the big dudes from what I think can be a stellar offensive line. During the spring we heard and saw reasons to believe Lydon Murtha might start realizing his incredible potential as a prototype NFL left tackle. I was also very impressed and expect a bright future from Murtha's young counterpart on the right side, Jaivorio Burkes. At the tight end spot, I'd really like to see Mike McNeill step up and give the Big Red a Matt Herian-like receiving threat. Look for Quentin Castille and Roy Helu to step up as nice change-of-pace options at the running back spot as well. I'll go on the record as saying Quentin Castille can be the best big back NU has ever had, if he can just hang on to the ball.
3) Same question for the defensive side of the ball.
While the overall talent level isn't where it needs to be to turn this group into a vintage Blackshirt D, there are some bright spots that I think will get even brighter under Bo's watch. Rickey Thenarse and Ndamukong Suh immediately come to mind as guys who have All-America upside and will benefit from a fresh start under the new regime. Of the many positives that came from spring practice, I was most pleased to hear the news that Phillip Dillard had slimmed down considerably. With a new emphasis on speed at linebacker, I expect Dillard to have a big year. Throwing out one unexpected name, I'll say a similarly trimmed-down Pierre Allen will emerge as a player who can come off the bench and pressure opposing QBs.
4) Other than the most obvious (Oklahoma), which game frightens you the most this year?
Well, the last time the Huskers played in Lubbock it was uglier than the Beano Cook/Pamela Anderson honeymoon video, so I'll go with the Red Raiders. (As a side note, right around when Beau Davis threw his 12th interception during that game, I broke one of the ceiling fans in my house...seriously pissing off my wife. Please share if you have any embarrassing "breaking stuff during a game" stories. Although if they have anything to do with harming people or animals, you should probably keep them to yourself.) The Missouri game will also be tough, as the Tigers return most of their starting squad and will begin the season solidly in the top ten.
6) What happened to the fifth question?!?
Oops. Sorry.
5) What qualifies you to voice your opinions on college football?
While this is the age of anarchic social media and people don't actually have to know anything in order to post their thoughts on a topic, I at least have some basic qualifications to be a Big Red Blogger. In addition to being a UNL grad (Class of '93), and a genuine Cornhusker football fanatic since I watched Ric Berns rumble through Barry Switzer's Oklahoma defense in 1978 (Dr. Tom's first victory over the Sooners), I have also previously written regular columns for collegefootballnews.com and Huskerpedia.com. I also played on some awesome intramural flag football teams during my college days. Remember the Swinging Beef defense of 1991? Anyone?
That's it for now. Please share your thoughts and tell other Big Red lovers to visit thecorhnuskerblog.blogspot.com.
--Bill
If you're like me, you are starting to get a little impatient for the start of the 2008 Nebraska football season. It has already been a loooooonnnnng, strange off-season, and we've still got about a month-and-a-half until Fall Camp starts. Passing the time isn't easy. I've begun pulling out old VHS tapes from the glory years, reading all the national publications and scanning the Web for any serviceable Husker scoop.
It's just not enough.
Therefore, I figured I'd post five intriguing questions for the upcoming season and what I consider to be the answers. Here it goes...
1) How will the Huskers be different under Bo Pelini and the (mostly) new coaching staff?
Changing mindsets isn't a piece of cake, but from what I've seen out of Bo Pelini during his previous stint as the Husker DC as well as his stops at Oklahoma and LSU, he is a coach who inspires his minions to play with uncommon intensity. That intensity was sorely lacking during the debacle of 2007 -- especially on defense where the Blackshirts typically looked slow, confused and uninterested. Bo's pedigree encourages me that even if we don't yet have the overall talent to be a top-flight defense, we should expect to see far more turnovers, improved quickness and a nastier attitude. As for the other coaching hires, I love the return of Marvin Sanders as the DB coach, and am jazzed to see if the linebacking corps can possibly play with as much energy as is displayed by new backer coach Mike Ekeler.
2) Other than the obvious (Lucky, Ganz, Swift), who on offense will stand out?
I'll start with a few of the big dudes from what I think can be a stellar offensive line. During the spring we heard and saw reasons to believe Lydon Murtha might start realizing his incredible potential as a prototype NFL left tackle. I was also very impressed and expect a bright future from Murtha's young counterpart on the right side, Jaivorio Burkes. At the tight end spot, I'd really like to see Mike McNeill step up and give the Big Red a Matt Herian-like receiving threat. Look for Quentin Castille and Roy Helu to step up as nice change-of-pace options at the running back spot as well. I'll go on the record as saying Quentin Castille can be the best big back NU has ever had, if he can just hang on to the ball.
3) Same question for the defensive side of the ball.
While the overall talent level isn't where it needs to be to turn this group into a vintage Blackshirt D, there are some bright spots that I think will get even brighter under Bo's watch. Rickey Thenarse and Ndamukong Suh immediately come to mind as guys who have All-America upside and will benefit from a fresh start under the new regime. Of the many positives that came from spring practice, I was most pleased to hear the news that Phillip Dillard had slimmed down considerably. With a new emphasis on speed at linebacker, I expect Dillard to have a big year. Throwing out one unexpected name, I'll say a similarly trimmed-down Pierre Allen will emerge as a player who can come off the bench and pressure opposing QBs.
4) Other than the most obvious (Oklahoma), which game frightens you the most this year?
Well, the last time the Huskers played in Lubbock it was uglier than the Beano Cook/Pamela Anderson honeymoon video, so I'll go with the Red Raiders. (As a side note, right around when Beau Davis threw his 12th interception during that game, I broke one of the ceiling fans in my house...seriously pissing off my wife. Please share if you have any embarrassing "breaking stuff during a game" stories. Although if they have anything to do with harming people or animals, you should probably keep them to yourself.) The Missouri game will also be tough, as the Tigers return most of their starting squad and will begin the season solidly in the top ten.
6) What happened to the fifth question?!?
Oops. Sorry.
5) What qualifies you to voice your opinions on college football?
While this is the age of anarchic social media and people don't actually have to know anything in order to post their thoughts on a topic, I at least have some basic qualifications to be a Big Red Blogger. In addition to being a UNL grad (Class of '93), and a genuine Cornhusker football fanatic since I watched Ric Berns rumble through Barry Switzer's Oklahoma defense in 1978 (Dr. Tom's first victory over the Sooners), I have also previously written regular columns for collegefootballnews.com and Huskerpedia.com. I also played on some awesome intramural flag football teams during my college days. Remember the Swinging Beef defense of 1991? Anyone?
That's it for now. Please share your thoughts and tell other Big Red lovers to visit thecorhnuskerblog.blogspot.com.
--Bill
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