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2008 IN REVIEW: Husker Season Report Card
Ganz, Henery, defensive line get highest grades
by Samuel McKewon
January 05, 2009
Nebraska has ended its season with four consecutive wins, capped off by a doozy of a Gator Bowl victory that featured two comebacks from 11-point deficits.
Now we look at the season as a whole and give it a grade, position group by position group. You can look at all of our individual game report cards here. On with the season report card. Enjoy!
QUARTERBACK: A-
Senior Joe Ganz was the straw who stirred the Huskers’ offensive drink throughout the year. Ganz was a gutsy, smart, savvy leader who made a ton of plays on the run – especially through the first half of the season – but also had a penchant for backbreaking turnovers. His finest hour – at Texas Tech – included one of worst plays – an interception to end the game in an overtime loss. Still, Ganz is one you don’t forget, and one of Nebraska’s ten best quarterbacks ever.
What’s next? A battle between Patrick Witt and Zac Lee for the starting job.
RUNNING BACK: B
You could never figure out this unit. Early in the season, Roy Helu, Jr. looked like the guy. Then Marlon Lucky emerged in games against New Mexico State and Texas Tech. Then Lucky got hurt, and Helu actually became the guy for the last four games of the year. Then Helu got hurt, Lucky was still hurt and sophomore Quentin Castille, who shown flashes of promise and the fumble bumbles during the regular season, has a career game in the Gator Bowl. Tough end to Lucky’s career after a terrific 2007. NU stopped using a regular fullback after the Missouri game – mostly because the guys on hand weren’t good enough lead blockers.
What’s next? Helu needs to stay healthy. Castille needs to keep grinding away. And Nebraska needs to find a way to get Marcus Mendoza on the field. A decent blocking fullback would help, too. Also, watch for this name: Austin Jones. He made the team under Bill Callahan’s old walk-on tryout program.
TIGHT ENDS: B-
Great pass-catching season for this unit, especially sophomore Mike McNeill. The blocking needs work, though, if the Huskers are to run the big power sets offensive coordinator Shawn Watson prefers (and, in our estimation, will need breaking in a new quarterback in 2009). Position coach Ron Brown is an all-effort kind of guy, so the Huskers will keep grinding away.
What’s next? McNeill and sophomore Dreu Young have to get a little scrappier. Redshirt freshman Ben Cotton should make an impact in blocking and catching. Redshirt Kyler Reed is an intriguing H-Back prospect. Let’s see how Watson uses him.
OFFENSIVE LINE: B
Up-and-down season mirrored perfectly by the Gator Bowl. On this unit’s best days – vs. Texas Tech and Kansas State – it bulldozed and ballet danced with equal proficiency. But it seemed overwhelmed (confused?) by superior defensive lines. Position coach Barney Cotton had to employ some “unlearn” methods, and Watson had to simplify some of the running schemes. Still – the potential is there for a great line. The cupboard is fully stocked.
What’s next? Marcel Jones probably gets the nod at right tackle, while Ricky Henry steps in to the right guard. Let’s see if Henry’s reputation as a headbanger is well-earned. Another name to remember: Brandon Thompson, a redshirt freshman tackle. Expect a lot of competition in the spring.
WIDE RECEIVERS: A-
Pretty hard to quarrel with their production, isn’t it? A lot of clutch grabs, few drops, great routes and solid downfield blocking. It’s not the flashiest unit – there’s no Dez Bryant or Dez Briscoe – but Nate Swift, Todd Peterson, Meno Holt and Niles Paul made defenses put in an honest day’s work. Position coach Ted Gilmore needed a year like this after struggling to get through to Mo Purify.
What’s next? A bit of worry, frankly. Holt and Paul were fine as No. 3 and No. 4 receivers. Now that they’re No. 1 and No. 2, will they lead like Swift and Peterson did? Can redshirt guys like Khiry Cooper and Tim Marlowe provide a home run threat?
DEFENSIVE LINE: A+
It doesn’t get any better for the Huskers than this front four, and the backups - Clayton Sievers, Shukree Barfield – were good enough to earn Blackshirts, too. You know em, you love em. What a surprising, inspiring group this turned out to be. The best since 1998, when Chad Kelsay, Mike Rucker, Steve Warren and Jason Wiltz ruled the roost.
What’s next? The return of Barry Turner, the unveiling of Baker Steinkuhler and Ndamukong Suh’s big NFL decision. Terrence Moore and Jared Crick are solid interior guys, too.
LINEBACKERS: C
Some rough breaks for Mike Ekeler’s bunch. An injury to Phillip Dillard midway through the season and Cody Glenn’s permanent suspension after the Kansas game threw off the rhythm. Tyler Wortman, Colton Koehler and Blake Lawrence capably filled the void most of the time, as did small-but-feisty walk-ons Matt Holt and Matt May. There were some coverage errors, to be sure. This unit – healthy or not – must improve before the 2009 season.
What’s next? However Dillard felt about the last half of the year - when he missed the Oklahoma game and didn’t play in the Gator Bowl despite being healthy enough to do so – he has to take this defense by the ears and own it. Lawrence, too. Redshirt guys like Sean Fisher, Will Compton and Alonzo Whaley have raw talent to burn.
CORNERBACKS/NICKEL BACKS: B-
A bit of an adventure this year, but Armando Murillo and Anthony West held up OK. A lot of the season’s biggest plays weren’t their fault, actually. West took a few more chances, Murillo was the better blanket. And nickel back Eric Hagg was the wild card, doing great things – and some bonehead stuff – during the year. Prince Amukamara was in and out of the starting lineup and Lance Thorrell was in the mix during nickel and dime downs.
What’s next? You hope Anthony Blue comes back from a devastating knee injury, but we’ll see. In the meantime, West and Amukamara are the guys. Both are good athletes, and both have decent size. Hagg, whom Pelini likes to use as a blitzer, has two more years. Alfonso Dennard, special teams dynamo in 2008, will get his shot. We’ve heard good things about Courtney Osborne and John Levorsen, too. Both seem to fit that Hagg mold.
SAFETY: C+
Much is asked of this position in the Pelini defense. And sometimes, Larry Asante, Rickey Thenarse and Matt O’Hanlon were up to it. Sometimes they weren’t. It’s debatable whether any of them, or Major Culbert, are the kind of coverage studs Pelini enjoyed in his first stint at Nebraska and at stints in Oklahoma and LSU. All three are decent in run support, though. Asante’s the closest to the Pelini standard. Can he get there in the offseason?
What’s next? All of the four above names are seniors next year, which means somebody better develop below them on the depth chart. Don’t be surprised if Pelini burns some redshirts next fall.
SPECIAL TEAMS RETURN/COVERAGE: C
Nebraska needs work here. The kickoff coverage units were often average – and occasionally bad. Punt coverage was fair, but punter Dan Titchener rarely uncorked a big one. Adi Kunalic booted his share of touchbacks on kickoffs, but struggled to kick anything other than a line drive. On returns, meanwhile, NU had some flashes from Nate Swift and Niles Paul, but both fumbled at inopportune times in the Kansas and Clemson games. Fortunately, neither cost the Huskers the game.
What’s next? Fixing some of Paul’s struggles on kickoff and punt returns, learning how to cover kickoffs better.
KICKERS: B
Alex Henery gets an A. Awesome season, the greatest field goal in school history, clutch makes in the Kansas and Clemson games. Titchener and Kunalic get a C.
What’s next? A new punter, as Titchener graduates. Will it be Henery or walk-on Brett Maher? As for field goals, Nebraska has one of the nation’s best – and maybe the very best – for two more years. Henery has more than big leg – he actually knows how to kick field goals. It’s kinda cool to watch.
COACHING: GAME PREPARATION/PLAYER DEVELOPMENT: A GAME MANAGEMENT: B
We created two categories to reflect what Nebraska coaches are doing in practice, and how they’re working the sidelines during the game. By all accounts, Bo Pelini and his crew are terrific in practices. Players are learning, finding their inner warrior and bonding in ways they never did in the Bill Callahan OR Frank Solich eras. Pelini’s a natural, and he compiled a staff full of naturals: Watson, brother Carl Pelini, Ekeler, Cotton, etc. They pull no punches, and kids need that – hell, they want that.
On gameday, Pelini got better as the year progressed. The sideline antics were a bit much, and he scaled them back. Watson’s gameplan was too diverse, and he simplified it. Did Pelini burn too many timeouts on defensive calls? Yes. Did he get a little cute with that fake field goal vs. Colorado? Yes. Could he have demanded Watson put somebody on the field other than Nate Swift who could legitimately spread the field? Yes. But, overall, the guy went with his gut, trusted his team – what a novel idea, Bill Callahan! – and reaped the rewards.
What’s next? Now we see how Pelini handles an offseason where he doesn’t have to change the culture. The culture is in place. Now it’s time to refine principles and manage one difficult decision: Nebraska’s next quarterback. Will Pelini let Watson make that call, or will he impose some limits on Watson’s autonomy?
We’ll get into this more in the spring, but the quarterback dilemma has felled many a good coach. Steve Spurrier freely rotated his two guys, and the Gamecocks fell flat on their face for the last three games because of it. LSU fiddled around with it all year and lost five games. Miami turned its QB race into a holy mess that has one guy transferring and crying foul. It derailed what many believed to be Ohio State’s best team in 2004.
2008 IN REVIEW: Husker Season Report Card
Ganz, Henery, defensive line get highest grades
by Samuel McKewon
January 05, 2009
Nebraska has ended its season with four consecutive wins, capped off by a doozy of a Gator Bowl victory that featured two comebacks from 11-point deficits.
Now we look at the season as a whole and give it a grade, position group by position group. You can look at all of our individual game report cards here. On with the season report card. Enjoy!
QUARTERBACK: A-
Senior Joe Ganz was the straw who stirred the Huskers’ offensive drink throughout the year. Ganz was a gutsy, smart, savvy leader who made a ton of plays on the run – especially through the first half of the season – but also had a penchant for backbreaking turnovers. His finest hour – at Texas Tech – included one of worst plays – an interception to end the game in an overtime loss. Still, Ganz is one you don’t forget, and one of Nebraska’s ten best quarterbacks ever.
What’s next? A battle between Patrick Witt and Zac Lee for the starting job.
RUNNING BACK: B
You could never figure out this unit. Early in the season, Roy Helu, Jr. looked like the guy. Then Marlon Lucky emerged in games against New Mexico State and Texas Tech. Then Lucky got hurt, and Helu actually became the guy for the last four games of the year. Then Helu got hurt, Lucky was still hurt and sophomore Quentin Castille, who shown flashes of promise and the fumble bumbles during the regular season, has a career game in the Gator Bowl. Tough end to Lucky’s career after a terrific 2007. NU stopped using a regular fullback after the Missouri game – mostly because the guys on hand weren’t good enough lead blockers.
What’s next? Helu needs to stay healthy. Castille needs to keep grinding away. And Nebraska needs to find a way to get Marcus Mendoza on the field. A decent blocking fullback would help, too. Also, watch for this name: Austin Jones. He made the team under Bill Callahan’s old walk-on tryout program.
TIGHT ENDS: B-
Great pass-catching season for this unit, especially sophomore Mike McNeill. The blocking needs work, though, if the Huskers are to run the big power sets offensive coordinator Shawn Watson prefers (and, in our estimation, will need breaking in a new quarterback in 2009). Position coach Ron Brown is an all-effort kind of guy, so the Huskers will keep grinding away.
What’s next? McNeill and sophomore Dreu Young have to get a little scrappier. Redshirt freshman Ben Cotton should make an impact in blocking and catching. Redshirt Kyler Reed is an intriguing H-Back prospect. Let’s see how Watson uses him.
OFFENSIVE LINE: B
Up-and-down season mirrored perfectly by the Gator Bowl. On this unit’s best days – vs. Texas Tech and Kansas State – it bulldozed and ballet danced with equal proficiency. But it seemed overwhelmed (confused?) by superior defensive lines. Position coach Barney Cotton had to employ some “unlearn” methods, and Watson had to simplify some of the running schemes. Still – the potential is there for a great line. The cupboard is fully stocked.
What’s next? Marcel Jones probably gets the nod at right tackle, while Ricky Henry steps in to the right guard. Let’s see if Henry’s reputation as a headbanger is well-earned. Another name to remember: Brandon Thompson, a redshirt freshman tackle. Expect a lot of competition in the spring.
WIDE RECEIVERS: A-
Pretty hard to quarrel with their production, isn’t it? A lot of clutch grabs, few drops, great routes and solid downfield blocking. It’s not the flashiest unit – there’s no Dez Bryant or Dez Briscoe – but Nate Swift, Todd Peterson, Meno Holt and Niles Paul made defenses put in an honest day’s work. Position coach Ted Gilmore needed a year like this after struggling to get through to Mo Purify.
What’s next? A bit of worry, frankly. Holt and Paul were fine as No. 3 and No. 4 receivers. Now that they’re No. 1 and No. 2, will they lead like Swift and Peterson did? Can redshirt guys like Khiry Cooper and Tim Marlowe provide a home run threat?
DEFENSIVE LINE: A+
It doesn’t get any better for the Huskers than this front four, and the backups - Clayton Sievers, Shukree Barfield – were good enough to earn Blackshirts, too. You know em, you love em. What a surprising, inspiring group this turned out to be. The best since 1998, when Chad Kelsay, Mike Rucker, Steve Warren and Jason Wiltz ruled the roost.
What’s next? The return of Barry Turner, the unveiling of Baker Steinkuhler and Ndamukong Suh’s big NFL decision. Terrence Moore and Jared Crick are solid interior guys, too.
LINEBACKERS: C
Some rough breaks for Mike Ekeler’s bunch. An injury to Phillip Dillard midway through the season and Cody Glenn’s permanent suspension after the Kansas game threw off the rhythm. Tyler Wortman, Colton Koehler and Blake Lawrence capably filled the void most of the time, as did small-but-feisty walk-ons Matt Holt and Matt May. There were some coverage errors, to be sure. This unit – healthy or not – must improve before the 2009 season.
What’s next? However Dillard felt about the last half of the year - when he missed the Oklahoma game and didn’t play in the Gator Bowl despite being healthy enough to do so – he has to take this defense by the ears and own it. Lawrence, too. Redshirt guys like Sean Fisher, Will Compton and Alonzo Whaley have raw talent to burn.
CORNERBACKS/NICKEL BACKS: B-
A bit of an adventure this year, but Armando Murillo and Anthony West held up OK. A lot of the season’s biggest plays weren’t their fault, actually. West took a few more chances, Murillo was the better blanket. And nickel back Eric Hagg was the wild card, doing great things – and some bonehead stuff – during the year. Prince Amukamara was in and out of the starting lineup and Lance Thorrell was in the mix during nickel and dime downs.
What’s next? You hope Anthony Blue comes back from a devastating knee injury, but we’ll see. In the meantime, West and Amukamara are the guys. Both are good athletes, and both have decent size. Hagg, whom Pelini likes to use as a blitzer, has two more years. Alfonso Dennard, special teams dynamo in 2008, will get his shot. We’ve heard good things about Courtney Osborne and John Levorsen, too. Both seem to fit that Hagg mold.
SAFETY: C+
Much is asked of this position in the Pelini defense. And sometimes, Larry Asante, Rickey Thenarse and Matt O’Hanlon were up to it. Sometimes they weren’t. It’s debatable whether any of them, or Major Culbert, are the kind of coverage studs Pelini enjoyed in his first stint at Nebraska and at stints in Oklahoma and LSU. All three are decent in run support, though. Asante’s the closest to the Pelini standard. Can he get there in the offseason?
What’s next? All of the four above names are seniors next year, which means somebody better develop below them on the depth chart. Don’t be surprised if Pelini burns some redshirts next fall.
SPECIAL TEAMS RETURN/COVERAGE: C
Nebraska needs work here. The kickoff coverage units were often average – and occasionally bad. Punt coverage was fair, but punter Dan Titchener rarely uncorked a big one. Adi Kunalic booted his share of touchbacks on kickoffs, but struggled to kick anything other than a line drive. On returns, meanwhile, NU had some flashes from Nate Swift and Niles Paul, but both fumbled at inopportune times in the Kansas and Clemson games. Fortunately, neither cost the Huskers the game.
What’s next? Fixing some of Paul’s struggles on kickoff and punt returns, learning how to cover kickoffs better.
KICKERS: B
Alex Henery gets an A. Awesome season, the greatest field goal in school history, clutch makes in the Kansas and Clemson games. Titchener and Kunalic get a C.
What’s next? A new punter, as Titchener graduates. Will it be Henery or walk-on Brett Maher? As for field goals, Nebraska has one of the nation’s best – and maybe the very best – for two more years. Henery has more than big leg – he actually knows how to kick field goals. It’s kinda cool to watch.
COACHING: GAME PREPARATION/PLAYER DEVELOPMENT: A GAME MANAGEMENT: B
We created two categories to reflect what Nebraska coaches are doing in practice, and how they’re working the sidelines during the game. By all accounts, Bo Pelini and his crew are terrific in practices. Players are learning, finding their inner warrior and bonding in ways they never did in the Bill Callahan OR Frank Solich eras. Pelini’s a natural, and he compiled a staff full of naturals: Watson, brother Carl Pelini, Ekeler, Cotton, etc. They pull no punches, and kids need that – hell, they want that.
On gameday, Pelini got better as the year progressed. The sideline antics were a bit much, and he scaled them back. Watson’s gameplan was too diverse, and he simplified it. Did Pelini burn too many timeouts on defensive calls? Yes. Did he get a little cute with that fake field goal vs. Colorado? Yes. Could he have demanded Watson put somebody on the field other than Nate Swift who could legitimately spread the field? Yes. But, overall, the guy went with his gut, trusted his team – what a novel idea, Bill Callahan! – and reaped the rewards.
What’s next? Now we see how Pelini handles an offseason where he doesn’t have to change the culture. The culture is in place. Now it’s time to refine principles and manage one difficult decision: Nebraska’s next quarterback. Will Pelini let Watson make that call, or will he impose some limits on Watson’s autonomy?
We’ll get into this more in the spring, but the quarterback dilemma has felled many a good coach. Steve Spurrier freely rotated his two guys, and the Gamecocks fell flat on their face for the last three games because of it. LSU fiddled around with it all year and lost five games. Miami turned its QB race into a holy mess that has one guy transferring and crying foul. It derailed what many believed to be Ohio State’s best team in 2004.
