STEVEN M. SiPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Friday, November 24, 2006 6:00 pm
Carl Nicks found little to complain about Friday after making his first start at Nebraska.
“I give myself a B,” said the 6-foot-5, 325-pound junior college transfer, who started in place of injured Matt Slauson at right tackle.
So, why not an A?
“Everything wasn’t crisp and clean,” Nicks said.
Nebraska offensive line coach Dennis Wagner praised Nicks and the line in general after the Huskers rolled up 468 yards of total offense and 24 first downs in a 37-14 triumph over Colorado at Memorial Stadium to cap the regular season.
As for Nicks, “There was never a question about his ability,” Wagner said. “We knew all along he had talent.”
Nicks, however, has needed time to become comfortable in Nebraska’s complex West Coast offense since transferring from Hartnell (Calif.) Junior College. He played a lot early in the season as a reserve, then saw his playing time dwindle in the last five or six games, said Wagner, noting that Nicks wasn’t beaten Friday in pass-protection.
OK, maybe that’s not totally accurate.
“I might’ve gotten beat one time,” Nicks said. “But my man (guard Jacob) Hickman picked me up” with a block.
Slauson, a sophomore, sat out with a high ankle sprain. Nicks said he was told early in the week that he would start Friday.
Sophomore Lydon Murtha started ahead of junior Chris Patrick at left tackle for the second time in the past three games. Murtha played the vast majority of the snaps Friday.
“It’s a matter of competition in practice,” Wagner said. “I just felt the guys we played were the guys who were best prepared.”
Patrick prepared well, Wagner said.
However, “You better be at the top of your game in practice, or someone will take your spot.”
Senior guard Greg Austin sat out Friday with a knee injury. But Wagner said both Austin and Slauson should be ready to play in the Big 12 Championship Game next Saturday.
Good execution
I-back Brandon Jackson’s third-quarter fumble inside the Colorado 20-yard line marked the first time this season Nebraska hadn’t scored in the red zone in Big 12 Conference play. To that point, the Huskers were 19-for-19 on red-zone conversions in conference games. Nebraska finishes 23-of-24 in the red zone in Big 12 games, with 20 touchdowns.
What’s more, the Huskers on Friday were 11-for-18 combined on third- and fourth-down conversions.
“That’s big-time football when you can execute at that level,” NU head coach Bill Callahan said.
Dual role
Nebraska place-kicker Jordan Congdon isn’t getting much field-goal action, but he booted a beauty of a pooch punt in the fourth quarter. The 35-yarder pinned the Buffs at their 1-yard line and helped produce a safety on the next play. Congdon, an all-state punter in high school in San Diego, said he’s not worried about the fact he has only five field goals on seven attempts this season.
“When we’re scoring touchdowns,” he said, “you can’t argue with it.”
Staying focused
Nebraska offensive coordinator Jay Norvell said he was able to focus on the Colorado game while going through the interview process with Iowa State last week. He was informed Tuesday night he was no longer a candidate to succeed Dan McCarney as the Cyclones’ head coach.
“I don’t know if I want to elaborate on it,” Norvell said. “It’s something I’ve worked for for a long time. There’s no script that you can write for those types of things. My goal is to come here and win championships with Coach Callahan.”
Numbers game
Husker senior quarterback Zac Taylor’s two touchdown passes Friday gave him 43 for his career, tying Tommie Frazier for the most in school history. In addition, Taylor increased his season passing yardage to 2,789, topping his school record of 2,653 from last year. … Jackson became just the second player to rush for 100 or more yards against Colorado this season. … NU finished 3-0 in November and has won five straight in the month dating to last season.
Watch out, Zac!
Callahan admitted he cringes sometimes when he sees Taylor holding the ball and looking for receivers as defenders close in around him.
“I sometimes sit there and yell at him, ‘Throw it! Get rid of the ball!’” Callahan said, adding, “He’s a competitive guy. The play’s never dead when the ball’s in his hands. He’s going to do everything he can to exhaust the play and exhaust progressions.”
Injuries
Marlon Lucky sat out much of the game because of a back injury. “I don’t know what’s wrong with it,” the sophomore running back said.
Cody Glenn was in street clothes, nursing a foot injury suffered Nov. 11 against Texas A&M.
John Mabry and Brian Rosenthal contributed to this story.