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EARLY
BIRD 2010 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED DECEMBER 2009 |
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NEBRASKA
CORNHUSKERS |
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OFFENSE
- 10 |
------RETURNING
STARTERS------ |
DEFENSE
- 7 |
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KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Menelik Holt-WR, Derek Meyer-OG,
Jacob Hickman-C |
DEFENSE:
David
Harvey-DE, Ndamukong Suh-NT, Barry
Turner-DE, Phillip Dillard-WLB,
Larry Asante-SS, Matt O'Hanlon-FS |
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OL
/ RB / CB |
Outside
of center Jacob
Hickman, the OL
returns every single
starter, and all
juniors and seniors.
1,000-yard rusher
Roy Helu gives them
that added punch
out of the backfield
those great Cornhusker
teams of the past
maintained. Four
corners - that's
how many cover guys
received significant
starts at CB this
past fall. |
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Quarterback
/ Safety |
Nebraska
won't beat anyone
worthy throwing
the football with
the QBs currently
here. They need
to manage the game
with their feet,
which is nothing
new in Lincoln.
Departing safeties
Larry Asante and
Matt O'Hanlon were
a huge part of that
'09 Blackshirt Top
10 (total) defense. |
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RB
Roy Helu |
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CB
Prince Amukamara |
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*
DEPTH CHARTS were only designed
as a simplistic gauge for listing
players that departed and players
that received the most playing
experience (consistent starters).
NationalChamps.net recognizes
the importance of missing personnel
data not listed such as redshirts,
transfers, injuries, incoming
recruits, back ups and alternates.
Their coverage will begin with
our full 2010 Preseason Preview
due out this coming spring. |
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NEBRASKA
2010 DEPTH CHART
Returning
Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Zac
Lee-Sr |
Cody
Green-So |
FB |
Tyler
Legate-So |
.. |
IB |
Roy
Helu-Sr |
Rex
Burkhead-So / Dontrayevous
Robinson-So |
WR |
Khiry
Cooper-So |
Brandon
Kinnie-Jr |
WR |
Niles
Paul-Sr |
Curenski
Gilleylen-Jr |
TE |
Dreu
Young-Sr |
Ben
Cotton-So / Kyler Reed-So |
TE |
Mike
McNeill-Sr |
.. |
OT |
Mike
Smith-Sr |
.. |
OG |
Keith
Williams-Sr |
.. |
C |
.. |
.. |
OG |
Ricky
Henry-Sr |
.. |
OT |
Marcel
Jones-Jr |
D.J.
Jones-Sr |
K |
Alex
Henery-Sr |
.. |
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NEBRASKA
2010 DEPTH CHART
Returning
Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Pierre
Allen-Sr |
.. |
NT |
.. |
.. |
DT |
Jared
Crick-Jr |
Baker
Steinkuhler-So |
DE |
Cameron
Meredith-So |
.. |
BUCK |
Sean
Fisher-So |
Eric
Martin-So |
MLB |
Will
Compton-So |
.. |
WLB |
Blake
Lawrence-Sr |
Mathew
May-Jr |
CB |
Alfonzo
Dennard-Jr |
Anthony
West-Sr |
CB |
Prince
Amukamara-Sr |
Dejon
Gomes-Sr |
SS |
P.J.
Smith-So |
.. |
FS |
Eric
Hagg-Sr |
Austin
Cassidy-Jr |
P |
Alex
Henery-Sr |
.. |
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QUICK
ANALYSIS |
12/8/09
The expectations that head coach
Bo Pelini bought with him to
Lincoln included improving the
leaking defense as ‘priority
one’, and boy, howdy…did
he do a magnificent job this
past season with that side of
the ball. Just two seasons ago,
Nebraska’s historical
drop-off (never before had NU
allowed 400+ points in a season;
allowed 455 in 2007) meant they
finished as the nation's 112th
ranked defense. Granted Heisman
Finalist Ndamukong Suh is moving
on to be a possible No. 1 overall
NFL draft pick, but the term
"Blackshirt" also
signifies the true team concept.
And it's been working, again
with intimidation most have
come to expect. Looking at the
depth chart numbers...with ten
starters back, the offense would
appear to be the strength. But
everyone knows offensive production
has been struggling…predictable
for the most part because the
Huskers are no threat to throw
the football. The same formula
looks to stay true in 2010...play
solid defense, pound the ball
with that big I-Back (Helu),
get some efficiency out of the
QB (which has yet to be found
with Lee), and compete for the
lesser Big 12 North Division.
As proven, anything can happen
in that Conference Title tilt.
Such a road map almost unfolded
for this team that way in '09.
The difference this time around
is that the offense does have
a better outlook. Now it's just
a matter of competing with the
South Division powers. Nebraska
will enter their regular season
rematch with Texas at home in
mid-October, likely with a 5-0
record and a Top 10 ranking.
Whether we start the polls now
or at the midway point of season,
how does/will a school such
as this – with such a
weak non-conference schedule
– really measure? A Top
10 ranking at some point is
inevitable if their record remains
clean by then.
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NEBRASKA
2010 SCHEDULE
Sep.
4 Western Kentucky
Sep. 11 Idaho
Sep. 18 at Washington
Sep. 25 South Dakota State
Oct. 2 at Kansas State
Oct. 16 Texas
Oct. 23 at Oklahoma State
Oct. 30 Missouri
Nov. 6 at Iowa State
Nov. 13 Kansas
Nov. 20 at Texas A&M
Nov. 26 Colorado
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