It'd be one thing if Nebraska were losing games because of its kicker, or turnovers, or late-game mental gaffes. But when a defensive line is just being completely manhandled every week, hope is hard to find.
Posted: Thursday, October 25, 2007 7:00 pm
It’d be one thing if Nebraska were losing games because of its kicker, or turnovers, or late-game mental gaffes. But when a defensive line is just being completely manhandled every week, hope is hard to find.
You can’t just turn a switch. A defensive line doesn’t just get faster, get stronger, make running backs go from averaging 7.2 yards a carry to 2.7.
If you’re still keeping track at home, Nebraska ranks 105th out of 119 major-college football teams in total defense. The Huskers are 115th in rushing defense, giving up an average of 227.3 yards a game.
Kids may need to watch this game under the supervision of an adult. Texas only puts fast guys on the field and the Longhorns are 26th in the country in total offense.
Looking at Nebraska’s tackle leaders last week. You had to run your finger past 10 names before you found a defensive lineman. Winning doesn’t come that way.
Calling Sam the gunslinger: That happy-go-lucky Sam Keller we all couldn’t get enough of in September is gone. Optimism has worn thin, his throws have been inconsistent, his play has been average.
No, Keller’s numbers over the past three weeks aren’t awful. He has completed 58 percent of his passes in those games, thrown three touchdowns and three interceptions. Not great. Not terrible. Just OK.
OK won’t keep the Huskers around Saturday. He’ll need to hit the Horns with more than just check-down passes to running back Marlon Lucky. He’ll need to be special. Keller was a gunslinger when he played at Arizona State. He’d make some questionable throws, sure, but he went for it.
Since he’s been here, there’s been no splash, no daring. Part of that is this West Coast offense: It is built around controlled, short passes. OK, fine, but how about the occasional downfield throw to Maurice Purify? Mo, we hardly know ye this season.
Texas is vulnerable in the secondary — 54th in the country in pass defense. Testing it would be worth a try.
Let youth be served: Simple message here: Freshman running backs Quentin Castille and Roy Helu need their mugs plastered all over the TV on Saturday.
Helu looked like the fastest guy on the field last week. Castille looked like one of the toughest, running for 60 yards on nine carries. Helu had 39 yards on five carries.
Let these young kids shine. Let them have their growing pains. Just get them the ball. This is not about getting youth on the field just for the sake of getting youth on the field. It’s about getting youth on the field because they look like the best players when you hand them a football.
Better raise those test scores: Well, we’re one-fifth of the way through Professor Osborne’s evaluation of Bill Callahan. Callahan might want to hide that first test grade. It wasn’t pretty.
It’s easy to think Nebraska might just pack up the van and go home now. If Callahan has any chance of being here next year, that can’t happen.
Many people think Callahan is burnt toast already. The only opinion that matters is Osborne’s. Supposedly he’s still got his grading pen out.
As Osborne said a week ago, he believes Husker fans are capable of accepting a loss, so long as they think the team played with fire. Today is about pride. The Huskers aren’t as good as Texas, not even close. But this can’t be a day where they roll over and just get stampeded by Bevo. Plenty of people are expecting just that. Callahan needs a shocker.
He certainly can’t afford another F grade.
— Brian Christopherson