What To Watch For Saturday Against Washington
Nebraska and Washington will face off for the third time in 12 months when they take the field at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln on Saturday afternoon. Here are a few items and match ups to watch during this battle of 2-0 teams.
Familiarity Breeds Contempt
Playing the same team three times in 12 months is rare. How rare? Well something similar has happened to Nebraska only twice before in its history. In 1998 and 1999 the Huskers played Texas three times in thirteen months. And in 1978 and 1979, Nebraska squared off with Oklahoma three times in a 12 month span. Here's a lesson from both of those experiences - familiarity breeds contempt. If you recall Dominic Raiola's "I hate Texas" comments in 1999 or have seen the video of Tom Osborne's reaction to hearing he had to face OU again in the '79 Orange Bowl, you know exactly what I mean.
It's no different with NU and UW. These two teams do not like each other. Husker players have been talking about beating Washington. Yoshi Hardrick broke his hand and didn't miss a single practice rep because, quote: "It's Washington week." And many reports have detailed how the Huskies are the team that NU players say talks the most smack. It gets especially juicy considering this Saturday's game will break the 1-1 tie of the last two meetings. You can expect the players anad coaches to be very fired up for this game. Things might get more than a little heated before kickoff or even a bit chippy during the game.
The Battle up Front
If you want a good sense of how things are going early in the game, fans won't have to look too far away from the snap of the ball when the Huskers are on offense. Watch how the Washington nose guard - #74, Alameda Ta'amu - is fairing against the Husker interior linemen, and it will reveal a lot about how the game will go.
The first time Nebraska played Washington, Ta'amu got humiliated. There is no two ways around it. NU guard Ricky Henry and center Mike Caputo worked him over. In the second match up in the Holiday Bowl, Ta'amu was a beast. What changed? For starters, they lined him up differently. Instead of playing in the gap, they lined him head up against Caputo. Rather than enduring double teams and combo blocks, Ta'amu pushed the undersized Caputo right in to the Husker backfield.
Will Saturday provide Caputo with an adequate opportunity for revenge? Husker fans had better hope he can improve on his performance. He won't be getting as much help from the NU guards beside him. Last year, NU had two seniors at those spots. Now, they have 19 year olds - one a redshirt freshman and the other a true sophomore. The sophomore, Andrew Rodriquez is a massive talent. But he also missed practice time this week. If he can't go, NU must turn to former walk-on Seung Hoon Choi to get the job done. It's not a good match up for the Huskers.
The Husker Passing Attack
No doubt, Washington will be gearing up to take on the Husker rushing attack - particularly Taylor Martinez running the option. For the Huskers to win, they will need to throw the ball effectively. Martinez can be wildly inconsistent throwing the ball. But there is some good news for the Husker passing game on Saturday.
First, a group of athletic receivers - Quincy Enunwa, Kenny Bell, Jamal Turner and tight end Kyler Reed - have demonstrated they can make athletic plays and catch a less-than-perfect throw. Next, the statistics say that Washington's defense is a bit leaky against the pass. Granted, the played two predominantly throwing teams in the first two weeks. But, those teams moved the ball through the air.
Further, Washington has some depth issues at free safety. Both Nate Fellner and Taz Stevenson have been injured recently. So, if they can't go for UW, the Husker receivers (especially those playing in the slot) could get a favorable match up against a back up player. When green players are pressed in to action, mistakes get made. Or, if Stevenson or Fellner can play, neither would be 100%. Again, advantage NU. If only Martinez can deliver the ball.
Turnovers, Turnovers, Turnovers
This may be true of every football game ever played, but it is still worth saying: the team that wins the turnover battle is likely going to win. Nebraska absolutely cannot afford to fumble the ball the way they have been recently. The Blackshirt defense is due for a turnover or two as well. And, with first-year starter Keith Price playing in front of the Red Sea for the first time, they may just get them. Price appears very poised through two games. The quarterback who protects the football best will likely be the one celebrating Saturday night.
s.p.johnson@sbcglobal.net
9/16/2011
Fumbles are an important statistic. I think the team that scores the most points will probably win though. Go Taylor pass or run get the ball in the end zone.
9/16/2011
It’s a great observation you make, about how Washington lined up Ta’amu differently between the first and second games. Washington was an improved team for the bowl game, but that adjustment in particular, though small had a very big impact on controlling the line.
I think this game is similar in that whichever team controls the line is going to win it. I suppose you could say that for any game, but it seems to me to have been the difference between our crushing win in the first and embarrassing defeat in the second.
9/16/2011
Up to this point, I feel Nebraska is WAY over rated. Nebraska can not allow UW 10-12 play drives, like they did to Fresno St. I don’t think Nebraska will hit any big plays against UW, and they haven’t shown they can sustain long drives. Some will say if UW wins, that it is a huge upset…I don’t think so. The only reason it will be considered an upset, is because Nebraska is rated #10. I think these two teams match up well with each other, and I think it will be special teams play, just like last week, that makes the difference. What ever the outcome, one thing is for sure, each team will have a much better idea of how good their team is. GO BIG RED!!!!
9/16/2011
I keep hearing NU is way over rated, but my question is who belongs above them? Most of the top 20 teams that is between about 8 and 20 have just as many problems and question marks as NU.. Im not saying 10 is not to high but really after watching football so far I cant say I see many teams that are really meant to be above the SKERS
9/16/2011
NU over rated…well if you look back at last years final BCS rankings, of the top 14 teams, only two had more than two losses (Arkansas and Alabama of the SEC). At this point, a 10-3 or 9-4 season might be good given the youth, lack of depth, inexperience on the O-line and a QB that is still maturing. No need to select teams who are better than Nebraska right now. You just have to look at where the team is and what reasonable expectations are for this group at this stage of their development. Me…I am tempering my expectations. GBR!!!
9/17/2011
I think Nebraska may roll outside the pocket a bunch. Just like Fresno St did to Nebraska to keep Crick from the QB. This solves the “...Ta’amu pushed the undersized Caputo right in to the Husker backfield.” problem. This is where Tim Beck’s offense will be the difference between the Holiday Bowl results of only scoring 7 and being able to put up 30 points+. Just my Kool-Aid induced opinion.
9/17/2011
I think the defense rocks in this game. Back to close to old standards. I don’t know what we’ll see this week from the offense, both weeks so far have been different. Maybe they’ll “unveil” something new this week? More zone read? I think the offense does good, maybe exceedingly good. They are going to try like crazy to exploit Washingtons weak passing game defense and get the ball in certain peoples hands, like Turner, Abdullah and especially Burkhead. The question is will they come out dominant or lacking in confidence?
I think it’s about time they moved Baker Steinkuler to the offensive line. He’s played it before (as did his Dad as we well remember). We need the experience and some say his body is better suI think the defense rocks in this game. Back to close to old standards. I don’t know what we’ll see this week from the offense, both weeks so far have been different. Maybe they’ll “unveil” something new this week? More zone read? I think the offense does good, maybe exceedingly good. They are going to try like crazy to exploit Washingtons weak passing game defense and get the ball in certain peoples hands, like Turner, Abdullah and especially Burkhead. The question is will they come out dominant or lacking in confidence?
I think it’s about time they moved Baker Stited to that position on the offensive line more than he is made for a defensive lineman. Bottom line is…we need him. We can afford to loose him on the D line as we are very deep there; there wouldn’t be a huge drop-off from their performance at all. But he could quite possibly make a HUGE impact on the offensives lines performance. GBR !!!
San Diego, Ca.
9/17/2011
Ooh, that’s a tough matchup, their chunk of a NT, against the Corn’s gutty walkons and undersized Center and Guard. I can’t think of a solution, but fortunately, I don’t get paid to.
Still, the Nebraska offense makes progress today just from experienced gained, and the D pulls themselves together with a unified need to bring the wood and shut up the belligerent Huskies.