Can the defense sharpen its teeth?

While Nebraska was decent defensively in 2011, it was not the authoritative bunch that was on display in 2009 and to a lesser extent 2010. Part of that dropoff can be attributed to the season-ending injury to defensive tackle Jared Crick (torn pectoral muscle) in Week 5.

However, the Husker defense was having issues even before Crick was put on the shelf for the season. There were bright spots, most notably in a 24-3 win over Michigan State and the second half dominance that fueled a 34-27 come-from-behind win over Ohio State in addition to the unit’s outstanding effort in a 20-7 win over Iowa.

Nebraska did finish pretty well (Top 40) statistically but for much of the 2011 campaign, the Huskers were a pretty average club. Nebraska finished 37th in total defense and 42nd in scoring defense. The Huskers finished tied for 18th in passing defense and 34th in pass efficiency defense.

However, the Huskers were tied for 72nd in interceptions (with 10), tied for 84th in sacks (21), and 64th in rushing defense. Nebraska also finished with a minus-1 turnover margin with 18 takeaways and had 19 giveaways. This tells me they need to get far more pressure on opposing teams quarterbacks to force mistakes that lead to turnovers, and to increase sack numbers.

In Bo Pelini’s four seasons as head coach, there have been some dominant defensive players such as Ndamukong Suh, LaVonte David, Alfonzo Dennard, Prince Amukamara, Dejon Gomes, Phillip Dillard and Larry Asante. Only David was not on the roster for the Huskers 2009 defense that allowed only 10 points per game, best in the nation.

The defense was probably the best in the Big 12 in 2010, but a keen eye could see chinks in the armor. They had difficulty stopping a mobile quarterback. They relied too much on their potent, if inconsistent, offense to create plays.

In 2011, with Carl Pelini as defensive coordinator, Nebraska’s defense failed the team when they needed them most. Wisconsin and Michigan made the Husker defense look awful. In the Capital One Bowl loss to South Carolina, the Husker defense failed at crucial times. Despite losing key pieces like Crick, David and Dennard, 2012 has the potential to be a very good year for the defense.

Of course, some would see the coaching staff changes as a negative because change normally takes time to adapt.

After defensive coordinator Carl Pelini took the head coaching job at Florida Atlantic, Bo Pelini promoted John Papuchis from defensive line coach to defensive coordinator. He also hired Rick Kaczenski from Iowa to replace Papuchis on the defensive line. Kaczenski brought with him an impressive resume that included All-Americans during his time as defensive line coach for the Hawkeyes.

After Husker defensive backs coach Corey Raymond accepted the same position at alma mater LSU, Pelini scooped Terry Joseph from Tennessee to replace him. Joseph, cousin of former Husker Mickey Joseph, coached a stellar Volunteer defensive backfield for three years.

True, it takes time to get used coaches and their approach but these changes might be the shot in the arm the Huskers need. Kaczenski and Joseph inherit some pretty solid depth at their respective positions.

There is no Crick, David or Dennard but instead of leaning heavily on All-Americans, the Huskers will need to rely on each other and the scheme. However, it never hurts to have a game-changer.

Nebraska Will Repay the Favor to Wisconsin

Taylor Martinez is looking to perform better vs Wisconsin in 2012.

Almost exactly a year after Nebraska was humiliated in front of a national audience in their Big Ten opener, Taylor Martinez and the Cornhuskers will be better prepared to face a Wisconsin team without standout quarterback Russell Wilson and a defense not as talented or salty as they were in 2011. They will still have to stop running back Montee Ball, but, without a deep threat and somebody to throw it and take the pressure off the running backs, Nebraska will sell out and blitz over and over again.

The beating might not be as bad as the wood the Badgers laid to the Huskers in Madison in 2011, but it will be bad. Nebraska's defense will show up in a big way, Rex Burkhead will have over 150 yards rushing, and the Huskers will win by more than three touchdowns to start off their second season in the Big Ten with a bang.

Taylor Martinez Will Complete More Than 65% of His Passes

Taylor Martinez will fix this throwing motion
Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Let's face it. Taylor Martinez's throwing motion reminds you more of Tim Tebow than it does any other quarterback in college of the NFL. If anything, this prediction is the hardest of all to imagine. The guy just doesn't throw very well or with any sort of accuracy.

There is good news, though. Martinez is dedicated to keeping his starting job. We know this because he spent his spring break not schmoozing with girlfriend and Nebraska volleyball player Lauren Cook but in California with a throwing expert (by the way, what's up with Nebraska football and volleyball players dating? I just heard Roy Helu and Dani Mancuso are getting married).

The best news on the planet for Taylor Martinez: the Nebraska running game will take pressure off him in the pocket. With Rex Burkhead, Ameer Abdullah, and Aaron Green forming a formidable backfield, Martinez will have more time to sit back and go through his reads on play action and straight passing plays. As he does this, he will make more throws on target and will complete 65% of his passes in 2012.

Rex Burkhead Will Win the Heisman Trophy

Rex Burkhead will run all the way to New York in 2012.
Eric Francis/Getty Images

Sexy Rexy.

He's Rexy and He Knows It. Heard the songs? If not, look them up on YouTube.

They are about Nebraska running back Rex Burkhead. My favorite line comes from "Sexy Rexy": "Calves defined like dictionaries, breaks through tackles on his carries."

In early odds, Burkhead is at 20-1 to win the Heisman Trophy. If you ask Nebraska fans, or anybody in the Big Ten footprint, that is far too low. Burkhead is the unquestioned leader of the team. He is the most popular player in Nebraska football since Brook Berringer. He is as much of an unstoppable machine on the field as he is a charismatic, humble man off it. Burkhead is what legends are made of at Nebraska, and the Heisman Trophy will be his crowning achievement.

What can Burkhead do on the field? Well he averaged 4.8 yards per carry and just over 104 yards per game in 2011. That's not bad. He will have to do better than that to have national recognition, though. His 21 catches for 177 yards and two touchdowns are nice. However, more than anything, he will need sophomores Ameer Abdullah and Aaron Green to step up and spell him when the time arises.

He will need big, and I mean BIG, performances in national games. He will need to run roughshod over Wisconsin and Michigan. He will need to will the team to victory.

More than anything, though, he needs the team to win. Nebraska needs to win the Big Ten Legends Division. He then needs to pull an Ndamukong Suh from the 2009 Big 12 Championship Game and just tear apart whoever Nebraska plays in the 2012 Big Ten Championship Game.

Nebraska can do that. They have the talent. Rex can as well.

Nebraska Will Win the Big Ten

This Trophy Will be in Lincoln in December.

Nebraska sort of stumbled their way through the 2011 football season. They were beaten badly by Wisconsin and Michigan and upset at home by Northwestern. They managed to overwhelm Michigan State and Iowa and also hung on at Penn State. Throughout the season, though, it felt as though they couldn't get their feet under them. In 2012, that won't be the case.

Nebraska's offense won't be forced in so many down-and-distance situations as they were in 2011 as a deep, talented offensive line will keep a Taylor Martinez and Rex Burkhead-led attack moving. Martinez has a new throwing motion that will help him improve on his 57% accuracy, a bevy of speedy, talented receivers to throw to, and the always steady Burkhead behind him. In short, this will be the best and most balanced offense Nebraska has seen since 1999.

The defense is going to come together and obliterate opposing offenses. Blitzes will come from every angle, the defensive line will push offensive lines back into their quarterbacks, and running backs will find no lanes to run. In short, this will be a defense to be feared.

The schedule doesn't do them any favors, but there is no team outside of Michigan as talented as they were in 2011. The Huskers get the Wolverines at home the last weekend in October. They welcome Wisconsin, Penn State, and Minnesota to Lincoln as well. They will have to battle past Ohio State and Northwestern on the road in consecutive games.

The Huskers won't have to win every game on their schedule to win the Legends Division, but they must avoid trip-ups in Evanston, East Lansing, and Iowa City to advance to the Championship Game. The good news is Nebraska will win the games they need to and will not lose to anybody they shouldn't. On December 1, the Nebraska Cornhuskers will beat the winner of the Leaders Division and will claim their first Conference Championship since 1999.

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Keep ReadingNebraska returns a majority of their starters on defense, but they will have a new defensive coordinator in John Papuchis who replaced Carl Pelini after he departed for FAU. Papuchis has instantly become the youngest defensive coordinator in the Big Ten and it'll be interesting to see how the players respond to the energetic coach.

He’s been on the Nebraska staff since 2008 and worked with the defensive ends and special teams before replacing Pelini. The defensive schemes should remain the same for the most part, but with a new guy calling the shots, it will be something that bears watching.

Pelini safe unless 2012 is a disaster

With Year No. 5 of the Bo Pelini era forthcoming, one question pondered among media and fans alike has been, “is this a make or break season for Pelini?”

The supporters would say that he has amassed a 39-16 record and has twice had the Huskers on the doorstep of the conference championship. The detractors would say, “Well, he’s been a success but only compared to his predecessor, Bill Callahan.” The Huskers went 27-22 in Callahan’s four seasons, which included two years without even being bowl eligible. The detractors would also point out that in Pelini’s first year, Nebraska went 9-4, which represented a marked improvement over Callahan’s 5-7 campaign in 2007 but have not done better than 10-4 since that time.  

Pelini came to Lincoln with high expectations and has frankly failed to live up to them so far. Making it to the Holiday Bowl and the Capital One Bowl does not cut it at Nebraska. However, I would say it’s a make or break season only if 2012 is really bad, as in six or more losses. Pelini has built a solid foundation, both on the field and, perhaps more importantly, off as well. There is enough talent to win the conference and play in BCS, if they play well. I think it may be make or break for Taylor Martinez at quarterback, but Pelini’s job is safe, barring a total collapse.

I would sum his tenure as Solichism with a snarl. Nothing innovative, just that warmed-over Bobby Knight us against the world philosophy. He is certainly not in the top or even second tier of coaches. The schedule for 2012, however, does present its share of pitfalls so I think a pass is going to be somewhat given.

The 2013 campaign, however, that is the judgment year. The schedule is very favorable for NU, and sets up for a Big 10 Championship game and BCS Bowl Bid. If he can’t get it done in 2013, then a long and hard look needs to be taken. You also got to remember how loyal current Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne is with his coaches. He gives them a long leash, because he remembers the 1980s when fans wanted his head on a silver platter. The man started to break up at the Doc Sadler firing and was torn up about that. How do you think he'll feel having to let go of HIS pick and hire in Bo Pelini?

Pelini's priorities in the right place

Even though I’m a mainstream sports media member by trade and a Nebraska football blogger by hobby, I try not to overanalyze players or coaches statements in the public domain. However, when Husker head coach Bo Pelini put the kibosh on Nebraska rescheduling the annual Red-White game, this statement certainly resonated:

"I don't think that's going to work out," Pelini said of a Sunday scrimmage. "When we met with the team, there's a lot of issues that go with playing (Sunday). When you talk about family issues ... I had a show of hands of guys who had a problem with tomorrow -- you have projects, academic things, a banquet coming up -- it's not going to work."

With most of eastern Nebraska anticipating severe weather and a likely tornado outbreak, NU officials canceled Saturday's annual Red-White Spring Game. Minutes after the scheduled 1 p.m. kickoff time, Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne announced the decision on HuskerVision screens, noting that the game would be played Sunday if conditions improve.

A little more than an hour later, Pelini took to the microphone to announce that the game will be canceled instead of the game being rescheduled for Sunday or even a later day.

What truly stands out about Pelini’s statement was how he addressed academics. OK, cynical college football fans will say, “Yeah, right,” but how many college football coaches would have put academic and family conflicts above rescheduling a Spring Game? Though Pelini may have his shortcomings as a coach and fans are frustrated that the team has not achieved that elusive conference title and/or BCS bowl game, Pelini once again is looking out for his players above everything else. That example demonstrates that Pelini’s priorities are in the right place.

Somehow I get the impression a lot of coaches really do not like the spring games. They would probably prefer to have one more practice instead even though the game is a glorified practice. I think most coaches see the game as the dog and pony show that it is. Some coaches relish their roles as ringleader of dog and pony shows and others do not.

I don't think the coaches get nearly as much out of the Spring Game as the fans do.

The spring game was cancelled. We can debate if/when it should have been cancelled/postponed or moved but it is over and the fall can't get here soon enough. Now I will go worry about something important like, like, well nothing is more important than football but that debate is for another day.

Cancelling spring only decision that makes sense

Is there such thing as a game being “tornadoed out?”

Apparently so. With most of eastern Nebraska anticipating severe weather and a likely tornado outbreak, NU officials canceled Saturday's annual Red-White Spring Game.

Minutes after the scheduled 1 p.m. kickoff time, Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne announced the decision on HuskerVision screens, noting that the game would be played Sunday if conditions improve.

A little more than an hour later, Nebraska coach Bo Pelini took to the microphone to announce that the game will be canceled.

“I don't think that’s going to work out,” Pelini said of a Sunday scrimmage. “When we met with the team, there’s a lot of issues that go with playing (Sunday). When you talk about family issues ... I had a show of hands of guys who had a problem with tomorrow -- you have projects, academic things, a banquet coming up – it’s not going to work.”

Hindsight is always 20-20. You could make the argument that Friday’s forecast said that Saturday was going to be a mess; Osborne should have made the decision to cancel the game then and there but keep in mind forecasts can also change. The flip side of cancelling the game just minutes beforehand is that thousands of fans wasted time and money making the trip. Then again, they should have known better.

When weather is being billed as “life threatening,” being safe needs to be job number one, not a spring football game.

In all honesty, canceling the spring game will have little to no impact on the Huskers 2012 season. Pelini he already knows what he has in his team. Plus, he doesn’t have to spend an hour with the media answering the same questions over and over, and most importantly nobody gets injured. I wish they would have canceled last night and tried again next weekend but I think civilization will continue.

The decision was made for the fans, players and coaches. It’s wrong to think otherwise. The last thing the University wanted (or needed) was a stadium with 60,000-plus fans, a big storm rolling in, tornado sirens going off, and hailstones pelting cars and people. You are putting too many people at danger -- and that has to be the first line of thinking.

This was a no-win for Osborne. If he cancelled earlier without rescheduling, storm re-routes and heads away, he looks even more foolish. If he doesn’t cancel at all and the storm hits a nearly full stadium, even the NU attorneys would agree with "very foolish" as they are negotiating the settlements from all the claims that stated he should have cancelled.

Given the list of foolish actions, I’d take the one Osborne took and gladly take a few hits on internet message boards.

Pelini to greener pastures rumors par for the course

No sooner does Bobby Petrino go down in a cloud of disgrace at Arkansas did Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini’s name become rumored as Petrino’s replacement.

It’s not the first time Pelini’s name has come up for head coaching jobs not named Nebraska and it won’t be the last. In the last two years, Pelini has been rumored to leave Nebraska for Miami, Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State.

Bo Pelini's post-practice reaction to Nebraska media members would indicate he has no interest in the job.

"You talking about the Arkansas thing?" Pelini asked. "Actually, I didn't even know my name got thrown around. I don't even know how that stuff happens.

"I'm here and I'm happy to be here."

Pelini went on to refer to his name being linked to the Arkansas opening is "kind of ludicrous."

"I always say this (Nebraska) is a destination job; it's not a steppingstone job," he said. "People throw names out there. At the end of the day, we're focused on trying to win a championship here.

"That's all I'm concerned with. That's what we're looking forward to doing -- having the best football team we can this fall."

Arkansas, where Petrino was the head coach from 2008-2011, fired Petrino on Tuesday for not disclosing his relationship to a female employee.

In March, Petrino was involved in a motorcycle crash while sliding off the highway. He was riding along with former Arkansas All-SEC volleyball player Jessica Dorrell, who he had hired on March 28, as the student-athlete development coordinator for the football program after serving as a fundraiser in the Razorback Foundation. Petrino initially said he was alone. However, on April 6, just minutes before a police report was to be released showing Dorrell was also aboard, Petrino revealed that Dorrell was not only a passenger, but that he had an inappropriate relationship with her. Athletic director Jeff Long placed Petrino on an indefinite paid leave of absence while he reviewed the situation.


On Tuesday, Long announced that Petrino had been fired. During Long's investigation, it was discovered that Petrino made a previously undisclosed $20,000 cash gift to Dorrell. It was also revealed that Dorrell may have received preferential treatment in her hiring to the football staff, as Petrino's relationship with Dorrell was not disclosed and Petrino was on the hiring committee. Long determined that Petrino's attempts to mislead both him and the public about the accident and his relationship with Dorrell were grounds to fire Petrino for cause. Assistant coach Taver Johnson was named interim coach.

I think people linking Pelini to all these other jobs has to do more with the money involved rather than the Nebraska job being a stepping stone. Pelini is slated to earn $2.7 million this year.

Pelini is a work in progress as a head coach, but he is changing things that don't work well to get even better. That's why I hoped Tom Osborne to offer him a long term contract, with big incentives to stay the course. The last thing we need is any kind of head coaching change for the next 15 years. There have already been too many assistant coaching changes, but some have been necessary to help the program.

I really just want Pelini and the players to get focused on what they want and go take what they want. If they can do that, I believe things will improve.

There are a segment of Husker fans frustrated enough with Pelini to want to see a coaching change. Pelini has led the Huskers to a 39-16 record, leading a floundering program out of the Bill Callahan era wreckage from 5-7 in 2007 to 8-4 in 2008 but in the ensuing three years, Nebraska has gone 10-4, 10-4 and 9-4.

However, which coach would you rather have and what coach is out there right now that would be a better fit for Nebraska? We've seen what happens when an AD fires a head coach with no plan on what to do next, you get Callahan and your program dips into misery it hadn't seen in 30 plus years. So give me a list of coaches that would be better than Bo that Nebraska would have a legitimate shot at hiring.

2012 Spring Game checklist

The Nebraska football team takes the field against itself on Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium. Translation, the Red-White spring game will take place. The game can also be seen on the Big Ten Network.

By definition, the spring game is nothing more than a glorified exhibition that says very little how a team will perform from August to January. The spring game means different things to different people. So what really determines a successful spring game? Is it where the starting offense plays against the starting defense? Is it more about wanting to see what the new kids can bring to the table? Since we’re being televised this year, what do you want to show the Big 10?

The Spring Game has to be taken as nothing more than a fun time in the sun with something resembling football as the entertainment. It’s not ever going to be a real game – it’s just an excuse to get out and enjoy spring after a (usually) crappy winter, get a tailgate in, and alleviate some of the boredom in the off-season.

As far as the “game” goes, the first units going against each other with both units making some good plays is always intriguing. Most of all, I want to see signs of progress in the areas that were problems a year ago.

The defense was not as good as what Husker fans grew accustomed to in the Bo Pelini era for large chunks of last year. We need to see development there. Maybe I am just too optimistic but I think we may not have the star power we had last year but I think we could be a better team overall this coming year on the defensive side of the ball. Having a healthy defensive line and development of depth to get people to fill in and elevate their game in the back seven but could be pretty good.

I personally think the Huskers have the potential of being a pretty special offense this year. They have about as good of offensive skill position players as they have had in a while, if the offensive line can come together Nebraska could be pretty tough to stop.

That said here is a checklist on what would be considered a successful spring game:

1-No injuries. While there is never a good time to lose players to crippling injuries, this game would be the worst to suffer that fate.  

2-Progression of the offense/Taylor Martinez’s mechanics. The fact that Tim Beck is in his second season as offensive coordinator means the Huskers can fine-tune what they do instead of learning the basics.

3-No stupid plays/penalties/mental mistakes. All three plagued the Huskers at one point or another last season.

4-Creative, but we won't see it because it's the spring game. Fans may love creative plays but doing this in a spring game makes as much sense as teaching a little league pitcher how to throw a curveball when he can’t throw a fastball for a strike.

5-Aggressive and improved defensive line play. Husker D-Line looked pretty good at times, quite vulnerable at others.

6-Offensive line blowing guys off the line. This is one position that should benefit from not having to learn a new offense.

7-Minimal drops. Two things are equally true: a) Martinez needs to be more accurate. b) Husker receivers dropped far too any catchable passes.

8-Special teams perfection. Besides Brett Maher’s consistency, special teams was a hit/miss proposition.

9-How the kickoff rules will affect the philosophy on special teams. Next fall, teams will kick off at the 35-yard line instead of the 30. Also, players on the kicking team can’t line up for the play behind the 30-yard line, which is intended to limit the running start kicking teams used to have during the play.

Also, touchbacks on free kicks will be moved to the 25-yard line instead of the 20 to encourage more touchbacks. Touchbacks on other plays (for example, punts that go into the end zone, or fumbles that go out of the end zone) will remain at the 20-yard line.

Can Martinez get off on the right foot?

Much of the talk coming out of Nebraska spring football practice has focused on Husker quarterback Taylor Martinez working on his mechanics, specifically his footwork.

In fact, Gerry DiNardo of the Big Ten Network did a one-on-one interview with Nebraska offensive coordinator Tim Beck. Within that interview, Beck was showing footage of Martinez last season versus spring practice this season.

Martinez spent an extended period of time with quarterback instructor Steve Calhoun. Will it make a difference in October and November? Who knows one of Calhoun’s former proteges is Cam Newton, who was the 2010 Heisman trophy winner and led Auburn to a national championship. Newton had a Pro-Bowl season as an NFL rookie this past year with the Carolina Panthers. Newton was a 50% passer in limited duty at Florida before completing 66% of his passes at Auburn (after spending time with Calhoun). If the transformation for Martinez is anything close to that, then that could mean big things for Nebraska the next two seasons.

Martinez is already a threat as a runner. Rex Burkhead helps sell play action and several of Martinez’s best moments as a passer come when the defense bites on the run and Martinez gets to comfortably deliver the ball to an open receiver. However, better mechanics will help him make better throws under pressure when the windows are tighter and the margin for error smaller. His feet will be something to watch both in the Spring game and then as the season begins in September. If the days of back foot throws are over for Martinez, then maybe also we’ll see the end of four-loss seasons at Nebraska.

How much it helps remains to be seen but I’m glad to see Martinez and Beck are at least trying to address the problem. If Martinez stops shifting most of his weight to his back foot, we
should see fewer of the awkward lobs that we’ve seen the past couple of seasons. Translation, we could see his weight transfer so much more smoothly, correct front foot placement was such an eyesore before. Even though the ball will more than likely still come out like a shot put, he
will still be extremely more accurate just by being able to plant that front foot towards his target.

What I like most was the fact that he spent his entire Spring Break with Calhoun. The youngster
obviously wants to do well and seems to be working his tail off to become a better quarterback.

Improved footwork coupled with another year in Beck’s system will too. Martinez had a lot going against him. Keep in mind, injuries beset him for the second half of the 2010 season followed by having to learn a new offense last year.

We’ll have to see how Martinez’s mechanics have improved during the Spring Game.  

If Martinez gets a deeper drop in the pocket, it will decrease the chances for happy feet and poor decisions, with that little extra cushion away from the pass rush. If that's the idea here, good idea.