More NU Position Prospecti....

Offensive Line: It may have been said the best when someone asked me: "How do we have all this 'depth' at the OL but no starters?" The only explanation is the wizardry of Barney Cotton. The man who ran QB keeper 50 times a game as OC is now running our offensive line straight towards mediocrity. I hope the Real Big Red is saving a job for him in Ames once its new regime of coaches gets the axe. This unit should be decent enough in pass protection, but we'll see about how the run blocking is, especially at the end of games and against elite teams....when it's most needed. Names aren't necessary yet, they all seem about equal--doing a decent job some plays and then totally missing an assignment the next.

Tight End: This unit is pretty stacked...or at least as stacked as a team needs to be at the position. Two or three players who can run down the field, uncovered 85% of the time, and catch the ball. Check. As long as the blocking is up to par, should be good to go. Dru Young, Mike McNeill, Kyler Reed, Ben Cotton and Ryan Hill all get good reviews as being athletic, etc. Sounds good---can they play WR?

Fullback: N/A

Kicker: NU should be all set here, as Alex Henery is 26/29 in career FG attempts and 101/102 in PATs. Has the leg to convert from almost any distance, as proven vs. CU last season. Only problem PYB can see is if the hype went to his head or has placed too much added pressure on his shoulder to be perfect. Band geeks aren't used to the limelight...

Defensive Line: Success hinges on Ndamukong Suh being able to impact games like he could in 2008. It was refreshing to see a defensive lineman (or any defender for that matter) make a tackle for loss. Being able to stuff the run behind the line of scrimmage 4-5 times a game is absolutely huge, and never-say-die defenders like Ty Steinkuhler and Zach Potter allowed Suh to do that last year. Will Crick & Moore, Baker Steinkuhler et al. develop enough to let that happen in 2009? At DE, experience is good at the first string, but actual results have been spotty. Pierre Allen tries hard, but hasn't been a dominant gamebreaker by any stretch of the imagination. Barry Turner is coming back from injury, and wasn't much of a factor in 2007. However, we'll see what he can do having had a coach who knows what he's doing and not the worst DC in NCAA history--Kevin Cosgrove. (I'm not even sure I'm exaggerating). Development of freshman DEs Cameron Meredith and Josh Williams is essential.

Linebacker: When your depth chart at LB reads like a Nebraska Shrine Bowl roster, you're in trouble. With what little I have seen from the inexperienced crew, I have not been impressed. Game speed is a key here....covering a D-I WR on a crossing pattern or chasing an RB from behind is a bit different than winning the Nebraska Class D-2 100-meter dash state title. Having a big heart gets you in the camera shot on the opponent's TD highlight, it doesn't get you the tackle. Nobody here deserves mention by name until proven otherwise.

Cornerback: The depth here is nice, because PYB contends that you need at least four CBs who can contribute--especially given the prominence of the spread sets in the B12. Then you see who can deliver in big games and make plays on the ball and go from there. Marvin Sanders worked wonders in his first go-around in Lincoln, so I'm expecting the same here. Throw a ton of talent out there, and see who rises to the top. With Prince Amukamara, Anthony Blue, Alfonzo Dennard, Dejon Gomes, Anthony West and hopefully freshman Andrew Green...that should be possible..if not very probable.

Safety: The talk about Larry 'The Assassin' Asante become a leader and learning how to play under control better be true, or this could be another long season at safety. Despite his reputation as a big hitter, I've yet to see him make one.....and he's struggled on pass coverage. too. Matt O'Hanlon at free safety doesn't inspire much confidence here either. Confusing is the fact that the top three players NU has at safety are all at the SS position. Free Safety is just O'Hanlon and Rickey Thenarse...who to this point has been only able to make contributions on special teams. Eric Hagg has been heralded by many as the best athlete on the team, but is somehow only listed as a Co-Number 2 at SS? Huh? PJ Smith has gotten early acclaim, which is key, because it will be mandatory that he develop into a playmaker by mid-season.

Punter: Let's hope Alex Henery can cover both punting and kicking this year without wearing out. This was not a strong position in 2008, as NU was mediocre at best in the punt game. Without a dominant defense or jet-setting offense, controlling the field position is a must. Stay tuned.

KR: Why is Niles Paul the top choice here? He has done nothing to impress thus far....Dennard has sparkled much more brightly. So I say go with him and another speedster.

PR: Ditto. As pedestrian as Paul has been at KR, he is significantly worse as a punt returner. Benched in favor of Nate Swift in 2008, he hasn't shown solid enough decision making or the elusiveness needed to earn this job for a Division I team. Again, Dennard is better. And if Burkhead is all they say he is, a better choice also.

That's it in a nutshell, hopefully Bo Pinelli checks in with PYB.com before kickoff to see what he should do.