carlfense
Heisman Trophy Winner
The Cream5. NEBRASKA. When Nebraska hired Bo Pelini in 2007, it was to execute one clear, immediate mission: Fix the defense. And so he has. Three years later, the revived Blackshirts finished among the top dozen defenses nationally last year in yards and points allowed for the second year in a row, and among the top five against the pass — all after losing the most dominating lineman of the last decade. With eight returning starters and potential All-Americans/first-round draft picks at every level, the Cornhusker D is second to none in its old conference or its new one.
Still, the 'Huskers begin 2011 in much the same place they began 2010, in search of a spark for an offense that wasted away over the course of three losses in the final four games. At least this time there's no question about the starting quarterback, or his place in the offense: Before an assortment of injuries snuffed out his highest gear, Taylor Martinez was one of the most lethal "dual threat" QBs in the country. Assuming he remains a threat as a runner, Martinez doesn't have to become John Elway overnight. But his right arm and durability are essential to snapping Nebraska's 11-year drought without a conference championship, and if he shores up the rash of turnovers that contributed so much to last year's decline, the Big Ten crown may not be the highest rung on the ladder.
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