Longhorn Football Notes, 10/20: NU nickel defense catches Davis' eye

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BY CURT McKEEVER / Lincoln Journal Star

Texas offensive coordinator Greg Davis found himself doing a double take earlier this week when looking at tape of one of Nebraska’s games. The opponent had come out in a one-back, three-wideout look and so Davis checked to see who the Huskers were playing as their nickel back.

“It’s (Stewart) Bradley,” Davis said. “I thought, ‘How big is that guy?’ I think he’s 6-4, 250, and he plays a bunch outside on the slot. He’s not their nickel guy, he’s their normal linebacker. For a lot of teams, you put that personnel out on the field and they immediately go to nickel. They (the Huskers) don’t, they’ll play with him. After you watch tape, you understand why — he’s an athletic guy.”

Bradley wasn’t the only Blackshirt who stood out, either.

“Their front,” Davis continued, “is as impressive as we’ve studied.“

43 & COUNTING: The Longhorns have been ranked in the top 10 of the last 43 Associated Press polls. Only Southern California, at 63 weeks, has a longer stay in the top 10. The last time Texas wasn’t in the top 10 was the final poll of the 2003 season.

KEY STAT I: Texas is 50-0 under coach Mack Brown when rushing for more than 200 yards.

INJURY UPDATE: Longhorns defensive co-coordinator Duane Akina told reporters in Texas that senior cornerback Tarell Brown and junior free safety Marcus Griffin will be healthy enough to play Saturday after missing last week’s 63-31 win against Baylor. Brown sat out with a toe injury, while Griffin was nursing a sprained ankle. Baylor quarterback Shawn Bell took advantage of their absence by throwing for 303 yards, but Texas also had four interceptions.

KEY STAT II: Texas has won 66 of 72 games under Brown when it has scored first.

QUOTABLE: “Good. That’s good football weather. Football is football no matter if it’s in rain, sleet or snow. You kind of hope for games like that sometimes in the season when it’s cold, you’re away from home, you’re in a foreign territory and you’ve got your back up against the wall. It makes it more fun, puts more drama into the story when you can fight for something.” — Fifth-year senior running back Selvin Young, on Saturday’s weather forecast calling for rain and chilly temperatures.