Time of possession looms large for NU
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By the Lincoln Journal Star
Sorry to bring out the cliche, but it rings so true this week: Nebraska’s offense could be its best defense against high-powered and fourth-ranked Missouri.
Time of possession is anticipated to be a big factor for Nebraska's offense on Saturday night, and next weekend at Texas Tech.
“It’s one of the seven areas of football that you point to that has an impact on the game,” Husker offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said. “I think it’s important in all games, obviously, so it will be important again in this game because you want to try to limit (Missouri's) touches on offense.”
The Huskers are coming off a game against Virginia Tech in which they ran just 51 plays, 19 less than the Hokies. NU had the ball for not even 26 minutes, rushing the ball just 25 times for 55 yards.
NU has not had a game this year in which it has run more plays than its opponent, struggling in the run game in three of those four contests.
“To be a good running football team, obviously have to have a great technique, you got to be very physical, but you got to stay at it. You got to stay persistent with it,” Husker tight ends coach Ron Brown said. “Because the great running football teams, if you notice, they don't always just plow people out the door in the first quarter. It sometimes takes a little while to figure out patterns and get rhythm. But by the third and fourth quarter you start pounding people.
“And a lot of your mileage comes as the game progresses on. Running backs get a feel for things as time goes on but so do offensive linemen and tight ends and wide receivers. They get a feel for things in terms of blocking patterns as game goes on as well.”
But can the Huskers be patient with the run if they try it early, struggle with it and watch Mizzou put up some points in the process?
“We'll see,” Brown said. “Obviously they're a high-scoring offense. But I think as we look back at the Virginia Tech game, the score was 9-0. We were very much still in the ballgame and so there's no reason to check out of the running game at that point. So it was a good lesson to learn. There's no question ball possession will be huge in this game.”
Watson said that the Huskers must mix up the run and the pass if they want to move the ball effectively on the Tiger defense, which ranks last in the Big 12 in total defense this season.
“It’s not all about the run,” Watson said. “You can’t become one-dimensional either, because their coordinator can lock in on you. You’ve got to be able to change it up.”
This and that: Strong safety Larry Asante practiced Wednesday, a day after Bo Pelini said Asante was “banged up.” Asante is expected to play Saturday, and Pelini said his team is “fairly healthy” overall. ...Pelini said he was focused on the defensive side of the ball in Wednesday’s practice. “We still have some things to get fixed, but overall, not bad,” he said. ... Nebraska has won 30 straight conference home openers since a 24-21 loss to Iowa State in 1977. Overall, the Huskers have won 32 of their last 33 conference openers. The loss was at Iowa State in 2002.
Scouting report: OL Keith Williams
Keith Williams, a 6-foot-5, 305-pound sophomore left guard, will make his first career start Saturday night against fourth-ranked Missouri.
Williams, a native of Florissant, Mo., has played a backup role through four games this season. He now replaces regular starter Mike Huff, a 6-4, 300-pound senior from Ralston.
“Mike will still be a significant part of the rotation," Husker offensive line coach Barney Cotton said Wednesday. "It's probably going to be 50-50, just letting Williams go first.”
Why go with Williams first?
"Well, you grade the guys and watch film and basically make a subjective decision with what your gut tells you," Cotton said. "Mike’s still going to play a lot for us, but we felt a switch at the top needed to be made."
Williams in 2007 played in 10 games at guard behind Huff, Matt Slauson and Jacob Hickman, who has since moved to center.
Opponent watch: Colorado
Colorado, in its loss Saturday to Florida State, missed a field goal, allowed a blocked punt for a safety, allowed a kickoff return for a touchdown and nearly had a free kick returned for a score.
Perhaps its not surprising, then, that coaches are looking at personnel changes this week as the Buffs prepare to host No. 5 Texas.
Special teams coach Kent Riddle told the Boulder Daily Camera he was “surprised, amazed, disappointed and sick” in taking responsibility for the collapse.
Just asking: What determines who starts at running back?
Tim Beck, Nebraska’s running backs coach, said he’s been going with senior Marlon Lucky because of Lucky’s experience.
As of Wednesday, Lucky remains the Huskers’ No. 1 back. Beck joked about the media attention given to a “battle” between Lucky and sophomore Roy Helu.
“You guys always find something, don’t you?” he said.
Beck said coaches will continue to rotate backs.
“We try to get them in, and you want to give them some touches and see how the game’s going to unfold and who’s going to be able to give us what we need back there.”
—Brian Rosenthal, Brian Christopherson and Steven M. Sipple
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