Eric the Red
Team HuskerBoard
Steven M. Sipple: NU ready to step up in class
If you don’t mind, we can discuss the nostalgia part of Nebraska-Oklahoma gridiron greatness in days to come.
There exists plenty of time for fluff and hot air throughout the coming week.
For now, let’s get down to some cold, hard facts.
First off, consider the combined score of the last two Big 12 Championship Games. Let’s keep this simple and say it was the South Division 112, Colorado 6.
With due respect to The Charlie Daniels Band, the South ain’t going do that again, at least not this year.
Nebraska’s program clearly has taken a significant step forward this season and provides the North Division with a competitive representative. Meanwhile, the South Division has slipped back to the pack, if only slightly, with Texas plummeting to earth following its national title last season.
Enter Oklahoma, which won its seventh straight game Saturday, holding off Oklahoma State in the final seconds and advancing to face Nebraska this coming Saturday night at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
The Sooners are salty. They’re surging. They pound the ball at defenses with basic handoffs and pitches. They feature a savvy senior quarterback and a rugged, run-stuffing defense. They have an aura of confidence and a hard-nosed veteran head coach.
Oklahoma is a very good team, arguably a top 10-caliber outfit.
So, perhaps it’s a clear measure of Nebraska’s progress under Bill Callahan to say Oklahoma likely will have a difficult time subduing the Huskers in Kansas City. The Sooners will be favored, but not by much, for the Huskers also are riding a wave of momentum, having won three straight games.
Sure, Nebraska would rather have played Texas this week, if only for the chance to avenge a 22-20 loss on Oct. 21. The Huskers were poised to pounce on the limping Longhorns, who have quickly slipped to, ahem, mediocrity in the past few weeks.
Now Big Red must gird for a tougher test in K.C.
Nebraska appears to be ready.
If the Huskers have a clear edge against OU, it’s at quarterback. Zac Taylor is capable of running an extremely versatile offense. Meanwhile, Paul Thompson is best described as an adequate passer. Although his throwing numbers are good, there’s a reason OU relies heavily on the run game.
Against Oklahoma State, Oklahoma received clutch performances from tailbacks Allen Patrick and Chris Brown. Both players explode into contact and dart through creases, especially Patrick.
If Nebraska tackles as poorly as it did at times Friday against Colorado - especially in the area about 5-10 yards beyond the line of scrimmage - Patrick and Brown just might run wild. OU may even get All-America tailback Adrian Peterson (broken collarbone) back this week.
In other words, it’s time for Nebraska’s linebackers and safeties to sharpen up their tackling technique.
If Oklahoma has a clear edge, it’s probably on defense. Rufus Alexander, arguably the league’s best defender, leads a unit that began the season slowly before moving into the national top 10 entering the weekend.
The Cowboys, who rushed for 267 yards against the Huskers, managed just 119 against the Sooners, and every step was earned.
Although Callahan schooled Colorado’s Dan Hawkins in Friday’s victory, this week’s counterpart (“Big Game” Bob Stoops) likely won’t be caught off-guard by Nebraska’s gadget plays and plethora of shifts and motions before the snap.
On the other hand, perhaps the Huskers’ wealth of trick plays and pre-snap craziness will complicate the Sooners’ preparation, if only a tad. In close games, any little edge matters.
Not that the Huskers need to rely on gimmicks and tomfoolery. This is a team with plenty of veterans playing high-caliber football.
Indeed, Big Red finished 5-0 this season against North Division teams for the first time since 1999, which also happens to be the last time NU reached the Big 12 title game (beating Texas 22-6).
Perhaps more telling is Nebraska’s 5-1 record in November the last two seasons. Strong play late in the season indicates resiliency, maturity and patience - traits of championship outfits.
In year three of the Callahan era, almost all signs point to progress. The Huskers once again reign supreme in the North, the undisputed champions of 2006.
Now they’re ready to step up in class.
This time around, the South Division won’t have it so easy.
If you don’t mind, we can discuss the nostalgia part of Nebraska-Oklahoma gridiron greatness in days to come.
There exists plenty of time for fluff and hot air throughout the coming week.
For now, let’s get down to some cold, hard facts.
First off, consider the combined score of the last two Big 12 Championship Games. Let’s keep this simple and say it was the South Division 112, Colorado 6.
With due respect to The Charlie Daniels Band, the South ain’t going do that again, at least not this year.
Nebraska’s program clearly has taken a significant step forward this season and provides the North Division with a competitive representative. Meanwhile, the South Division has slipped back to the pack, if only slightly, with Texas plummeting to earth following its national title last season.
Enter Oklahoma, which won its seventh straight game Saturday, holding off Oklahoma State in the final seconds and advancing to face Nebraska this coming Saturday night at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
The Sooners are salty. They’re surging. They pound the ball at defenses with basic handoffs and pitches. They feature a savvy senior quarterback and a rugged, run-stuffing defense. They have an aura of confidence and a hard-nosed veteran head coach.
Oklahoma is a very good team, arguably a top 10-caliber outfit.
So, perhaps it’s a clear measure of Nebraska’s progress under Bill Callahan to say Oklahoma likely will have a difficult time subduing the Huskers in Kansas City. The Sooners will be favored, but not by much, for the Huskers also are riding a wave of momentum, having won three straight games.
Sure, Nebraska would rather have played Texas this week, if only for the chance to avenge a 22-20 loss on Oct. 21. The Huskers were poised to pounce on the limping Longhorns, who have quickly slipped to, ahem, mediocrity in the past few weeks.
Now Big Red must gird for a tougher test in K.C.
Nebraska appears to be ready.
If the Huskers have a clear edge against OU, it’s at quarterback. Zac Taylor is capable of running an extremely versatile offense. Meanwhile, Paul Thompson is best described as an adequate passer. Although his throwing numbers are good, there’s a reason OU relies heavily on the run game.
Against Oklahoma State, Oklahoma received clutch performances from tailbacks Allen Patrick and Chris Brown. Both players explode into contact and dart through creases, especially Patrick.
If Nebraska tackles as poorly as it did at times Friday against Colorado - especially in the area about 5-10 yards beyond the line of scrimmage - Patrick and Brown just might run wild. OU may even get All-America tailback Adrian Peterson (broken collarbone) back this week.
In other words, it’s time for Nebraska’s linebackers and safeties to sharpen up their tackling technique.
If Oklahoma has a clear edge, it’s probably on defense. Rufus Alexander, arguably the league’s best defender, leads a unit that began the season slowly before moving into the national top 10 entering the weekend.
The Cowboys, who rushed for 267 yards against the Huskers, managed just 119 against the Sooners, and every step was earned.
Although Callahan schooled Colorado’s Dan Hawkins in Friday’s victory, this week’s counterpart (“Big Game” Bob Stoops) likely won’t be caught off-guard by Nebraska’s gadget plays and plethora of shifts and motions before the snap.
On the other hand, perhaps the Huskers’ wealth of trick plays and pre-snap craziness will complicate the Sooners’ preparation, if only a tad. In close games, any little edge matters.
Not that the Huskers need to rely on gimmicks and tomfoolery. This is a team with plenty of veterans playing high-caliber football.
Indeed, Big Red finished 5-0 this season against North Division teams for the first time since 1999, which also happens to be the last time NU reached the Big 12 title game (beating Texas 22-6).
Perhaps more telling is Nebraska’s 5-1 record in November the last two seasons. Strong play late in the season indicates resiliency, maturity and patience - traits of championship outfits.
In year three of the Callahan era, almost all signs point to progress. The Huskers once again reign supreme in the North, the undisputed champions of 2006.
Now they’re ready to step up in class.
This time around, the South Division won’t have it so easy.
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