When Bo Pelini was hired to replace Bill Callahan as Nebraska’s football head coach, most people believed that he eventually would lead the Huskers out of the wilderness in short order.
He has.
In his first season, the Huskers went from 5-7 under Callahan in 2007 to 9-4 last season. The question was could he lead Nebraska back to national prominence, say like the run the program experienced from 1993-1997, when the Huskers went 60-3 with three national titles and four undefeated regular seasons? Well, runs like that don’t just fall out of the sky but with Pelini at the helm Nebraska appears capable of being a team that will consistently win nine or more games per season and every five years or so you get that special team that contends for a national title.
Anyhow, Saturday’s game at No. 14 Virginia Tech could be a launching pad for Nebraska, which enters the contest No. 19. I listened to “Unsportsmanlike Conduct,” which is an Omaha based sports talk show. Hosts Kevin Kugler and Mike’L Severe along with guest Steve Sipple (who is a Lincoln Journal Star columnist) even used the term “program changer” to describe a potential Nebraska win.
The Huskers, who lost to Virginia Tech 35-30 last season, enter Saturday’s contest as a 3.5-point underdog. Is Saturday’s game “make or break?” No. Is a “program changer” as these three gentlemen suggest? I would consider Saturday’s game vital considering Nebraska’s struggles in true road games in recent seasons.
Since the infamous Black Friday 62-36 loss at Colorado, the Huskers are 16-25 away from Memorial Stadium (neutral site games included) and 13-21 in non-neutral site games.
That stretch has included its share of decisive losses (two defeats by 40 or more points, six by 30 or more, 11 by 20 or more, and 16 by 10 or more). Very few of the 13 wins have come against quality foes. The Huskers scored come-from-behind wins at Texas A&M in 2002 (38-31) and 2006 (28-27).
Make no mistake, beating VaTech in its backyard would be vital because it would generate a message to recruits that Nebraska is relevant but I hesitate to say it’s a “program changing” game.
In 2005, Nebraska’s 30-3 win over Colorado in Boulder was a big win at the time in the Callahan era because it was shocking and unexpected but the fact that the win was part of a four-game losing skid by Colorado took some of the shine out of that win.
However, given the Huskers road struggles winning in Blacksburg, Va., which is never an easy task could change Nebraska’s perception because it’s a game very few people believe it will win.
I don’t necessarily buy the argument that a win makes people “talk about” the Huskers nationally because they do that whether they are good or bad. However, beating the Hokies would mean for people to talk about Nebraska for the right reasons.
Can they win? Definitely. I would consider VaTech a good but not great team.
The Hokies have been a pretty consistent program the last decade or so under head coach Frank Beamer. Virginia Tech has developed a reputation for being strong defensively and on special teams. The Hokies also pride themselves on being more physical than their opponents – something the Huskers prided themselves on for years too. VaTech will also have seven returning starters.
So how much will Nebraska’s game in Blacksburg, VA tell us? The feeling here is quite a bit.
If Nebraska wins, I think a 10-2 season is likely. A respectable loss (say 7-14 points), I think 9-3 becomes a realistic expectation. A blowout loss, which I don’t believe will happen, then I think matching last year’s 8-4 regular season becomes a battle.
The biggest key toward a Husker win is not allowing the Hokies to get a special teams or defensive touchdown. For that matter, don’t allow them to set up a score with their defense or special teams.
Showing posts with label Frank Beamer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Frank Beamer. Show all posts
Monday, September 14, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Sizing up Nebraska's chances at VaTech
Not long after Nebraska defeated Arkansas State 38-9 Saturday, the point of emphasis became that this Saturday’s trip to Blacksburg, Va. for a tussle with No. 14 Virginia Tech would be a game that could reveal and perhaps define how good Nebraska truly is.
So far, we know the Huskers can beat the teams they are supposed to beat, the way they are supposed to beat them. Despite what strength of schedule pundits say, that too is important. Virginia Tech, however, is a much different animal. The Hokies don’t win with style points but they always pack a punch.
Virginia Tech came into Lincoln, Neb., last season and prevailed for a 35-30 win over the Huskers. So far in 2009, Nebraska has beaten Florida Atlantic (49-3) and Arkansas State (38-9). The Hokies opened the season with a 34-24 loss to No. 4 Alabama at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta and hammered Marshall 52-10 one week later.
Losing to Alabama is no disgrace but the most telling thing is that the Crimson Tide outgained VaTech 498-155 in yards from scrimmage. The Hokies still had a punchers’ chance to win because of Dyrell Roberts’ 98 yard kickoff return. Special teams and defense has been the Hokies’ M.O. under head coach Frank Beamer. In last years in Lincoln, the Hokies special teams scored a safety and the defense set up a touchdown. Nebraska can’t afford such errors this week.
Virginia Tech is likely to enter the game as the favorite. How much? Hard to say, for the moment by about a touchdown. So, after two weeks, do you feel about the same as the Huskers chances of beating the Hokies as you did before the season? Worse? Or better?
From this corner, I’ll say about the same. VaTech should be the favorite because after all, Nebraska has had its share of implosions on the road against good teams. It will be interesting to see how quarterback Zac Lee responds. Lee has looked outstanding in his first two Div. I-A starts but doing so against Florida Atlantic and Arkansas State (at home no less) is one thing, doing so in a hornet’s nest like Blacksburg is another because the Hokies will bring the pressure.
I know it sounds cliché but he can avoid turnovers (well, the team as a whole too) in throwing and handling the ball, the Huskers will be there at the end. Something tells me Lee will be tested but play well. So far, I'm impressed with his accuracy and arm strength and I think he will be up to making a few plays with his feet.
Nebraska’s offensive line won’t draw up memories of the mid-1990s but it is better at this point than it was last season. They move well and there is depth. The run game is solid but not great. I don't expect that it will show up big in this game. Nice if it did but it probably won't (at least not this early in the year). That's why it is critical for Lee to take care of the ball.
Nebraska needs to play the field position game. The Hokies offense is not any better than last year but quarterback Tyrod Taylor will make some plays though as he is fast and will be feeling it with the crowd behind him. I do feel better about the secondary and overall defensive play.
Again, this is not a great offense they will be playing. They may be tested in the running game even without running back Darren Evans, but I think they can bend but not break often.
Special teams are a concern though. Will Nebraska tackle well? Will Alex Henery punt well? Will the Huskers get any sort of return (kind of doubt it as I see that as a big deficiency right now). Again, as cliché as it may sound, but Nebraska must not turn the ball over and make them have long drives, play solid special teams, limit penalties and win the time of possession/field position battle. If Nebraska does that, they have a chance. If not, we are looking at a VaTech win. Something tells me we are better prepared and somewhat sharper at this point this year though.
I am not worried about the pass rush, but I am worried about the pursuit. Again, Taylor will run. He is not going to throw if he doesn't have to and the tackling and pursuit was very poor.
Nebraska looks capable on both sides of the ball. I do not think the Huskers showed everything they can do on offense, nor do I think the defense was completely let loose. I have a good feeling about this team. I do not think Nebraska will win them all, but I think the Huskers will win 9 or 10 of them with next week being a possibility.
The Huskers don’t need a perfect game to win but execution needs to be sharp.
So far, we know the Huskers can beat the teams they are supposed to beat, the way they are supposed to beat them. Despite what strength of schedule pundits say, that too is important. Virginia Tech, however, is a much different animal. The Hokies don’t win with style points but they always pack a punch.
Virginia Tech came into Lincoln, Neb., last season and prevailed for a 35-30 win over the Huskers. So far in 2009, Nebraska has beaten Florida Atlantic (49-3) and Arkansas State (38-9). The Hokies opened the season with a 34-24 loss to No. 4 Alabama at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta and hammered Marshall 52-10 one week later.
Losing to Alabama is no disgrace but the most telling thing is that the Crimson Tide outgained VaTech 498-155 in yards from scrimmage. The Hokies still had a punchers’ chance to win because of Dyrell Roberts’ 98 yard kickoff return. Special teams and defense has been the Hokies’ M.O. under head coach Frank Beamer. In last years in Lincoln, the Hokies special teams scored a safety and the defense set up a touchdown. Nebraska can’t afford such errors this week.
Virginia Tech is likely to enter the game as the favorite. How much? Hard to say, for the moment by about a touchdown. So, after two weeks, do you feel about the same as the Huskers chances of beating the Hokies as you did before the season? Worse? Or better?
From this corner, I’ll say about the same. VaTech should be the favorite because after all, Nebraska has had its share of implosions on the road against good teams. It will be interesting to see how quarterback Zac Lee responds. Lee has looked outstanding in his first two Div. I-A starts but doing so against Florida Atlantic and Arkansas State (at home no less) is one thing, doing so in a hornet’s nest like Blacksburg is another because the Hokies will bring the pressure.
I know it sounds cliché but he can avoid turnovers (well, the team as a whole too) in throwing and handling the ball, the Huskers will be there at the end. Something tells me Lee will be tested but play well. So far, I'm impressed with his accuracy and arm strength and I think he will be up to making a few plays with his feet.
Nebraska’s offensive line won’t draw up memories of the mid-1990s but it is better at this point than it was last season. They move well and there is depth. The run game is solid but not great. I don't expect that it will show up big in this game. Nice if it did but it probably won't (at least not this early in the year). That's why it is critical for Lee to take care of the ball.
Nebraska needs to play the field position game. The Hokies offense is not any better than last year but quarterback Tyrod Taylor will make some plays though as he is fast and will be feeling it with the crowd behind him. I do feel better about the secondary and overall defensive play.
Again, this is not a great offense they will be playing. They may be tested in the running game even without running back Darren Evans, but I think they can bend but not break often.
Special teams are a concern though. Will Nebraska tackle well? Will Alex Henery punt well? Will the Huskers get any sort of return (kind of doubt it as I see that as a big deficiency right now). Again, as cliché as it may sound, but Nebraska must not turn the ball over and make them have long drives, play solid special teams, limit penalties and win the time of possession/field position battle. If Nebraska does that, they have a chance. If not, we are looking at a VaTech win. Something tells me we are better prepared and somewhat sharper at this point this year though.
I am not worried about the pass rush, but I am worried about the pursuit. Again, Taylor will run. He is not going to throw if he doesn't have to and the tackling and pursuit was very poor.
Nebraska looks capable on both sides of the ball. I do not think the Huskers showed everything they can do on offense, nor do I think the defense was completely let loose. I have a good feeling about this team. I do not think Nebraska will win them all, but I think the Huskers will win 9 or 10 of them with next week being a possibility.
The Huskers don’t need a perfect game to win but execution needs to be sharp.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Huskers matchup at VaTech could be very telling
The term “measuring stick” often gets overused but for the 2009 Nebraska Cornhuskers, their September 19 road game at Virginia Tech could provide a tell-tale sign of what type of season the team will have.
Nebraska’s non-conference clash against Virginia Tech on Sept. 19 has been selected for a regional telecast on ABC. The announcement was made on Thursday by ESPN and the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The game is set for a 2:30 p.m. CT (3:30 p.m. ET) kickoff from Lane Stadium in Blacksburg. In addition to the ABC coverage, the contest will be carried on ESPN2 in markets that receive a different regional contest on their ABC affiliates.
OK, I know that goes against the clichéd, “One game at a time” theory. Then again, I take it one Husker fan blog at a time too. Yes, Nebraska has home games against Florida Atlantic and Arkansas State before visiting VaTech. Yes, every game is important. That’s why they are on the schedule but not every game is created equal. Come on; are you going to tell me that beating Iowa State is just as impressive as say beating Texas or Oklahoma? Get real.
The last three seasons, Nebraska’s first high profile game provided a clue of what type of season the team had.
In 2006, the 19th ranked Huskers visited No. 4 USC and lost 28-10. You were disappointed but not discouraged. Keep in mind, when Zac Taylor scored a rushing touchdown with 12:44 left in the game, the Trojan lead was cut to 21-10. USC was never in danger of losing the game necessarily and while the Trojans were the superior club, it’s not like they outclassed Nebraska. Granted, Bill Callahan’s neo-conservative game plan (36 runs, 17 passes) left a lot to be desired. At which point I ask, “If he called 36 passes, 17 runs and the Huskers lost 41-24 would you have felt any different?” The Huskers went on to a 9-5 season and should have gone no worse than 11-3 but they did win their first Big 12 North crown in seven years and played in their first New Years Day caliber bowl game in five years.
In 2007, the 14th rated Huskers hosted top-ranked USC and lost 49-31. Yes, it was an 18-point loss just like the year before but let’s face it, of Nebraska’s four touchdowns only one came when the game mattered. The other three were in garbage time. The Trojans ran through the Husker defenders, who were at the game in body but other than that I could not quantify their presence at the game. Nebraska went on to a 5-7 season, lost confidence and thus the Callahan experiment ended.
In 2008, Nebraska and Virginia Tech entered their matchup in Lincoln as unranked. Nonetheless, that game was going to be a telling sign where the Huskers stood under then first year head coach Bo Pelini. Nebraska lost 35-30 but trailed 28-10 midway through the third quarter. The game seemed like a lost cause but the Huskers kept battling instead of assuming the fetal position like the previous year. Nebraska lost its next two games to fall to 3-3 but won six of their last seven games to finish 9-4. The reason the game against Virginia Tech was significant is that it was the first sign that while Nebraska was a flawed club, it would never quit.
Both clubs are ranked in every preseason Top 25 poll. Then again, we should know exactly how formidable the Hokies are when they host Alabama in their season opener on Sept. 5.
The Hokies have been a pretty consistent program the last decade or so under head coach Frank Beamer. Virginia Tech has developed a reputation for being strong defensively and on special teams. The Hokies also pride themselves on being more physical than their opponents – something the Huskers prided themselves on for years too. VaTech will also have seven returning starters.
So how much will Nebraska’s game in Blacksburg, VA tell us? The feeling here is quite a bit.
If Nebraska wins, I think a 10-2 season is likely. A respectable loss (say 7-14 points), I think 9-3 becomes a realistic expectation. A blowout loss, which I don’t believe will happen, then I think matching last year’s 8-4 regular season becomes a battle.
Nebraska’s non-conference clash against Virginia Tech on Sept. 19 has been selected for a regional telecast on ABC. The announcement was made on Thursday by ESPN and the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The game is set for a 2:30 p.m. CT (3:30 p.m. ET) kickoff from Lane Stadium in Blacksburg. In addition to the ABC coverage, the contest will be carried on ESPN2 in markets that receive a different regional contest on their ABC affiliates.
OK, I know that goes against the clichéd, “One game at a time” theory. Then again, I take it one Husker fan blog at a time too. Yes, Nebraska has home games against Florida Atlantic and Arkansas State before visiting VaTech. Yes, every game is important. That’s why they are on the schedule but not every game is created equal. Come on; are you going to tell me that beating Iowa State is just as impressive as say beating Texas or Oklahoma? Get real.
The last three seasons, Nebraska’s first high profile game provided a clue of what type of season the team had.
In 2006, the 19th ranked Huskers visited No. 4 USC and lost 28-10. You were disappointed but not discouraged. Keep in mind, when Zac Taylor scored a rushing touchdown with 12:44 left in the game, the Trojan lead was cut to 21-10. USC was never in danger of losing the game necessarily and while the Trojans were the superior club, it’s not like they outclassed Nebraska. Granted, Bill Callahan’s neo-conservative game plan (36 runs, 17 passes) left a lot to be desired. At which point I ask, “If he called 36 passes, 17 runs and the Huskers lost 41-24 would you have felt any different?” The Huskers went on to a 9-5 season and should have gone no worse than 11-3 but they did win their first Big 12 North crown in seven years and played in their first New Years Day caliber bowl game in five years.
In 2007, the 14th rated Huskers hosted top-ranked USC and lost 49-31. Yes, it was an 18-point loss just like the year before but let’s face it, of Nebraska’s four touchdowns only one came when the game mattered. The other three were in garbage time. The Trojans ran through the Husker defenders, who were at the game in body but other than that I could not quantify their presence at the game. Nebraska went on to a 5-7 season, lost confidence and thus the Callahan experiment ended.
In 2008, Nebraska and Virginia Tech entered their matchup in Lincoln as unranked. Nonetheless, that game was going to be a telling sign where the Huskers stood under then first year head coach Bo Pelini. Nebraska lost 35-30 but trailed 28-10 midway through the third quarter. The game seemed like a lost cause but the Huskers kept battling instead of assuming the fetal position like the previous year. Nebraska lost its next two games to fall to 3-3 but won six of their last seven games to finish 9-4. The reason the game against Virginia Tech was significant is that it was the first sign that while Nebraska was a flawed club, it would never quit.
Both clubs are ranked in every preseason Top 25 poll. Then again, we should know exactly how formidable the Hokies are when they host Alabama in their season opener on Sept. 5.
The Hokies have been a pretty consistent program the last decade or so under head coach Frank Beamer. Virginia Tech has developed a reputation for being strong defensively and on special teams. The Hokies also pride themselves on being more physical than their opponents – something the Huskers prided themselves on for years too. VaTech will also have seven returning starters.
So how much will Nebraska’s game in Blacksburg, VA tell us? The feeling here is quite a bit.
If Nebraska wins, I think a 10-2 season is likely. A respectable loss (say 7-14 points), I think 9-3 becomes a realistic expectation. A blowout loss, which I don’t believe will happen, then I think matching last year’s 8-4 regular season becomes a battle.
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