2010 Nebraska Cornhuskers Preview
By GoBigRed203
There seems to be a lot
of buzz surrounding the Cornhuskers this year, at least, more than there
has been in the past few years. The Cornhusker defense has been
improved greatly and coach Bo Pelini has Nebraska fans believing.
Unfortunately, there is not enough pieces to quite yet be that national
title contender we’re all waiting to see. Maybe next year in their new
conference they can make their presence completely felt on the national
scene, but not quite this year. The last 7 games of the year were
certainly impressive (finished with 6 of 7 victories), including that
loss to Texas shrouded by a very questionable clock mismanagement and a
shutout victory at the Holiday Bowl against Arizona, where the offense
shined.
QB - Zac Lee (Sr),
Cody Green (So), Taylor Martinez (RFr)
A lot of people are getting very
excited about the playmaking ability of Taylor Martinez, but let’s face
it, he’s not the QB that will get it done this year, especially
considering his inexperience. Kody Spano and Cody Green also have
starting QB potential, but once Lee is back from surgery, he will emerge
as the starting QB. He’s better at managing the game and has shown
that he can indeed get the job done.
RB - Roy Helu Jr. (Sr), Rex Burkhead
(So), Dontrayevous Robinson (So), mix of Lester Ward (So), Collins
Okafor (So), and Austin Jones (Jr)
Helu returns as a top running back in
the Big XII and has plenty of help behind him in Burkhead, Robinson,
plus any others who will step up. Burkhead proved a lot as a freshman,
not only starting out strong, but he came back from a foot injury to
help the Huskers in their last three games, not only helping, but
shining.
FB - Tyler Legate
(Jr), Mike Hays (Jr)
Not a whole lot to say about the fullbacks
other than the fact that they’ll be an integral part to Nebraska
returning to more of an power-I team rather than the trendy spread.
Will there be more Wild Corn offense shown with Burkhead? We’ll see.
WR - Niles Paul (Sr),
Brandon Kinnie (Jr), Khiry Cooper (So), Mike McNeill (Sr), Curenski
Gillylen (Jr), Antonio Bell (So), Will Henry (Sr)
Niles Paul is the
obvious playmaker in the passing game as he is the top receiver, though
Mike McNeill could make a pretty nice impact after moving from tight
end. McNeill, in my opinion, really needs to be involved for this
offense to flow smoothly, like in 2008. Khiry Cooper may not see a lot
of playing time in the first few games after missing the spring due to
baseball which opens the door for Brandon Kinnie and playmaker Curenski
Gillylen. A second receiver really needs to step up behind Paul.
TE - Dreu Young (Sr),
Ryan Hill (Jr), Kyler Reed (So), Ben Cotton (So)
Dreu Young has the
most experienced out of the tight ends, though Ben Cotton, Kyler Reed,
and Ryan Hill will see playing time as well. Not only will the tight
ends be expected to help in the passing game, but they’ll need to be
great blockers for Helu, Burkhead, and company.
OT - Mike Smith (Sr),
Marcel Jones (Jr), D.J. Jones (Sr), Brian Thorson (So), Brandon Thompson
(So), Jeremiah Sirles (RFr)
It looks more and more likely that the Jones
duo will be opposite tackles while Mike Smith moves to guard. I will
list Smith at both positions since it is still a bit unclear, though
Marcel and D.J. will be starting. There may be a push for Sirles or
Thompson, though it isn’t too likely.
OG - Ricky Henry (Sr), Keith Williams
(Sr), Nick Ash (RFr), Mike Smith (Sr), Jermarcus Hardrick (Jr), Jesse
Coffey (RFr)
Hardrick is said to bring a new wave of aggressiveness to the
Nebraska offensive line, and I certainly hope so, because Ricky Henry
needs to be that much more aggressive. Henry improved at the end of the
year, but he needs to really help out Keith Williams and Mike Caputo in
the middle of that offensive line.
C - Mike Caputo (Jr), Luke Lingenfelter
(Jr), Mike Smith (Sr)
There is also a slight chance that Smith will
be pushing Caputo for that starting job at center, though Caputo seems
to have a solid hold on the position.
DE - Pierre Allen (Sr), Cameron
Meredith (So), Josh Williams (RSo), Jason Ankrah (RFr), Chase Rome (Fr)
Pierre Allen had a
strong 2009 while Meredith came on strong to finish the year. If
Williams and Ankrah don’t get the job done, Chase Rome may see some
playing time, though the defensive ends looks as if they’ll have plenty
of depth with Fahie, the McDermotts, and Jay Martin also backing up
Allen, Meredith, Williams, and Ankrah.
DT - Jared Crick (Jr), Baker
Steinkuhler (So), Terrence Moore (Jr), Thaddeus Randle (RFr), Justin
Jackson (So), Ben Martin (Jr)
Jared Crick is the obvious star at defensive
tackle, but Dean’s son Baker needs to step up along with Moore. Suh
leaves a big gap to replace, but Crick is very talented and Baker
definitely has the potential. Martin, Randle, and Jackson may see some
time here and there.
LB - Will Compton (So), Sean Fisher (So),
Matthew May (Jr), Eric Martin (So), Matt Holt (Jr), Thomas Grove (Sr),
Graham Stoddard (RSo)
Will Compton and Sean Fisher are going to
receive the most playing time at linebacker which had some bad luck with
injury last year with Matt Holt and Matthew May gone, but they return
to provide depth. Special teamers Eric Martin and Graham Stoddard may
also help, though they have established roles on special teams.
CB - Prince Amukamara
(Sr), Alfonzo Dennard (Jr), Lance Thorell (Jr), Anthony Blue (Jr), Dijon
Washington (RFr), Andrew Green (RFr)
Amukamara and Dennard may be the best
corner combo in the Big XII due to their great covering abilities plus
their playmaking potential. Thorell has filled in nicely as an extra
back when needed and Blue may see some more playing time as well.
Washington and Green are the future and Blatchford and Jase Dean have
done well on special teams.
S - Dejon Gomes (Sr), Anthony West (Sr),
Rickey Thenarse (Sr), P.J. Smith (So), Austin Cassidy (Jr), Eric Hagg
(Sr), Courtney Osborne (So)
Gomes and West move to safety to get more
playing time starting at safety or becoming extra defensive backs in the
nickel and dime. The Huskers are running a “Peso defense” which makes a
defensive back an extra linebacker essentially (Eric Hagg mainly, maybe
Rickey Thenarse). Smith may see some playing time as well. Cassidy is
mainly on special teams, though could play behind the rest.
K/P - Alex Henery (Sr)
There isn’t a whole
lot that needs to be said about Henery. He’s accurate, he’s got a
strong leg, he doesn’t fold under pressure, and he’s going to be an NFL
kicker hands down. His punting isn’t too shabby either as he has had
the occasional bomb 70 yard punt and has done well putting the ball
inside the 20. He’ll definitely have national considerations once
again.
Kickoffs - Adi Kunalic
(Jr)
Yeah,
he is the goat of the Big XII Championship game, but he can still bomb
those kicks deep and will be expected to do so again in 2010.
Returners - Niles Paul
(Sr), Tim Marlowe (So)
Niles Paul is the more known and probably
more dangerous of the returners, but don’t underestimate Marlowe who has
also been putting the Huskers offense in great field position for 2009.
Schedule: The
non-conference season is very light with games at home against Western
Kentucky, Idaho, and South Dakota State while going to Seattle to face
Washington in between Idaho and SDSU. The conference schedule will be
tough as always, featuring Texas coming to Lincoln on October 16th while also having to
travel to Oklahoma State the week after and Texas A&M on the 20th of November. Nebraska’s key north
matchup will be against Missouri at home the day before Halloween. Nebraska also has schedule Thursday night game at Kansas State on October 4th.
Expectations: People
tend to forget that this team turned the ball over 8 times and lost to
Iowa State last year. I think a national title is outside the realm of
possibilities, though the Big XII title should be a goal. Anything less
than winning the Big XII North will be a disappointment. If the
Holiday Bowl is any indicator, the offense should be a bit more open,
though the running game will be the key factor to this year’s success on
offense. Zac Lee will be the biggest question mark as we get nearer to
the first game and then towards conference season, but if he is
successful, chances are the Huskers will have a great season.
Prediction: 10-2 (6-2)
- Big XII North winners and winning the Big XII Championship game in
what may be an upset at that point in time.