Written By: Nathan Skinner
Canes Rising Contributor
Name: The University of Nebraska
Mascot: Cornhuskers
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Home Stadium: Memorial Stadium(Capacity: 87,000)
Conference: B1G
Athletic Director: Shawn Eichorst
Head Coach: Bo Pelini
Time Capsule
What was supposed to be a breakthrough season for the Huskers ended up being anything but that. Nebraska was expected to contend in the B1G, and didn't get the job done, going 9-4 on the season. Following two wins over Wyoming and Southern Miss, the Huskers were crushed by UCLA, and never fully recovered. The team went on to lose to Minnesota, Michigan State, and Iowa. Following the regular season, Big Red defeated Georgia in the Gator Bowl. The Huskers have been very good under Pelini, but aren't close to the juggernaut that dominated the 90s, leading some fans to question the direction of the program. Pelini has lost 4 games every season during his tenure, and that's something 'Husker backers won't tolerate for much longer.
What To Expect This Season
Offense
The Huskers will go as far as Ameer Abdullah will take them. Abdullah is one of the best backs in America, he can do it all. He's a tough runner with breakaway speed, and he can make plays in the passing game. He willed the 'Huskers to a win over McNeese State, and he's been the centerpiece of the Husker attack. The Huskers have rarely been a dynamic passing team, and this year is no exception. Quarterback Tommy Armstrong is a limited passer who has issues pushing the ball downfield, but he's extremely dangerous once he leaves the pocket. He doesn't make mistakes, but that's more a result of Armstrong not having the opportunity to take outrageous risks. Nebraska experimented with a pro-style passing game under Bill Callahan, but that was 6 years ago. Armstrong does have some weapons on the outside, including Kenny Bell and Jordan Westerkamp. The Huskers will look to get the ball to Bell early, so fans should expect some playaction passes. Bell is a stud, the problem tends to be getting him enough targets. Husker football has been built on strong line play, and this line looks to follow in that proud tradition. Abdullah has had huge holes to run through this season, a testament to the strength of the O-Line. Pass protection has been inconsistent at times which may be one of the reasons why Nebraska shies away from passing.
Defense
The proud unit once known as the Blackshirts struggled last season. The unit was inexperienced, gave up rushing yards in bunches, and was totally over-matched in some games. This season, the Blackshirts may be back. Players who were forced to play last season gained valuable playing experience, and are now expected to be major contributors. Even though it's hard to draw conclusions from playing FAU, Fresno State, and McNeese, one can see a talented defense. Randy Gregory has a lot of potential at defensive end, and Vincent Valentine and Maliek Collins are two anchor defensive tackles. Zaire Anderson was expected to be a major contributor last season, but after an injury, he was redshirted. Anderson was a terror at the junior college level, and he should be an impact player for the Huskers. The secondary lost some experienced personnel, but should be able to withstand the losses. Corey Cooper returns, he was the leading tackler for the Huskers last season. Nathan Gerry will be tested early, he's the player in this unit with the least experience. The cornerbacks are experienced, but will see far more snaps than what they saw in previous seasons. Starting corner Jonathan Rose comes to Lincoln from Auburn, where he was dismissed in 2012.
Special Teams
Nebraska has always been strong in the kicking game, but this year has two young players trying to fill roles. Drew Brown is the younger brother of Kris Brown, a standout kicker for the Huskers in the 90s. Drew has been solid this season, hitting 4/5 field goals. Sam Foltz was the punter on the freshman B1G team last year, and looks ready to take another step forward. Foltz had a net average of 37.9 yards last year, that should improve. The Huskers struggled to return punts, in fact Nebraska struggled to field them. Fumbles were a huge problem as well as gaining yardage, with the Huskers only averaging 3 yards per return.
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