[Husker] Nebraska - USC

[jonlists at cbsol.com]

Well.... the USC blogger, Conquest Chronicles, and I have traded 
questions.... so we'll be answering each other's questions and posting 
them on the blogs, www.cornnation.com, and www.conquestchronicles.com. So 
much for the advertistement.... let's get to it. 

I am really excited about this game. If nothing else, it's an excellent 
measure of where Nebraska stands. Is our offensive line good, or just 
playing bad opponents. 


husker-bounces at tssi.com wrote on 09/10/2006 10:26:31 AM:

> I wake up Sunday morning and am excited, genuinely excited about Husker
> Football. I leave on Thursday to make the trek from Minneapolis to So
> Cal for the game and time can't move quickly enough. 
> 
> 
> 
> Call it Big Red Blinders, but I think we have a legit shot at winning
> this game. Our Huskers are light years ahead of where they have been at
> any point in the Callahan era and this could be a landmark win for the
> program - at least for this era of the program. 
> 
> 
You realize we've scored over 100 points in the first two games while it 
took us five games to score that total last year? 


> 
> My biggest concern about USC continues to be Smith and Jarrett against
> our undersized (and not overly good) corners. Was Bowman playing in this
> game I would feel a whole lot better, but with him out this gives me
> great cause for concern. Unless the front 7 can mount a consistent pass
> rush and put Booty on his back more often than not those guys could be
> running free all over the field catching passes. We also need to pay
> close attention to their TE Davis, he can get up and down the field as
> well as anyone. The USC running game is emerging, but at this point
> doesn't give me great cause for concern. Our number 1 duty has to be to
> slow the passing game and get in Booty's grill. Remember, Booty is a new
> QB with limited experience - let's hope he has a game like McCoy had for
> Texas last night - average at best. 
> 

I think we'll know where we stand after the first quarter. If we're not 
hitting Booty by then, it's not a good thing. And like you say, below 
we'll have to control the tempo on offense. If this game gets into the 
30's, I don't see us having a chance to win because I don't thnk we'll 
score that much against USC. 

If the games stays in the 20's, we have a shot. You don't mention the 
special teams, but if it comes down to kicking, I'm not that worried. 

 
> 
> On offense we will certainly be helped by the fact that USC lost their
> all world safety, Josh Pinkard, for the season to a knee injury. His
> replacement is a freshman, and that really gives the Huskers an edge as
> Pinkard was the QB of that defense so his lost hurts the Trojans a lot.
> My guess is that you will see the Huskers come out with a lot of
> intermediate passes and that they will try to get Herian involved in the
> game as soon as possible. I also look for Purify, who is our biggest and
> most physical receiver, to have a breakout game if the Huskers have any
> chance of winning. Personally I like the RB by committee as each back
> brings something a little different to the table that teams have to game
> plan for. For us to be in the game we will need to have about a 60/40
> run - pass ratio - if for no other reason than keeping the USC offense
> off the field. Taylor has to play a near perfect game for us to stay in
> it. 
> 

Do you think that Purify can play much of this game? I can understand 
using him on some specific routes, but he can't know the offense well 
enough to be on the field all that much. 

Question on the run/pass ratio - let's say we can't run the ball. That 
implies that their front four is controlling the line of scrimmage because 
our lineman can't do much. Isn't the WCO predicated on the idea that the 
short/intermediate passing game can make up for this problem? Or is the 
implication that their defensive line is neutralizing our offensive line, 
allowing linebackers to roam free and kill the intermediate passing game 
as well? 

> 
> 
> If anything the Texas - OSU game last night gave me even more hope. It
> shows how hard it is to replace an all world QB with a new one when
> playing a tough opponent early. While we certainly aren't the caliber of
> Ohio State, we are certainly a lot better than what USC saw from
> Arkansas - quite a bit better in fact. 
> 
> 
> 
> So, if the Huskers can keep pressure on Booty, run the ball effectively
> and not be overwhelmed by the biggest game of the Callahan era I think
> we can pull the upset and put Husker Football back on the national
> radar. My early in the week homer prediction is NU - 27, USC - 24
> 
> 
> 
> And if we win this game, the season sets up very nicely for us. No team
> in the North except maybe Mizzou has looked even average in the first 2
> weeks of the season and in the South OU hasn't looked good (and will
> lose at Oregon this week) and while Texas will certainly improve they
> definitely looked beatable (by the Huskers) last night as well. Heck,
> even if we lose to USC I still think we are a lock to win the B12 North
> (barring a Taylor injury) and stand a pretty good chance in the B12
> Championship Game. 
> 

Mizzou looked very good against Ole Miss, but Ole Miss's d-line was in 
pretty bad shape. Chase Daniels looks like he's taking advantage of his 
opportunity now that Brad Smith has moved on. 

> 
> 
> Oh, and don't read too much into Troy's performance against FSU. FSU
> played HORRIBLE and has some definite issues on offense. FSU is one of
> the youngest teams in the nation with something ridiculous like 9
> seniors on the roster. The real developing story line in Tally is if
> Bobby can fire or demote his son/inept Offensive Coordinator Jeff. If he
> can't it might spell the end of the Bowden era at FSU. No matter what
> happened in Tally or what happens in So Cal we will roll Troy. 
> 
> 
> 
> At any rate let's hope the beers I am sipping at the Padres - Dodgers
> game in L.A. on Sunday afternoon are to celebrate a Husker win and not
> to ease the pain of a blowout loss. 
> 
> 
> 
> GO BIG RED!!! 
> 
> 
> 
> Sincerely,
> 
> 
> 
> Jeffrey Volk
> 
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