alairguard
Special Teams Player
SCOUTING REPORT | OKLAHOMA VS. NEBRASKA
The Kansas City Star
Quarterbacks
Edge>>Nebraska
Paul Thompson can’t get enough credit for this season after being chosen the starter in early August after Rhett Bomar’s dismissal. He hasn’t been honored on many postseason honor teams, but he’s been the Sooners’ offensive MVP, completing 61.5 percent of his passes with 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions, but only two picks in his last seven games. He’s tossed at least one touchdown in 10 games. Zac Taylor is rewriting Nebraska’s record book. He established marks this season for touchdowns (24) and yards (2,789) while completing 62.2 percent and throwing only four interceptions in his Big 12 offensive player of the year season. This will be only the second time since 1999 that a Big 12 quarterback isn’t a Heisman Trophy finalist, but Thompson and Taylor have been outstanding.
Running backs
Edge>>Oklahoma
Both teams have operated by committee, but for different reasons. Nebraska auditioned four backs — and all of them posted at least one 100-yard game — until Brandon Jackson emerged as the primary back. But Marlon Lucky, Cody Glenn and Kenny Wilson get carries, and the foursome has combined for 25 rushing touchdowns in helping Nebraska improve from 2.7 yards per carry in 2005 to 4.4 this year. Oklahoma convened its committee after Adrian Peterson was lost in the sixth week because of a broken collarbone. Allen Patrick took over and became a workhouse, then he was injured. In came Chris Brown (below left). In all, four different backs have started. All have been productive.
Offensive line
Edge>>Oklahoma
In Peterson’s six games, the Sooners averaged 172 rushing yards. In the six games since, when the Sooners went more to the run, Oklahoma has averaged 206 yards. Thompson has been sacked once per game. It’s a young group, with three sophomores and a true freshman, but senior left tackle Chris Messner has been the line’s most honored. Nebraska has started three different lines in the last three games. Carl Nicks started at right tackle for an injured Matt Slauson (ankle). Quarterback Zac Taylor has been sacked 25 times, down from 38 a year ago.
Wide receivers/ tight ends
Edge>>Nebraska
The Cornhuskers’ Maurice Purify doesn’t have all-conference statistics (30 receptions, 19.5-yard average, seven touchdowns), but he’s a big-play wide receiver and Taylor’s top target in clutch situations. Terrence Nunn, Nate Swift and Todd Peterson help give Nebraska perhaps the best group of wide receivers in school history, and Matt Herian remains a threat at tight end. Oklahoma’s top three receivers are sophomores, and Malcolm Kelly (52 receptions, eight touchdowns) leads the group. He became the fastest receiver to 1,000 yards in school history when he crossed the milestone in the eighth week against Missouri. Juaquin Iglesias and Manuel Johnson, along with tight end Joe Jon Finley, give Thompson plenty of targets.
Defensive line
Edge>>Nebraska
The Cornhuskers’ front is coming off their most dominant effort of the year, against Colorado. End Adam Carriker had two sacks. Carriker and end Jay Moore have combined for 15 tackles for loss while tackles Barry Cryer and Ola Dagunduro clog the middle. The Sooners’ line would love to have a game like the one against Baylor, when it came up with five sacks that accounted for much of the Bears’ minus-48 yards rushing on the day. Ends Larry Birdine, C.J. Ah You, Calvin Thibodeaux and Alonzo Dotson all got in the act. Until that day, Birdine had been the only lineman with a sack, but the Sooners’ ends had been getting pressure most of the season.
Linebackers
Edge>>Oklahoma
The Sooners’ Rufus Alexander is bidding to become the first player since Rocky Calmus (1999-2001) to lead the team in total tackles in successive seasons. He’s the captain and emotional leader of a unit that that has greatly improved since the first month. After the Oregon game, Oklahoma ranked 97th nationally in total defense. Today, the group that includes Zach Latimer and Curtis Lofton, has helped pushed the Sooners to No. 14. This is also a strength for Nebraska. Stewart Bradley, Corey McKeon and Bo Ruud combined for 18 tackles for loss. Former Aquinas standout Lance Brandenburgh is part of the rotation.
Defensive backs
Edge>>Oklahoma
The Sooners started to redefine their defense after three games when converted wide receiver Lendy Holmes and Marcus Walker became starting corners and Reggie Smith shifted from corner to strong safety. In the Sooners’ seven-game winning streak, the defense recorded 10 interceptions and 14 sacks. Early injuries caused some shuffling for the Huskers, and some teams — like Kansas, with 405 yards — have had success throwing. No other team passed for 300. Three juniors and senior Andrew Shanle have buckled down at times and are holding opponents to 33 percent on third-down conversions.
Special teams
Edge>>Oklahoma
Sooners kicker Garrett Hartley is a Groza Award finalist, and punter Michael Cohen owns a 42.1-yard average. Nebraska kicker Jordan Congdon has attempted only seven field goals, partly because of the Huskers’ red-zone success. They have 38 touchdowns on 46 trips inside the 20. Huskers punter Dan Titchener averages 39.7 per kick. The Sooners have returned a kick and punt for a touchdown. The Huskers’ longest return is 33 yards.
Coaching
Edge>>Oklahoma
What will Bill Callahan pull from his sleeve? Nebraska ran six trick plays against Colorado last week. The Huskers have had a tendency to build a lead and watch it evaporate. Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops and staff reached this game without their starting quarterback and All-America running back. Stoops owns a 3-1 record in Big 12 title games, including 2-1 at Arrowhead.
Hmm....interesting.
The Kansas City Star
Quarterbacks
Edge>>Nebraska
Paul Thompson can’t get enough credit for this season after being chosen the starter in early August after Rhett Bomar’s dismissal. He hasn’t been honored on many postseason honor teams, but he’s been the Sooners’ offensive MVP, completing 61.5 percent of his passes with 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions, but only two picks in his last seven games. He’s tossed at least one touchdown in 10 games. Zac Taylor is rewriting Nebraska’s record book. He established marks this season for touchdowns (24) and yards (2,789) while completing 62.2 percent and throwing only four interceptions in his Big 12 offensive player of the year season. This will be only the second time since 1999 that a Big 12 quarterback isn’t a Heisman Trophy finalist, but Thompson and Taylor have been outstanding.
Running backs
Edge>>Oklahoma
Both teams have operated by committee, but for different reasons. Nebraska auditioned four backs — and all of them posted at least one 100-yard game — until Brandon Jackson emerged as the primary back. But Marlon Lucky, Cody Glenn and Kenny Wilson get carries, and the foursome has combined for 25 rushing touchdowns in helping Nebraska improve from 2.7 yards per carry in 2005 to 4.4 this year. Oklahoma convened its committee after Adrian Peterson was lost in the sixth week because of a broken collarbone. Allen Patrick took over and became a workhouse, then he was injured. In came Chris Brown (below left). In all, four different backs have started. All have been productive.
Offensive line
Edge>>Oklahoma
In Peterson’s six games, the Sooners averaged 172 rushing yards. In the six games since, when the Sooners went more to the run, Oklahoma has averaged 206 yards. Thompson has been sacked once per game. It’s a young group, with three sophomores and a true freshman, but senior left tackle Chris Messner has been the line’s most honored. Nebraska has started three different lines in the last three games. Carl Nicks started at right tackle for an injured Matt Slauson (ankle). Quarterback Zac Taylor has been sacked 25 times, down from 38 a year ago.
Wide receivers/ tight ends
Edge>>Nebraska
The Cornhuskers’ Maurice Purify doesn’t have all-conference statistics (30 receptions, 19.5-yard average, seven touchdowns), but he’s a big-play wide receiver and Taylor’s top target in clutch situations. Terrence Nunn, Nate Swift and Todd Peterson help give Nebraska perhaps the best group of wide receivers in school history, and Matt Herian remains a threat at tight end. Oklahoma’s top three receivers are sophomores, and Malcolm Kelly (52 receptions, eight touchdowns) leads the group. He became the fastest receiver to 1,000 yards in school history when he crossed the milestone in the eighth week against Missouri. Juaquin Iglesias and Manuel Johnson, along with tight end Joe Jon Finley, give Thompson plenty of targets.
Defensive line
Edge>>Nebraska
The Cornhuskers’ front is coming off their most dominant effort of the year, against Colorado. End Adam Carriker had two sacks. Carriker and end Jay Moore have combined for 15 tackles for loss while tackles Barry Cryer and Ola Dagunduro clog the middle. The Sooners’ line would love to have a game like the one against Baylor, when it came up with five sacks that accounted for much of the Bears’ minus-48 yards rushing on the day. Ends Larry Birdine, C.J. Ah You, Calvin Thibodeaux and Alonzo Dotson all got in the act. Until that day, Birdine had been the only lineman with a sack, but the Sooners’ ends had been getting pressure most of the season.
Linebackers
Edge>>Oklahoma
The Sooners’ Rufus Alexander is bidding to become the first player since Rocky Calmus (1999-2001) to lead the team in total tackles in successive seasons. He’s the captain and emotional leader of a unit that that has greatly improved since the first month. After the Oregon game, Oklahoma ranked 97th nationally in total defense. Today, the group that includes Zach Latimer and Curtis Lofton, has helped pushed the Sooners to No. 14. This is also a strength for Nebraska. Stewart Bradley, Corey McKeon and Bo Ruud combined for 18 tackles for loss. Former Aquinas standout Lance Brandenburgh is part of the rotation.
Defensive backs
Edge>>Oklahoma
The Sooners started to redefine their defense after three games when converted wide receiver Lendy Holmes and Marcus Walker became starting corners and Reggie Smith shifted from corner to strong safety. In the Sooners’ seven-game winning streak, the defense recorded 10 interceptions and 14 sacks. Early injuries caused some shuffling for the Huskers, and some teams — like Kansas, with 405 yards — have had success throwing. No other team passed for 300. Three juniors and senior Andrew Shanle have buckled down at times and are holding opponents to 33 percent on third-down conversions.
Special teams
Edge>>Oklahoma
Sooners kicker Garrett Hartley is a Groza Award finalist, and punter Michael Cohen owns a 42.1-yard average. Nebraska kicker Jordan Congdon has attempted only seven field goals, partly because of the Huskers’ red-zone success. They have 38 touchdowns on 46 trips inside the 20. Huskers punter Dan Titchener averages 39.7 per kick. The Sooners have returned a kick and punt for a touchdown. The Huskers’ longest return is 33 yards.
Coaching
Edge>>Oklahoma
What will Bill Callahan pull from his sleeve? Nebraska ran six trick plays against Colorado last week. The Huskers have had a tendency to build a lead and watch it evaporate. Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops and staff reached this game without their starting quarterback and All-America running back. Stoops owns a 3-1 record in Big 12 title games, including 2-1 at Arrowhead.
Hmm....interesting.
