Kansas vs. Nebraska Matchup Breakdown
by Owen on Nov 10, 2010 11:15 AM CST
in Kansas Jayhawk Football 2010
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PrintPlain and simple this one is a tricky matchup. Nebraska has so many pieces in place and so many of those pieces have the potential to give the Jayhawks some serious problems.
Nebraska will be the toughest opponent the Jayhawks have faced. This will most likely be the toughest defensive opponent that the Jayhawks will see the rest of the year.
Finding a way to take some small victories in the varying matchups and turn those into momentum builders will prove critical yet difficult, but never say never.
Turner Gill returns to Lincoln for what should be his one and only trip as long as he's on the Kansas sideline. Maybe he finds a little extra inspiration and a little extra competitive fire and pushes his team to surprise a few folks with their performance.
Kansas Offense vs. Nebraska Defense
In any game the Jayhawks have won, in any game the Jayhawks have scored more than two touchdowns, James Sims and the running game have gotten going. James Sims specifically has eclipsed the 100 yard rushing mark. I'd say that's a pretty clear indication of what Kansas needs to be able to do to be successful.
Throw in the fact that Taylor Martinez can score from anywhere on the field in under 11 seconds and you certainly have the makings of a game where ball control would be a big plus for the Jayhawks. The good news is that if there is an area that Nebraska is vulnerable it's in their run defense.
For Kansas to get an edge on offense they'll need the offensive line to control the line of scrimmage the way they did the first half against Iowa State and in the second half against Colorado. It will need to be for four quarters this time and there can't be any excuses. If Kansas can accomplish that, Quinn Mecham(I think everyone can finally spell his name) has shown that he has the ability to manage a game.
It starts up front, it starts with being able to run and then it becomes a balanced attack. Quite a bit different from the formula we've had over the last three seasons.
Kansas Defense vs. Nebraska Offense
This is a scary matchup plain and simple. Taylor Martinez is expected to play and Kansas has not done well in containing explosive quarterbacks. The good news is he's not a great passer. The bad news is he's good enough. The second concern is the ability for Nebraska's other backfield members to be just as potent.
What Kansas most likely needs to do is spy the quarterback. Hell you might spy him with more than one. Defensive ends will need to be playing extremely assignment sound and then we have to find another to cue on Martinez while not ignoring Helu and Burkhead.
My initial hope would be someone like Lubbock Smith. Bad news, he's out. An even better scenario would have been a healthy Keeston Terry, but again he's been out for weeks. So perhaps Chris Harris or Olaitan Oguntodu become the guy?
I'm not sure, but I hesitate to put any one of the Kansas linebacking corps on that assignment because it's a horrible matchup and it's going to leave open some major opportunities for Helu and Burkhead to break off a big one.
Either way it's about stopping the run. Tough to believe the Jayhawks can truly stop it, but you have to keep the big play potential down and try to force a few turnovers and a few field goals rather than touchdowns. Easier said than done.
Special Teams
Kansas has looked better in recent weeks in this department. Jacob Branstetter was solid last week providing several touchbacks off of long kickoffs and he proved Mark Mangino wrong when he effectively managed an onside kick.
The return game still lacks a little bit of explosion but all in all it's serviceable. I wouldn't be confident enough in saying this is an area Kansas can win, Nebraska has arguably the best kicker in school history with Alex Henery. And quite frankly there have been a few too many hiccups during the year to have much confidence at all in this area.
Right now Coach Aaron Stamn is definitely one of the staff members that I think everyone is going to be paying close attention to going forward. If special teams doesn't improve, Kansas will always face an uphill battle.
Coaching
Bo Pelini and his staff have resurrected a program in relative short order. They play extremely tough defensively and they seem to know exactly who they are and how they want to beat you.
Right now Kansas and Turner Gill are still on that emotional rollercoaster. Last weeks come from behind "miracle" certainly showed further signs of maybe turning a corner, but that's only on the buy in/"believe" side of things. Gill will still have to show he can get that for four quarters and he'll then have to show that his group can come up with a great gameplan before they'll be viewed as a staff that can win a lot of coaching matchups.
The Big 12 is full of some great coaches. You've got to earn the reputation and no matter how many times you stand up at a press conference and talk about what the staff has done, it's what's done at Kansas that matters. There are definitely some good things that appear to be happening, but it's still "wait and see" mode for Kansas.
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Hope for the best
Hate to be negative here, but this game could get ugly. I think KU’s goal needs to be keeping it from being a blowout. NU’s run game with Martinez is going to give them fits. I agree that Sims needs to have a big day in order to get things going, and that all starts up front with the O-line.
Your defense isn't going to "stop" the Husker offense...
So your offense needs to take advantage of that weak core of the Nebraska D. The Jayhawks ARE capable of big plays, and big plays tend to be the vice of the Huskers D. I obviously don’t give you guys much of a chance, but if I were Gill, I’d focus less on Martinez and more on my offense to have any shred of hope.
No, not really capable of big plays.
Glad I came, just wish I hadn't stayed so long.
People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball...Rock Chalk Talk
Here is what KU needs to do:
Force Nebraskie to pass. From what I’ve seen this year, the Corn WRs drop a lot of balls and Martineeeeeezzzz can be inaccurate. I don’t send any resemblence of a pass rush. Ends just penetrate strait and the tackles collapse inside. Then, I move Chris Harris into the box and have him personally spy on Martinez. This is a game where you gotta take risks, and were just going to have to eliminate the run and see what our Corners and Patmon are made of.
Slow down/reduce the rush, Martinez gets flustered and makes mistakes, their offense suffers. Thats what happened against whatever Dakota school (south I think) they struggled with. Maybe he forces a pick or two. But the run must be stopped (easier said than done against them I know). Gotta roll the dice and focus on this, even if it leaves our corners on an island.
On offense, we need to be unpredictable. The Corn defense will be expecting us to run, especially on first down. I’d come out the gate just absolutely chucking. Why not? The closest we ever came to winning in Lincoln was in 2006 when Mangino just said fuk it and let Adam Barmann throw it like 50 times (and for like 400 yards). Lost in OT, and that defense sucked (as we proved by hanging 76 on them the next year) but still.
This is a game where we need to take chances on both sides of the ball. I’d rather us try and have it backfire than to run the ball and play our softp revent defense and only lose by 30.
SACK UP, coaching staff.
Shit happens when you win championships
That's a great gameplan but...
It discounts the massive Bugeater offensive line. It is not so much that Martinez can score from anywhere in 11 seconds. It’s the fact that his OL gives him holes the size of the Grand Canyon to run through.
build a damn football program, beat some ass, and get on tv more.
I like the defensive gameplan
But if we try to pass on Nebraska, we’ll be lucky to get past midfield. Their secondary is full of future pros and both their starting linebackers are converted safeties. That’s why the run game is so important. If we get through the line, it’s an undersized LB trying to make the stop. If we play ball control offense, I think we can keep this halfway respectable.
by PenguinHawk on Nov 10, 2010 1:24 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
See, thats conventional wisdom
But what happens when we gain two yards on two runs rushing on first and second down, and then we find ourselves in a third and 8? I’d rather do a couple throws starting first and 10.
I’m not saying abandon the run, I’m saying to start the game, lets try to be a little unpredictable. Braskie is gonna be anticipating the run and/or the bubble screen. We need the element of surprise
Shit happens when you win championships
by Andrew Clark on Nov 10, 2010 1:48 PM CST up reply actions
it's a good thought
and we certainly don’t have anything to lose, so I wouldn’t mind seeing the coaches try it. I just don’t know if the element of surprise can make up for the disparity in talent.
by PenguinHawk on Nov 10, 2010 2:25 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
I just wish
the clock didn’t stop on an incomplete pass. We need a running clock this entire game.
build a damn football program, beat some ass, and get on tv more.
agreed
well, I think there should be one for every game but still.
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Turner Gill will control the clock more than Nebraska in that aspect.
Do you expect Nebraska to throw more than 15 times?
Glad I came, just wish I hadn't stayed so long.
People ask me what I do in winter when there’s no baseball...Rock Chalk Talk
Why not?
Every other QB that KU has faced has looked like Joe Montana. Martinez will need in-game experience throwing the ball. KU would be a great scrimmage to get that experience.
build a damn football program, beat some ass, and get on tv more.
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