The football season wil begin in 70 days. Yes, only 70 days. We are almost into July and then you know how quick the summer flies.
This writer is as confident as he has been since Frank Solich's last team. The schedule is tougher in 06 but so are the Huskers. They have a very solid defense with adequate depth at most all positions. The linebacker and defensive end corp is very solid. Corey McKeon and Adam Carriker lead the heart of these positions. Both are leaders of the team. Throw in Ruud, Octavien, and Bradley at linebacker and Barry Turner at defensive end and you have some of the Big 12's best. Steve Octavien, if he can stay healthy, may be as good as linebacker as we have had. Oh, and by the way, a star of the Bowl game, Lance Bradenburgh will provide even more depth.
At the cornerback positions, we have a potential high draft pick in Zach Bowman and the veteran Cortney Grixby.
Two positions of concern with depth is safety and the interior line. Suh and Dagunduro should provide a tough line with Cryer to either start or back them up. Zach Johnson and Craig Roarke will provide depth but need to come along a lot before the season begins. NU will need others to step to provide depth so that we can rotate and keep the players fresh. At safety we have Tierre Green and Andrew Shanle should be starters. Depth will be provided by Titus Brothers and rookie Anthony West. Safety and the interior linemen are two positions we don't need injuries.
On offense, it is essential that Zach Taylor stays healthy. This is a must for a very good season. He is as good as QB as there is in the Big 12. He will play in the NFL at some point. The backups have a long ways to go but continue to show improvement. They aren't ready for the Big 12 today.
One way to keep Taylor healthy is for the offensive line to step up a couple of notches. I believe they will do this in 06. Led by Kurt Mann and Matt Slausen, they will be improved. They are where we need them yet, but they have the potential to improved markedly. Chris Patrick, veteran Greg Austin, Mike Huff, Andy Christensen, and Lydon Murtha will all be challenging for starting jobs. The competition should be fierce which will make them all better.
The wide receiver unit is full of depth.We will easily be able to keep fresh receivers on the field at all times. Nate Swift and Terrance Nunn lead the pack. Maurice Purify will excel. Frantz Hardy will be back along with Chris Brooks. Todd Peterson had a great 2005 season and Isaiah Fluellen is back for one more year. There are no exceptional receivers such as Todd Blythe of ISU but will our depth you won't find a better group. We may have a different start at receiver each week.
Tight end is led by Matt Herian, Josh Mueller, and JB Phillips. Herian is still healing but should start to be a factor by the middle of the year. I like Mike McNiel, a 2006 recruit, to have some impact down the field. Missouri's Coffman and Rucker are tall and fast and caued NU a lot of problems last year. NU needs this kind of player and we should have good improvement at this position this year.
Running back is solid with Glenn and Marlon Lucky. They aren't all Big 12 right now but they are very good and could breakout this season. Leon Jackson is fast and will play in certain situations. I think Lucky and Jackson will catch quite a few passes in 06. Kenny Wilson the JUCO recruit is key. This writer feels he may be the most talented of the bunch if he can pick our system up fast enough. Look to him gaining carries per game by year end.
Jordon Congdon will excel again in 2006. The punter is yet to be determined. Should be interesting as to who can start. Dan Titchener is the favorite to win the job but Will Henery or the walkon from Texas could provide some interesting competition. Don't expect a Sam Koch or Kyle Larson to emerge right away.
The season looks like this:
09/02 Louisiana Tech
NU will win easily 57-7.
09/09 Nicholls State
Special teams play a big part of this game and some offensive records will be broken.
72-3
09/16 @ Southern Cal
Big game. USC will have a different QB. With our linebackers we will create some problems. USC is so talented. I look to two great teams fighting it out in a relatively low scoring game of 17-14. USC wins.
09/23 Troy
Poor Troy will face the Huskers who will be angry after the USC loss. With the emotion of the USC game gone, NU will win 44-9. Taylor may break some season passing records by now.
09/30 Kansas
This will be one of the revenge games the press talk about. The Kansas coaching staff is underrated. After last year's game which was the low point of the Callahan era, we will rebound in a tough one. 31-21.
10/07 @ Iowa State
The "shootout". This will be the best game to date. Iowa State has the Meyer/Blythe connection against our secondary. This will be the game where the defense will have to work very hard. A mulitple overtime game with Iowa State winning 58-54.
10/14 @ Kansas State
Josh Freeman watch out. Motivation does weird things. NU 38-17.
10/21 Texas
Texas will be too tough at home. Very talented but with a new QB. I think Oklahoma is overrated and Texas will win the Big 12. Texas 30-21.
10/28 @ Okla. State
Even though we are a little banged up after Texas look to NU winning 28-7.
11/04 Missouri
Another revenge game. Brad Smith is gone and the backup has been in a little trouble. NU 38-14.
11/11 @ Texas A&M
An away game against a solid team. NU 27-24.
11/24 Colorado
This will be a fun game. Colorado has a new coach learning a new system. NU 45-21.
12/02 Big 12 Champ.
Iowa State loses to two lesser teams and Texas beats NU in the Championship game 22-21.
Nebraska 's record is 9-4.
Nebraska plays Iowa in the Alamo Bowl and wins 38-13.
Season record 10-4
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