LINCOLN — Bo Pelini may have been disappointed with the Nebraska defense Saturday night, but by no means is the third-year coach lowering his expectations for the Blackshirts.
Pelini has said on multiple occasions that he believes Nebraska has the tools to eventually play better defense in 2010 than a year ago, when the Huskers allowed fewer points a game (10.4) than any other major college team.
He's still confident that will happen, even after seeing his defense make too many mistakes in the 49-10 win over Western Kentucky.
Speaking at his weekly press conference, Pelini urged reporters on Tuesday to refer back to the defenses he's coached throughout his career. He said they've all improved as the season moved along. He expects the same from his current group of defenders.
“Our plan, our recipe, stays the same,” Pelini said. “You should get better as you move on, as you make different decisions, as you slot your personnel in differently, as you figure things out about your guys after playing in a game. I have no question that's going to happen. Our expectation of what our defense is going to be is exactly the same.”
Compliments for Caputo
Offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said there's been no drop-off at center, which is lofty praise.
Watson called two-year starting center Jacob Hickman “one of the best centers I've ever been around.” But Watson followed that by commending junior Mike Caputo for the job he's done as Hickman's replacement. Caputo, at 6-foot-1, 275 pounds, has added his own touches to the offense.
“He's got a great motor for the game, an appetite for the game,” Watson said. “He loves competing. (He's) a very good technician, very smart.”
Eye on the Vandals
Although the Nebraska defense has a decent grasp of what it will see against Idaho on Saturday, the preparation process won't be any easier, according to Pelini.
A week ago, the Huskers practiced against a wide range of offensive looks as they got ready for Western Kentucky, which hired coach Willie Taggart in the offseason and hadn't displayed its philosophies on tape.
The approach for Nebraska certainly will be different this week, since there's plenty of Idaho game tape to reference.
But slowing the Vandals will still be tough, Pelini said.
“I think this is a better offensive football team that's been together longer,” he said. “You have more history of what they are and what they like to do, but that doesn't mean you can stop it. They have some guys that can make plays.”
Huskers climb to 6th, 7th
Nebraska moved up two spots to No. 6 in the Associated Press Top 25, the highest ranking for the Huskers since they ended the 2001 regular season rated fourth.
The Huskers also jumped two positions in the coaches' poll, rising from ninth to seventh.
Back in 2001, NU was ranked No. 2 before a drubbing at Colorado in the regular-season finale. The Huskers were No. 4 heading into the 2002 Rose Bowl, but they dropped that game 37-14 against Miami and finished the year at No. 8.
Florida survived a sloppy 34-12 win against Miami (Ohio) and dropped four spots to No. 8 in the AP poll. Oklahoma beat Utah State 31-24 and fell from No. 7 to No. 10. Virginia Tech, which lost 33-30 to No. 3 Boise State Monday, is now ranked 13th by both major polls.
— Jon Nyatawa
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