After six games, Nebraska stands 5-1. The record was not hard to predict, but who would have predicted that the offense would lead the way, or that a defensive play by Lavonte David might've saved the season? World-Herald staff writers Sam McKewon, Jon Nyatawa and Rich Kaipust take a look at key aspects of the team at the midway point.

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ARTICLES
• A Husker twist: An offense that does the defense proud
• Head-scratcher: NU weak on D, but there's time to mend
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• Offense (MVP, Progress Report, Top 10 plays)
• Defense (MVP, Progress Report, Top 10 plays)

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NU OFFENSE

Offensive MVP: Running back Rex Burkhead

A fine complement to Roy Helu in 2009 and 2010, this whirling dervish has come into his own through this year's first six games.

The junior from Plano, Texas, has done a little of everything in the backfield — running back, fullback, Wildcat quarterback — while becoming a big playmaker. He leads all Big Ten running backs with 635 yards, but his biggest play was a 30-yard touchdown catch-and-run to dramatically tie Ohio State in a 34-27 win.

Seemingly born on a balance beam, Burkhead was never an easy guy to bring down — but with all his moves, herks, jerks, jukes and jumps, he's even harder to tackle this year.

What else can offensive coordinator Tim Beck do with Burkhead? Whatever he darn well pleases. Burkhead's up for it. Plus, his willingness to speak up in tough times has elevated Burkhead to leadership status.

He had already set a high standard with his actions. As for numbers — 1,600 total yards and 20 total touchdowns aren't out of the question.

• Chasing Denard: Burkhead leads all Big Ten running backs in nearly every statistical category this year. He is the conference's second-leading rusher, behind only Michigan's Denard Robinson. Here's how Burkhead stacks up against the Michigan quarterback:

  PLAYER, ATT, YDS, AVG, TD, AVG/G
  Burkhead, 107, 635, 5.9, 9, 105.8
  Robinson, 102, 720, 7.1, 8, 120.0


PROGRESS REPORT

QUARTERBACK
• Standout player: It's sophomore Taylor Martinez by a landslide. He's taken all but a few snaps this year as NU's signal-caller, operating the no-huddle offense and occasionally audibling into different plays. He's thrown for 1,014 yards and rushed for 584.
• Highlight: After a week of criticism from every corner, Martinez rose to the occasion, playing the best two quarters of his career in a 34-27 comeback win over Ohio State. His aplomb and scrambling skills were on display like they rarely have been. At game's end, fullback Tyler Legate picked him up off his feet. That's a better honor than the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week he picked up for his efforts.
• Lowlight: Three consecutive drives spanning the end of the second quarter and beginning of the third quarter in which Martinez threw interceptions in a 48-17 loss to Wisconsin. None of the passes was particularly good, but his first pick was a real head-scratcher, thrown across his body on third-and-16. NU led 14-13 at the time ... and trailed 34-14 by the time the mistakes were over.
• Best game: Ohio State. All the tools you'd like to see from a young quarterback — poise, playmaking skills, extending the play to find open receivers, command of the huddle — were on display in the comeback win over the Buckeyes.
• Key question: Can Martinez stay healthy? Nebraska's offense only has one “guy” at quarterback right now — and it's Martinez. If he gets hurt, NU turns to redshirt freshman Brion Carnes, who only has a few snaps in his career. It'd be far from ideal should Martinez go down for any reason.
• Quote: “He's a special player. To endure what he's endured through the media and the press and the fans wanting to throw the towel in on him. I won't. Coach Bo won't. Our team won't. I'm proud of the way he responded. Boy, he gamed it out tonight. Ain't no question about it.” — Offensive coordinator Tim Beck on Martinez's play vs. Ohio State
• Biggest second-half test: At Penn State. The Nittany Lions have one of the nation's top defenses statistically, and the 110,000 fans at Beaver Stadium are more hostile than any in the Big Ten. It'll be Martinez's toughest road test to date.

RUNNING BACK
• Standout player: Rex Burkhead, obviously, but here's a strong nod to fullback Tyler Legate and three freshman running backs — Ameer Abdullah, Aaron Green and Braylon Heard — all of whom have had their moments.
• Highlight: The Washington game. Nebraska spread the production around, as Burkhead tallied 120 yards, Legate gained 36 yards on a fullback trap, Green had 61 total yards and two touchdowns, and Heard had 34 rushing yards. Offensive coordinator Tim Beck constantly dialed up power plays for each of his backs, and they did a good job of finding the creases.
• Lowlight: There have been few down moments for this position group. Here and there, runs or blocks could have been better. But that's quibbling for what's been a very good season thus far for Ron Brown's guys.
• Best game: Washington. Beck called for a run on 25 of NU's last 27 offensive plays. That's why running backs are recruited — to close out games. Burkhead and Co. did just that.
• Key question: What's the next new wrinkle? The diamond formation, used extensively in the Ohio State game, bamboozled the Buckeyes. Beck will have to keep thinking of creative ways to get his talented trio or quartet onto the field.
• Quote: “You got to understand that this is big-boy football. People aren't going to kiss you, and mommy's not going to put a Band-Aid on you every time you're hurt or when your feelings are hurt. You got to step up and train every week.” — Brown on what he expects of his young running backs
• Biggest second-half test: Michigan State. The Spartans now have the Big Ten's best defensive line — in large part because of tackle Jerel Worthy, who projects as a first-round NFL draft pick — and were No. 3 nationally in rush defense heading into Saturday. NU's backs better pack a lunch — and a punch.

RECEIVER/TIGHT END
• Standout player: It's hard to pick one, but sophomore Quincy Enunwa gets the slight nod. After a quiet freshman season in which he didn't play much, Enunwa has suddenly become a big-play guy — 10 catches, 176 yards — and he blocks downfield with attitude. He also forced a key fumble in the Fresno State game after a Bulldog had intercepted a Taylor Martinez pass.
• Highlight: Just in case anybody was ready to declare Nebraska a run-first team, the opening offensive play of a 51-38 win over Washington dispelled that notion. Martinez fired a 50-yarder to Kenny Bell, who had beaten his man on a post route. When the Huskers want to go deep, the message seemed to be, the juice is still there.
• Lowlight: The occasional untimely drop early in the season. In all seriousness, given the lack of experience at the position, Rich Fisher's unit has exceeded most reasonable expectations.
• Best game: Fresno State. The Bulldogs were selling out to stop the Husker run, so Martinez and his receivers had to take to the air. First, Bell caught a 42-yarder. Then freshman Jamal Turner grabbed a 43-yarder. Then junior tight end Kyler Reed got in on the act, catching a 53-yarder. Ben Cotton (20-yard grab) and Enunwa (16-yard touchdown) had their moments, too.
• Key question: How does NU get Reed and Turner more involved? Both guys should probably get more targets and opportunities than they do, but there's only one ball out there. Brandon Kinnie should get some more looks in the second half of the season, too.
• Quote: “He's got a desire to get better. He loves to be coached. He wants to do things great. He takes a lot of pride in running routes and catching the football and blocking. It bothers him when he messes up — and that's a great sign, especially for a young kid.” — Fisher on Enunwa
• Biggest second-half test: At Michigan. Both Michigan State and Penn State have better defenses, but the Wolverines have the kind of offense that Nebraska will have to keep up with — which means the receivers will have to deliver in the Big House.

OFFENSIVE LINE
• Standout player: The iron man, senior center Mike Caputo. Rarely getting a break and setting the tone for the entire line, Caputo's the leader of this bunch, a steady performer in a unit where change has been common in recent years. Sophomore walk-on Spencer Long, who's started every game at right guard, deserves a nod, too.
• Highlight: The growth of the unit over six games is evident. Although position coach Barney Cotton has had to mix and match with his starting lineup, there's more depth, power and fourth-quarter stamina because of it. This isn't the most experienced bunch, but it is strong. You don't want these guys locked in on your shoulder pads.
• Lowlight: The same false start and holding penalties that were a constant frustration last year have cropped up just once in 2011: at Wisconsin, when the Camp Randall crowd seemed to rattle the Huskers' whole offense.
• Best games: Wyoming and Ohio State. Nebraska could have run the ball 100 times in the Cowboy game if it so desired. By the fourth quarter, the Huskers' big line was a hot knife going through Wyoming butter. The OSU game, obviously, had greater magnitude, as NU's front dominated the second half against the Buckeyes' worn-out line.
• Key question: Can Cotton and Co. keep it rolling? Husker fans seemed pretty pleased with the progress of this unit. But when it counts, in key Big Ten games on the road, will this bunch hang together and deliver?
• Quote: “It was just a lot of blood. Bone sticking out.” — Left tackle Yoshi Hardrick on his broken finger
• Biggest second-half test: At Penn State. It's always tough on the road, and it's tougher in Happy Valley than most places. Throw in the mid-November setting, and this is throwback, Big Ten football. A game for offensive linemen.


TOP 10 OFFENSIVE PLAYS

• 10. Quincy Enunwa's forced fumble vs. Fresno State: This isn't the most conventional offensive play, but it was sure important. After quarterback Taylor Martinez had thrown an interception, Enunwa, a sophomore receiver, tracked down Bulldog defender Derron Smith, thumped him with a big hit and dislodged the ball. Tackle Yoshi Hardrick recovered. Fresno led 14-7 at the time; Enunwa likely saved at least a field goal.
• 9. Rex Burkhead's 52-yard run vs. Chattanooga: On third down, Nebraska runs its first big-play option of the year, as Martinez pitches to Burkhead with good timing, and the junior running back picks his way through traffic and down the sideline for the longest run of his career.
• 8. Tyler Legate's 36-yard fullback trap vs. Washington: As lovely as you could have ever drawn it up in 1997, when Joel Makovicka ran it better than anyone. Legate took a quick handoff from Martinez, wrapped around a defender, and chugged as hard as he could toward midfield. It was the perfect play to get NU out of the shadow of its own goalposts.
• 7. Burkhead's 45-yard touchdown run vs. Wyoming: More Husker power football. Burkhead takes the toss from Martinez, sidesteps a blitzing cornerback and follows downfield blocks from left guard Seung Hoon Choi, fullback Legate and wide receiver Enunwa on his way to NU's first touchdown of the game.
• 6. Martinez's 50-yard strike to Kenny Bell vs. Washington: First play of the game, and offensive coordinator Tim Beck went for the home run with an old-school Husker option pass. He got it, too, as Bell streaked past his man on a post route and Martinez lofted it into his hands.
• 5. Enunwa's 31-yard catch-and-run vs. Wyoming: On third-and-6 with NU leading 7-0, Martinez throws his best pass of the game — a tough comeback route — to Enunwa, who grabs it and gains 15 extra yards with stiff-arms and broken tackles. It's the most physically impressive play made by any wide receiver this year.
• 4. Jamal Turner's 43-yard catch vs. Fresno State: Trailing 20-14 early in the third quarter, Turner makes the best catch of any Husker wide receiver this year, an over-the-shoulder, stumbling grab that keeps NU's drive alive. The Huskers later score a touchdown and take the lead for good.
• 3. Enunwa's 36-yard touchdown catch vs. Ohio State: Out of the diamond formation, Martinez fakes a handoff, steps back into the pocket, waits for Enunwa to clear the two OSU safeties and throws a good ball into the wind. Enunwa accelerates, runs under it and scores a key touchdown.
• 2. Martinez to Burkhead for a 30-yard TD vs. Ohio State: One of the best plays of either guy's career. Martinez takes the snap, looks off his two primary reads, evades the rush and flips the ball to Burkhead as a check down. Burkhead does the rest, sidestepping a defender and racing to the corner of the end zone.
• 1. The same power trap, over and over, vs. Washington: Burkhead kept pounding into the Huskies' line while following the blocks of Kevin Thomsen, Brandon Thompson, Tyler Legate and Jake Long. Tim Beck repeatedly called the play because UW just couldn't stop it. Why go away from what's working, right?

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NU DEFENSE

Defensive MVP: Linebacker Lavonte David

His game-changing play against Ohio State says it all. Quarterback Braxton Miller exposed the football on his way down — and David had the presence of mind, in that brief moment, to rip the ball away.

David has the special football instinct that takes even the game's smartest and most gifted players years to develop.

At 6-foot-1, 225 pounds, he runs like a gazelle and hits like a rhino. His intelligence is often the overlooked trait because of his physical gifts, but David wouldn't have been able to step into Bo Pelini's defense and start after just one month on campus if he hadn't possessed the football acumen to clear the mental hurdles.

He's a year older now, and playing at an All-America level. David's 58 tackles led the Big Ten before the weekend began. He leads NU with six tackles for loss. He also has an interception and that key forced fumble.

Nebraska, now without veteran Jared Crick, will need that to continue. David will be the one setting the tone from this point forward.

• Numbers game: Lavonte David is the team leader in total tackles (58) and tackles for loss (6). His two sacks are good enough for No. 2 on the squad in that category as well. Here's a look at how this tackling machine has done in each of the Huskers' first six games.

  TEAM, SOLO, ASST., TOT.
  Tenn.-Chattanooga, 3, 6, 9
  Fresno State, 5, 10, 15
  Washington, 1, 7, 8
  Wyoming, 2, 4, 6
  Wisconsin, 6, 1, 7
  Ohio State, 6, 7, 13


PROGRESS REPORT

DEFENSIVE LINE
• Standout player: Jared Crick is out for the season, but when he was in the lineup, he proved to be Nebraska's most disruptive player up front. Opponents were scheming to take Crick away, even though his numbers — 22 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack — didn't necessarily match his past production.
• Highlight: It came in the opener against Tennessee-Chattanooga, what was supposed to be a promising sign of things to come. Crick tipped quarterback B.J. Coleman's third-down pass and Cameron Meredith was in the right spot, hauling in the deflected football and setting Nebraska's offense up just 3 yards shy of the end zone.
• Lowlight: The final two quarters against Fresno State. The Bulldogs weren't doing anything fancy, just QB rollouts and counter trap plays. But Nebraska's defensive line had no answer, allowing a weaker on-paper opponent to pile up 251 yards after halftime.
• Best game: Washington. The D-line's been vulnerable at points in every game, but at least against the Huskies, its struggles came late, when the game wasn't as much in doubt. After Crick's second-quarter sack, UW went four straight possessions without points — a stretch capped by Meredith's fourth-down sack late in the third quarter.
• Key question: How does Nebraska's replace Crick? If the Huskers manage to survive without their leader it will be because senior Terrence Moore, sophomore Thad Randle and redshirt freshman Chase Rome stepped up. The role also increased for junior Baker Steinkuhler, who no longer gets the luxury of playing next to a marked man.
• Quote: “It is a tough blow for our football team to lose a player of Jared's caliber, but we have players that are capable of stepping up and filling the void.” — coach Bo Pelini, in a statement issued Wednesday.
• Biggest second-half test: Northwestern. It doesn't matter who's playing QB, Dan Persa or Kain Colter. The Wildcats' offense is a spread attack that relies heavily on the QB ground game, which means there will be lots of pressure on the D-line to keep contain.

LINEBACKERS
• Standout player: Lavonte David. At times, perhaps, he's played too aggressive, collapsing on interior running plays and leaving the weakside of NU's defense open to cutbacks. Not many other criticisms of David's play, though. Last year's record-setting tackler is all over the place once again.
• Highlight: David's thievery against Ohio State could end up being the moment of the year for Nebraska. He stripped quarterback Braxton Miller and secured the football — all in one motion, changing the complexion of the night.
• Lowlight: The second half against Wisconsin, when the Badgers were gashing Nebraska over and over again. Five yards here. Eight there. UW passed four times after halftime, but gained 170 yards on the ground. The NU linebackers never made a play.
• Best game: Ohio State. The unit was instinctive, purposeful and productive. Not only did David make several plays, but so did his LB partners. Sean Fisher fought off a block and ended Miller's night. Will Compton had 10 total tackles, including a key third-down stop.
• Key question: Can the unit be relied on to make plays consistently? Nebraska's defensive scheme is built for guys like David, Compton and Fisher to have success. The D-line holds off the blockers, while the linebackers record the tackles. The system can work, but they'll need better execution.
• Quote: “We had that ball-hawking mentality. It's something that we really went over in practice. Coach Carl (Pelini) has been preaching all week to be more aggressive. He hasn't been seeing that swagger that we had been having. So that's what we tried to do, attack the football and get after it.” — David, after the 34-27 win over Ohio State Saturday.
• Biggest second-half test: Michigan. Denard Robinson, the Big Ten's leading rusher heading into the weekend, is a great player who's going to get his yards. But Nebraska's going to have to avoid the big play, which is where the linebackers factor in. They'll have to keep him out of the second level.

DEFENSIVE BACKS
• Standout player: Austin Cassidy. Sure, he's been beat. Sure, he's missed assignments. But who in the Nebraska secondary hasn't? The senior veteran is the only stable presence in a struggling secondary. No one has a more complete grasp of Nebraska's scheme than Cassidy. He's a player-coach in uniform.
• Highlight: The best attempt to play the football by a defensive back came in the fourth quarter against Ohio State. And Stanley Jean-Baptiste's only been a cornerback for a few weeks. But he hauled in a key interception to set up the Huskers' game-winning scoring drive.
• Lowlight: The three critical pass plays allowed in that blowout loss to Wisconsin. Two went for touchdowns, but each left a lasting statement about the Huskers' defensive backfield: The young group may have talent, but it has a lot to learn.
• Best game: Tennessee-Chattanooga. Unfortunately for the NU secondary, it peaked in the opener — against its most inferior opponent. This was the only contest in 2011 that Nebraska didn't allow at least one completion of 30 yards or more. The Huskers were the aggressors that day.
• Key question: Will Alfonzo Dennard be able to make an impact? The lockdown senior cornerback's finally healthy and he's looked the part through 2½ games. But opponents know that, so the smart ones will likely do everything they can to avoid him.
• Quote: “Every year we've made some changes. We say it, and I know it sounds like coachspeak, but every day at practice is a competition for starting jobs. So we'll continue to make changes whenever we need to.” — Defensive coordinator Carl Pelini, after NU's 38-14 win over Wyoming.
• Biggest second-half test: Michigan State. Kirk Cousins is a veteran QB who has a reliable and talented target — the 6-foot-2 B.J. Cunningham. The Spartans may have a reputation for beating teams up with the run, but coming into this weekend, they had the league's second-best passing offense (behind Wisconsin).

SPECIAL TEAMS
• Standout player: Let's split the vote between Ameer Abdullah and Brett Maher. Abdullah ranks No. 2 nationally in kickoff returns with a 31.9-yard average. Maher has stepped in for Alex Henery and made 11 of 13 field goals, and the junior also has a 47.3-yard average on punts and leads the Big Ten with 14 touchbacks on kickoffs.
• Highlight: Fresno State had pulled back within 28-26 in the fourth quarter when the Bulldogs kicked to Abdullah despite the freshman already averaging 27.8 yards on his first four returns that night. Abdullah found the crease, juked a Bulldog just before the 30-yard line and raced to a 100-yard return with 11:50 left to play.
• Lowlight: Nebraska actually started that Fresno State game by allowing the underdog Bulldogs to gain some momentum and hope. After the Huskers went three-and-out for the second straight series, Devon Wylie broke a 67-yard punt return that spotted Fresno State a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter. Wylie made five Huskers miss — none getting a clean shot as he weaved through kick coverage — on his way to the first punt return for a TD against NU in 10 years.
• Best game: Tennessee-Chattanooga, starting with Maher sailing a 53-yard punt into a north wind less than two minutes into the game. Maher would average 52.0 yards on four punts, make all four of his field-goal attempts and register three touchbacks on kickoffs. Abdullah would add a 28-yard punt return.
• Key question: Can the Huskers shore up their punt coverage? Opponents are averaging 15.5 yards per return.
• Quote: “He was a huge weapon for us, and will continue to be.” — NU head coach Bo Pelini on Abdullah after the Fresno State game.
• Biggest second-half test: Maher is taking on a lot by handling the place-kicking, kickoffs and punting, so keeping his right leg fresh will be a high priority. Opponents may try to kick away from Abdullah.


TOP 10 DEFENSIVE PLAYS

• 10. The two-point conversion stand vs. Fresno State: Nothing incredibly spectacular here — just good, sound defense. Quarterback Derek Carr rolled out, but the Huskers closed in and forced him to throw the football away because nobody was open. Had the Bulldogs converted there, they would have tied the game at 28 with 12:06 left to play. Big moment.
• 9. Jared Crick's fourth-down stop vs. Tennessee-Chattanooga: The Mocs were flirting with a momentum-changing drive early in the season opener with Nebraska, but Crick knifed through the offensive line and ended a 5-minute possession on the ninth play.
• 8. Crick's hit and sack vs. Washington: Scrambling around and trying to extend the play, Keith Price never saw him coming. Crick, who never quit on the play, leveled the UW quarterback on a third down midway through the second quarter, forcing a Husky field goal try.
• 7. Lavonte David's third-down sack vs. Wisconsin: The Huskers had hope. Didn't last long, but still. After David came untouched on a blitz, dropped Russell Wilson for a 9-yard loss and forced the vaunted Badger offense to punt on its first possession, Nebraska had delivered the game's first blow.
• 6. Cameron Meredith's interception vs. Chattanooga: Crick deserves an assist here. He was the one who tipped quarterback B.J. Coleman's third-down pass. But Meredith got the glory, hauling in the deflected football and setting Nebraska's offense up just 3 yards shy of the end zone.
• 5. Stanley Jean-Baptiste's interception vs. Ohio State: The sophomore played the football exactly like a receiver would, extending at just the right time to snatch the long pass out of the air. The fourth-quarter INT led to Nebraska's game-winning scoring drive.
• 4. David's interception vs. Washington: A perfect throw and David probably doesn't make the play in the first quarter. He was one-on-one with Huskies tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins — and a step behind him, too. But David closed faster than most linebackers would, intercepting the pass at Nebraska's 13-yard line.
• 3. Sean Fisher's tackle for loss vs. Ohio State: The junior linebacker's intent wasn't to injure Braxton Miller, but the fact that the freshman quarterback couldn't return after Fisher forced an awkward pivot in the backfield considerably aided Nebraska's comeback bid. Fisher did fight off a block attempt nicely, which allowed him to make the play.
• 2. Daimion Stafford's hit vs. Tennessee-Chattanooga: Quite the debut for the junior college transfer. Stafford torpedoed down from his safety position and crushed UTC running back Chris Awuah, who was delicately searching for a running lane as he neared the sideline. It's a play Husker fans could watch over and over again.
• 1. David's forced fumble vs. Ohio State: This might end up being the play of NU's season. Miller was on his way to the turf after picking up a first down with a scramble, but he exposed the football as he fell. David got his hands on the ball and snatched it away, completely turning the game's momentum.

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