|
RB
Marlon Lucky |
|
|
2007
Statistics |
Coach:
Bo Pelini
1-0,
1st year |
2007
Record: 5-7 |
|
NEVADA |
WON
52-10 |
at
Wake Forest |
WON
20-17 |
USC |
LOST
31-49 |
BALL
STATE |
WON
41-40 |
IOWA
STATE |
WON
35-17 |
at
Missouri |
LOST
6-41 |
OKLAHOMA
STATE |
LOST
14-45 |
TEXAS
A&M |
LOST
14-36 |
at
Texas |
LOST
25-28 |
at
Kansas |
LOST
39-76 |
KANSAS
STATE |
WON
73-31 |
at
Colorado |
LOST
51-65 |
|
2007
Final Rankings
AP-UR, Coaches-UR, BCS-UR
|
2008
Outlook |
The
troubles seen over the previous
five years reached an unbearable
peak in 2007. Even outsiders
knew one of the greatest programs
ever was ailing like never before.
By going 5-7, it is now four
consecutive years of missing
a double-digit win total. The
last time a five-year span didn’t
produce at least 10 wins in
one of the years was 1958-62,
and this season will be challenged
to break the current streak.
It’s amazing that the
last time Nebraska was ranked
to end the year was 2005 (No.24),
and their last top 10 finish
was 2001’s No.8 ascension.
Regardless of what’s happened
and regardless of the futility
of Cornhusker fans as of late,
the light at the end of the
tunnel got really big when Bo
Pelini was brought back to run
the team.
Pelini’s
one game of head coaching experience
was at the end of his single-season
duration here as defensive coordinator.
This time, Pelini’s brother
Carl will be his DC (he was
a graduate assistant under Bo
last time). Results follow most
of Bo’s exploits, and
we expect that, with the raw
talent already in place, things
get back to the regular Nebraska
levels of quality football.
The
biggest challenge is luckily
on defense. It got so bad last
year that the “Blackshirts”
were taken off out of respect
to the defensive history here
and how that heritage had been
lost for the year. Allowing
455 points was embarrassing,
if not athletically blasphemous.
The back seven needs the most
attention, especially the marginal
linebacking corps that loses
all of its starters and a key
sub. Bad LBs equaled a bad defense,
so the turnover could help.
But when a top RB candidate
(Cody Glenn) has to be brought
in due to a lack of scholarship
players in that unit, it seems
evident that this area could
be playing catch-up all year
in this ever-toughening league.
Another magician, Marv Sanders,
has been brought in to punch
up the secondary. The corners
look better than the safeties,
but the seniority of the group
playing furthest back offers
hope that the DBs can gel.
The
offense has much better future
in one-and-done senior QB starter
Joe Ganz and I-Back Marlon Lucky.
Lucky is the top receiving back
in the country. Factor in the
new trend toward “read
option” quarterbacking
to get how even more possibilities
of ground production will make
the offensive flow increase.
Shawn Watson, the guy who coordinated
the recent improvements under
ex-coach Callahan, was wisely
retained to assure as much continuity
as possible. With an OL up to
the conference’s usual
caliber, there will be little
letdown on this side of the
ball.
Three
cupcakes to start will make
September seem easy, that is
until Virginia Tech shows up
to ruin the party. That game
is winnable (50-50), with a
low score guaranteed. Lessons
and weak points have to be taken
in stride quickly since the
conference slate – division
favorite Missouri – arrives
the next week. The Tigers, Jayhawks
and Buffaloes all coming to
Memorial Stadium gives further
advantages to Nebraska. Texas
Tech and Oklahoma are big challenges
to further measure if the defense
is back and again worthy of
their Blackshirt label. If NU
can go 2-3 against the teams
currently ranked ahead of them,
double-digit wins can be found.
Even
if it takes another year to
prop themselves back up near
or atop their division/conference,
the team’s longterm outlook
remains vibrant with Pelini
out to prove his worth at the
job that has always eluded him.
Patience, not often found in
Lincoln (as proven by the fanbase’s
unrest and subsequent coaching
turnover seen lately), will
be the biggest virtue in allowing
those longterm, foundation-building
steps to occur. Put onto his
back, the Cornhuskers will ride
Pelini’s legacy to prominence.
Projected
2008 record: 7-5
|
|
|
DB
Larry Asante |
NEBRASKA
*POWER RATINGS |
Offense |
Defense |
QB
- 3.5 |
DL
- 3 |
RB
- 3.5 |
LB
- 2.5 |
WR
- 3 |
DB
- 3 |
OL
- 4 |
.. |
|
NEBRASKA
2007 Statistical Rankings |
OFFENSE |
|
National |
Conf. |
Rushing: |
66 |
7 |
Passing: |
7 |
2 |
Total
Off: |
9 |
5 |
Sacks
Allow: |
31 |
8 |
|
DEFENSE |
|
National |
Conf. |
Rushing: |
116 |
12 |
Passing: |
84 |
4 |
Total
Def: |
112 |
12 |
Sacks: |
112 |
12 |
|
|
RETURNING
LEADERS |
Passing:
Joe Ganz, 89-152-7, 1435
yds., 16 TD
Rushing: Marlon Lucky,
206 att., 1019 yds., 9 TD
Receiving: Marlon Lucky,
75 rec., 705 yds., 3 TD
Scoring: Marlon Lucky,
12 TD, 1 two pt. conv., 74 pts.
Punting: Dan Titchener,
49 punts, 41.3 avg.
Kicking: Alex Henery,
8-8 FG, 45-45 PAT, 69 pts.
Tackles: Larry Asante,
78 tot., 40 solo
Sacks: Barry Turner,
3 sacks
Interceptions: Kevin
Dixon, 1 for 0 yds.; Zach Potter,
1 for 0 yds.
Kickoff Returns: Hunter
Teafatiller, 4 ret., 9.2 avg.,
0 TD
Punt Returns: None
|
|
|
|
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NEBRASKA
|
|
|
OFFENSE
- 6 |
----RETURNING
STARTERS---- |
DEFENSE
- 6 |
|
KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Sam Keller-QB, Andy Sand-FB, Maurice
Purify-WR, Dan Erickson-WR, Terrence
Nunn-WR, Frantz Hardy-WR, J.B.
Phillips-TE, Sean Hill-TE, Carl
Nicks-OT, Brett Byford-C |
DEFENSE:
Bo
Ruud-SLB, Corey McKeon-MLB, Steve
Octavien-WLB, Lance Brandenburgh-WLB,
Cortney Grixby-CB, Zack Bowman-CB,
Ben Eisenhart-SS, Tierre Green-FS,
Kevin Dixon-DT (dismissed) |
|
|
2008
OFFENSE |
With
the regime change, Coach Bo wisely
kept the most important aspect of
the recent offensive improvements
– coordinator Shawn Watson.
In his second year in charge of that
new-fangled look now seen here, NU
added nearly 55 yards per game of
total offense, which equaled three
more points per week. But unlike the
balance found in his initial effort,
Watson leaned on his QBs’ arms
a lot more. The running game actually
lost over 25 yards per game from the
prior year’s Husker-esque totals,
further cementing the fact that the
running game isn’t about to
make a huge comeback anytime soon.
But that doesn’t mean improvements
won’t occur, especially since
the QB spot now features better wheels.
QUARTERBACK
Senior Joe Ganz looks like an upgrade
if his statistics tell anything. In
place of Sam Keller, Ganz had more
TD passes on the season in less than
half the number of throws Keller had.
Extrapolated out as if he started
every game, Ganz would have had 64
TDs, but that’s at throwing
50 passes a game, which won’t
occur if he does start since Keller
only threw it about 35 times a game.
Plug his rating of 163 into the national
rankings to see how he would have
ranked third in the nation. The big
news out of Lincoln is how the QB
position is going to include mobility
in its job description. Ganz is definitely
a step above Keller that way. This
spring saw lots of read option type
plays, similar to how Zac Robinson
at Oklahoma State or Matt Grothe at
South Florida have their respective
systems set up around their multiple
talents. Ganz is a phenom, the kind
of athlete who pulls off the fakes
and feigns needed to fool foes in
any situation, passing or running.
Junior Pat Witt is not quite as quick,
but his presence in the same system
as will be used for Ganz won’t
mean a step back or a need for many
(if any) changes. Zac Lee could pass
Witt, but he lacks enough experience
at this level to think he would be
inserted in an important circumstance
before Witt.
RUNNING
BACK
Perhaps just as important of a cog
for this offense to reach its potential
is Marlon Lucky. The No.1 returning
rusher in the conference and the best
receiving back in the nation, this
former No.2 national RB prospect isn’t
afraid to hit between the tackles.
Lucky’s ability to spilt out
wide means defenses rarely know the
play call until the ball is actually
hiked. His compliment is hulking Quentin
Castille, the hybrid back from hell.
A step slower, Castille also keeps
foes guessing as to what he’s
doing and why – is he running
right at that guy with or without
the ball (etc.)? – and he adds
another element just too good to ignore.
Helu’s mobility makes him another
good target out of the backfield,
so he can step into Lucky’s
role when needed. Another big boost
(as well as a key reason the running
game took a step back) is Kenny Wilson’s
return. Wilson size-speed combo are
rare, and after a broken leg kept
him out all of ’07, the chip
to prove himself again is weighing
his shoulders down. Tom Lawson isn’t
anything but a pusher…unless
the Huskers are near the goal line,
and then he’s deadly (all three
catches last year were TDs).
RECEIVER
/ TIGHT END
Another deadly target is senior Todd
Peterson. He will have to make up
for the nine TDs Purify takes with
him, but Peterson’s speed and
6’4 frame have proven he’s
a big-play weapon (19.9 yards per
catch). Peterson’s counterpart
is fourth in all-time team career
receptions – Nate Swift’s
103 catches facilitate getting the
promised passing game in motion. Appropriately
named, this kid flies by guys almost
at will, but he isn’t the purist
speed merchant. That would be Curenski
Gilleylen, a freshman whose game-changing
impact could give Nebraska a quick-strike
ability rarely seen here on the outside.
Menelik Holt could easily become that
big play guy who hits hard in the
red zone, so weapons abound. But coming
together as a unit with role players
who lift the team’s offensive
prospects remains to be seen. Mikey
McNeill is almost as fast as the WRs,
and his pedigree as a viable downfield
target makes him an asset to the passing
game. But McNeill lost favor last
year and was getting few snaps by
season’s end, so his development
as the top TE is important. Teafatiller
started twice in 2006. Foes need to
note how he had five catches that
year and four TDs in them.
OFFENSIVE
LINE
New line coach Barney Cotton inherits
a wealth of Cornhusker beef to mold
into Watson’s protecting shield.
Jacob Hickman bumps over to center,
and his long-armed quality works perfectly.
Christiansen has been suspended and
has no immediate prospect of returning,
so no huge loss since the left guard
spot will go to vet Mike Huff. One
of the biggest changes has been the
impact of strength coach James Dobsen,
and no player exemplifies Dobsen’s
results than Matt Slauson. A sure
future Sunday player, Slauson lost
at least 10 pounds, and the entire
line has become leaner and quicker
for the improvising style soon to
be utilized (Slauson started at left
tackle vs. Kansas State and right
tackle vs. Colorado). Lydon Murtha
returns to the side on which he played
in 2006, embracing the challenge.
Burkes finished out his freshman campaign
as the starter over on the right side.
The shuffling that occurred this off-season
seems to be having no ill effects
on production. The backups are just
as worthy of praise. Mike Smith lines
up as a power TE, but he is broken-in
already behind Murtha. Jones is just
as broken-in, but Williams is a bit
green still as he worked primarily
on special teams. Baker Steinkuhler
is this year’s No.2 tackle prospect
(top run blocker and rated strongest
tackle, too - Rivals), and the local
(Southwest) product will be a stalwart
soon enough. As much as the receivers
didn’t gel, the line did over
the spring sessions.
|
|
OG
Matt Slauson
|
|
|
NEBRASKA
2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Joe
Ganz-Sr (6-1, 210) |
Patrick
Witt-Fr (6-4, 220) |
FB |
Thomas
Lawson-Sr (6-0, 240) |
Justin
Makovicka-So (6-1, 235) |
IB |
Marlon
Lucky-Sr (6-0, 210) |
Roy
Helu-So (6-0, 220)
Quentin Castille-So (6-1, 250) |
WR |
Nate
Swift-Sr (6-2, 200) |
Menelik
Holt-Jr (6-4, 215) |
WR |
Todd
Peterson-Sr (6-4, 210) |
Curenski
Gilleylen-Fr (6-0, 210) |
TE |
Mike
McNeill-So (6-4, 225) |
Hunter
Teafatiller-Sr (6-3, 230) |
OT |
Lydon
Murtha-Sr (6-7, 305) |
Mike
Smith-So (6-6, 285) |
OG |
Matt
Slauson-Sr (6-5, 335) |
D.J.
Jones-So (6-5, 310) |
C |
Jacob
Hickman-Jr (6-4, 285) |
Mike
Caputo-Fr (6-1, 265)
Andy Christensen-Sr (6-3,
275) (susp.) |
OG |
Mike
Huff-Sr (6-4, 300) |
Keith
Williams-So (6-5, 310) |
OT |
Jaivorio
Burkes-So (6-5, 340) |
Marcel
Jones-Fr (6-7, 300) |
K |
Alex
Henery-So (6-2, 170) |
Adi
Kunalic-So (6-0, 175) |
|
|
2008
DEFENSE |
455!
That’s how many points were
allowed last year. For those of you
thinking, “Well, in an off year,
things like that happen,” think
again. Here’s the skinny –
the “Blackshirts” didn’t
give up 100 points in a season for
the first 42 years of the program
(1900-41). In 1902, NU went 10-0 and
never allowed a single point. They
didn’t even allow a 300-point
total until 2002 (which was why Bo
Pelini was brought in the first time
in 2003). The 76 points allowed to
Kansas (11/3/07) is now the record.
The disaster last year sealed ex-head
man Bill Callahan’s fate and
had the fan-base seeking a defensive
maven to come in as coach. How lucky
Pelini was still seeking his first
legitimate head coaching post after
leading the Huskers against Michigan
State in the ’03 Alamo Bowl.
Familiar with the alums and unique
school vibe, Big Bo left national
champs LSU and Death Valley for the
confines of Memorial Stadium. A sure-fire
improvement all by himself, Bo brings
in his older brother Carl from Ohio
to hold down the coordinators position.
Here in ’03 with his bro as
a graduate assistant, Carl just led
his Bobcats to top 30 rankings in
total and scoring defense.
DEFENSIVE
LINE
It all starts up front for the five
returning starters (four are seniors,
with two more second team seniors
behind them) who together allowed
foes to run at 5.2 yards per carry
and allowed them 38 ground scores.
Carl is also the line coach, so bodies
are in place awaiting further instructions.
The ends are going to be faster and
more athletic in other ways. Senior
Barry Turner is a bit leaner this
year, so he should be better in run
stuffing as he gets back to the look
he had as a freshman. Turner needs
to push the QB’s timing more,
and if his pass rush is still not
what it used to be, expect Pierre
Allen to be the first to get reps.
Allen had a huge spring and seems
to thrive in the new scheme; he also
has his first year to learn from,
and it has really helped his upside
to emerge. The “base”
end is 6’7 Zach Potter, and
his frame moves well with his solid
footwork. Potter has shown more flashes
of brilliance, but he, too, has had
as many inconsistencies as he has
big plays. Inside, NU looks better.
Ndamukong Suh had minor knee surgery,
the kind where the guy comes back
even stronger. He could find himself
paired with Kevin Dixon, a JUCO transfer
with one year of FBS experience from
which to grow. Dixon floored this
spring, earning praise from the new
staff and assuredly scaring Ty Steinkuhler
since Dixon had only three starts
to Steinkuhler’s eight, but
had six more tackles. Barfield is
right there with these other guys,
so a healthy rotation is already established.
UPDATE:
DT Kevin Dixon has been dismissed
from the team.
LINEBACKER
The biggest pivot comes in the corps.
Losing every starter usually hurts,
but what can be said about these departees
when the defense ranked 112th (114th
for scoring allowed)? When there are
problems in both facets, it has to
be because of a weak set of LBs. New
LBs, new coaches, better results.
Right? Well…hopefully. Phillip
Dillard started twice in the middle,
and he seems to be the cream of this
crop. Behind him, Nick Covey will
need to hold off Will Compton, a super
quick greenie who turned down Michigan
and Notre Dame to be here. Desperation
is reflected in the fact that Cody
Glenn, a RB ready to compete for the
start there, is now starting on the
weakside. No slight to his progress
and determination to learn a position
he has never played, Glenn will have
to really fly up the learning curve
if he is to avoid being a weak spot
once those Big 12 foes start testing
him. Ex-DB Washington is great for
matching up with extra WRs. Wortman
is a walk-on with great promise, and
his three TFLs out of nine total tackles
offer hope that the strongside can
be held down steadily. LB coach Mike
Ekeler gets his first unit assignment
of his career, but after tutoring
under Pelini (and Bob Stoops prior
to his time in Baton Rouge), his glass
looks half full for making the linebackers
a substantially better group than
what was just here.
DEFENSIVE
BACK
The secondary fared better than the
run stoppers, but mostly new hats
means there is work to be done in
finding replacements. The good news
back here is getting alum Marv Sanders
rejoined with Pelini, whom he served
under in 2003. That year, the school
record for takeaways was set (47,
with 32 INTs)…expectations are
deservedly high, and hopefully that
will be a good thing. Junior college
player Armando Murillo started every
game, but he failed to develop into
the shutdown corner needed. His huge
spring has some thinking Murillo has
turned a proverbial corner. Blue is
the man once he comes back, but namesake
West and classmate Amukamara got reps
in his absence to give them a feel
of what’s to come. Whitmore
comes into a group mostly composed
of six-footers, and he’ll get
redshirted if the health outside holds
up. This is a good two-deep, but can
they gel as a coordinated machine
to provide decent coverage every down?
In ’03, Sanders-Pelini made
the Cornhusker DBs the best group
(efficiency) in the nation in one
year, but that group had more base
talent to mold. The starting safeties
are really worthy of praise –
Asante looks like the real deal and
has the chops to be as good as any
in the conference, while Thenarse
is the same kind of heavy hitter who
can flag down deep passes with prejudice.
O’Hanlon and Culbert are career
backups who are not on par with the
starters. This area looks good enough
to make the secondary a serious group,
but any injuries will definitively
impact the entire defense’s
prospect. How much better the entire
D gets will go the longest toward
bringing up the win total.
|
|
DE
Zach Potter
|
|
|
NEBRASKA
2008 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Barry
Turner-Sr (6-3, 270) |
Clayton
Sievers-Sr (6-4, 245) |
NT |
Ndamukong
Suh-Jr (6-4, 300) (inj.) |
Shukree
Barfield-Sr (6-4, 310) |
DT |
Ty
Steinkuhler-Sr (6-3, 285) |
.. |
DE |
Zach
Potter-Sr (6-7, 280) |
Pierre
Allen-So (6-5, 265) |
SLB |
Tyler
Wortman-Sr (6-3, 230) |
Blake
Lawrence-So (6-2, 225) |
MLB |
Phillip
Dillard-Jr (6-1, 245) |
Nick
Covey-Jr (6-2, 240) |
WLB |
Cody
Glenn-Sr (6-0, 230) |
Latravis
Washington-So (6-3, 225) |
CB |
Armando
Murillo-Sr (6-0, 195) |
Prince
Amukamara-So (6-1, 195) |
CB |
Anthony
West-So (6-0, 195) |
Anthony
Blue-So (5-10, 180) (inj.) |
SS |
Larry
Asante-Jr (6-1, 210) |
Major
Culbert-Jr (6-0, 210) |
FS |
Rickey
Thenarse-Jr (6-0, 190) |
Matt
O'Hanlon-Sr (5-11, 200) |
P |
Dan
Titchener-Sr (6-0, 200) |
Jake
Wesch-Sr (6-1, 200) |
|
|
|
2008
SPECIAL TEAMS |
Dan
Tichner is as consistent as the coverage
that held foes to a punt return long of
16 yards. Hey, and speaking of consistency,
Alex Henery and kickoff specialist Adi Kunalic
(failed to execute a squib kick vs. Kansas)
went a combined 9-for-9 on three-pointers,
but only one of those was from 40+ (Kunalic’s
46-yarder against Nevada). The only names
we could uncover for replacing Grixby at
both return spots are Mendoza and Amukamara.
Guarded info like this could change a game’s
complexion…really.
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|