HuskerfaninOkieland
Heisman Trophy Winner
Journal Star
Steven M. Sipple: Don't hate, but do participate
Saturday, Oct 04, 2008 - 12:42:26 am CDT
What in the name of Woody Widenhofer is going on around here?
Fourth-ranked Missouri (4-0) is virtually everyone’s pick to prevail tonight in Lincoln, where the Tigers haven’t won since James Wilder ran wild and free in 1978. Meanwhile, Nebraska (3-1) is 0-for-9 against Top 10 teams since outsmarting No. 2 Oklahoma 20-10 in 2001.
Strange days indeed. Most peculiar.
New Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini qualifies as a defensive guru, a wizard of sorts, but he can’t magically transform the DNA of his players. Mizzou has distinct advantages in overall talent and speed.
Big Red is building; MU is rolling.
Husker fans still can enjoy the night. A few tips for happiness:
1. Don’t hate Chase Daniel, appreciate him.
The 6-foot, 225-pound senior completes passes at a 76 percent clip, scrambles well and deftly directs the nation’s second-most potent offense. Although his body isn’t quite as well-sculpted as the Heisman Trophy, Daniel might soon have the award displayed in his living room.
Missouri has scored on 26 of the 40 possessions in which Daniel’s been under center and he has yet to experience the indignity of a three-and-out. What’s more, the Tigers have scored on each of their game-opening drives while holding opponents scoreless on opening possessions.
2. Don’t hate, participate.
Nebraska fans can help themselves (not to mention the Husker defense) by making noise as Daniel tries make play calls to his teammates in Missouri’s no-huddle offense.
Once the play is underway, the Huskers need to find ways to apply pressure on Daniel. That doesn’t necessarily mean with sacks. It mostly means disrupting his rhythm.
“You can’t let him just sit back there and make a sandwich,” said Pelini, who also said it’s important to give Daniel different looks.
Oklahoma has done the best job of disrupting Daniel’s rhythm. In defeating Mizzou twice last season — the Tigers’ only losses — the Sooners generally used a four-man rush, which obviously is highly advantageous for defenses that are strong enough along the line to get away with it.
Although Nebraska’s defensive line has improved markedly compared to last season, it’s not as powerful and talented as Oklahoma’s.
Meanwhile, Missouri’s starting offensive line hasn’t allowed a sack this season.
3. Don’t fixate.
Seems many Nebraska fans can’t take their minds off the Huskers’ inconsistency rushing the ball (57th nationally at 155.5 yards per game).
“I think there’s a fixation on it,” said Husker offensive line coach Barney Cotton. “Then again, five years ago (in 2003) there was a fixation that we were running the ball too much.”
Nebraskans generally are hard-working, no-nonsense folks, hence their affection for basic running plays that require mostly elbow grease as opposed to fancy alignments and pre-snap shifts.
“I think we need to be balanced,” Cotton said. “I really do. That’s what our kids probably do best. I mean, we have a quarterback that’s able to run and throw it, play-action and drop-back. It’s good to be balanced.
“But people want to see a physical product, and that’s what we’re trying to do, regardless of whether we’re running or passing. And it needs to be for 60 minutes.”
Nebraska next week travels to No. 7 Texas Tech and then to Iowa State on Oct. 18 for a game that just might have significant bowl ramifications for the Huskers.
First things first: Nebraska’s futility against Top-10 competition in the last seven years probably dictates that delirious Big Red fans would rush the field if the Huskers topple a Tiger team that has a 30-year winless drought in Lincoln.
Strange days, indeed. Most peculiar.
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
Steven M. Sipple: Don't hate, but do participate
Saturday, Oct 04, 2008 - 12:42:26 am CDT
What in the name of Woody Widenhofer is going on around here?
Fourth-ranked Missouri (4-0) is virtually everyone’s pick to prevail tonight in Lincoln, where the Tigers haven’t won since James Wilder ran wild and free in 1978. Meanwhile, Nebraska (3-1) is 0-for-9 against Top 10 teams since outsmarting No. 2 Oklahoma 20-10 in 2001.
Strange days indeed. Most peculiar.
New Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini qualifies as a defensive guru, a wizard of sorts, but he can’t magically transform the DNA of his players. Mizzou has distinct advantages in overall talent and speed.
Big Red is building; MU is rolling.
Husker fans still can enjoy the night. A few tips for happiness:
1. Don’t hate Chase Daniel, appreciate him.
The 6-foot, 225-pound senior completes passes at a 76 percent clip, scrambles well and deftly directs the nation’s second-most potent offense. Although his body isn’t quite as well-sculpted as the Heisman Trophy, Daniel might soon have the award displayed in his living room.
Missouri has scored on 26 of the 40 possessions in which Daniel’s been under center and he has yet to experience the indignity of a three-and-out. What’s more, the Tigers have scored on each of their game-opening drives while holding opponents scoreless on opening possessions.
2. Don’t hate, participate.
Nebraska fans can help themselves (not to mention the Husker defense) by making noise as Daniel tries make play calls to his teammates in Missouri’s no-huddle offense.
Once the play is underway, the Huskers need to find ways to apply pressure on Daniel. That doesn’t necessarily mean with sacks. It mostly means disrupting his rhythm.
“You can’t let him just sit back there and make a sandwich,” said Pelini, who also said it’s important to give Daniel different looks.
Oklahoma has done the best job of disrupting Daniel’s rhythm. In defeating Mizzou twice last season — the Tigers’ only losses — the Sooners generally used a four-man rush, which obviously is highly advantageous for defenses that are strong enough along the line to get away with it.
Although Nebraska’s defensive line has improved markedly compared to last season, it’s not as powerful and talented as Oklahoma’s.
Meanwhile, Missouri’s starting offensive line hasn’t allowed a sack this season.
3. Don’t fixate.
Seems many Nebraska fans can’t take their minds off the Huskers’ inconsistency rushing the ball (57th nationally at 155.5 yards per game).
“I think there’s a fixation on it,” said Husker offensive line coach Barney Cotton. “Then again, five years ago (in 2003) there was a fixation that we were running the ball too much.”
Nebraskans generally are hard-working, no-nonsense folks, hence their affection for basic running plays that require mostly elbow grease as opposed to fancy alignments and pre-snap shifts.
“I think we need to be balanced,” Cotton said. “I really do. That’s what our kids probably do best. I mean, we have a quarterback that’s able to run and throw it, play-action and drop-back. It’s good to be balanced.
“But people want to see a physical product, and that’s what we’re trying to do, regardless of whether we’re running or passing. And it needs to be for 60 minutes.”
Nebraska next week travels to No. 7 Texas Tech and then to Iowa State on Oct. 18 for a game that just might have significant bowl ramifications for the Huskers.
First things first: Nebraska’s futility against Top-10 competition in the last seven years probably dictates that delirious Big Red fans would rush the field if the Huskers topple a Tiger team that has a 30-year winless drought in Lincoln.
Strange days, indeed. Most peculiar.
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
