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By the Lincoln Journal Star
Sam’s opening statement
How’s Sam Keller’s throwing motion? How fast does he eat his orange wedges? Does he double-knot his shoelaces? Finally, a month of questions gives way to a month of answers. People here have heard an awful lot about the Husker quarterback, and most of them think they like the guy. But, oh, how the senior must crave a statement game, a 350-yard-plus aerial display, some ridiculously brilliant stat line that rolls along the bottom of TV screens in Tempe, Ariz. OK, we’re not going there. That story was for August. The question at hand: Can Keller’s
calmness win the day? He’s admittedly excitable. Today, he wants “a diligent approach.” He hasn’t played a football game since 2005 for Arizona State. He threw four touchdowns in each of the first four games to start that season. Fine and good, but now people want to see him do that wearing red.
The bottom line: NU hasn't lost a season opener since 1985 (vs. Florida State).
Watch for No. 93 Ndamukong Suh
It’s easy to imagine Husker sophomore Ndamukong Suh spending enough time in the Nevada backfield to owe rent at day’s end.
Lined up against the nose tackle will be Nevada’s third-string center, Josh Catapano, who gives up 20 pounds to Suh.
Factor in that the guy behind that center is a quarterback - Nick Graziano - starting his first game and you can’t blame the 6-foot-4, 305-pound Suh for licking his chops.
“It’s his first game, coming into a loud stadium,” Suh said. “If you get in his face, that’s your advantage taking him out of his comfort zone.”
Last year, in his first season of play, Suh had 19 tackles, but eight of those were for loss. He also had 3½ sacks.
Nevada (8-5 in 2006)
The bottom line: Has played just one Big 12 opponent in its 101-year history (A&M in 1950).
Watch for No. 7 Luke Lippincott
Nothing in Nevada junior Luke Lippincott’s numbers from last year will knock you over.
He started three games, had 94 carries for 456 yards and a team-high nine touchdowns.
“Mostly, he just wasn’t comfortable, and now he is and it’s showing,” Nevada running backs coach Jim Maestro told the Reno Gazette-Journal.
The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder’s work ethic during the offseason had coaches raving. Maestro called it “unbelievable.”
“He’s got to be as improved a back as we’ve had here,” Coach Chris Ault said to the Gazette-Journal.
Expect Lippincott to take his share of licks today, but don’t be shocked if he gets loose for a couple of those long runs that cause Husker fans to groan.
- Brian Christopherson
Watch those corners
JUCO transfer Armando Murillo was listed ahead of returning starter Andre Jones at cornerback when the depth chart came out Tuesday. Keep an eye on how the playing time shakes out between those two. The junior Murillo worked his tail off to win the job from his friend Jones. Now he must play big enough to keep it. And, of course, there’s that other cornerback spot. Senior Cortney Grixby is the starter there, but he’s being backed up by a team captain, Zackary Bowman, who just recently returned to the field after a second major knee injury. Bowman is supposed to play, but how much? And will he look good doing it?
The next big thing
Some freshmen are going to get the keys to the Big Red car today. It’s expected you’ll see Quentin Castille and Roy Helu at running back. Their playing time might be exaggerated if junior Cody Glenn’s health is in question. Then there’s Dreu Young of Cozad, a tight end with good hands and a good impression on Husker coach Bill Callahan. Omaha North grad Niles Paul could see some action at wide receiver and also returning kicks. Binoculars might be of particular use during special-teams play, when the Huskers could trot out several freshmen, among them Prince Amukamara, Blake Lawrence and Anthony Blue. Who will be the next thing by dinnertime tonight? Don’t doubt that it could be Castille, a 6-foot-1, 245-pound bruiser who likes contact, but doesn’t lack confidence. “I wasn’t taught to go around people,” he said earlier this week. “I mean, I can do it, but that’s just the way I was taught: get north and south.”
Crispness versus confusion
Call it unfair, but whatever works today is going to be met with this thought: Would those same plays have worked against Wake Forest? How about Southern Cal? Plenty of people see today as a warm-up game of sorts. Nevada has a rookie quarterback and can’t possibly hold up in Memorial Stadium, right? Still, it should not be lost that this is easily the stiffest opening game a Callahan Husker team has taken on — the others being Western Illinois, Maine and Louisiana Tech. And even if Nevada proves no match for Nebraska, the Huskers need to display a certain crispness. A day filled with turnovers, penalties and confusion only brings about a week of discontent around here, nothing you want with the big dogs on the doorstep.
— Brian Christopherson
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