Nebraska team preview

That contest, however, was certainly a step backwards for Nebraska, as they needed a late-game interception to seal a 20-17 victory over a Demon Deacons squad playing with their second-string quarterback. It wasn’t the type of effort or performance on either side of the ball that would seem to ensure a victory (or even a competitive game) against the Trojans.


Offense

Quarterback – #9 Sam Keller

Sam Keller will get his second crack at the Trojans as a starting quarterback. The former Arizona State Sun Devil isn’t lacking in confidence when it comes to his skills as a quarterback and he will be ecstatic to have another opportunity to throw at the USC secondary. During their first meeting, Keller completed 26-of-45 passes for 347 yards and two touchdowns and led his Sun Devils to a 21-3 halftime lead. Of course, Keller’s intensity and confidence in his ability can also often hurt him, as he forces passes into coverage and tries to make plays he isn’t capable of making. In that same game against the Trojans, Keller was intercepted five times and sacked five times.

On Saturday, the Trojans must keep Keller from settling into a rhythm and hitting all kinds of receivers eight-to-ten yards downfield. If Keller is forced to look farther downfield or if he gets unsettled, the Trojans will most definitely find opportunities to create turnovers. This season, Keller has thrown three interceptions in two games and fumbled a snap that led to another turnover.

Through two games in 2007, Keller has shown a knack for spreading the ball around, connecting with 11 different receivers against Nevada and nine different ‘Huskers against Wake Forest.

Running Backs – #5 Marlon Lucky, #19 Quentin Castille, #48 Andy Sand

Marlon Lucky will get the majority of touches for the Cornhusker offense this Saturday, just as he’s been the driving force behind it for each of the last two.

He’s rushed for 327 yards on 54 carries in two games (a 6.0 yards-per-carry average) and he has five of the team’s nine total touchdowns. Last year against the Trojans, Lucky ran for just 27 yards on ten carries as head coach Bill Callahan pounded the interior of the USC line over and over again. It’s doubtful that Callahan will again employ that strategy this season and the Trojans shouldn’t be able to simply load up against the run. As a result, Lucky’s skills as a pass catcher should be on display.

He caught four passes against Wake Forest after catching three against Nevada and ranks second on the team with those seven grabs.

Quentin Castille is a big, bruising, 6-1, 245 pound running back and has the ability to get downfield in a hurry. The majority of his 24 carries this season came in the opening blowout of Nevada (where he ran 18 times for 78 yards and two touchdowns). But he also added six carries for 28 yards, with a long of 18, against a much better Demon Deacon defense.

Andy Sand is the ‘Huskers fullback this season after serving as a back up at tight end last year. He’s seen the ball just once this season, courtesy of a 15-yard reception against Nevada.

Wide Receivers – #83 Terrence Nunn, #87 Nate Swift, #16 Maurice Purify

Despite never catching more than 43 passes in a season, Terrence Nunn has a chance to become Nebraska’s career receptions leader later this year, needing just 35 more than his current 109. He certainly won’t be the biggest, fastest or more talented receiver the Trojans will face this season, but he has a knack for finding space in the defense, evidenced by his current 29-game streak of at least one reception. Against the Trojans, he’ll look for more than just that one catch as well as at least 27 receiving yards, which would move him into second place on Nebraska’s career list. The Trojan secondary is easily talented enough to keep Nunn quiet, but it’ll be a challenge to keep him altogether silent. He leads the team with eight catches and 119 receiving yards this season, though he has yet to find the endzone.

Nate Swift is another guy who is rapidly making his way up the list of all-time Nebraska receivers thanks to Bill Callahan’s West-Coast offense. Swift has seven grabs for 73 yards this season, with five of those catches and 45 yards coming against Wake Forest. Swift is much like Nunn, in that neither will constantly out-jump a safety for the ball or out-race a cornerback down the sideline, but they’ll find ways to get open and they’ll make every easy catch. Swift especially is the kind of receiver who has had success against past Trojan defenses that will give up yards underneath in order to prevent anything getting over the top.

After some off-season problems, Maurice Purify sat out the Nevada game, but came back strong against Wake Forest, catching three passes for 30 yards. He had a huge season for the ‘Huskers in 2006, with 34 grabs for 630 yards and seven touchdowns. He provides Sam Keller with a big, 6-4, 220 pound athletic target who can go up and make plays.

Tight End – #85 J.B. Phillips, #89 Hunter Teafatiller, #86 Sean Hill

J.B. Phillips is listed as the starting H-Back, but he’s been absent from any offensive statistics this season. The receptions out of the tight end position have largely gone the way of Hunter Teafatiller, who has three grabs for 21 yards, and Sean Hill, who caught his first and only pass for a 25-yard touchdown against Wake Forest. Though the ‘Husker tight ends don’t possess the athletic ability of a Fred Davis, Nebraska loves to spread the ball all over the field, and if Keller is checking down and making correct reads, the tight ends could play an important role in Saturday’s contest.

Offensive Line – LT #77 Carl Nicks, LG #62 Andy Christensen, C #59 Brett Byford, RG #61 Mike Huff, RT #76 Lydon Murtha

The five starters along the offensive line all enter the 2007 having started multiple times in 2006. The line made a combined 48 starts last season and form a very solid group. But not only is the offensive line experienced, they are big. Carl Nicks paces the group, at 6-7 and 330 pounds, but Lydon Murtha isn’t far behind, measuring 6-7 as well, but a svelte 310 pounds. None of the other starters check in under 6-3 or 300 pounds. It will be the polar opposite of what the Trojan front seven faced against Idaho.

Against Nevada, the offensive line manhandled the Wolfpack defensive front, enabling the ground game to roll up 413 yards on the ground. Against Wake Forest, the dominating running game wasn’t there, as the ‘Huskers gained just 115 rushing yards. But the most impressive thing is that Nebraska is one of just four teams that has still yet to allow a sack. It’s not likely that will remain true after facing the Trojans, but USC’s front seven certainly didn’t put forth a hugely impressive effort in rushing the Vandal quarterbacks. Nebraska will do everything they can to keep Keller upright, which should include a ton of three-step drops, screens, draws and moving the pocket.


Defense


Defensive Line – #99 Barry Turner, #43 Ty Steinkuhler, #93 Ndamukong Suh, #98 Zach Potter

Last season, the Nebraska defensive line was an absolute force. In 2007, they’ve shown exactly what losing four starters can do. Not only did Nebraska allow Wake Forest to rush for 236 yards and two touchdowns on 53 carries, but without Jay Moore and Adam Carriker rushing upfield and piling up tackles behind the line of scrimmage, the front four has registered just six tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Zach Potter has been the most prolific defender, picked up seven tackles and a sack, while Barry Turner has the half sack and six tackles, coming from the other defensive end spot.

Trojan fans should remember the front seven of Nebraska from 2006 because they were downright scary. In 2007, it’s the ‘Huskers front line who should be a little scared. Though the Trojans probably won’t deviate from their game plan, nothing would force the Nebraska faithful to sit on their hands for some time like watching the Trojan tailbacks hit seam after seam in the ‘Husker front line. A strong running game would not only quickly take the crowd out of it, but it would enable the Trojan receivers to ease into the game and not be forced into making any big third-down catches in the early going.

Linebackers – #51 Bo Ruud, #13 Corey McKeon, #15 Steve Octavien

Though Nebraska lost two starting linebackers after the 2006 season, this group is still very talented. Steve Octavien is probably the best of the bunch, but McKeon and Ruud would be standouts for any number of BCS teams. All three guys can fly to any part of the field and at least one of them will be involved in just about every tackle. Ruud and Octavien will try to get upfield and disrupt plays in the backfield, but can drop back in coverage as well. Octavien leads the team with four tackles-for-loss and is second with 11 total tackles. Ruud has added two tackles-for-loss among five total tackles, while McKeon has nine tackles and one of the team’s three interceptions.

The Trojans may find some running room against that front four, but it’ll take some work to spring tailbacks all the way through to the second level.

Cornerbacks – #5 Armando Murillo, #2 Cortney Grixby, #1 Zackary Bowman

Armando Murillo entered Nebraska as a Community College transfer this past spring and earned a starting spot heading into the 2007 season. He has played well through two games, making eight tackles and breaking up two passes. He stands 6-0 and shouldn’t offer the Trojans receivers too much in the way of a height mismatch.

Cortney Grixby, however, stands just 5-9 and will most definitely be staring at receivers who are a half-foot taller than him. Last season, Dwayne Jarrett was able to outmuscle and outmaneuver Grixby. This year, it will be Patrick Turner and David Ausberry looking to do the same. Grixby is a talented cornerback and is certainly able to play with taller receivers. But if the Trojan pass catchers are on their game and using their bodies well, they should be able to go at Grixby all game long.

Zackary Bowman is the third cornerback and should see the field plenty against USC’s receivers. He stands 6-2, which would negate just about every Trojan height advantage. Bowman has eight tackles through two games and clinched the victory over Wake Forest with a late interception in the endzone.

Safeties – #4 Larry Asante, #30 Tierre Green

Larry Asante is another Community College product who has made this defensive backfield a real strength in 2007. He earned the starting job during spring practice and gives Nebraska a physical presence at strong safety. Even with all the talent at linebacker, it’s Asante who leads the team with 13 tackles through two games.

Tierre Green is a former tailback and cornerback who will line up at free safety against the Trojans. He has a ton of speed and is basically a third cornerback out there for the ‘Huskers. He has five tackles and one pass breakup this season.


Special Teams


Kicker – #90 Alex Henery, #20 Adi Kunalic

Needing to replace new-Trojan Jordan Congdon, the ‘Huskers turned to Alex Henery and Adi Kunalic for field goals and kickoffs. Henery handles the short field goal attempts and made two 22-yard attempts against Wake Forest. Kunalic has the stronger leg and connected on a 46-yarder against Nevada. Kunalic has been a weapon on kickoffs as well, forcing seven touchbacks on 14 kicks and creating an opponents’ starting field position of their own 18-yard line.

Punter – #97 Dan Titchener

Dan Titchener has been just as effective as Kunalic. His seven punts have averaged 45 yards and three have landed inside the 20. Against Wake Forest, Titchener hit punts of 51 and 49 yards in the first quarter.

Kick and Punt Returner – #2 Cortney Grixby

Cortney Grixby handles both return duties for the ‘Huskers, though he’s gotten off to something of a slow start. He’s returned three punts for just four yards and outside of a 42-yard kick return against Nevada, he’s averaging just over 22 yards on his five other returns.

Outlook –

Despite being significantly worse along the defensive line, this is a better overall Nebraska team than the one that came to Los Angeles last season and didn’t really get a chance to show what it could do. This time around, if the Nebraska offensive line can keep Keller upright, he should be afforded the opportunity to sling the ball all over the field. Callahan basically began running out the clock in the first quarter of last year’s game, but the ‘Husker faithful in Lincoln certainly won’t sit by and watch that happen again this year. Nebraska needs to go for broke and prove that they are once again an elite program.

Of course, all that added pressure on the ‘Huskers is exactly why USC should be just fine on Saturday. As long as the Trojans hold onto the ball and force Nebraska to play 60 minutes of error-free football, USC should come home with a win.

It would be nice, however, to see the defense come alive, pick up a handful of turnovers and head into week four by regaining some of that momentum that the Trojans entered the season with. Sam Keller should have another up-and-down day against the Trojans, and those downs should be just enough to help the Trojans move to 2-0 on the season