B1G 2011 // Nebraska Cocktail Party Preview: Are The Huskers B1G Frontrunners Now?

Believe me, you don’t need to remind us about the sheer, mind-boggling ineptitude of Nebraska’s offense. After costing us two conference titles in a row (and several other very-winnable games along the way), the offense was the entire focus of local sports radio and water-cooler banter from the Holiday Bowl to the day Shawn Watson was let go. I felt bad for the guy, but his hybird pro-style/spread was routinely crashing and burning in crunch time. Now that he’s gone, there is some not-inconsiderable optimism surrounding the offense’s potential this season.

I’d like to think that the mere fact that Nebraska could have even a serviceable offense this year would make them a lock for the B1G title game, but there are so many questions that make me hesitant to get overly optimistic. Yes, last year’s defense was good… but not that good. They were terrible in tackles for loss, routinely got burned up the middle, and could barely stop certain teams (Oklahoma State, Iowa State, Oklahoma come to mind). I would hope that in the big-back heavy B1G that we’ll be seeing less of the Peso defense, less hybrid players and more linebackers on the field. But then there’s that linebacker depth…

Anyway, good article, and I’m looking forward to reading what else in store this week.

B. What’s the Capitol One Bowl?

However… I don’t see them having as good a season as some predict. One team has to prepare for eight teams they don’t normally play, eight teams have to prepare for one; I think it’s going to be a rough year for Big Red.

There’s just something lovable about this team. I don’t know why.

when they get to conference play and realize that its not a “first team to score 50 wins” conference, and that they wont be playing against Mizzou’s “defense”

At season’s end, I would say that the opposing team was running 15% to 20% more offensive plays because of Nebraska’s ineptitude on offense. The A&M game was probably one of the greatest defense performances I have seen in the last 10 years (south of the 2010 Big XII championship game, of course) for that same reason. And even then, the late hit at the end was total BS.

While the Neb D is on the smaller side and may be a bit susceptible to the run (thinking that Crick and Steinkuhler will be our starting DTs, and they are around 280ish I believe), these concerns pale in comparison to offensive issues. Martinez is inconsistent at best (the OSU game seems like such an outlier right now with his 500 yards of offense) and we have no QB depth. They’re iffy on RB depth, with not a ton of speed with Burkhead (although he is a good runner, very tough), they moved one of their freshman QB recruits to WR to hopefully have some athleticism, and the Oline play was inconsistent to poor. Against OU and Washington, teams with not good defenses last year, the offense only managed 20 points total (not counting the int return to the 2 yard line in the Big XII championship game). And even with the most accurate FG kicker in NCAA history. (more than anything, this is what pissed me off. So many times, it would be 3rd down, Neb would be in range for a 50 to 55 yard FG, Watson would call a passing play that Martinez couldn’t handle and then get sacked for 10 yards. He was so underutilized)

Having said all that, the Neb. defense will clearly be the fastest defense the Big Ten teams will see and unless the conference is populated with Joe Montanas and Jerry Rices, Neb. will be in every game.

Jared Crick is a much better 3-technique DT, and may end up at the next level as a 3-4 DE, which is something Nebraska’s probably going to play a lot more of (they can call it a 50 front if they want, but if the two men on the EOL are standing, I’m calling it a 3-4.)

I don’t know that we’ll get the rep that OSU fans have – we look more like Wisconsin on several levels, but I don’t know if Wisconsin has the rep for traveling Nebraska does. That game isn’t winner take all, but I suspect the winner will be the better favorite at Indy in December.

Nebraska doesn’t have monster DBs – we have very, very inexperienced DBs. Nebraska spent most of the last two seasons running a nickel or dime as their base defense (Erig Hagg and Dejon Gomes both graduated), so Nebraska’s ability to bow up and stop the run is something of an unknown, especially with the experience at LB.. Lavonte David made a gazillion tackles because half the time he was the only linebacker on the field. I was just looking at the “starts lost” chart at http://www.philsteele.com/Pdf/Start_Charts/nebraska_sts.pdf and that thing’s pure fiction.

Regardless of Nebraska’s questions on defense (How much will the loss of secondary coach Marvin Sanders hurt?) the offensive side is where things can really change. Nebraska’s got a QB coming back, one RB, 2 TE’s, and a wideout among skill positions. At least 2 of 3 incoming freshman running backs are expected to be significant contributors. The backup QB is a redshirt freshman, and he’s the only other QB on the roster. (Jamal Turner will stay at WR/KR – a 6’/185lb QB will get kilt.) Nebraska only loses 2 up front, but someone is expected to take the C position away from Caputo, who’s a gamer, but is undersized and got mauled a lot last year – one of those resulted in his flattening Martinez’ ankle during the A&M game – and it was the phone call Martinez made to his dad in the locker room after that which precipitated the now legendary reaming he got from Pelini.

As for the offensive scheme? I wouldn’t trust any Red-White game highlights – if Pelini could hold that thing in the indoor practice facility, he would. I expect Nebraska’s offense to look a lot like Mangino’s at Kansas during that brief flash in the pan when Kansas was good – Beck was the passing game coordinator under Mangino, so I expect a lot of spread option / pistol / draw concepts. From the passing game, lots more option routes and less WCO. Another thing I expect, is more high-low half-field concepts – read high, low, then tuck. Remember Mike Vick in college? More of that.

I voted for Nebraska. Taylor Martinez will be better; Wisky’s QB is a relative unknown, well at least to me. Defense I’ll give an edge to Nebraska as they came from a point a minute conference—I think they’ll be a little better in the B1G.

That said, I don’t think either one of them will win the conference.

I’m calling it for Illinois right now.

Then the OSU posters showed up.

Nebraska will be fine IF:

1.Taylor Martinez can stay healthy/; not get eaten by Pelini/not get disintegrated by Pelnini’s death stare.

2. They can play defense as usual(should be fine)

3. They can manage to not get caught sleeping/make bone-headed decisions against mediocre teams like last year. (TAMU) Could lump Texas in there too….

I don’t think any of these points are Nebraska-only types of things though.

Nebraska is losing at least 3 big ten games, One of which will be to Northwestern.

I am planning to attend the Iowa/Nebby game to be played in Lincoln this season and was hoping you could give me the skinny on football game day at DKR North Stadium.

to deal with (travel, stadium idiosyncrasies, etc.), not enough Kansas’s on the schedule.

Nebraska goes .500 in their inaugural run in the tackle football conference. My upset special is they lose to Minnesota.