Last season, the Nebraska Cornhuskers accomplished something that seemed distant and unimaginable in 2004. Winning the Big 12 North title last season is a stepping stone to where the faithful fans in Lincoln and around the country knew there team would get to again. Even after enduring their first losing season in over 35 years and missing a bowl game for the first time in just as long, winning a division title is merely a roadside stop two years after the fact on the highway to regaining national prominence.
In 2007 the Huskers will face loftier expectations with more question marks overall. They will be solid on both sides of the ball with experienced starters returning at key positions. When stacked against the expectation of returning to the national spotlight however, it’s difficult to judge solid players and hold them up against an objectionable light when most fans will have the expectation to have said players perform at the level of an All-American. That’s just not the talent level that the Huskers are playing with, at least for now. There are still players leftover from the Solich era at Nebraska and simply do not fit into the Bill Callahan way of running an offense. A speedy receiver like Terrence Nunn is not the type of receiver you’d like to see running slant routes across the middle of the field. He has enough issues holding on to the ball in the open field, let alone when he has a 6’1” 225 pound strong safety in his face coming at him full speed.
Despite these types of issues with mismatched players and transitioning those players with the recruits that Callahan’s staff have brought in the past few off seasons, the Huskers stand a good chance of doing better than they did last year. Am I crazy, you ask? How could they possibly do better after losing their entire defensive line and after they lost leading rusher Brandon Jackson and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year Zac Taylor? Well, I’ll try to explain as best I can. Keep in mind, that while I’m taking the optimistic approach to the Husker’s 2007 campaign, this season could just as easily disintegrate into a Nebraska fan's worst nightmare as well.
The notion that the Huskers could do better than last year starts at the top with newly christened starting quarterback Sam Keller. He has all the tools to do great things in what will be his only season starting and playing for the Huskers. Depending on how he digested the playbook last season playing with the scout team and during spring and fall camps will map out how much success Keller will enjoy. Let’s face it, Taylor was never meant to be an all time great quarterback in the grand scheme of things. He knew it too. When the media were making all sorts of noise about passing records that were falling left and right after only less than two years throwing the pigskin, Taylor remarked that Nebraska doesn’t have a history of balanced offensive play calling, and that when they get a quarterback into the fold with some potential, his records would be quickly swept away. I find this statement to be accurately prophetic and spot on. Taylor was brought in as a junior college transfer to alleviate the nightmare that was 2004 starter Joe Daily.
Now, all this being said, I do not believe that Keller is the end all be all of answers to the questions that will be asked of the Huskers going into this season. He’s another Taylor type quick fix to create a winning environment in Lincoln to lure the true players that will put Nebraska back on the national map. Keller had a solid tenure at Arizona State until he suffered an injury that sent him down the depth chart. He wasn’t the greatest quarterback, but he’s the best pro-style quarterback that has ever stepped foot in Memorial Stadium in a Husker uniform. What I like about Keller the most beyond his abilities is his desire to step onto a big stage and do great things. Taylor, despite his amazing efficiency, seemed like a deer in the headlights in most of his big game performances. He also lacked that killer instinct that Keller has. Taylor didn't go out and make plays in win games, he only took what the defense gave him. This could be a good thing or a bad thing depending how you look at it. Either way, you'll need to strap yourselves in with Keller because it's going to be a passing game the likes of you've never seen before at Nebraska. Nebraska also has some depth at the position. Junior Joe Ganz gave Keller healthy competition and looked solid when I saw him in person at the Spring Game in April. Ganz is another Taylor clone and may not see a whole lot of playing time unless Keller has a major meltdown at some point in the season.
The biggest loss on offense will not be felt at the quarterback position, but rather at the legendary I-back slot. Of course, Nebraska hasn’t had a legendary I-back since Ahman Green at the end of the Tom Osborne era. Losing Brandon Jackson to the NFL is a major blow and the offense will miss his 5.3 average yards per carry in the backfield. Even though Jackson is gone, there are plenty of players waiting for their chance to step up and become effective players in the offense. To start off at the top, junior Marlon Lucky is experienced and proven, and as long as he can stay healthy he should receive the lion share of carries this year. Lucky’s best asset will be his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and create plays in the open field. He’s the most balanced option the Huskers have at the moment as well. Senior Kenny Wilson will create a change of pace with his speed, and junior Cody Glenn is back that is almost impossible to tackle and is the Husker’s short yardage specialist. Incoming freshmen Marcus Mendoza, Quentin Castille and Roy Helu will more than likely be shuffled in at some point this season as well. Losing Dane Todd leaves the Huskers with few options at fullback, a once integral part of the offense. In Callahan’s iteration of the West Coast Offense, the role is slightly diminished than say Bill Walsh’s version. The Husker will look to converted junior I-back Thomas Lawson, senior Matt Senske and junior tight end J.B. Phillips.
The receiving core returns basically in tact from the previous season. Senior receiver and part-time miscreant Maurice Purify will serve a one game suspension in the season opener against Nevada but will be allowed to come back for the remainder of the season. Senior Terrence Nunn (who has caused me to utter many a profanity, good and bad) will also return for what will be his final year at Nebraska. Good or bad, take that one as you will. The pair led the Huskers in receptions last season with 34 for Purify and 42 for Nunn. Purify was arguably the most electrifying of the two, averaging nearly 18.5 yards per catch. Senior Franz Hardy should not be overlooked either in the yards per catch department. He is a home run hitter who averaged 22.6 yards per reception. Being the strength and deepest position on offense look for juniors Nate Swift and Todd Peterson to make a big impact on the field. Some names you might not be familiar with are redshirt sophomore Menelik Hold, sophomore Chris Brooks and redshirt freshmen Will Henry who is an imposing threat at 6’5” all of whom will see time on the field during meaningful playing situations.
The tight ends will be run in the same fashion as the running backs in committee style. The frontrunner at the moment is the aforementioned J.B. Phillips who caught 13 passes last year and was a solid blocker. Senior Josh Mueller, junior Hunter Teafatiller and redshirt freshman Mike McNeil will all compete for playing time. Tight end is a position the Huskers would like to improve upon beings that in the West Coast Offense a premier end opens up a new dimension to the attack. For now, the Huskers will have to play the hand they are dealt with the personnel at the position.
The middle of the offensive line will be rock solid this year. Center Brett Byford emerged last season as a potential All Big 12 Honoree after Kevin Mann was sidelined with mononucleosis. Junior Matt Slauson will make the move from tackle to guard this season in hopes to improve the blocking schemes for the running game and misdirection that is needed in this thinking mans offense. Junior Lyndon Murtha who stands tall at 6’7” and a lean 305 pounds will take over for Slauson at the right tackle position. Guarding Keller’s blind side will be senior Carl Nicks who started two games in 2006. The left guard will be taken over by junior Andy Christiansen where he started six games in place of Greg Austin after being sidelined with a season ending injury. Sophomore Jacob Hickman will challenge Christiansen for the left guard slot.
A new year and a new look are what’s in store for the Huskers on their defensive line. No position on defense will be a bigger challenge to fill then at defensive end. NFL bound Adam Carriker and Jay Moore who combined for 13 sacks and 33 tackles for loss make a huge impact with their departure. Their understudies will take over for them when the season starts on September 1st. Barry Turner and Zach Potter are the expected starters, however Potter who has mostly played special teams his entire career, may open the season watching from the sidelines. The reason is because there are plenty of capable potential players to wrestle the position away. While Turner may turn out to be one of the best ends in the Big 12, the other side may be filled by converted linebacker Clayton Sievers and Pierre Allen who committed himself to the position by gaining 30 pounds in the off season. Other potential candidates will be senior Andy Poulosky and sophomore David Henry who moved over to the defensive side of the ball last season.
That’s not the only part of the line that needs replacing. Both defensive tackles from 2006 are also gone and replacing them will be sophomore Ndamukong Suh and Ty Steinkuhler. Suh is clearly the better of the two and his potential and massive frame at 6’4” 305 pounds are getting the coaching staff whipped up into a frenzy. The Huskers also hope to show some depth in the defensive interior with senior Brandon Johnson and junior college transfer Shukree Barfield. Others who may see limited to mop up time will be redshirt freshman Seth Johnson and sophomore Craig Roark.
The Huskers will jump into the season with one of the best (if not the best) linebacker core in the entire Big 12 Conference. Senior Bo Ruud is a first-team-all-conference pick and last season put up quality numbers that placed him above and beyond. He also has a nose for game-changing plays with three forced fumbles, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. Ruud is making the switch to the strong side, where he’ll be able to show his coverage skills against most team’s tight ends. Replacing Ruud on the weak side will be senior Steve Octavian and possibly senior Lance Brandenburgh. Brandenburgh has plenty of experience in the Nebraska defensive system and has logged time at each linebacking position. Sophomore Phillip Dillard’s brilliant potential was cut short with a knee injury early last year but hopes to make up for it this season. Senior Corey McKeon will anchor down the mid-field with is rock-solid sensibility for the spot and will add to his 30 tackles for loss in his career for the Blackshirts. Rounding out the squad and providing some amazing depth will be sophomore Nick Covey, junior Tyler Wortman and redshirt freshman Kyle Moore.
The Huskers are also deep when it comes to their secondary. It was exposed on more than a few occasions last season, however this year should prove to be a little easier to swallow considering the amount of time this group has played together. They will bring back three full-time starters along with 2005 standout Zackary Bowman who was lost last fall with a season ending knee injury. With his return it will provide some needed competition for seniors Cortney Grixby and Andre Jones. Grixby, while undersized, has amazing leaping ability that provides a lot of frustration to opposing receivers along with his considerable speed. Jones, a junior college transfer last season, immediately made an impact and held the starting role for the entire season. He lead all defensive backs with 74 tackles in 2006. Defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove brought in another JUCO prospect for the 2007 campaign in Armando Murillo, who is NBA star Gilbert Arenas’ cousin, was a first-team All-American and a highly sought after recruiting prize. Sophomore Corey Young is slated to back up the cornerbacks, but may move over the safety position before fall camp is complete.
Senior Tierre Green has had the free safety spot on lockdown since he moved over from I-back three seasons ago when Callahan came to Lincoln. Green spent his time last season on the strong side, racking up 65 tackles and made great coverage plays most of the season. Sophomore Rickey Thenarse will most likely start in the strong safety position and will receive competition from Young if he moves over to safety. Senior Bryan Wilson will serve as the defense’s nickel specialist and will also sub in during dime situations as well. JUCO transfer Larry Asante will, in my opinion, play right away and contribute at safety in week one.
Despite all of the numerous positives preceding this conclusion, this will not be the year that Nebraska steps back out onto the national stage as a BCS contender. They'll require one or two more seasons establishing Callahan’s recruits who have played in the system from day one before that line is crossed. For the offense to be fully operational you’ll need to have players at quarterback and wide receiver who have been in the system for at least two years minimum. At the moment, Nebraska needs to measure themselves against teams like Big 12 South powers Texas and Oklahoma. At the moment they are still one or two steps behind, however the Huskers have closed the gap relatively quick. Despite the score last season the Huskers hung with USC on the road and should have defeated Texas had Terrence Nunn not fumbled the ball late in the game (I’m still upset about that one, I’ll say it again). They most likely could have beaten Auburn had they not gotten desperate in the second half, but chalk that up to inexperience. Winning the 2005 Alamo Bowl against Michigan is one of the only highlights in Callahan’s tenure and in order to secure his job and legacy in the eyes of Husker Nation he’ll need to repeat similar feats on bigger stages every year. Not to worry though, their time is coming shortly. With the tradition, facilities and recruiting ability in Callahan's staff don't expect the Huskers to remain stuck in a rut for too long.
2006 Overall record: 9-5
2006 Conference record: 6-2
Offensive returning starters: 6
Defensive returning starters: 5
Offense: B+
Defense: A-
Special Teams: B
Overall: B+
2007 Big 12 North Ranking: 1st
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