Posted: Tuesday, October 31, 2006 6:00 pm
Junior linebacker Lance Brandenburgh plopped his right arm on a table Tuesday, hard cast and all.
He played last week against Oklahoma State with a fractured bone that actually occurred Oct. 7 at Iowa State (he thought it was merely a bad sprain). He’ll play again Saturday against Missouri.
“We’re all banged up a little bit,” Brandenburgh said during Nebraska’s weekly media luncheon, referring to the Huskers’ linebacking crew.
“A little bit” is an understatement. Which brings us to the heart of the matter this week: The heart of Nebraska’s defense is ailing, as three of the top five linebackers are beset by injuries. The extent and scope of those injuries were undoubtedly factors in Oklahoma State racking up 496 yards of total offense in its 41-29 triumph that knocked NU from the national rankings and sparked abundant grumbling in Husker Nation.
“They were able to get around the corner on us, and we weren’t able to recover,” said Husker starting middle linebacker Corey McKeon, still hobbling on a sore knee and ankle.
Nebraska now prepares for a Missouri offense that spreads the field and attacks with a quick passing game. The Tigers are “very good within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage,” said Texas A&M coach Dennis Franchione.
In other words, Mizzou tends to test linebackers, healthy or not. To be sure, the Tigers put defenders in positions where they have to make plays “in space,” or in the open field, Franchione said. Defenders must be able to make sharp cuts and change direction quickly to make tackles.
Great news for Nebraska this week.
Franchione understands Nebraska’s challenge because Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel threw for 295 yards in the Tigers’ 25-19 loss Oct. 14 in College Station, Texas.
McKeon also seems to understand.
“The area within 10, 12, 15 yards (of the line) — that’s where they’re trying to produce most of their yards,” he said. “You have to have fast linebackers. You have to have guys who play the pass very well and are able to adjust on the run. They’re going to throw every kind of route at you. You have to be able to make plays on the run.”
Which is precisely why Nebraska’s linebacker injuries are causing a degree of anxiety this week at North Stadium, as if the Huskers need any more anxiety. After all, they face a must-win situation Saturday.
“I can’t sit here and say I’m not concerned about it because it is a factor in the way we were playing Saturday,” McKeon said. “You have Lance wearing a cast on his arm, which is making it difficult for him to make tackles. He’s trying his best. … And me not playing up to my potential with ankle and knee (injuries) — just the fact guys are trying to tough through things speaks a lot for our linebacking corps.”
So, will Missouri put stress on McKeon’s tender knee and ankle?
“Anything puts stress on this ankle right now,” said the 6-foot-1, 225-pound junior, who has managed only six tackles in the last two games as he’s struggled on a “three-level ankle sprain” — low, medium and high — as well as a stretched and bruised ligament in his left knee suffered Oct. 14 at Kansas State.
That’s why Nebraska defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove limited McKeon and weakside linebacker Steve Octavien’s playing time against Oklahoma State. Octavien had missed four games with a hamstring injury before returning with a 10-tackle performance Oct. 21 against Texas. However, he injured his ankle late in the game against the Longhorns and didn’t record a tackle against the Cowboys, as he was in the game for all of six snaps.
“I didn’t want to lose them for the season,” Cosgrove said after the OSU game. “They were a little dinged up still. Corey, he’s better, but he’s still not where he needs to be.”
As for Octavien, “He’s trying his best,” McKeon said. “He wants to be part of the defense. He wants to make plays for everyone. But physically, he’s not able to, and it’s killing him. I know it kills me. He’s selling his soul. He’s doing everything he can do to try to be able to play, and it’s still not able to happen.”
It should be noted that nobody was using injuries as excuses Tuesday. Not for a second. However, it’s impossible to ignore the topic, especially given the style of Missouri’s offense.
In addition to McKeon and Octavien, Nebraska lost middle linebacker Phillip Dillard to a season-ending knee injury during the season’s first game. What’s more, backup strongside linebacker Clayton Sievers has missed significant playing time with hamstring problems.
“It has affected our play,” McKeon said of the injuries. “The d-line rotates a bunch of guys. The linebackers used to have that luxury, but it’s fading away with injury.”
No problem, insisted Brandenburgh, who has no use of his right thumb.
“You get on the field, and you can’t feel much anyway,” he said. “We’ll be fine.”
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.