Wildcat fan here. I like this draw and I think it's a good chance to see just how good the Cats are. You guys present a top-tier opponent and came within one bad call of melting down the BCS.
Arizona will present a very tough test for the Husker defense. Our offense is extremely multi-faceted. The run game is not too bad, but doesn't own many teams. However, the passing game is a different beast from what you normally see in football. The passing game is essentially an extended running game. Nick Foles will stretch the field regularly, but it's the short passes that kill you. Four yards here, five yards there, and pretty soon you're talking about some serious yards. He is especially effective against the pass rush because he gets rid of the ball so quickly. The Cats have plays in their playbook that will get 30-40 yards off of a one-step drop. Most of the passing plays are snap and throw; there's really no time to get to the QB. I don't really worry about Suh harassing Foles because of this, although I do look for a lot more shotgun snaps to get that extra second of space. Foles is a very smart quarterback and an accurate thrower. He makes very quick reads, and while not a running threat, is very good at avoiding pressure. He owns the passing records at his high school, which is notable because the previous record holder was Drew Brees. With the way he's played this year, we have really high hopes for next year.
Where the Nebraska D worries me is their ability to close on the football extremely quickly. You guys have some fast guys up front. Many of Arizona's passes are thrown only a yard or two upfield, and it's up to the receiver to get yards after the catch. Your linebackers have shown they can bring down a ball carrier before he's able to get very far at all. If you take the Cats out of the short game, then Foles is having to drop back more often, and then Suh and Co. are going to get a chance to go after him. I really don't think we can run much at all on you guys. If Nic Grigsby is healthy, he may be able to break one or two, but I think this is up to Foles and the receivers. I gotta say that some of the tackles your LBs made Saturday night had me shaking my head, wondering how the heck did you get to the ball carrier that fast.
On defense, the Cats have gotten their groove back. This unit is as fast as any in the country. Earl Mitchell and Ricky Elmore are dangerous DEs. Our secondary is not a world beating unit, but the have played very well this year. CB Devin Ross in particular is a beast on run help and has a good nose for breaking up passes. Trevin Wade has five picks this year. The LBs are our concern area. The Cats just aren't deep there and have had some struggles. But they've schemed well and are doing a good job of holding opponents in check. From what I've seen from the Huskers, it shouldn't be a problem keeping the score down.
What I'm expecting is a tough game. If Nebraska can keep the heat on defensively, Arizona will be in trouble. We like to put up big numbers on the scoreboard and that will be a tough order. This game could easily be decided by a couple of lucky bounces going one way or the other. If the Cats can break a couple of big plays early, they might be able to boat race you guys. If not, well, I don't think it's going to be a good thing to let a motivated and angry Husker squad stick around. This should be a fun game.
Arizona will present a very tough test for the Husker defense. Our offense is extremely multi-faceted. The run game is not too bad, but doesn't own many teams. However, the passing game is a different beast from what you normally see in football. The passing game is essentially an extended running game. Nick Foles will stretch the field regularly, but it's the short passes that kill you. Four yards here, five yards there, and pretty soon you're talking about some serious yards. He is especially effective against the pass rush because he gets rid of the ball so quickly. The Cats have plays in their playbook that will get 30-40 yards off of a one-step drop. Most of the passing plays are snap and throw; there's really no time to get to the QB. I don't really worry about Suh harassing Foles because of this, although I do look for a lot more shotgun snaps to get that extra second of space. Foles is a very smart quarterback and an accurate thrower. He makes very quick reads, and while not a running threat, is very good at avoiding pressure. He owns the passing records at his high school, which is notable because the previous record holder was Drew Brees. With the way he's played this year, we have really high hopes for next year.
Where the Nebraska D worries me is their ability to close on the football extremely quickly. You guys have some fast guys up front. Many of Arizona's passes are thrown only a yard or two upfield, and it's up to the receiver to get yards after the catch. Your linebackers have shown they can bring down a ball carrier before he's able to get very far at all. If you take the Cats out of the short game, then Foles is having to drop back more often, and then Suh and Co. are going to get a chance to go after him. I really don't think we can run much at all on you guys. If Nic Grigsby is healthy, he may be able to break one or two, but I think this is up to Foles and the receivers. I gotta say that some of the tackles your LBs made Saturday night had me shaking my head, wondering how the heck did you get to the ball carrier that fast.
On defense, the Cats have gotten their groove back. This unit is as fast as any in the country. Earl Mitchell and Ricky Elmore are dangerous DEs. Our secondary is not a world beating unit, but the have played very well this year. CB Devin Ross in particular is a beast on run help and has a good nose for breaking up passes. Trevin Wade has five picks this year. The LBs are our concern area. The Cats just aren't deep there and have had some struggles. But they've schemed well and are doing a good job of holding opponents in check. From what I've seen from the Huskers, it shouldn't be a problem keeping the score down.
What I'm expecting is a tough game. If Nebraska can keep the heat on defensively, Arizona will be in trouble. We like to put up big numbers on the scoreboard and that will be a tough order. This game could easily be decided by a couple of lucky bounces going one way or the other. If the Cats can break a couple of big plays early, they might be able to boat race you guys. If not, well, I don't think it's going to be a good thing to let a motivated and angry Husker squad stick around. This should be a fun game.
