Nebraska Cornhuskers
Overall Rank: #5
#2 Big Ten
Nebraska Team Page
2010 Record: (10-4, 6-2)
2010 Bowl: Holiday Bowl vs. Washington (L 7-19)
Coach: Bo Pelini (30-12 at Nebraska, 30-12 overall)
Offensive Coordinator: Tim Beck
Defensive Coordinator: Carl Pelini
Returning Leaders:
Rushing: Taylor Martinez, QB, 965 yards
Passing: Taylor Martinez, QB, 1,631 yards
Receiving: Brandon Kinnie, WR, 494 yards
Tackles: Lavonte David, LB, 152
Sacks: Jared Crick, DT, 9.5
Interceptions: Alfonzo Dennnard, CB, 4
Other Key Returnees: RB Rex Burkhead, C Mike Caputo, S Austin Cassidy, DE Cameron Meredith, S Courtney Osborne, TE Kyler Reed, OT Jeremiah Sirles, DT Baker Steinkuhler
Key Losses: DE Pierre Allen, CB Prince Amukamara, S DeJon Gomes, CB Eric Hagg, RB Roy Helu, K/P Alex Henery, G Ricky Henry, OT D.J. Jones, WR Mike McNeill, WR Niles Paul, G Keith Williams
Nebraska is leaving the Big 12 and heading into the Big Ten with a tough defense and a new look offense. Coach Bo Pelini and company are garnering some high expectations for their first year in the conference. The major issue is how effective can the Cornhuskers be while pretty much having to game plan for a new team every week. That is not as easy as it sounds.
Strengths:
Figuring out ways to stop a bunch of different offenses will be the only thing that keeps the Blackshirts from sporting the best defense in the Big Ten. Opposing running backs and quarterbacks will get to know defensive tackles Jared Crick and Baker Steinkuhler up close and personal. Those two may just be the best tackle duo in the nation and Crick could have been a top 15 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft had he opted to leave school early. Nebraska needs more production from ends Cameron Meredith and Eric Martin, but both are capable players. The star of the linebackers is Lavonte David, who tallied a school record 152 tackles last season. David can get into the backfield or drop back in coverage. It is hard to find a player a team would rather have in the middle of their defense. The Cornhuskers ran out a lot of extra defensive backs in the pass heavy Big 12, so there are not a ton of experienced linebackers, but Will Compton is a proven player who earned some All-Freshmen accolades two years ago. The secondary may have lost Prince Amukamara, but they have their next great corner all lined up. Alfonzo Dennard will be another first round draft pick and a shutdown corner in the meantime. The secondary loses a couple more productive players in DeJon Gomes and Eric Hagg, but due to the fact this group played a lot of guys last year they do have plenty of experience.
Weaknesses:
Can Taylor Martinez stay healthy and productive? That is the million dollar question and will continue to be until he gets hurt or the season is over. Nebraska is implementing a new look offense that is supposed to be a hurry-up no-huddle look with the players looking to the sidelines between plays after new offensive coordinator Tim Beck gets a look at the defense. If run effectively, Nebraska has the weapons to make it extremely effective. Martinez can run and pass and, despite the injury in late October, owns a slew of freshmen records for a quarterback at Nebraska. If he can make better decisions, something the new offense is designed to help with, Martinez will be a superb quarterback now that he has a year of experience under his belt. A big play receiver will need to emerge to replace Niles Paul, but Brandon Kinnie led the team in receptions last season and tight end Kyler Reed had eight of his 22 catches go for touchdowns. Expect bigger things out of fellow tight end Ben Cotton as well. The offensive line lost three starters, but they can build around center Mike Caputo and tackle Jeremiah Sirles. The unit might be relatively young, but they are big and talented.
The Bottom Line:
The offensive line is good news for Rex Burkhead as he takes over for departed running back Roy Helu. Helu rushed for 1,245 yards and 11 touchdowns during his senior season. Burkhead added 951 yards and seven scores and there is little doubt that Burkhead will exceed Helu’s numbers from last year. The bigger issue may be finding another rusher to backup Burkhead. Austin Jones has some experience, but keep an eye out for Collins Okafor as well.
Projected Bowl: Sugar Bowl
2010 Team Stats:
Rushing Offense: 247.57 (9th in nation, 1st in conference)
Passing Offense: 150.57 (113, 12)
Total Offense: 398.14 (44, 7)
Scoring Offense: 30.86 (39, 7)
Rushing Defense: 153.14 (63, 7)
Pass Defense: 153.64 (5, 1)
Total Defense: 306.79 (11, 2)
Scoring Defense: 17.36 (9, 2)
Turnover Margin: -.07 (62, 8)
Sacks: 2.21 (45, 7)
Sacks Allowed: 2.07 (70, 8)
Madness 2012 NFL Draft Rankings:
#12 Jared Crick
#46 Alfonzo Dennard
#69 Lavonte David
#76 Baker Steinkuhler
Madness 2011 Football Recruit Rankings:
#37 Aaron Green
#87 Jamal Turner
#109 Charles Jackson
#124 Bubba Starling
#154 Tyler Moore
#172 Todd Peat
#173 Ryan Klachko
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