Red Team a Ten Point Favorite
11 comments so far
April 17, 2008 by
Husker fans will be rewarded Saturday with a game that will be much more competitive than we’ve seen over the last four years, but despite assurances that the teams were split down the middle, it seems clear that the Red team has the advantage.
The Red team has the top quarterback in Joe Ganz, top I-back in Marlon Lucky, and top fullback in Thomas Lawson to make a complete starting backfield. Nate Swift is the top receiver and Menelik Holt is probably the third receiver (behind the White team’s Todd Peterson). Mike McNeil seems to be the top tight end. Matt Slauson and Lydon Murtha are likely offensive line starters and Keith Williams may well be a third. So you have probably seven or eight offensive starters on the Red team.
Defensively, middle linebacker Phillip Dillard (a major key to the cover-2 defense as the BRN’s own Darren Carlson pointed out), is teamed with the best corner in Armando Murillo and likely starting free safety Rickey Thenarse. Throw in starter Zach Potter at defensive end and you have standout players at each level of the defense. The top punter and most accurate place kicker (Titchener and Henery) will both be on the Red team as well.
The White team will definitely have a puncher’s chance. They seem to have the better defensive line with Barry Turner, Ty Steinkuhler, and Shukree Barfield up front. They also might be better one through five on the offensive line with Jacob Hickman, Mike Huff, Mike Smith, D.J. Jones, and Jaivorio Burkes all on the squad. Hunter Teafatiller is a veteran tight end and Roy Helu has been the talk of the spring at running back. Perhaps the game plan for the White team is simple: “run the ball, stop the run, win the game”. Strong safety Larry Asante will likely help in that regard. Zac Lee and Patrick Witt seem likely to share time at quarterback so it will be interesting to see what the two can get done with essentially the same team around them. But if both defenses do shut down the run or at least fair similarly in stopping it, then you have to give the Red team the edge in the passing game.
I love an underdog. Go Big White.
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Jason Apr 17 08
I'll take that action Steve. What's the bet? Two runzas or three?
mario Apr 17 08
I love reading your articles and the ones here at BRN in general. Excellent analysis and subject matter. None of the other fluff that's so pervasive in the media and other sites in general.
From deep in the heart of Texas, this Husker fan is a huge fan of BRN!!
Keep it going!
GBR!!
ze bop Apr 17 08
I dunno, the teams sound pretty equal to me, maybe slight edge at QB for the Red, ot, maybe Ganz is even better now and its a bigger edge, but i doubt it. Lee and Witt will hold their own, i predict.
Whoever has Castille will win...uh, is he playing, and for which side?
I would love to see Ganz come out like the clear field general, but am also very interested to see what Lee and Witt bring to the table.
Is the game going to be televised on FSC or anything?
zE ouT
saunders45 Apr 17 08
I'll take white. The Ganz won't even play the second half, and don't be suprised to see Lee or Witt switch sides in the second half to duel.
donfl Apr 17 08
Jason, that is so unfair! You do realize that down in this part of the country, no one even knows what a runza is, don't you? Now I'll just have to make a call to Scottsbluff and see if My sis or mom can Fed EX me some. Can't wait for the game. GBR GBW.
Steve Apr 17 08
Saunders45,
That's an interesting point, but if this offense is at all "new" to these guys, they might want to get Ganz a bunch of reps.
If it's Zac Lee vs. Spano though, I'd take Lee.
ze bop Apr 17 08
is Castille gonna b Red or White?
Steve Apr 17 08
He'll be on the White team.
bnahusker Apr 18 08
donfl..............
I feel your pain! The closest Runza to me is 4-1/2 hours away, in Lawrence, KS. My wife has a receipe for killer Runzas, but they arent the same, and take her an afternoon to produce. (I don't have her skills in the kitchen.) Damn good, but not the real thing.
Football Saturdays
Runzas
Valentino's
Misty's
Time to click my ruby slippers, and get back home!
Go Huskers!
Bob
OU7times Apr 18 08
I'll open myself up and just say that I can't see any reason why the Red Team should not win the spring game. Just seems to reason with the returning QB and RB not to mention the receivers and Fullback. Any takers on that one?
OU7times Apr 18 08
That is to say, by at least 10 points.