2008 Nebraska Cornhuskers
New Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini was brought in to regroup Cornhusker Nation and make this former Big 12 powerhouse a contender in the near future. Pelini brings championship experience from LSU after coaching the Tigers’ defense to a pair of National Championships. Let’s see how Pelini fares in his first season as the head man with our 2008 Nebraska Cornhuskers football predictions below.
Offense:
Bo Pelini’s football experience is mostly on the defensive side of the ball. But Pelini will have to put his stamp on offense this season, too. He opted to retain offensive coordinator Shawn Watson as he’s demonstrated his ability to adapt to his personnel. Marlon Lucky is the starter at running back, but this is a solid, deep, and experienced group of backs he has to work with. Quarterback Joe Ganz put together a sensational run at the end of last season when he took over for Sam Kellar.
Ganz threw for 410 yards in his first start against BCS selection Kansas , then went on to shred Kansas State for a school-record 510 yards and seven touchdowns. His 484-yard, four-touchdown assault on Colorado the following week finished off a three-game barrage in which he threw for 1,399 yards and 15 touchdowns. Luck is the Big 12’s top returning rusher, but sophomore Roy Helu is going to demand a lot of carries after a brilliant spring. He can run inside and out while displaying blazing wheels. Offensive linemen Lydon Murtha, Mike Huff, Jacob Hickman and Matt Slauson have a combined 67 starts between them. The top concerns on offense will be finding replacements for center Brett Byford and three wide receivers that have accounted for 281 catches.
Defense:
Bo Pelini must restore confidence in a defense that ranked 84th or worse nationally in every major category, including 112th in total defense. The 2007 group allowed more points, first downs and yards than any other team in school history. The Huskers have six returning starters to work with, including four on the defensive line. Ends Zach Potter and Barry Turner, and tackles Ty Steinkuhler and Ndamukong Suh will be pushed for their jobs after allowing opponents to rush for 232.2 yards per game.
The other two returning starters reside in cornerback Armando Murillo and safety Larry Asante. The Huskers lost their four top linebackers, leaving a gaping hole in the middle of their defense. Phillip Dillard is the only linebacker that has started at least one game. Nebraska is so thin here that Cody Glenn shifted from running back and emerged as a top candidate for a starting spot. The Huskers will be counting on contributions at linebacker from several newcomers, led by freshman Will Compton.
Nebraska Cornhuskers Predictions at Info Plays: 4th in the Big 12 North
Pelini put together a brilliant Cornhusker defense in 2003 as coordinator and his no-nonsense style appeals to Husker Nation. His reputation as a defensive genius will be severely tested as he attempts to resurrect a miserable 2008 unit. The offense must be counted on to carry the load early and move the program forward past the failed four-year Bill Callahan experiment.
Big 12 Wins Expected in ‘08: BAYLOR , at Kansas State , COLORADO
Potential Scares/Losses: MISSOURI , at Texas Tech , at Iowa State , at Oklahoma , KANSAS
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