STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Monday, October 16, 2006 7:00 pm
Lest doubters remained, Nebraska’s last two football games clearly indicate the Huskers are serious about their get-physical mantra on offense. Nobody has to convince Texas coach Mack Brown of Nebraska’s intentions.
“It’s obvious Bill Callahan came in and said, ‘We’re going to start running the ball like the old Nebraska teams, and we’re going to stop the run,’” Brown said of the Huskers’ third-year head coach. “They’ve done that, and I think it’s the No. 1 reason they’re where they are now.”
Which is on course for their first Big 12 North Division title since 1999.
Nebraska, with a record of 6-1 overall and 3-0 in the conference, can add emphasis to the program’s resurgence with a triumph against Texas (6-1, 3-0) Saturday at Memorial Stadium. The Huskers, winners of nine of their last 10 games dating to last season, rank 21st nationally defending the run. But it is their power-oriented rushing prowess that is raising eyebrows.
Nebraska, using a four-running back rotation, is 11th in the nation in rushing offense, averaging 207.7 yards per game after averaging just 96.0 last season.
“I think they have a very complete running game,” Kansas State coach Ron Prince said after watching the Huskers roll to 190 yards on the ground (4.4 per carry) during Saturday’s 21-3 victory.
“Obviously we found out they were able to dictate the game with it,” Prince said.
Whether Nebraska can dictate the game with its rushing attack against Texas is another story, as the Longhorns rank second nationally in rushing defense, allowing only 47.7 yards per game.
Consequently, it’s difficult to say whether the Huskers on Saturday will lean as heavily on their running game as they did in the last two weeks. They gained 251 rushing yards (5.6 per carry) in a 28-14 win Oct. 7 at Iowa State.
“We’ve really determined that by game plan and by opponent and matchups,” Callahan said. “We’ve taken it on a week-to-week basis. We don’t make any bold statements. We just go to work and try to get better at blocking and running the football a little bit more physically than we did the week before.”
Iowa State coach Dan McCarney’s team has fallen to both Nebraska and Texas. The Cyclones netted only 21 rushing yards, thanks in part to 42 yards in sacks, during a 37-14 loss Sept. 23 in Austin, Texas.
“I was super impressed with their athleticism and size,” McCarney said of Texas’ linemen. “They have great hands, great feet. They don’t stay blocked for long. It’s obviously one of the better defenses in college football, so it ought to make for a great matchup in Lincoln.”
Of the Huskers’ rushing attack, McCarney said, “They have a very, very physical offensive line, big and physical backs coming at you, and lots of formations. There’s a rhyme and reason behind everything they’re doing, and they’re doing it with really good players.”
Brown said Nebraska’s rushing attack alleviates pressure on quarterback Zac Taylor, who has been sacked 10 times while throwing just two interceptions, and none in league play. However, Taylor’s completion percentage has dipped from 70.7 in nonconference play to 58.6 in the league. He has said he wants to be in the 65-70 range.
At any rate, Brown’s impressed.
“They’re really completing a high percentage of balls off play-action, but they’re not turning the ball over,” Brown said. “All of those things are reasons you win in college football. We all knew it was a matter of time until Nebraska got back on track.”
Texas, of course, has been on track for some time, accumulating five straight 10-win seasons, capped by last year’s national championship. The Longhorns are coming off a 63-31 win against Baylor in which the Bears threw for 320 yards and had drives of 67, 51, 80, 80 and 70 yards.
Texas was missing three regular starters — corner Tarell Brown, safety Marcus Griffin and tackle Frank Okam — because of injuries.
Baylor used cut blocks to slow Texas’ pass-rushers and exploited issues in the Longhorn secondary, Bears coach Guy Morriss said.
“Every coverage has its weaknesses, and we did a good job of studying their personnel,” Morriss said. “We just tried to go attack some of the holes.”
Texas ranks just 77th nationally in pass defense. As for its run defense, holes are much more difficult to locate.
Whatever the case, Nebraska will retain a physical mind-set offensively.
“You’ve got to establish some type of physical presence up front, and I think the running game is the best way to do that,” Callahan said. “Whether you use one back or two backs, it really doesn’t matter, as long you allow the opportunity for your linemen to come off the ball and establish a physical nature.”
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.