Monday, November 23, 2009

Huskers cramming for CU
9:34 p.m. There’s going to be a little bit of a cram session going on with the Nebraska offense as the Huskers have one less day than usual to prepare for Colorado.

But NU offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said his players are aware of that challenge and that tye started the abbreviated week with a good practice. The compression of information and installation, he said, will continue right up until the Huskers leave Lincoln on Thursday.

"Our schedule is totally different,’’ Watson said. "We’ve kind of revamped it, obviously, to fit and get everything in. But we’ve got a lot of work to do in terms of getting a lot of stuff turned around fast.’’

The Huskers were not in full pads today after taking Sunday off.

Offensive tackle Marcel Jones was back in uniform after leaving Saturday’s game early. Also, Watson said I-back Rex Burkhead should only progress after returning to the team last week and getting seven rushing attempts and a pass reception against Kansas State. Burkhead missed five games with a foot injury.

"I think he’s even better this week,’’ Watson said. "He’s got the freshest legs on our football team. Rex will log more time.’’

Filed by Rich Kaipust »

Monday, November 23, 2009

Outland finalists named
Filed by Mitch Sherman at 4:38 p.m.

Another big honor for Ndamukong Suh: The senior defensive tackle is a finalist for the Outland Trophy, joining Oklahoma State offensive tackle Russell Okung and Idaho offensive guard Mike Iupati.

The Outland winner will be announced Dec. 10 at the college football awards show in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., and presented in Omaha on Jan. 14.

Nebraska has won a nation-leading eight Outlands, most recently by Aaron Taylor in 1997.

Just one defensive player, LSU's Glenn Dorsey in 2007, has won the Outland in the past six years and three since 1994. »

Monday, November 23, 2009

Pelini avoiding title talk
Filed by Jon Nyatawa at 1:52 p.m.

Coach Bo Pelini was pretty adamant this morning about keeping his team focused on Colorado – and not Big 12 South Division champion Texas.

Pelini told reporters during his weekly press conference today that he's barring coaches and players from discussing the Dec. 5 Big 12 championship game. It doesn't matter if they're talking about game plans or travel plans, he said.

Pelini wants their attention on this week's road trip to Colorado.

“We do need to win this. That's the way I approach it,” he said. “I don't want anybody to talk about the Big 12 title game around me. It's Colorado, that's all our focus is on.”

Senior center Jacob Hickman said Pelini made that point clear when he addressed the team Sunday.

“(He) said, 'I don't want to hear a word about it. We're playing Colorado. Period,'” Hickman said. “He's pretty straightforward with that kind of stuff.”

But Hickman doesn't anticipate the NU players overlooking Colorado.

“We want to beat Colorado every chance we get,” he said. “It very well could give us some good momentum going into the next week with a good win here.”

The Buffaloes (3-8, 2-5 Big 12) lost a 31-28 game Thursday at No. 11 Oklahoma State. They've had four separate two-game losing streaks, but never dropped three in a row.

Here's what Pelini said about CU today:

“At times I think they're really good, they're just not real consistent,” he said. “They're like we were a year ago. Sometimes they shoot themselves in the foot. They don't execute as well as they should, but at times, they play really good football.” »

Monday, November 23, 2009

West keeping positive attitude in new role
Filed by Jon Nyatawa at 10:57 a.m.

Anthony West hasn't had trouble dealing with his midseason demotion, maybe the biggest reason why the junior cornerback's been such a reliable backup.

West played all of that Kansas State game, subbing in for the injured Alfonzo Dennard. He had three solo tackles in the Huskers' 17-3 win.

That was the most game action West has seen since Nebraska's Sept. 19 game at Virginia Tech. The next week, Dennard replaced West and eventually took over the starting spot.

But West stayed positive.

“I just wasn't making plays,” said West, who started 11 games at corner last year. “I'd be in position and just wouldn't get the ball out or make the play that I needed to make. I totally understand the decision that was made.”

Because of some injuries to Dennard, West has actually played plenty of cornerback during the past month. He received a Blackshirt in practice two weeks ago.

And before the KSU game, he took the majority of practice reps as Dennard tried to overcome a foot injury. Now, Dennard, who's also been hampered by a sore shoulder too, has a short week to try to get healthy.

But even if Dennard takes the job back, West won't changed his mindset. He's a good teammate, according to junior Prince Amukamara.

“That's the kind of person West is. That's his character,” Amukamara said. “He doesn't pout or anything. He's just ready to work every day.”

***

From the Big 12 office this morning: Senior Larry Asante and junior Alex Henery were named conference players of the week.

-- Asante had 10 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble against Kansas State Saturday. It's the fourth time an NU defensive player has been honored with the weekly award.

-- Henery booted two of his six punts inside the KSU 5-yard line and made a field goal. He was the special teams player of the week after his five-field-goal performance against Virginia Tech as well. »

Sunday, November 22, 2009

NU still unranked by AP
Filed by Rich Kaipust at 3:41 p.m.

Four straight wins and a Big 12 North title aren't enough to get Nebraska back into the Associated Press Top 25 just yet.

The Huskers sit two spots outside the Top 25 at 8-3 overall. A total of nine three-loss teams are ranked, and four-loss Stanford is just ahead of NU among others receiving votes.

All three of the Huskers' losses have been against teams with at least .500 records, but it would be safe to say that the 9-7 home setback to Iowa State is the one keeping Nebraska from re-emerging in the Top 25. Also, NU has beaten just one team with more than six wins (Missouri at 7-4) and its victories have come against teams with a combined record of 39-48.

In the USA Today coaches poll, NU advanced from a tie for 25th to No. 23. »

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Bowl talk
Filed by Mitch Sherman at 9:44 a.m.

Win or lose Friday at Colorado, Nebraska's bowl outlook is pretty clear. It's almost certainly going to be a holiday season for the Huskers in San Diego, Dallas or Phoenix.

Just one route to the Fiesta Bowl, Jan. 4 in Glendale, Ariz., and that's to beat Texas, Dec. 5 in the Big 12 championship game.

Now, if the Huskers lose to the Longhorns in Arlington:

NU could play back-to-back games at Cowboys Stadium, landing in the Jan. 2 Cotton Bowl if the BCS chooses Oklahoma State as an at-large team. OSU, with a win Saturday over Oklahoma in Norman, would appear to rank as an attractive option for the Fiesta.

If the BCS passes on the Cowboys, they would likely play in the Cotton, pushing Nebraska to the Dec. 30 Holiday Bowl in San Diego.

Not a bad set of options.

NU is familiar with all three destinations, though the Cotton and Fiesta bowls have moved to new stadiums since the Huskers' most recent trips after the 2006 and 1999 seasons, respectively. NU made its only appearance at the Holiday Bowl in 1998. »

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Huskers still unsatisfied
Filed by Mitch Sherman at 12:52 a.m.

Lots of talk from the Huskers and coach Bo Pelini after their 17-3 win over Kansas State about staying focused, even after this Big 12 North-title clinching victory.

“There's not going to be any patting ourselves on the back,” Pelini said. “That's for another time.”

Ndamukong Suh hesitated to discuss the feeling of satisfaction gained from winning the North. Not until the regular season is complete, Suh said. Even then, the Huskers are likely to point to the next game – Dec. 5 in the Big 12 championship game against Texas.

“I think we're on a good path,” Suh said. “Definitely happy with the situation that we're in, but want to dominate the Big 12 North. The only way to do that is to go to Boulder and take care of business.” »

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Offense's struggles continue
Filed by Jon Nyatawa at 9:30 p.m.

After an impressive start to the half, Nebraska's offense has reverted back to its standard level of futility. But the NU defense isn't letting KSU take advantage.

The Huskers have gone three-and-out twice and gained just one first down since that four-play, 70-yard touchdown drive to begin the third quarter. They've totaled 27 yards on three drives.

But Kansas State hasn't been able to capitalize.

The Wildcats made two trips into the red zone, but came away empty on both occasions. Senior Larry Asante forced a key fumble when he hit senior Keithen Valentine at the 1-yard line. KSU kicker Josh Cherry missed a 32-yard field goal wide right.

If Nebraska's offense could find a way to put together some effective series, a point-producing drive, this game could be over.

Other observations:

-- That fake-option pass play didn't work this time. Zac Lee was sacked for a loss of 10 yards on third down, trying to run the same play that resulted in a long gain to Niles Paul a week ago. It appeared as if the Wildcats called the perfect blitz to defend that long-developing play.

-- After a relatively quiet day, Ndamukong Suh showed up at a key moment. With about 11 minutes left in the game, Suh sacked quarterback Grant Gregory on a second down play, then forced a punt by deflecting a pass at the line of scrimmage.

-- Either Alex Henery has a magical command of the football or he's just really talented. The junior booted a punt 62 yards and watched it bounce perfectly out of bounds at the 3-yard line. He had a similar kick in the first half, when his 45-yarder hit the ground and shot directly out of bounds at the 1. »

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Nebraska seizing control
Filed by Jon Nyatawa at 8:54 p.m.

That was quick. In less than two minutes after halftime, Nebraska has taken command of this game.

The Huskers now hold a 17-3 lead after I-back Roy Helu's 14-yard touchdown run with 13:21 left in the third quarter. That play came right after a 47-yard pass play from Zac Lee to Niles Paul.

It was the eighth reception of at least 35 yards this year for Paul. Also interesting to note that the Huskers attacked Kansas State's secondary the play after Tysyn Hartman left the game with an injury. Hartman already has an interception today, but he wasn't out there to help defend Paul.

On the other side of the ball, senior Larry Asante just bailed out the NU defense. He popped senior running back Keithen Valentine at the 1-yard line, jarring the ball loose. It appeared that junior Prince Amukamara was the Husker who recovered the loose football.

Now, the Wildcats probably won't abandon their low-risk offensive approach just yet. But they may have to consider tweaking it here shortly. Daniel Thomas had 74 yards on 10 carries at halftime, but he may not get as many more opportunities if Nebraska can keep KSU out of the end zone this quarter. »

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Halftime: NU 10, KSU 3
Filed by Jon Nyatawa at 8:25 p.m.

We're halfway through the battle for the North Division title and things have transpired rather predictably so far.

Both teams have brought a conservative offensive approach, but key mistakes have kept them from putting together too many successful drives. They've combined for 279 offensive yards.

Nebraska holds a 10-3 advantage, probably because the Huskers have committed fewer unforced errors. But Zac Lee's interception interception in the end zone may end up proving pretty costly. We'll see.

Some other halftime observations:

-- A little bit too much drama for Nebraska to end the half. Kansas State, which had already used its three timeouts, began its final possession with just 1:01 left on the clock. The Wildcats looked like they were just trying to run out the clock too. But Daniel Thomas' 24-yard run gave them a chance for some points. Josh Cherry missed a 51-yard field goal kick.

-- Take away Lee's meltdown in the red zone and he's had a pretty good evening so far. He's 9-for-14 for 92 yards. He's carried the ball seven times for 14 yards (though he lost 14 on that sack).

-- Roy Helu has 53 rushing yards in the first half, putting him over 1,000 yards for the season. It's the 29th time in Nebraska history that a back has eclipsed that mark. »