• Videos Below: See NU-Wyoming post-game analysis from Jon Nyatawa and highlights
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LARAMIE, Wyo. — Taylor Martinez doesn't often speak for Nebraska's football team. But in a throwaway quote after his team's 38-14 win against Wyoming, he summarized NU's attitude about pigskin life — including its entry into the Big Ten.
Asked if league foes were overlooking the Huskers, Martinez said: "I'm sure they are, but who really cares? We're Nebraska. They gotta play against us."
Ah, the brand name. Coach Bo Pelini will constantly preach that his team hasn't arrived — and he means it. But he's also imprinted — at least on the surface — a burly, contrarian, organized confidence in the program.
You'll see it all week with these Huskers, the bunker being built, the shrugs and sly smiles epitomized by Martinez, who twice offered this answer when asked to break down NU-Wisconsin: "Should be a good game."
That's how NU rolls under Bo.
Ndamukong Suh best embodied this medium cool — the giant headphones before press conferences, that little "heh" before answering some questions — and of course, he could. Like Carson Palmer and Ricky Williams' final seasons at USC and Texas, Suh's senior sack-and-burn campaign was supposed to be the Huskers' Lazarus moment, its ticket to the college football penthouse.
But the Huskers' elevator so far is a little like the one inside Wyoming's War Memorial Stadium. The three-floor journey took 60 seconds. And as the metal box creaked along, nervous smiles broke out on the faces of Cowboy media who'd ridden it many times before.
Those are the kinds of smiles NU fans wear now. Boy, they'd love to make it to the top, and they'll migrate to Madison, Wis., in droves — I'll guess 20,000 — in hopes of seeing it happen in Camp Randall Stadium.
On with the rewind.
I SEE YOU
• Running back Rex Burkhead, who has become a more patient runner this season — and that patience has allowed him to break off bigger runs. Funny how that happens.
• Safety P.J. Smith, who directed a lot of on-field traffic in his first start but still seemed to be sound in his assignments — aside from getting beat in the third quarter on a deep post route.
• Defensive tackle Terrence Moore, playing with good push in Jared Crick's absence. Wyoming was hit-and-miss with its running game.
• Wide receiver Quincy Enunwa, who's already NU's best downfield blocker and is inching closer to becoming the Huskers' best receiver. He seems to show up on this list every week.
• Punter-kicker Brett Maher: If the uprights had been longer at War Memorial Stadium, he would have had another 50-yard pelt on his wall.
• Fullback Tyler Legate, whose lead blocks seemed better to me this week, which is more important than his nifty 2-yard catch, although it was indeed nifty.
CONCERNS
Shaky ball security: Offensive coordinator Tim Beck seemed to shrug it off a little Saturday night, the several fumbles Nebraska recovered and the one it didn't. Since recovering fumbles is more a product of fortune than skill, NU's bound to roll snake eyes unless it tucks and protects the ball better — starting with Martinez.
Two more burned defensive timeouts: Even wristbands couldn't completely solve the Huskers' alignment woes. In the past, Pelini would call a defensive timeout to set up a special play, often inside the red zone. The timeouts this year are at midfield, seemingly out of necessity because Nebraska's defenders aren't where they're supposed to be.
More missed passes: Count on Wisconsin to play a zone defense against NU's speed. The Badgers will want to contain Martinez's running ability, too. So Martinez had better make on-time throws to receivers working in the gaps of that zone. The windows will be there, because the Huskers are quick enough on the perimeter to get open.
Mark it down: Martinez's passing "rhythm" in Madison will play a huge role in whether NU can extend drives and keep Wisconsin's defense on the field. NU's no-huddle tempo — while not supersonic fast — has worn down all four nonconference opponents by the fourth quarter. It might against the Badgers, too, if Martinez's passing can get the Huskers to the fourth quarter in Camp Randall.
QUESTIONS
Will the Corey Cooper experiment work? Credit the 6-foot-2, 210-pound redshirt freshman for biting the bullet, making the switch to cornerback and probably becoming the biggest cover in the Big Ten. If the switch doesn't work, it won't be on him, but on the coaches who rolled the dice.
Cooper has a fine future at safety. Corners of his size and build — think Patrick Peterson — are rare, mostly because quick inside routes are hard for those guys to defend. Cooper was beaten a few times by Wyoming receivers on such routes.
But the Big Ten isn't the Big 12, where small, quick guys like Ryan Broyles, T.J. Moe, Baylor's Kendall Wright and Oklahoma State's Josh Cooper even gave Alfonzo Dennard and Dejon Gomes problems. Nebraska's new league features lanky receivers whom I suspect Cooper can hang with athletically — when he gets the hang of the position.
Still, it's a bold, risky move that must be designed to pay off by October, when divisional foes Michigan State and Northwestern come calling. Yes, sophomores Andrew Green and Ciante Evans had taken some lumps early in the season. Were they playing that poorly?
How does Nebraska force Wisconsin into mistakes? Look for something in special teams. NU has a speed advantage there.
What wrinkles are Beck and Carl Pelini holding back — and will they work? Pelini has the tougher job, because he can't just take away Wisconsin's running game when Russell Wilson is such a dangerous passer. The Badgers' offense has two good dimensions and one of the nation's best offensive coordinators in Paul Chryst.
Beck may have considerably more to show, including a quicker tempo and a scheme that takes advantage of Nebraska's speed.
THREE STATS
61 percent — Wisconsin's third-down conversion percentage, third nationally.
16 — rushing touchdowns for NU this year. That's second nationally to Georgia Tech's 21. Five Big Ten teams — NU, Michigan, Purdue, Illinois and Wisconsin — are in the nation's top 15 in rushing yards per game.
104th — The Huskers' national rank in tackles for loss. NU finished 112th last year. But 28th in 2009, thanks to Suh.
OPPONENT WATCH
Penn State can't play a lick on offense, but, very quietly, the Nittany Lions are putting together the Big Ten's best defense. Eighth nationally in total defense. Tenth in scoring defense. Seventh in pass defense.
PSU got some decent play from quarterbacks Matt McGloin and Rob Bolden in a 34-6 win against Eastern Michigan, and that 14-10 squeaker over Temple looks better after the Owls pounded Maryland's ugly uniforms 38-7.
FORECAST
It'll feel like old times around Lincoln for a week. Big game. Nerves. Lots on the line.
Contact the writer:
402-202-9766, sam.mckewon@owh.com
twitter.com/swmckewonOWH
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Video: NU-Wyoming post-game analysis with Jon Nyatawa
Video: NU-Wyoming highlights
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