First road game won’t be pretty for NU

By Jim Dolezal
Thursday, Oct 09, 2008 - 02:50:33 am CDT

Nebraska travels for the first time this season when it takes on Texas Tech Saturday in Lubbock, Texas.

The Red Raiders are 5-0 this season and a real threat in the Big 12 Conference.

The game is set for 2 p.m. and will be televised by Fox Sports Net.

Mike Leach is in his ninth season as the coach of the Red Raiders. Texas Tech has one of the most potent offenses in the entire country.

Nebraska will face a Tech squad who runs a spread attack much like Missouri. While the Tigers are known for an exceptional group of athletes on offense, the Red Raiders are equally as talented on that side of the ball.

Graham Harrell, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound senior, is one of the most prolific passers in college football.

Like Missouri’s Chase Daniel last week, the Huskers face another quarterback that will be in the hunt for the Heisman Trophy.

Harrell averages 405 yards passing per game. He completes 66.7 percent of his passes (158-of-237) with 18 touchdowns and only three interceptions.

As a team, the Red Raiders average over 583 yards of offense per contest. Tech will likely pass the ball nearly 50 times against the Nebraska defense.

While Harrell directs the offense, the receivers are a diverse group that can shred defenses.

Michael Crabtree, a 6-3 sophomore, is quite possibly the best receiver in the entire nation. In only a season and a half, he already has 30 career touchdowns for the Red Raiders.

An extremely physical receiver with outstanding hands, Crabtree will be a future star in the NFL.

So far in 2008, Crabtree leads the team with 38 receptions and eight touchdowns. He also averages 112 yards receiving per game.

Senior Eric Morris is a small receiver that seems to always find a way to get open. He has 26 catches on the year while teammate sophomore Detron Lewis had added 27 grabs for Tech.

The running attack for the Red Raiders is better than in the past for Leach.

A pair of backs do the job for Tech.

Senior Shannon Woods averages 69 yards rushing per game with seven touchdowns.

Sophomore Baron Batch adds 61 yards per game on the ground. This is enough of a running game to really help the potent passing of the Red Raiders.

The offensive line does an outstanding job of protecting Harrell. The line uses extremely wide splits that create good running and throwing lanes for the offense. So far, the Red Raiders have only given up one sack on the season. From tackle to tackle, Tech averages nearly 6-6 and 323 pounds per man.

Senior left tackle Rylan Reed (6-7, 314) and junior right guard Brandon Carter (6-7, 354) lead the way. Overall this is a veteran group that knows their job to spark the Red Raider offense.

Defensively, Tech is an improved group. The Red Raiders use a 4-3 defensive scheme. The defense allows 336 yards of total offense per game, which includes 102 yards per game rushing. In the past, the defense has given up a great deal of yards, but they have solidified their defense after changing defensive coordinators midway through the 2007 season.

The defensive line is led by junior end Brandon Williams. Williams has four sacks, and is a threat as a pass rusher.

Sophomore middle linebacker Brian Duncan leads the team with 27 solo and 40 total tackles.

The secondary is paced by senior strong safety Daniel Charbonnet with four interceptions. The defense will play with confidence coming off of a big win last week at Kansas State.

In the past, this was the weak link for Texas Tech, but in 2008 the defense is playing with much more passion than in the past.

The Red Raiders have been poor in the kicking game. Freshman kicker Donnie Carona is 2-for-6 on field goals and 29-for-32 on extra points. His longest field goal is only 35 yards.

Punter Jonathan LaCour averages 37 yards with one punt blocked this season. LaCour has only punted nine times this season.

Eric Morris has an 86-yard punt return for a touchdown to spark the Tech return game. With team speed, the Red Raiders are a threat both on kickoff and punt returns.

Nebraska likely has lost some confidence. Texas Tech has an explosive wide-open offense that can score from anywhere on the field. The Red Raiders average 48 points per game and will look to take advantage of their talent edge over the Husker secondary. The Big Red goes on the road and is humbled by a deadly passing game. Texas Tech runs it up in a 63-24 win over Nebraska.

Jim Dolezal is a local Husker football fanatic as well as a part-time sports writer for the Telegram. He will analyze the Huskers’ opposition from a hometown perspective every Thursday throughout the season.

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this is gonna be sweet
Oct 9, 2008 9:12 AM
Huskers 12
Red Raiders 63

da da da da da go huskers.

I say Graham Harrell sits halfway through the third. Maybe even at half. WOuldn't want to get spit on or taken out at the knees by a bunch of classless, bush league "C" grade Division 1 athletes.
golfball
Oct 9, 2008 10:45 AM
this is gonna be sweet: I bet you couldn't last one lickin by a defensive lineman. Yea, nebraska probably will lose this game by a decent margin, however, if your gonna go throw derogitive remarks, go to colorado, you'd fit right in their student section throwing cups and other items onto a field then gettin ejected in the middle of a game....then going outside and slashing opponents tires on their vechicles. Least nebraska has one of the most respected stadiums and fans in college football.
RRaider8283
Oct 9, 2008 12:41 PM
Nebraska USED to have one of the most respected teams and stadiums in the nation...my how times have changed. Tech used to be the under-dog and an easy win, but that is far from true thanks to the Leach and Harrell era. As for our fans, yes we are rowdy but so is every other team. I can tell you A&M fans are some of the biggest jerks you will come across which is why we Red Raiders savor our defeat over them every year so much. Every team's fans have flaws, but don't make a hasty generalization. Don't worry, we will be very respectful and polite when we hand you your first road loss of the year and 60+ points this Saturday :)
ttw
Oct 9, 2008 1:45 PM
"golfball-Least nebraska has one of the most respected stadiums and fans in college football."

Last game i was at it seemed that to many old people were there. An older lady in front of us was kniting or something of the sort, while her husband was reading a newspaper. After a big play I guess we were too loud because she turned around and told us to be quiet. So yeah Colorado has jerks for fans but atleast teams hate playing there because of it.
Class
Oct 9, 2008 5:21 PM
I love how Husker fans proclaim themselves the classiest fans around. Sure when the Huskers were a power and they were beating teams by 50 the golf claps were all around. The true sign of class is how you not only win but lose. I don't hear the golf claps anymore and I notice Husker fans hating on other teams that are good. Bo Bo is nothing but a clown and his players reflect his class. Cheap shots, spitting, running their mouths, etc... Class, no that left in 1997.
Gary Graul
Oct 10, 2008 7:21 AM
It's time to spread..
I won't list all the teams that have either joined for
the first time or come back to the upper tier by switching
to the spread in the last few years. We are witnessing a
sea change that hasn't been matched since the T replaced
the single wing.
After Saturday night's result was no longer in doubt, I
just looked at both team's offenses with unprejudiced
eyes. What jumped out as big as a $700 billion bailout
was that Missouri's offense lined up all the way from one
sideline to another while ours was a little bunch near the
middle of the field. We had to defend about 10 times as
much territory as they did.
If Watson, Cotton, et. al. can't adapt to this modern
marvel, we need to get coaches who can. Otherwise, we
will struggle to be an average team every season.
Dave
Oct 10, 2008 7:23 AM
As a Husker fan for quite a loooong time, I have to agree with your "fan"
statements! But if you look at the whole picture and today's dynamics I think you would find that yes, in years past NU fans were good fans, respectful to BOTH schools that were on the field. However the OLD people that are being referred to WERE those fans. With today's youth comes rudeness, and with such "tolerance" in todays world, I'm afraid it is what it is. Anyway, looking forward to the trip and here's hoping to a good game with no injuries to either squad.
Randy McChesney
Oct 10, 2008 7:47 AM
Agreed - it won't even be close. And, this won't be even close to the last time it isn't for the foreseeable future. Watson and Cotton need to be replaced. As does most of the defense. C'mon, Bo. What's with the fancy stuff with a team who can't execute the basics??
To Class
Oct 10, 2008 8:50 AM
To Class: everytime there is an article about the Huskers you weigh in with your "Bo Bo the Clown" comments. You write the same thing every blog... the SAME thing. My brother played for the Huskers for 4 years during the height of their championships and played under Charlie McBride. He was a fantastic defensive coach but I can guarantee you class is not a word anyone who ACTUALLY knows him would use... In any stadium you will find respectful and disrespectful fans, but I do believe the Nebraska has some of the most loyal fans... whiich is why I think people like you are so obsessed with hating them...
Hate
Oct 10, 2008 9:20 AM
Hate no but truth yes. Nebraska fans were great when their team was running up the score and beating teams by a good margin. They are a below average team and the fans are showing their true class. Loyal fans don't leave at halftime, sure the sellout streak is great but if your team is so bad that you leave in the second quarter well then? Do you not watch Bo Bo on the sideline? Chomping his gum and running around like a chicken, Bo Bo the clown is a joke and like I said, there is a reason the huskers passed on him the first time.
FanMan
Oct 10, 2008 9:32 AM
Things work in cycles. Nebraska happens to be down right now and Texas Tech is up. Kudos to the Red Raiders.

However, until the Red Raiders can win 5 National Titles I would suggest their fans keep thing in perspective. Being a good winner is the sign of a really classy fan base.
percpective
Oct 10, 2008 11:03 AM
I agree somewhat with the cycle thing but the fact is we have to stop living in the past and look forward. If you are a husker fan that is 10 years old and younger all you have is your dad or grandpa telling you how good the huskers once were. Think about it, we have a whole new generation that all they now is average and below average football. Nobody cares about the past, we need to get things rolling.
See but heres the problem...
Oct 10, 2008 11:39 AM
NO COMPETITIVE DIVISION 1 ATHLETES ARE INTERESTED IN NEBRASKA FOOTBALL!!!!!

None. Why you people don't understand that, I have no idea.

Mediocre, at best, for the very forseeable future. (and probably beyond.)
Whatever
Oct 10, 2008 12:12 PM
Every week it is the same old cutting down the Huskers headline. Are you just taking up space or do you feel your articles are interesting and worthwhile? It's the same with anything. As long as we are winning everything is okay, but once we start losing everyone is first to point out who's fault it is. Give the team a chance. If not don't bother watching or blogging.
3DHusker
Oct 10, 2008 11:31 PM
Envy has many different forms. From cutting down the accomplishments of hte past to personanl ridicule. People have been waiting in line for years to bash the Huskers. Go ahead, now's the time, because many of have to also remember, 1) Not winning a National Championship in th l;ast 10 years (but having 5 in the trophy caswe) is a h*** af alot better than even sniffing one and 2) Too many teams clained they had a good year if it was the ONE year they beat Nebraska (e.g. Georgia Tech, Arizona, Arizona State, et al). and 3) 294 sellouts, even with fans leaving in the 3rd Quarter are better than not having a sellout and still having the fans leave. We are the Huskers, proud of our past and our tradition, concerned about the recent history, envied for our loyalty and positive about the future. GBR!!!
you all stink....
Oct 11, 2008 12:09 AM
nothing more need be said....
Skiball
Oct 11, 2008 8:49 AM
Whatever
Thank you for a great perspective on how to handle the current Husker situation. A football team is similar to a team of Horses. If they have been trained wrong, it takes a new trainer some time to get them back to working correctly as a team. Give the new trainer some time to get the right horses working together and it becomes a thing of beauty. The big thing is to give the new trainer some TIME!
wth
Oct 11, 2008 10:18 PM
i hope all you haters are choking on your words! We may have lost but our boys played damn good. True husker fans are proud today. The rest of you can kiss our big red unASSuming fans! Go huskers!