Friday, November 26, 2010

Pelini says NU still has 'some unfinished business'

Filed by Jon Nyatawa

9:49 p.m., Friday: Coach Bo Pelini said he and the Huskers will celebrate their win over Colorado Friday night. But they'll be back to work before the weekend's over.

The season's primary goal has yet to be achieved.

Nebraska will play for the Big 12 championship next week. That trophy is what NU has been fighting for all year.

“It was fun to win the Big 12 North today, but we've still got some unfinished business,” Pelini said after the win. “That wasn't our main goal.”

Pelini refused to address the quarterback situation going forward. He praised Cody Green, saying the sophomore played “tremendous.” Green finished 10-for-13 for 80 yards, recording three total touchdowns.

If healthy, Taylor Martinez will be the starter next week. But Pelini said after the game that he's not completely sure what Martinez's status is.

“I don't know what next week holds right now,” Pelini said.

Also, regarding injuries, Pelini said sophomore defensive end Cameron Meredith (sprained ankle) will be fine. »

Friday, November 26, 2010

Burkhead throws another TD

Filed by Jon Nyatawa

4:47 p.m., Friday: Nebraska is trying its best to seal up the Big 12 North title as comfortably as possible. This one's turning into a blowout.

Sophomore Rex Burkhead threw another touchdown pass, this time on a creative broken play out of the Wildcat formation. The Huskers now lead 31-3 with 10:53 left in the third quarter.

Burkhead took the direct snap and looked to run, but the middle was too clustered for that. So he sprinted to the outside, running parallel with Kyler Reed. When the defense closed, Burkhead flipped the ball to Reed for a 4-yard touchdown pass.

That 1-play drive was set up by an interception by Eric Hagg.

Nebraska took a 24-3 about five minutes into the third quarter when Cody Green found Brandon Kinnie for a 16 yard touchdown pass. That drive started after DeJon Gomes intercepted a Cody Hawkins pass. »

Friday, November 26, 2010

Halftime: NU 17, CU 3

Filed by Jon Nyatawa

4:12 p.m., Friday: It's been the Rex Burkhead show so far here at Memorial Stadium. The Huskers have a 17-3 lead at the break.

The sophomore running back has already carried the football 18 times, totaling 98 yards. He just threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Kinnie, giving Nebraska its 17-3 edge with 49 seconds left in the second quarter.

Burkhead's run eight plays out of the Wildcat formation and has taken some pressure off fellow sophomore Cody Green. But Green hasn't played too poorly either.

Green, subbing for the injured Taylor Martinez, is 7-for-9 as a passer. His tough 9-yard scramble on third down set up a manageable fourth down just inside the 50 yard line. Burkhead converted that fourth down and five plays later, threw the TD pass.

A few other observations through two quarters:

> There's no Niles Paul, which apparently has opened the door for senior Joe Broekemeier. He has two catches for 17 yards.

> Cameron Meredith injured his left leg midway through the second quarter. Josh Williams has filled in since Meredith went down. But on one third down play, sophomore Eric Martin (who just moved to D-end this month) came in and pushed back Colorado offensive tackle Nate Solder, an Outland Trophy finalist.

> CU quarterback Cody Hawkins has completed just one of his eight pass attempts. That one completion came on a trick play and went for 25 yards.

> Colorado's starting center, Mike Iltis, suffered a knee injury. He will not return. »

Friday, November 26, 2010

Green leading NU offense

Filed by Jon Nyatawa

3:25 p.m., Friday: Sophomore Cody Green has looked sharp in the early going here at Memorial Stadium, leading NU to a 10-0 lead with 13:47 left in the second quarter.

Green, starting in place of the injured Taylor Martinez, is 6-for-8, totaling 41 passing yards so far. His only two incompletions could both be characterized as drops (Rex Burkhead and Curenski Gilleylen).

Meanwhile, Rex Burkhead is handling most of the rushing duties. He has 78 yards and a touchdown already.

Considering the fact that Nebraska's playing without its No. 1 QB (Martinez), its No. 1 receiver (Niles Paul) and its top running back (Roy Helu isn't 100 percent), the 10-0 start to this game is pretty impressive.

Nebraska has 130 total offensive yards. Colorado amassed just 10. »

Friday, November 26, 2010

The stage is set

Filed by Mitch Sherman

1:55 p.m., Friday: A lot has happened since the last time we saw Nebraska at Memorial Stadium -- and not much of it good. Notably, Bo Pelini called out NU fans for their lack of noise in the Huskers' win over Kansas. Taylor Martinez re-injured his ankle and may have considered leaving the team.

Pelini unloaded on the officials as Nebraska lost to Texas A&M;, getting called for a school-record 16 penalties in the process.

And here we are, 40 minutes from kickoff in undeniably the biggest must-win situation of Pelini's three years at Nebraska. The stage is set for a great sigh of relief today or a huge disappointment. There's no in between.

Martinez, the freshman quarterback, is in uniform during warmups, though still unexpected to start today. It's in the hands of Cody Green.

For those of you wondering, the officiating crew is headed by referre Rick Loumiet, who called the Huskers' 17-3 win over South Dakota State on Sept. 25. Today's line judge, Randy Campbell, and back judge Lyndon Nixon were also a part of that crew. »

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Dan Young dies at 69; former NU assistant coach

Filed by Rich Kaipust

9:15 p.m., Thursday: Together, Milt Tenopir and Dan Young oversaw the Nebraska offensive lines that just seemed to restock every season and became known nationwide as the “Pipeline.”

Tenopir said Thursday night that he just wishes Young would have gotten more of the credit than he did over the years.

“I always felt bad that people didn’t consider us as joint line coaches as much as they should have,” Tenopir said. “But Dan was tremendously instrumental with all the success we had. Dan wasn’t one to look for accolades.”

Young died late Wednesday night because of complications from a cancerous brain tumor. He was 69.

Young oversaw pass protection on the NU offensive line, and worked side-by-side with Tenopir from 1986 through 2002. He also was head coach of the Huskers’ freshman team from 1983 through ’85.

“Dan was a unique guy in that there wasn’t anybody that didn’t like him,” Tenopir said. “His players absolutely loved him.”

Around Omaha, Young also was known for the powerhouse program he ran at Westside High. Behind his wishbone offense, the Warriors won back-to-back Class A state championships in 1981 and ’82.

“We actually ran the wishbone, but did it out of the I, and he knew that inside and out,” Tenopir said. “He was big in the option game once he came aboard. He had a lot of ideas about option football.” »

Thursday, November 25, 2010

No moment 'too big' for Husker kicker Alex Henery

Filed by Rich Kaipust

11:25 a.m., Thursday: As Nebraska senior Alex Henery closes in on another school record, Colorado week brings up the reminder that there has been as much quality as quantity in the senior’s kicks.

How about two years ago when Henery booted his 57-yarder late against the Buffaloes? Or his four field goals in the 13-12 loss to Texas in last year’s Big 12 championship game? Or his five field goals in the 16-15 loss at Virginia Tech last season?

Henery made two more under difficult circumstances last week against Texas A&M; -- and it would have been fun to see him get another last-second crack at it in the 9-6 loss.

So I asked NU assistant coach John Papuchis this week if the traits that make him such a clutch kicker would serve him well in another position or another sport.

“I think any high-pressure situation he’d be good at,” said Papuchis, who coordinates the Huskers’ special teams. “I think he’d be good at being a closer in baseball, and probably be good at the free-throw line to win a (basketball) game. I think he’d be good maybe on the floor in Wall Street. Anything that seems like a high-pressure environment, whatever the case would be.”

In football, at least, Papuchis said it comes down to Henery’s preparation. Then he takes that preparation to the field with a confidence that has grown through his five years as a Husker.

“The moment doesn’t get too big for him,” Papuchis said, “and that’s an attribute that kickers need to have.”

Henery will be one of 23 seniors -- and 25 players overall -- set for their final appearance at Memorial Stadium on Friday. There could be a Big 12 championship game and will be a bowl game, but no more chances for the home folks to see a kicker who has made 65 of 73 career field goals and needs 10 points to pass Kris Brown as the Huskers’ all-time leading scorer.

“Not having Alex, coming to that realization that he won’t be with us next year, it’s going to be kind of hard, from the perspective that you always can count on him,” Papuchis said. “He’s such a dependable guy -- and it’s almost something you take for granted.

“He’s kicking that field goal the other day to tie it up 6-6 -- and granted it wasn’t a very long field goal -- but there was never a point in time where I was like, ‘Please make it.’ You knew he was going to make it, and that’s always how it’s been.”

His teammates feel the same way.

“When he goes out on the field, I don’t even think twice,” receiver Mike McNeill said. “I just assume it’s going in.”

Henery has always seemed almost surprised by the attention he gets. It’s just the job that the former walk-on from Omaha Burke wanted and has worked hard to keep.

“When I got the chance it was just something I knew I had to work on to be at the level where they expected their kicker to be at,” he said. “I just kept working on it and pushing myself to get better every day.” »

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Trying to replace Paul

Filed by Jon Nyatawa

8:23 p.m., Wednesday: Coach Bo Pelini thinks Niles Paul should be back by the bowl game. But until then, Nebraska's going to have to find a way to make up for the senior playmaker's production.

Paul, the Huskers' most experienced receiver, is the team leader with 39 receptions and 516 receiving yards.

Senior Mike McNeill and junior Brandon Kinnie are certainly formidable options in the passing game, and they'll be relied on more Friday against Colorado. But to run its spread offense, Nebraska will need at least one more receiver to make a contribution.

Here are the likely candidates:

> Senior Will Henry: At 6-foot-5, 215 pounds, Henry has enough size to create openings on the outside. He's has just three career receptions, though.

> True freshman Quincy Enunwa: He's been on the field almost every time that Nebraska's used its four-receiver formation this year. His lone catch came during the season opener.

> Junior Curenski Gilleylen: The speedster has played sparingly in 2010 and hasn't caught a pass. He was a deep threat at the start of last season, hauling in five passes of 35-plus yards during the first four games.

> Sophomore Tim Marlowe: He's been a bit banged up and has mostly contributed on special teams. He ran a reverse for 13 yards during Nebraska's first game of the year.

Pelini said after practice Wednesday that he likes his depth at receiver and that NU won't change its offensive philosophy, despite Paul's injury.

“We've got a lot of capable guys and we have depth on our football team,” Pelini said. “You're always going to miss a guy like Niles Paul but it's not like we had to recreate the wheel because of that. Those things happen. It's part of the game, unfortunately.” »

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Green to start Friday

Filed by Jon Nyatawa

6:32 p.m., Wednesday: Sophomore quarterback Cody Green is expected to start Nebraska's season finale against Colorado, coach Bo Pelini told reporters after Wednesday's practice.

Redshirt freshman Taylor Martinez is suffering from a turf toe injury on his left foot. He practice “a little bit” during a light session Wednesday, Pelini said.

Martinez and senior Zac Lee will apparently back up Green Friday. Redshirt freshman Ron Kellogg, too.

“Ronny had a really good week of practice,” Pelini said.

Friday's start will be the second of the season for Green, who led NU to a 31-30 overtime win at Iowa State earlier this month.

Back then, Martinez was ailing from a sprained ankle. Now, the toe's providing the speedy game-changer with the most pain. Pelini said he anticipates that Martinez will be healthy next week. »

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Analyzing McNeill's skills

Filed by Jon Nyatawa

3:19 p.m., Wednesday: One gets the sense that the spattering of highlight-reel moments for Mike McNeill during the last four years don't exactly tell the entire story. Just how good is McNeill?

Coach Ron Brown's seen a lot of the senior receiver in practice. He offered this player evaluation earlier this week:

“He's got a great burst. He can put his foot in the dirt and kind of snap out of something. He's got a really good plant foot and good upper body movement. … He's been a good runner after the catch. He's got a flare for the dive and the pylon. He's got a craftiness to him. … I think what people don't see, or what the statistics don't show ... he's really blocked the perimeter. He's used his size well and he's got good feet.”

Brown brought up a few examples: McNeill's run-after-the-catch that featured a successful dive for the pylon at Washington, his agile sideline maneuvering on a TD reception against New Mexico State two years ago and his one-handed catch against Clemson in the Gator Bowl.

So where will McNeill fit at the next level? Hard to tell, at this point. Most NFL Draft experts have him ranked somewhere between 5 to 10 among the eligible tight ends. But McNeill's stock will suffer since has just 13 receptions so far this year.

Of course, McNeill might be relied on more from this point on, given the recent injury to Niles Paul.

Brown knows one thing, though. McNeill can still get better.

“I don't think you'll see full potential until the guy's maybe 32 years old,” Brown said. “If God gives him that much time in football, you'll see it.” »