Not your father's Huskers ...

[Eric the Red]

Not your father's Huskers ...

 

Sunday, December 11, 2005 BY JOHN HEUSER News Sports Reporter

 

The University of Nebraska football program doesn't resemble itself much these days.

 

Known for decades as one of the nation's premier running teams, the Cornhuskers have been busy forging a new identity the last two seasons.

 

Out with the power, in with the pass.

 

With second-year coach Bill Callahan at the controls, Nebraska is trying to succeed with a West Coast offense that emphasizes precision throwing. After going 5-6 last year, the Cornhuskers rebounded with a 7-4 regular season in 2005 and reeled in a bid to the Alamo Bowl.

 

In the Dec. 28 bowl game in San Antonio, Texas, Nebraska will see how its offense can measure up against No. 20 Michigan (7-4).

 

"They are a bend-but-don't-break team,'' Callahan said of Michigan when the bowl bid was announced. "They will contest everything you throw at them.''

 

And what Nebraska will primarily do is throw the football.

 

Junior quarterback Zac Taylor set a school record for passing yards with 2,486 this season. His leading receivers are Nate Swift, Cory Ross and Terrence Nunn, who have 42, 40 and 39 receptions, respectively.

 

Ross, a running back, has had less success this season rushing the football than in 2004.

 

After gaining 1,102 yards on the ground last season, he backslid to 721 yards on a 3.7 yard average per rush. But Ross isn't the only back to search fruitlessly for room to run. Neither of his top two backups, Cody Glenn or Marlon Lucky, averages more than 3.0 yards a carry.

 

As a team, the Cornhuskers average 2.6 yards per rush, and their 91 yard-per-game rushing average ranks last in the Big 12 and 110th out of 117 teams nationally.

 

Part of the problem, according to observers, has been the play of the offensive line, an inexperienced group that - like Michigan's line - has suffered a rash of injuries.

 

Given Nebraska's youth on both sides of the ball (eight starters in the team's regular season finale at Colorado were sophomores or freshmen), the additional practices afforded by the bowl appearances will benefit next year's squad, Callahan said.

 

"We are excited about that, that we will be able to develop our team,'' he added. "We'll get better.''

 

Where Nebraska excelled this season was in pressuring opposing passers, and on special teams.

 

The Cornhuskers' 46 sacks lead the Big 12, and defensive end Adam Carriker is the top sackmaster. He has 9.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss, followed by linebacker Corey McKeon with seven sacks and freshman defensive end Barry Turner with six.

 

On special teams, the names of Nunn, Sam Koch and Jordan Congdon are ones to remembers. Nunn's 19.4 yard average per punt return ranks third nationally, and Koch averages 45.9 yards per punt, which also places him third in the country. As for the freshman Congdon, he tied Kris Brown's school record with 18 field goals.

 

Congdon - ranked as the No. 1 prep kicker last year by some analysts - was one of seven players in Callahan's most recent recruiting class to compete in the U.S. Army high school All-American game in San Antonio.

 

The coach said he views his team's visit to San Antonio later this month as an opportunity to raise the Cornhuskers' profile in a state full of talented prep players - some of whom may eventually help him continue Nebraska's makeover.

 

"Because we're making an emphasis in recruiting Texas,'' Callahan said. "This can only provide us with a better avenue of doing that.''

[Red November]

Not your father's Huskers ...

 

Sunday, December 11, 2005 BY JOHN HEUSER News Sports Reporter

 

The University of Nebraska football program doesn't resemble itself much these days.

 

Known for decades as one of the nation's premier running teams, the Cornhuskers have been busy forging a new identity the last two seasons.

 

Out with the power, in with the pass.

 

With second-year coach Bill Callahan at the controls, Nebraska is trying to succeed with a West Coast offense that emphasizes precision throwing. After going 5-6 last year, the Cornhuskers rebounded with a 7-4 regular season in 2005 and reeled in a bid to the Alamo Bowl.

 

In the Dec. 28 bowl game in San Antonio, Texas, Nebraska will see how its offense can measure up against No. 20 Michigan (7-4).

 

"They are a bend-but-don't-break team,'' Callahan said of Michigan when the bowl bid was announced. "They will contest everything you throw at them.''

 

And what Nebraska will primarily do is throw the football.

 

Junior quarterback Zac Taylor set a school record for passing yards with 2,486 this season. His leading receivers are Nate Swift, Cory Ross and Terrence Nunn, who have 42, 40 and 39 receptions, respectively.

 

Ross, a running back, has had less success this season rushing the football than in 2004.

 

After gaining 1,102 yards on the ground last season, he backslid to 721 yards on a 3.7 yard average per rush. But Ross isn't the only back to search fruitlessly for room to run. Neither of his top two backups, Cody Glenn or Marlon Lucky, averages more than 3.0 yards a carry.

 

As a team, the Cornhuskers average 2.6 yards per rush, and their 91 yard-per-game rushing average ranks last in the Big 12 and 110th out of 117 teams nationally.

 

Part of the problem, according to observers, has been the play of the offensive line, an inexperienced group that - like Michigan's line - has suffered a rash of injuries.

 

Given Nebraska's youth on both sides of the ball (eight starters in the team's regular season finale at Colorado were sophomores or freshmen), the additional practices afforded by the bowl appearances will benefit next year's squad, Callahan said.

 

"We are excited about that, that we will be able to develop our team,'' he added. "We'll get better.''

 

Where Nebraska excelled this season was in pressuring opposing passers, and on special teams.

 

The Cornhuskers' 46 sacks lead the Big 12, and defensive end Adam Carriker is the top sackmaster. He has 9.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss, followed by linebacker Corey McKeon with seven sacks and freshman defensive end Barry Turner with six.

 

On special teams, the names of Nunn, Sam Koch and Jordan Congdon are ones to remembers. Nunn's 19.4 yard average per punt return ranks third nationally, and Koch averages 45.9 yards per punt, which also places him third in the country. As for the freshman Congdon, he tied Kris Brown's school record with 18 field goals.

 

Congdon - ranked as the No. 1 prep kicker last year by some analysts - was one of seven players in Callahan's most recent recruiting class to compete in the U.S. Army high school All-American game in San Antonio.

 

The coach said he views his team's visit to San Antonio later this month as an opportunity to raise the Cornhuskers' profile in a state full of talented prep players - some of whom may eventually help him continue Nebraska's makeover.

 

"Because we're making an emphasis in recruiting Texas,'' Callahan said. "This can only provide us with a better avenue of doing that.''

Yeah this articles about 5 years too old!!!