Tilting at Windmills

When Bo Pelini inherited the Nebraska program, he walked into a pretty good situation. He led the team its 10th win of the year in its bowl game, which seemed to have set the stage for continuing the proud Nebraska tradition.

No, we’re not talking about 2008. This was in 2003 when the NU athletic department inexplicably fired Frank Solich for having the audacity to not be Tom Osborne. Sure, Solich was essentially the Nebraska version of Gary Gibbs: nice guy, mild-mannered and came from “within the family.” He also won about 9 games a year which was unacceptable to Nebraska fans who thought they were entitled to something after seeing their felonious great athletes in the 90s deliver a couple of titles. His real crime? Not sure. He won 58 games in six years, which was more than his predecessors Bob Devaney (53) and Tom Osborne (55) did in their first half dozen seasons.

Pelini took over the reigns of the program as Interim Coach at the end of the regular season (after Solich had already posted 9 wins that year), “righted” the ship and led the team to an Alamo Bowl win, complete with a couple of kickass meltdowns in which he had to be physically restrained from the officials (there’s something besides flouride in the Youngstown water, apparently).

This thing smells bullshit!

He was never able to move past the title of “interim coach,” though, and new AD Steve Pedersen was determined to put his own stamp on the program. Coaches around the country saw how Pedersen treated one of NU’s own and shunned the Huskers like hygiene at a Phish concert. It took Pedersen 40 days to come up with Bill Callahan to lead the program, after being told “go fuck yourself” by the likes of Dave Wannstedt, Houston Nutt, Mike Zimmer and (allegedly) Steve Spurrier. Calladouche Blake’d the Nebraska football program, notching the program’s first two losing seasons in 45 years and letting Kansas Hot Karl every black shirt in the stadium.

We're not amused, Bill.

Osborne, who told Pedersen to pack his shit and leave, dumped Callafran in 2007 and called Baton Rouge to see if Pelini, then the DC at LSU, would come back. He did and Nebraska fans have to be ecstatic. In his first season, the Stoops family’s anger management-challenged cousin grabbed nine wins and a bowl win. Aside from being curbed by his buddy Bob in Norman, the Huskers were more inspired in 2008 and fans can finally have something to look forward to in 2009.

Callafran wasn't out of work for long.

Many, including us, are picking Nebraska to win the Big 12 North (although there’s dissension even amongst us TaWers). The fact the Huskers are even in that discussion, though, is primarily Pelini’s work. He’ll have a tough chore trying to put together an offense that lost the prolific Joe Ganz and its top two receiving threats. However, Pelini’s defense, which is his strong suit, could be very good this year. Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is a preseason All-American and the Husker secondary is one of the best in the Big 12.

Are the Huskers “back?” No, and they won’t be even if Pelini gets them another 10 wins. They’re on much better footing these days, though, and they’d be well-served to make sure Bo stays in Lincoln for awhile.

Bo Pelini’s defense is a big reason why many, including us, are picking Nebraska to come out of the Big 12 North and represent in the Big 12 conference championship game. The Huskers return seven starters on a unit that played well at times last year, but seemed like they could use some more experience.

In researching the Blackshirts, we took one for the team and put up with watching this:

That’s three minutes of my life I’ll never get back. You, too, I’m sure.

What it did, though, was put some faces with the names. The Husker defense will be counted on to carry the team at times this year as they try to break in a new quarterback and find somebody on offense to catch the ball besides TE Mike McNeill.

Defensive line

The entire Husker defense is built around Ndamukong Suh, the hulking, first-team All Big 12 tackle who led the team in tackles (76), sacks (7.5) and tackles for loss (19). Hell, he even scored three touchdowns last year, two off interception returns, and a third that Kansas would rather forget:

The Sporting News already thinks Suh will be the number one pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, which would be fine with me. It would keep Sam out of Detroit.

Elsewhere on the DL, 6’5″, 265 junior Pierre Allen (5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss) returns next to Suh. The Huskers are a little thin otherwise, though. Sophomore Jared Crick (6’6″, 285), who logged just two tackles in nine games of action last year, will line up at DT next to Suh while senior Barry Turner, who only played in two games last year before breaking his leg and receiving a medical waiver for a 5th season, will play at the other DE in the 4-3. Depth will be a major issue on the defensive line as the two-deep shows a sophomore and three redshirt freshmen backing up the starters.

Linebacker

Jenks native and senior Phillip Dillard is the most experienced returning linebacker Pelini has, which should be a major concern. Dillard was plagued with injuries the entire season in 2008 and was listed second on the depth chart coming out of spring practice. Dillard was able to log just 38 tackles in nine games (five starts) in 2008, spending more time on the sidelines than waiting to get Suh’s sloppy seconds. The rest of the linebacking corps should probably still be cruising the Sonic and skipping 5th period as there are four redshirt freshmen and a sophomore listed among the two deep.

A smallish redshirt freshman, Will Compton (6’2″, 220), is listed as the mike LB. If Dillard returns to form, he’ll play in front of Compton. Fellow second-year frosh Sean Fisher (6’6″, 230) appears to have the edge at the Sam LB slot while sophomore Matthew May (6’1″, 210), the only currently-listed starter with game experience (appeared in six games, recorded six tackles and a sack), is penciled in on the weakside.

Secondary

Where the linebacking corps is young, the guys behind them are just as experienced. Pelini’s pass defense should be its strong suit this year with a secondary led by strong safety Larry Asante. The 6’1″, 215 senior is a three-year starter for the Huskers and was second on the team last year in tackles (67). Two other starters return for Pelini in senior free safety Matt O’Hanlon (5’11″, 200) and junior corner Anthony West (6’0″, 205). Those two combined for 81 tackles, three interceptions and 13 pass breakups in 2008. Senior Rickey Thenarse (24 tackles, 6 TFL) backs up O’Hanlon. At the other corner, junior Prince Amukamara (6’1″, 200) started three games last year, while appearing in all 13.

Special teams

Junior wideout Niles Paul was a dynamic kick returner last year, averaging almost 25 yards per return with one 85-yarder for a touchdown. He’ll also be called upon to return punts with Nate Swift gone due to graduation.

Kicking

Junior Alex Henery was named second-team All Big 12 last year after going 18-of-21 field goals and 56-of-57 extra points for the season. Henery notched 110 points on the season, the highest total for a Husker since 2001 (without knowing who that was, I can hazard a guess). He has a strong and accurate leg, going 6-6 from between 40-49 yards and set a school record with a 57-yarder to beat Colorado. That should serve the Huskers well if they struggle early on offense.

The punting duties will be handled by the winner of a battle royale between Henery, redshirt freshman Brett Maher (he averaged 41.2 yards per boot in high school) and sophomore Jon Damkroger.