Thursday, November 18, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Score Predtctions - Texas A&M
Enter your Score Predictions for this week's game in the comments section.
Previous Winners
Week 1: Denise - Off by 1 Point! - (Guess 50-10, Actual 49-10)
Week 2: Luke - Off by 1 Point! - (Guess 38-16, Actual 38-17)
Week 3: Denise - Off by 11 Points - (Guess 45-21, Actual 56-21)
Week 4: Kristin - Off by 31 Points - (Guess 41-10, Actual 17-3)
Week 5: Kovar - Off by 5 Points - (Guess 52-12, Actual 48-13)
Week 6: Kovar - Off by 9 Points - (Guess 22-20, Actual 13-20)
Week 7: Kovar - Off by 14 Points - (Guess 52-28, Actual 51-41)
Week 8: Kovar - Off by 3 Points - (Guess 33-18, Actual 31-17)
Week 9: Hepp - Off by 16 Points - (Guess 28-17, Actual 31-30)
Week 10: Dean - Off by 24 Points - (Guess 38-9, Actual 20-3)
Previous Winners
Week 1: Denise - Off by 1 Point! - (Guess 50-10, Actual 49-10)
Week 2: Luke - Off by 1 Point! - (Guess 38-16, Actual 38-17)
Week 3: Denise - Off by 11 Points - (Guess 45-21, Actual 56-21)
Week 4: Kristin - Off by 31 Points - (Guess 41-10, Actual 17-3)
Week 5: Kovar - Off by 5 Points - (Guess 52-12, Actual 48-13)
Week 6: Kovar - Off by 9 Points - (Guess 22-20, Actual 13-20)
Week 7: Kovar - Off by 14 Points - (Guess 52-28, Actual 51-41)
Week 8: Kovar - Off by 3 Points - (Guess 33-18, Actual 31-17)
Week 9: Hepp - Off by 16 Points - (Guess 28-17, Actual 31-30)
Week 10: Dean - Off by 24 Points - (Guess 38-9, Actual 20-3)
Taylor Martinez Likes Playing Against Road Games
Taylor Martinez likes road games and road games like him.
Martinez has repeatedly mentioned his preference for away games, most recently while looking ahead to this week’s game at Texas A&M:
“I heard [College Station] is a really tough place to play. I think it’ll be a really fun environment, a hostile environment to play in, and I think it’ll be really fun. I love playing in away games. I just love going up against that crowd.”
We’ve heard this from Martinez before. After the Kansas State game he said similar things:
“I love playing in these kinds of environments — I prefer to play in away games. I think it’s fun.”
Martinez has played in three road games in his young career — not exactly a significant sample size. But in each of those contests, he exploded:
@Washington: 287 total yards; 4TDs
@Kansas State: 369 yds.; 5TDs
@Oklahoma State: 435 yds.; 5TDs
Here’s the breakout of his three road starts against his six home starts:
ROAD GAME AVG.: 364 yds.; 4.7 TDs
HOME GAME AVG.: 199 yds.; 1.2 TDs
Note that four of the six home starts were against Western Kentucky, Idaho, South Dakota State and Kansas, so one can’t argue that the level of competition was softer on the road. And Martinez sat out parts of the fourth quarters of the KSU and Washington games so relative playing time isn’t much of a factor in these numbers, either. (If you want to allow for the fact that Martinez missed the second half of the MU game due to injury, doubling his MU stats will add back 22 to his home yardage average and 0.17 to his home TD average.)
Martinez has repeatedly mentioned his preference for away games, most recently while looking ahead to this week’s game at Texas A&M:
“I heard [College Station] is a really tough place to play. I think it’ll be a really fun environment, a hostile environment to play in, and I think it’ll be really fun. I love playing in away games. I just love going up against that crowd.”
We’ve heard this from Martinez before. After the Kansas State game he said similar things:
“I love playing in these kinds of environments — I prefer to play in away games. I think it’s fun.”
Martinez has played in three road games in his young career — not exactly a significant sample size. But in each of those contests, he exploded:
@Washington: 287 total yards; 4TDs
@Kansas State: 369 yds.; 5TDs
@Oklahoma State: 435 yds.; 5TDs
Here’s the breakout of his three road starts against his six home starts:
ROAD GAME AVG.: 364 yds.; 4.7 TDs
HOME GAME AVG.: 199 yds.; 1.2 TDs
Note that four of the six home starts were against Western Kentucky, Idaho, South Dakota State and Kansas, so one can’t argue that the level of competition was softer on the road. And Martinez sat out parts of the fourth quarters of the KSU and Washington games so relative playing time isn’t much of a factor in these numbers, either. (If you want to allow for the fact that Martinez missed the second half of the MU game due to injury, doubling his MU stats will add back 22 to his home yardage average and 0.17 to his home TD average.)
Herbstreit/Musburger to Call NU/A&M Game
Saturday night's game with Texas A&M will be televised regionally on ABC beginning at 7 p.m. A coverage map of the areas receiving the game will be available later in the week.
The appearance on ABC will be Nebraska's sixth of the year, with a seventh ABC appearance set for NU's Nov. 26 regular-season finale against Colorado (2:30 p.m., national).
The appearance on ABC will be Nebraska's sixth of the year, with a seventh ABC appearance set for NU's Nov. 26 regular-season finale against Colorado (2:30 p.m., national).
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Martin getting used to switch at DE
So far, so good.
That was Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini's assessment Monday of Eric Martin's recent switch from linebacker to defensive end.
"He's picked it up well," the coach said. "He just keeps getting bigger. He's explosive. We just feel he's a guy we're going to want to get on the field, and we feel he can do a number of different things.
"He brings some versatility to the end position. I think he'll be good there."
Martin, a sophomore, started twice this season at linebacker -- against Washington and South Dakota State -- before settling into a backup role while remaining a key player on special teams. He has 23 tackles on the season.
Pelini said the 6-foot-2 Martin, listed at 240 pounds in the Nebraska media guide, now weighs in the 250-pound range. Pelini made it sound as though Martin could be contributing soon at end.
"We're getting him prepared," Pelini said. "He could get in there, especially on third down, and do some things."
That was Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini's assessment Monday of Eric Martin's recent switch from linebacker to defensive end.
"He's picked it up well," the coach said. "He just keeps getting bigger. He's explosive. We just feel he's a guy we're going to want to get on the field, and we feel he can do a number of different things.
"He brings some versatility to the end position. I think he'll be good there."
Martin, a sophomore, started twice this season at linebacker -- against Washington and South Dakota State -- before settling into a backup role while remaining a key player on special teams. He has 23 tackles on the season.
Pelini said the 6-foot-2 Martin, listed at 240 pounds in the Nebraska media guide, now weighs in the 250-pound range. Pelini made it sound as though Martin could be contributing soon at end.
"We're getting him prepared," Pelini said. "He could get in there, especially on third down, and do some things."
Pelini Defends Jabs at Crowd
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Bo Pelini isn't one to backtrack.
On Tuesday, the fiery Nebraska coach said he was merely making an observation, not ripping the fans, when he said he was disappointed with the "dead" atmosphere at Memorial Stadium for last weekend's Kansas game.
Some fans reacted with anger on radio shows and websites, saying Pelini shouldn't insult the people who pay the bills and have sold out an NCAA-record 310 consecutive home games since 1962.
Others say Pelini spoke the truth and that the fans need to ramp up the volume to support the Huskers and make the stadium more intimidating to visiting teams.
Pelini first commented about the crowd on his weekly television show, taped shortly after Saturday night's 20-3 win over the Jayhawks. On Monday he said, "I felt like I was at a scrimmage."
Pelini didn't back off Tuesday. He said after his weekly news conference that the stadium was quieter than it's ever been in his three seasons at Nebraska and that just before the team came out of the locker room for kickoff "you could hear a pin drop."
Nebraska football is king in this state of 1.8 million, and the fans are proud and passionate. Over each stadium entrance is a sign that reads: "Through These Gates Pass the Greatest Fans in College Football."
Fans already were a bit sensitive after receiver Niles Paul, criticized for his poor outing in the loss to Texas a month ago, said he plays for his coaches and teammates, not the fans.
Pelini dismissed the fan fuss.
"There are going to be fans that are always a little disgruntled," he said, adding that he didn't believe his comments indicate a disconnect between the fans and the program. "It was just an observation."
Bo/Shawn....maybe try to do something on offense to give the fans something to cheer about
On Tuesday, the fiery Nebraska coach said he was merely making an observation, not ripping the fans, when he said he was disappointed with the "dead" atmosphere at Memorial Stadium for last weekend's Kansas game.
Some fans reacted with anger on radio shows and websites, saying Pelini shouldn't insult the people who pay the bills and have sold out an NCAA-record 310 consecutive home games since 1962.
Others say Pelini spoke the truth and that the fans need to ramp up the volume to support the Huskers and make the stadium more intimidating to visiting teams.
Pelini first commented about the crowd on his weekly television show, taped shortly after Saturday night's 20-3 win over the Jayhawks. On Monday he said, "I felt like I was at a scrimmage."
Pelini didn't back off Tuesday. He said after his weekly news conference that the stadium was quieter than it's ever been in his three seasons at Nebraska and that just before the team came out of the locker room for kickoff "you could hear a pin drop."
Nebraska football is king in this state of 1.8 million, and the fans are proud and passionate. Over each stadium entrance is a sign that reads: "Through These Gates Pass the Greatest Fans in College Football."
Fans already were a bit sensitive after receiver Niles Paul, criticized for his poor outing in the loss to Texas a month ago, said he plays for his coaches and teammates, not the fans.
Pelini dismissed the fan fuss.
"There are going to be fans that are always a little disgruntled," he said, adding that he didn't believe his comments indicate a disconnect between the fans and the program. "It was just an observation."
Bo/Shawn....maybe try to do something on offense to give the fans something to cheer about
Monday, November 15, 2010
What They're Saying - Kansas Game
Bishop: “Nebraska’s offense is not what it became noted for this season. It became last year’s offense.”
Chatelain: “A private man made a very public homecoming Saturday night.”
Stryker: “The pass defense has been good all year, and now the run defense may be coming around.”
McKeever: “If you look closely, you can see a foundation being laid that figures to bode well for the Jayhawks.”
Sipple: “If you're Nebraska, you take this win, wrap a tidy bow around it today, and move on quickly.”
Keegan: “This was not an entertaining sendoff.”
Husker Mike: “Since Martinez left the Missouri game, the Husker offense has seemed to stagnate.”
McKewon: “Shawn Watson's bunch rolled up 397 yards, but you almost wish he had dialed down his plan, too.”
Shatel: “Martinez returned to the starting lineup. His speed is still playing catch-up.”
Chatelain: “A private man made a very public homecoming Saturday night.”
Stryker: “The pass defense has been good all year, and now the run defense may be coming around.”
McKeever: “If you look closely, you can see a foundation being laid that figures to bode well for the Jayhawks.”
Sipple: “If you're Nebraska, you take this win, wrap a tidy bow around it today, and move on quickly.”
Keegan: “This was not an entertaining sendoff.”
Husker Mike: “Since Martinez left the Missouri game, the Husker offense has seemed to stagnate.”
McKewon: “Shawn Watson's bunch rolled up 397 yards, but you almost wish he had dialed down his plan, too.”
Shatel: “Martinez returned to the starting lineup. His speed is still playing catch-up.”
Pressure helps Nebraska bag sacks
By Rich Kaipust
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU « Big Red TodayShare Related News
LINCOLN — Kansas quarterback Quinn Mecham maybe didn't know it at the time, but it was going to become a pattern.
It was fourth-and-6 on the Jayhawks' opening drive Saturday night and Nebraska had six of its 11 defenders coming after him.
There were too many of them moving too fast. Mecham panicked. A blitzing DeJon Gomes wrapped him up and took him down.
It would be the first of six sacks for the Huskers, and one of four by somebody other than Nebraska defensive linemen.
“Everybody came at one time or another,” NU defensive coordinator Carl Pelini said. “We were pretty creative with the pressure package this week.”
Nebraska made life miserable for Mecham in the 20-3 victory at Memorial Stadium, blitzing about as regularly as it had in any game this season. It resulted in the KU quarterback going just 3 for 13 in his third career start and passing for 15 yards.
It was most dangerous for Mecham in obvious passing downs, of which there were many. At different times, he had to watch for Gomes, Eric Hagg or Lavonte David coming from the linebacker and nickel/dime slots, not to mention safeties Austin Cassidy and Courtney Osborne.
Pelini moved them like chess pieces and smiled afterward about what it's like to have such athletes to send.
“It's fun,” he said. “We can really look at protections and think of all kinds of different ways to pressure people. We were real effective with that in the first half. Then in the second, you get your lead and you say, ‘We're getting a four-man rush, so let's play some coverage,' and that's kind of how the game went.”
Nebraska had seven sacks against Idaho in September, but six of its first seven games included two or fewer. It has 14 in its past three games, with six each against Missouri and Kansas.
The Huskers knew that they would be coming against KU, even if Mecham had to learn the hard way.
“We thought after going through the week of game plan that there was going to be some opportunities to bring some heat, and our guys did a nice job of executing,” NU assistant coach John Papuchis said. “I think every time we ran a pressure we executed it well. It certainly paid off, especially in the first half.”
All six sacks came on third- or fourth-down plays. On five of the six, the Jayhawks needed 6 yards or more for a first down.
In that regard, defensive tackle Jared Crick said, Nebraska set itself up for success.
“It's all credit to us stopping the run on first and second down and getting to those third-and-long situations that really benefit us getting those sacks,” Crick said. “I knew we could do it. We just finally executed and stopped them on first and second down, which gets them into that position.”
Crick bagged two sacks, giving the junior a team-high 6½. They just haven't come as easily for the front four as a year ago, when Ndamukong Suh had 12, Crick added 9½ and defensive linemen accounted for 33½ altogether.
If Pelini had a previous complaint with his front four, he said, it's that they were being too conservative in obvious passing situations. Especially his younger guys.
“So I challenged them,” he said. “I said, ‘Get your butts in the air and go. Go have some fun and wreck some shop in the backfield.' They did that (Saturday). It was good to see them do that. Turn it loose, and hopefully that will carry over.”
The return of cornerback Alfonzo Dennard helped and should benefit NU again this Saturday at Texas A&M. With Dennard and Prince Amukamara spearheading coverage, the risk involved with blitzing isn't as great for the Huskers as for some other teams.
It hardly seemed like a risk at all Saturday night.
“Coach Carl really felt we could get some pressure on these guys with how they were in their pass protections,” said Marvin Sanders, the NU secondary coach. “We thought if we could get in his face and get on him a little bit that we could force him into some throws, or at least rattle him. And I think our guys did.”
WORLD-HERALD BUREAU « Big Red TodayShare Related News
LINCOLN — Kansas quarterback Quinn Mecham maybe didn't know it at the time, but it was going to become a pattern.
It was fourth-and-6 on the Jayhawks' opening drive Saturday night and Nebraska had six of its 11 defenders coming after him.
There were too many of them moving too fast. Mecham panicked. A blitzing DeJon Gomes wrapped him up and took him down.
It would be the first of six sacks for the Huskers, and one of four by somebody other than Nebraska defensive linemen.
“Everybody came at one time or another,” NU defensive coordinator Carl Pelini said. “We were pretty creative with the pressure package this week.”
Nebraska made life miserable for Mecham in the 20-3 victory at Memorial Stadium, blitzing about as regularly as it had in any game this season. It resulted in the KU quarterback going just 3 for 13 in his third career start and passing for 15 yards.
It was most dangerous for Mecham in obvious passing downs, of which there were many. At different times, he had to watch for Gomes, Eric Hagg or Lavonte David coming from the linebacker and nickel/dime slots, not to mention safeties Austin Cassidy and Courtney Osborne.
Pelini moved them like chess pieces and smiled afterward about what it's like to have such athletes to send.
“It's fun,” he said. “We can really look at protections and think of all kinds of different ways to pressure people. We were real effective with that in the first half. Then in the second, you get your lead and you say, ‘We're getting a four-man rush, so let's play some coverage,' and that's kind of how the game went.”
Nebraska had seven sacks against Idaho in September, but six of its first seven games included two or fewer. It has 14 in its past three games, with six each against Missouri and Kansas.
The Huskers knew that they would be coming against KU, even if Mecham had to learn the hard way.
“We thought after going through the week of game plan that there was going to be some opportunities to bring some heat, and our guys did a nice job of executing,” NU assistant coach John Papuchis said. “I think every time we ran a pressure we executed it well. It certainly paid off, especially in the first half.”
All six sacks came on third- or fourth-down plays. On five of the six, the Jayhawks needed 6 yards or more for a first down.
In that regard, defensive tackle Jared Crick said, Nebraska set itself up for success.
“It's all credit to us stopping the run on first and second down and getting to those third-and-long situations that really benefit us getting those sacks,” Crick said. “I knew we could do it. We just finally executed and stopped them on first and second down, which gets them into that position.”
Crick bagged two sacks, giving the junior a team-high 6½. They just haven't come as easily for the front four as a year ago, when Ndamukong Suh had 12, Crick added 9½ and defensive linemen accounted for 33½ altogether.
If Pelini had a previous complaint with his front four, he said, it's that they were being too conservative in obvious passing situations. Especially his younger guys.
“So I challenged them,” he said. “I said, ‘Get your butts in the air and go. Go have some fun and wreck some shop in the backfield.' They did that (Saturday). It was good to see them do that. Turn it loose, and hopefully that will carry over.”
The return of cornerback Alfonzo Dennard helped and should benefit NU again this Saturday at Texas A&M. With Dennard and Prince Amukamara spearheading coverage, the risk involved with blitzing isn't as great for the Huskers as for some other teams.
It hardly seemed like a risk at all Saturday night.
“Coach Carl really felt we could get some pressure on these guys with how they were in their pass protections,” said Marvin Sanders, the NU secondary coach. “We thought if we could get in his face and get on him a little bit that we could force him into some throws, or at least rattle him. And I think our guys did.”
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