NamelessHusker
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[SIZE=14pt]Busch says special teams could swing game[/SIZE]
BY MIKE PATTERSON
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It isn't surprising to hear Nebraska assistant Bill Busch say Saturday night's game against Baylor might be decided by the play of the special teams.
After what he's seen on film, the NU coach knows that's an area in which the surprising Bears have excelled.
"Baylor has a great coaching staff and a very talented team," he said. "And the play of their special teams has been outstanding."
Busch, who coaches the special teams and safeties, spoke Friday to a Big Red Breakfast crowd at the Holiday Convention Centre. The NU boosters were eager to hear about the Bears, who will play host to Nebraska at 6 p.m. in Waco, Texas.
Both teams are 4-1 overall and 1-1 in the Big 12. The Bears are coming off a road 23-13 win against Iowa State, while the Huskers hope to bounce back from a last-minute 34-31 home loss to 13th-ranked Texas Tech.
Busch didn't dwell on the setback, saying only that NU has had an outstanding week of preparation for the Bears.
"Our practice on Tuesday was unbelievable," he said, "and it got better on Wednesday and even better on Thursday. I know we'll be ready to play."
Perhaps out of courtesy, nobody asked Busch specifically about the key play in the loss. Texas Tech scored the winning touchdown with 12 seconds left, shortly after NU's Le Kevin Smith had intercepted a pass and then fumbled the ball back.
"There's no doubt that loss took some wind out of our guys," he said, "but they couldn't wait to get back to work."
Baylor relied heavily on its special teams in its win over the Cyclones. The Bears booted three field goals, had two long punt returns that set up 10 points and got a 68-yard punt from Daniel Sepulveda.
Last year, Sepulveda became the first sophomore to win the Ray Guy Award as the nation's top punter.
"Their coverage and return teams have been great," he said. "Their average starting point on offense has been the 38-yard line, so we need to prevent that."
While Sepulveda ranks sixth among NCAA Division I-A punters (45.8 yards a kick), the Huskers counter with senior Sam Koch, who is 18th nationally with a 43.6-yard average.
"Our special teams have to change the length of the field," Busch said. "Baylor has created the long field for all its opponents, and that's helped them win four games."
Busch, a Nebraska Wesleyan graduate in his second season at NU, also fielded questions about the secondary. One fan wanted to know if 5-foot-9 sophomore cornerback Cortney Grixby was tall enough to play the position, and Busch's response drew some chuckles.
"He has a legitimate vertical jump in the low 40s," Busch said. "I couldn't get that high if I jumped three times. He can absolutely play there."
Another fan asked about recruiting, but Busch said he couldn't comment specifically about it.
"We bring our best guys in early and let them have a look at our game-day atmosphere," he said. "When you're recruiting the top kids, ones who are getting 40 or 50 scholarship offers, you need to really impress them."
Busch added that the recruits who were visiting last Saturday weren't fazed by the NU loss.
"It was a game we had a chance to win," he said. "Against Baylor, we know that we need to take care of business."
BY MIKE PATTERSON
link
It isn't surprising to hear Nebraska assistant Bill Busch say Saturday night's game against Baylor might be decided by the play of the special teams.
After what he's seen on film, the NU coach knows that's an area in which the surprising Bears have excelled.
"Baylor has a great coaching staff and a very talented team," he said. "And the play of their special teams has been outstanding."
Busch, who coaches the special teams and safeties, spoke Friday to a Big Red Breakfast crowd at the Holiday Convention Centre. The NU boosters were eager to hear about the Bears, who will play host to Nebraska at 6 p.m. in Waco, Texas.
Both teams are 4-1 overall and 1-1 in the Big 12. The Bears are coming off a road 23-13 win against Iowa State, while the Huskers hope to bounce back from a last-minute 34-31 home loss to 13th-ranked Texas Tech.
Busch didn't dwell on the setback, saying only that NU has had an outstanding week of preparation for the Bears.
"Our practice on Tuesday was unbelievable," he said, "and it got better on Wednesday and even better on Thursday. I know we'll be ready to play."
Perhaps out of courtesy, nobody asked Busch specifically about the key play in the loss. Texas Tech scored the winning touchdown with 12 seconds left, shortly after NU's Le Kevin Smith had intercepted a pass and then fumbled the ball back.
"There's no doubt that loss took some wind out of our guys," he said, "but they couldn't wait to get back to work."
Baylor relied heavily on its special teams in its win over the Cyclones. The Bears booted three field goals, had two long punt returns that set up 10 points and got a 68-yard punt from Daniel Sepulveda.
Last year, Sepulveda became the first sophomore to win the Ray Guy Award as the nation's top punter.
"Their coverage and return teams have been great," he said. "Their average starting point on offense has been the 38-yard line, so we need to prevent that."
While Sepulveda ranks sixth among NCAA Division I-A punters (45.8 yards a kick), the Huskers counter with senior Sam Koch, who is 18th nationally with a 43.6-yard average.
"Our special teams have to change the length of the field," Busch said. "Baylor has created the long field for all its opponents, and that's helped them win four games."
Busch, a Nebraska Wesleyan graduate in his second season at NU, also fielded questions about the secondary. One fan wanted to know if 5-foot-9 sophomore cornerback Cortney Grixby was tall enough to play the position, and Busch's response drew some chuckles.
"He has a legitimate vertical jump in the low 40s," Busch said. "I couldn't get that high if I jumped three times. He can absolutely play there."
Another fan asked about recruiting, but Busch said he couldn't comment specifically about it.
"We bring our best guys in early and let them have a look at our game-day atmosphere," he said. "When you're recruiting the top kids, ones who are getting 40 or 50 scholarship offers, you need to really impress them."
Busch added that the recruits who were visiting last Saturday weren't fazed by the NU loss.
"It was a game we had a chance to win," he said. "Against Baylor, we know that we need to take care of business."