Keys for Nebraska Cornhuskers in 2012

Is it too early to start looking forward to the 2012 season?

Nebraska still has some offseason work to do. Next up is the spring practices, followed by the traditional spring game on April 14, 2012.

Last season, Nebraska was picked by the media to win the Big Ten Conference. They came up short, but that is not to say the predictions may have been a year premature.

Nebraska had a lot of changes to get used to in 2011. Nebraska played a schedule of new opponents who played a different style of football than the Cornhuskers were used to playing. Nebraska’s defense was built to stop spread offenses, but their schedule was filled with power teams. As Nebraska becomes more comfortable in their new conference, Nebraska will begin to progress in becoming one of the top teams in the Big Ten Conference.

Nebraska’s schedule does not get any easier in 2012. The Cornhuskers open up their season against the Conference USA Champions, Southern Mississippi. The Golden Eagles finished the 2011 season with a 12-2 record. Nebraska does hold a 2-1 series lead over Southern Mississippi.

Next, Nebraska plays in the Rose Bowl against UCLA before they come home to face the Sun Belt Champions, Arkansas State.

UCLA is in a transition period. The Bruins fired head coach Rick Neuheisel and hired Jim Mora. It will be interesting to see what kind of UCLA team Nebraska faces next season.

Arkansas State is one of the nation’s up-and-coming teams. The Aggies finished the 2011 season with a 10-3 record and hired a new head coach. Gus Malzahn left Auburn to become Arkansas State’s new head coach. Malzahn served as the offensive coordinator at Auburn.

Nebraska still has one open date on their schedule for 2012 they need to fill. An announcement on Nebraska’s opponent in that game should be coming soon.

Nebraska’s tough games in the Big Ten Conference will include a Big Ten Conference opener in Lincoln against Wisconsin, home games against Michigan and Penn State and away games against Ohio State, Michigan State and Iowa.

Nebraska has one of the toughest schedules in the country in 2012.

They key for Nebraska next season is to find more talent to compete with the teams on their schedule.

Nebraska will be one of the best teams in the Big Ten Conference at the offensive skill positions. Nebraska returns quarterback Taylor Martinez and running back Rex Burkhead. Both players must stay healthy for Nebraska to compete for a Big Ten Championship.

Nebraska also has talent returning at the wide receiver and tight end positions. Wide receiver Kenny Bell stepped up for the Cornhuskers as a freshman and looks to take another step forward as a sophomore. Incoming freshman Jordan Westerkamp may also prove to be an explosive player for the Cornhuskers in 2012.

Nebraska rotated many players on the offensive line in 2011, so they will have some experience. Replacing center Mike Caputo and tackle Marcel Jones will be a key for the Cornhuskers in 2012. Nebraska lost out on their No. 1 recruit, Andrus Peat, to Stanford, but Nebraska has players who can play on the offensive line. Tyler Moore will most likely replace Jones, but Nebraska must be able to find a replacement for Caputo.

There are more questions about Nebraska in 2012 on the defensive side of the ball.

Nebraska’s defensive line was mediocre at best last season. The Blackshirts had a hard time generating any pass rush on opposing quarterbacks. A key for the Cornhuskers will be to fix the defensive line.

Defensive end Cameron Meredith, defensive tackle Baker Steinkuhler, defensive tackle Chase Rome and defensive end Jason Ankrah return for the 2012 season. Nebraska must be able to either teach these players to rush the passer or find new players who can. Freshman defensive tackle Todd Peat, Jr. may be the player to step in and help Nebraska on the defensive line.

The biggest concern for Nebraska heading into the 2012 season is the linebacker position. A change from the Big 12 to the Big Ten meant that Nebraska would need more contribution from the linebacker position. Nebraska had one of the best linebackers in the country last year in Lavonte David, but the Cornhuskers did not have any depth at the position. This year, David is gone, and Nebraska has some huge holes to fill.

Will Compton is a guaranteed starter at linebacker for the Cornhuskers, but the other two spots may be up for grabs. Returning players Sean Fischer, Graham Stoddard, Alonzo Whaley and Trevor Roach will compete with newly-recruited linebackers Zaire Anderson, Jared Afalava and Michael Rose. One of these players must step up for Nebraska in 2012.

Nebraska is not in a much better position in their secondary in 2012.

Andrew Green and Ciante Evans return at the cornerback position, while Daimion Stafford and Courtney Osborne return at the safety position. I look for newly-recruited defensive back Mohammad Seisay to take away one of these starting positions. Nebraska must be able to cover down field better than they did in 2011, even without their All-American defensive back, Alfonzo Dennard, on the team.

The 2012 season for Nebraska could be a real success, with the Cornhuskers winning the Legends Division and playing in the Big Ten Championship Game, or, Nebraska could take a step back and barely make a bowl game. I can see the season going either way for the Cornhuskers. I do have faith that the Nebraska coaching staff can capitalize on the keys for the 2012 season and make the Sea of Red happy once again.

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