The following is long, I apoligize in advance:
I find this all very amusing. Is there a free site where we can debate this stuff with them?
Let's take an honest and unbiased look at these two teams on offense:
KU loses their center and two guards. They return the following:
QB- Reesing- Stud
WR- Briscoe- Major Stud
WR- Meier- Possession Stud
RB- Sharp - Average but experienced, will not beat anyone alone
TE- Biere- Good player, would not be above 3rd string at Nebraska that's why we didn't offer him despite coming from Omaha. That's not an indictment on Biere, it's more of a commentary on Nebraska's talent at tight end.
OT- Return two freshmen who were beat up a lot this past season. Pierre Allen and Zach Potter made them their beotches repeatedly. Those two should be improved due to the natural progression of experience. However, it's safe to say Pierre Allen and Barry Turner will be better next year as well.
So where will KU be vulnerable offensively in '09?
How about along that interior o-line. Suh and company destroyed an experienced interior o-line last season. We're supposed to believe the three new guys will have more ability? Jared Crick and Terrence Moore even had their way with the KU line last season. Suh, Steinkuhler, Crick, and Moore will create even more havoc next season.
This game will be decided in the trenches. Don't let the KU fans get to you. They're still to new to football to understand how the game works. The last time NU went to KU, the Jayhawks had far more talent and experience in the trenches, and it showed.
Secondly, KU fan needs to take a step back and realize Nebraska is going to come into Lawrence with the most experienced and 2nd most talented defense they will face all season long. KU fan is delusional if they think the Jayhawks have more talent.
What does Nebraska return on defense?
I'm not a KU board I don't need to point out NU's D-line, linebackers, and secondary will be among the most talented and experienced in the Big 12.
What does NU return on offense?
RB- Helu - As good as any Big 12 running back over the last half of the season in '08. I'm sure KU remembers what he did to them.
RB- Castille- His performance against Clemson demonstrated just how much potential he has
OT- Javario Burkes, multiple starts in two seasons.
OG- Andy Christensen- fondling aside, the guy has been a two year starter
OC- Jacob Hickman - one of the top centers in the Big 12
OT- Mike Smith- Returning starter
Gee, that looks like four returning starters on the o-line.
NU also has another five guys with experience as back ups, 6 if you count Derek Meyer whom started at K-State before transferring to Nebraska.
TE- McNeill, Young, Hill, Cotton - Nebraska is loaded at this postion. Cotton might have the most talent, and he's only a freshman.
WR- Niles Paul and Meno Holt - These guys have played ample amount of snaps. They are more physically gifted than Swift and Peterson. NU didn't beat KU because Swift and Peterson were able to outrun your corners. We beat KU because Joey Ganz was able to have coffee in the backfield, and the system allowed those guys to be open.
Plus, the running game was dominating the Hawks. Don't expect that to change next year as well.
Mocking NU by saying "our offense graduated" is rich when you consider KU loses 70 plus starts at linebacker, their most experienced defensive lineman in Boreson, and their best cover corner, Thornton is a head case.
Stuckey is great player and Laptad is a quality pass rusher. However, Laptad was dominated last year by Mike Smith, I find it unlikely that Laptad will do anything to progress more than Smith from a year ago.
So NU needs to find a quarteback. If Nebraska doesn't have a serviceable quarterback capable of executing their offense by Mid-November, then yes Kansas, you will beat Nebraska.
If that is indeed the case, then you shouldn't even be talking about Nebraska anyway. The Huskers will be completely irrelevant by the time they visit Lawrence.
However, let's just say they do find a serviceable QB, you'd have to be pretty ignorant as a KU fan to not admit Nebraska has experience and talent superiority at every position except QB and the two wideouts.
Honestly:
QB- advantage KU
WR- Advantage- KU
RB- advantage Nebraska
OL- advantage Nebraska
TE- advantage Nebraska
DL- advantage NEbraska
LB- advantage Nebraska
CB- advantage Nebraska
S- push, Stuckey is terrific, but NU has more depth and overall talent at the position.
K/P- No contest- Huskers
Coaching- NU is 1-0 vs. Mangino.
Stadium- Advantage - KU
What was this matchup like in '07 when KU hung 76 on NU?
QB- Advantage- KU
RB- Advantage- KU
WR- Advatnage - KU
OL- Advantage - KU
TE- Advantage- KU
DL- Advantage- KU
LB- Advantage- KU
DB- Advantage- KU
K/P- Huskers got you Here!!
Coaching- Fat Man
Stadium- Lawrenceville
What were the matchups like in '08?
QB- Advantage KU
WR- Advantage - KU
RB- Advantage- NU
TE- Advantage- NU
OL- Advantage- NU
DL- Advantage- NU
LB- Advantage- KU
DB- Advantage- NU
K/P- Huskers
Coaching- New Coach for NU/ clearly Fatty had Advantage
Stadium- Memorial Advantage Skers.
Does anyone see a pattern here? So KU will once again have the talent and experience edge at WR and QB, but NU will remain the same and actually gain the edge at the backers position? Gee.
KU fan is right, he has no reason to be scared of the Huskers.
Coaching- NU is 1-0 vs. Mangino.
Stadium- Advantage - KU
With regards to the recruits:
Sellers was never offered by Nebraska. He's a tweener, and KU is making a big mistake. He's too slow to play linebacker, and he's too small to play D-end or Tight end. Pelini offers Nebraska kids first and foremost, he knew Sellers wouldn't have a position in the Big 12.