What are you looking for against FAU?

13 comments so far September 1, 2009 by Brandon Vogel

While making a 23 hour drive this past weekend, I had a lot of time to think about exactly what I'm looking for out of this 2009 Nebraska football season. Somewhere on the Ohio Turnpike on Saturday it struck me that what I'm really looking for in 2009 is for the Cornhuskers to show signs that they're ready to make "the leap" in 2010. Think of it like testing your vertical leap--2008 was the rocker step, 2009 should be the crouch, and, hopefully, 2010 is the explosion upward. This thought consumed me and I didn't particularly like it. Here we were, on the brink of a new football season and I was already more excited for next year.

But in a hotel room in Indiana on Sunday, I saw that Tom Shatel and Sam McKewon already had that angle pretty well covered, so instead of the macro view let's take the micro view: What will you be watching for this Saturday?

1. Offensive Line/Linebackers
Zac Lee and Rex Burkhead are going to have a ton of eyes on them come Saturday--such is the life of a skill position player--but in terms of long term success in 2009, offensive line has to be the biggest question mark overall. Back when Nebraska fans were figuring Castille into the mix and taking into account Lee's lack of experience, an experienced offensive line was cited as one of the crutches that would allow a first year QB to come along as quickly as he was comfortable. While the Huskers are experienced across the offensive front, we still haven't heard or seen how the pieces are all going to fit together. Think back to the rather pedestrian running game in the first few games last year when the o-line was thought to be a strength and it's not hard to see similar struggles early on this season. The difference is, with less experience across the board at the skill positions, the line won't have quite the cushion they did last year. How that line gels could be the single most predictive element to come out of the game this Saturday.

At linebacker I'm looking for a playmaker. I think most people are confident that whatever collection of linebackers Nebraska puts out on the field this season will be drastically improved over the skeleton crew that played in 2008, but is there a guy who will make you say "wow"? A guy who can get sideline to sideline, even if it's in limited snaps? A disruptor, a hell-raiser, a revelation? That might be asking a bit much but until a game has been played it's still all conjecture so I'm setting my sights high.

2. Not dominance, just competence.

Florida Atlantic is going to score some points. They've got a senior quarterback and legitimate pro prospect in Rusty Smith, two senior wide receivers, a senior tight end and upperclassmen across the front line. Expectations are high for the Blackshirts in year two, but this week definitely isn't the best one to come looking for a shut out. (But I'd take it.)

Instead, I'll be looking for mistake free football. Making the Owls earn all of their points is a more than worthy goal and that means fewer missed assignments, fewer blown coverages, and just overall improvement. I don't need the 2009 Blackshirts to remind me of the 1995 Blackshirts, I just want them to look like they're a year better than they were last year.

3. Howard Schnellenberger

I just want to see him--the person, the persona--because I like the way he looks. That and he coached under the Bear and talks like it. In case you missed it, Coach Schnellenberger said on 1620 the Zone Monday that this year's team has every reason to believe they can win a national championship...this year. That's a guy I can get behind, even if he's the opposition.

4. Rex Burkhead

So I downplayed it a few grafs earlier, but I'm excited to see Burkhead. File this under unverified rumor, but I was told that at least one player thinks Burkhead could be the starter before the season is over. Do with that what you will--I just added it like kindling to the already raging fire of man love for the true frosh from Plano--but I suspect that Rex could have the debut that we expected Marlon Lucky to have. No pressure.

5. Cover the spread

This has nothing to do with gambling. Rather, I feel like Nebraska needs to be about three touchdowns better than FAU if they're to meet the expectations laid out before them. If they don't it's not a catastrophe. You can write off just about anything in week one and I have a lot of respect for the talent level in the Sun Belt even if the conference falls pretty far down in the national pecking order. A too close for comfort win wouldn't really surprise me, but it would shake my confidence just a bit.

With three starters back on defense for FAU, the Husker offense we've become accustomed to over the past two or three years should be able to put up points easily. It won't mean "offensive questions answered" if they do, but it's a lot better than the alternative.

Those are my five, what are you looking for come Saturday?

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