Bo Pelini's 12 Step Program for a Nebraska Cornhuskers' 2010 Big 12 Championship

Last year, in monolithic Cowboys Stadium, Nebraska came within two costly penalties and one second of defeating the Texas Longhorns for the Big 12 Title and a Fiesta Bowl berth.

Had the Huskers managed to pull off the upset, they would have smashed all of the team's expectations for 2009. However, just by coming as close as they did, Nebraska surprised virtually the entire nation and have made a case for their return to national relevance.

Bo Pelini, who's hardly ever satisfied with his team's total performance, realizes that, while the Cornhuskers have made many positive strides, there is still much more work to be accomplished.

Though none of the fine college football writers here at Bleacher Report are privy to the inner workings of the Husker coaches' meetings, we can at least speculate about what stands between the 2010 Nebraska squad and a Big 12 Championship.

Therefore, here are 12 keys (in no particular order of importance) that Bo & Co. must address in order to accomplish just that.

Some will seem blatantly obvious, some not as much. However, please keep in mind that these keys are simply this writer's opinion and are in no way a definitive approach to Nebraska's success in 2010.

Individual player performances in the annual Red-White Game, subsequent practices and unforeseen injuries will undoubtedly alter the overall picture to some extent.

As always, any factual errors are the sole responsibility of the author.

1. Replace Ndamukong Suh.

Simply put, this cannot be done.

But I got your attention.

Ndamukong Suh was one of those rare talents that come along perhaps once every generation.

A better title for this section might have been, "Cope With the Loss of Ndamukong Suh."

As much as Nebraska's Big 12 foes have been trying to convince themselves (and everyone else) that Suh's departure will cripple the Blackshirts, the Huskers return both talent and depth on the defensive line.

Jared Crick emerged as a more-than-capable DT in 2009, compiling 70 total tackles, 14 tackles-for-loss and 9.5 sacks.

Obviously, some of his production came as a result of all the extra attention paid to his better-known linemate.

However, Crick took full advantage of that fact and showed surprising ability, especially during the Baylor game where he etched his name into the Nebraska record book with seven tackles for loss and five sacks on his way to Walter Camp, FWAA Bronko Nagurski, and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors.

Hopefully, Crick will be able to assert himself as "the man" in the middle, but fortunately he won't have to shoulder the entire load for Huskers' front four.

Pierre Allen was a regular starter at DE in 2008-09, while Baker Steinkuhler, a descendant of Husker royalty, and Cameron Meredith (both of whom are redshirt sophomores) should round out the rest of the unit and have the potential to become great players.

Behind those four, the competition for playing time should be intense as the Huskers have stocked up on the defensive line the past two seasons with talented recruits such as Jason Ankrah, Chase Rome, Donovan Vestal and Tobi Okuyemi.

2. Stabilize the quarterback situation.

In 2009, Zac Lee was wildly inconsistent, so much so that Cody Green was elevated to the starting role for a couple of midseason games.

However, right after the Husker's Holiday Bowl victory, it became apparent that some of the criticism heaped on Lee had been done so unfairly.

Lee tweaked his right elbow during the Arkansas State game and then fell on it awkwardly against Virginia Tech. The result was a torn flexor tendon in his throwing arm, an injury that required immediate surgery once the season concluded.

The subsequent rehabilitation period will force Lee to miss the Spring Game.

Though the Nebraska offense was riddled with injuries last season, Offensive Coordinator Shawn Watson recently told the press that the Huskers declined to publicly disclose the extent of Lee's injury so that opposing teams would not be able to benefit from it and adjust their gameplans accordingly.

So Lee soldiered on as best he could without complaint.

However, in the void created by Lee's injury, Cody Green will have the opportunity to improve his play and possibly earn the starting spot.

Of course, all of this is dependent upon Green's progression. Despite the chance to work with the first-team offense, it remains to be seen if he can mature enough to supplant Lee. Most everyone agrees that Green has the necessary talent to compete at such a high level, but his ability to hone his skills while demonstrating improved leadership and decision-making qualities remains a question mark.

Watson also views Lee's absence as an opportunity to assess the potential contributions of Kody Spano, Taylor Martinez and LaTravis Washington more thoroughly.

When questioned about Martinez, Watson stated that he is keenly interested in Martinez's talent and the "different style" of play that he offers the offense. This means that we could see Martinez featured alongside Rex Burkhead in the wildcat formation. Watson believes that Martinez could definitely develop into a "role guy" for the Huskers.

3. Re-establish the running game.

It is no secret that the Nebraska rushing attack suffered greatly last year due to injuries.

In Coach Watson's above-mentioned interview with the Omaha World Herald , he stated that Roy Helu Jr.'s shoulder was "never right" and "chronically got worse as the season went on."

The situation was compounded by the fact that their explosive, change-of-pace back, Rex Burkhead, was sidelined for several games by a foot injury suffered during an October practice.

Faced with such adversity, the Nebraska coaches utilized the talents of true Freshman Dontrayevous Robinson with limited success.

This season Watson hopes to avoid such injury problems and for the offense to show more "multiplicity." That means increased play from the fullback position, more rushing out of two-back power sets and physical runs out of the shotgun.

According to Watson, the Huskers unveiled the wildcat formation against Arizona because, at that point, the offense finally had enough healthy personnel. He also claimed that what fans "saw us do in the Holiday Bowl, that's what we're going to be doing...we wanted to make it like an advance spring practice and do what we want to do in the future..."

Another interesting thing to watch will be how much the Huskers employ the services of 2010 signee, Braylon Heard.

4. Keep the offensive line healthy.

Continuing in the vein of the World Herald's Shawn Watson interview, the oft-maligned Offensive Coordinator remarked that, in addition to the injuries suffered at the various skill positions, the Huskers' offensive line had their own injury issues.

If you haven't read the interview to which I keep referring, keep in mind that Watson didn't use it as a platform to deflect personal criticism. Instead of spouting off a list of excuses for the Huskers' offensive failings in 2009, he focused more on his outlook of the 2010 unit.

Although it's hard to discuss one without the other.

Last season, offensive linemen Jacob Hickman, D.J Jones, Marcel Jones, Mike Smith and Keith Williams all sustained injuries of varying severity.

As Watson put it, "We were battered in the offensive line."

Hickman was forced from the Arkansas State game with an ankle injury and also had to leave during the loss to Iowa State. Nevertheless, Hickman, who played his Senior season with a hip pointer, managed to start in all 14 of Nebraska's games.

Obviously, however, Hickman's injuries have proven to be too much for him to pursue an NFL career. Already suffering from arthritis, the former Husker center has also endured surgeries on an ankle, elbow, hand and knee.

As quoted in a recent AP article, Hickman said, "I've got 14 screws, two plates and a washer in me."

Junior Mike Caputo is expected to fill Hickman's shoes at center in 2010.

According to Watson, both D.J. Jones and Marcel Jones "had bad high ankles" in 2009. Both return as Seniors this season and hope to contribute.

Left tackle Mike Smith and left guard Keith Williams also return as Seniors and are expected to start.

Smith started in all of Nebraska's games last year, while Williams missed the Florida Atlantic game due to a practice injury, came off the bench in the next two games and then started the rest of the season.

JUCO transfer Jermarcus Hardrick should bring added depth and competition to the line.

Watson agrees: "If you look at the board, for the first time you see quality depth and competition at all (offensive) positions. We're going to be young in the line, but we've got talent and we like what that talent suggests we can be."

Keeping that talent healthy will certainly be a key to any Husker offensive resurgence.

5. Ensure that the Blackshirts continue to perform at a high level.

By now, the restoration of the Nebraska defense has been well-documented. What Bo Pelini and his brother/Defensive Coordinator, Carl, have been able to accomplish has been nothing short of miraculous.

However, as mentioned before, the rest of the Big 12 is desperately hoping that, with the loss of Nebraska's defensive superstar, the bulk of the Husker defense will suffer.

Not so fast.

While, it's true that the Huskers have lost Suh as well as starters Larry Asante, Phillip Dillard, and perhaps 2009's most improved player, Matt O'Hanlon, Bo Pelini has gone on record by saying that he believes that the 2010 defense will be better overall.

Whether Pelini's claim turns out to be an accurate assessment or just wishful thinking remains to be seen.

Already, we have examined the Blackshirts' D-line, but the Huskers' biggest defensive strength might lie within their secondary unit.

With playmaker Prince Amukamara, along with likes of Dejon Gomes, Alfonzo Dennard and Rickey Thenarse, the Huskers' appear to have one of the deepest secondaries in the Big 12, if not the entire nation.

Not unlike last season, the biggest question surrounding the Blackshirts will most likely revolve around the youth of the linebacking corps.

But considering the great strides the brothers Pelini have made in the Nebraska defense, there should be little doubt that they will get the most from their players, regardless of position or experience.

6. Don't underestimate the rest of the North Division.

In Bo Pelini's first two years as head coach, the Huskers have a combined record of 8-2 vs. the rest of their Big 12 North opponents.

As emotional as Iowa State's postgame victory celebration was (watch it on YouTube if you dare), it wouldn't have been possible had the Huskers not gift-wrapped the football for the Cyclones eight gut-wrenching times.

Not to take anything away from Iowa State, as they forced several of those turnovers, but if your team is the recipient of eight turnovers and only wins by two points, then it was hardly a victory worth mentioning, even if it counts in the standings.

In short, they got lucky. Extremely lucky.

So, when it comes to Nebraska's North Division foes the past two years, the one team that managed to soundly defeat the Huskers was Missouri in 2008.

If you need further clarification, it wasn't the game in which Chase Daniel demonstrated his unorthodox manner of grabbing an in-game snack, it was the game in which he whined about allegedly being spat upon.

But honestly, I thought he had a taste for all bodily excretions, irregardless of their origin.

Seriously though, the Huskers should not take any of their divisional opponents lightly, despite the fact that they will host Kansas, Missouri and Colorado.

Kansas State is experiencing a renaissance of sorts now that they have brought back their former longtime coach, Bill Snyder and Missouri will have revenge on their minds when the Tigers and a slightly more seasoned Blaine Gabbert visit Lincoln.

Kansas is hoping for an overhaul of their own under ex-Husker great Turner Gill, though it may take some time before any results are seen. One thing is for sure however: Gill coaching the Jayhawks will make watching the annual NU/KU game bittersweet for this writer.

Finally, it's doubtful that the Huskers will need much motivation when they travel to Ames or when Colorado comes calling in November, even with Dan Hawkins paltry 2-20 road record at the helm of the Buffaloes.

Nevertheless, Nebraska must continue to take care of business in the North if they want to win the Big 12.

Ideally, they should try to duplicate their efforts from 2006 when they ran the table under *gasp* Bill Callahan.

7. Find a way to beat the South Division.

Since the inception of the Big 12, Nebraska has a combined record of 25-22 against the Big 12 South.

Not good.

However, if you take away Nebraska's perfect 8-0 mark vs. Baylor, the Huskers' record against the South plummets to 17-22.

Another way to look at this dismal performance is to separate the Osborne/Solich era from the Callahan/Pelini era.

Dr. Tom and his successor managed a respectable 19-8 record vs. the South.

Callahan and Pelini? They've only managed a disappointing 6-14 mark when battling those same schools.

Obviously, Nebraska must learn to turn the tide against the South Division in order to have any realistic chance of winning the Big 12 Championship.

The two teams that stand out among that group are undoubtedly Texas and Oklahoma.

By prevailing against the Sooners in last season's 10-3 defensive slugfest, the Huskers beat OU for the first time since Eric Crouch led Nebraska to a thrilling 20-10 win over Oklahoma in 2001.

Against Texas, however, it's been a much different and sometimes heartbreaking story.

Including last season's Big 12 Championship, Nebraska has a record of 1-8 versus the Longhorns in Big 12 Conference play. You'd have to go back to 1999 to find that lone Husker win, when Nebraska avenged an earlier season loss to Texas with a 22-6 thumping in the Conference Championship.

Aside from that, the only consolation for the Huskers has been that in those eight Longhorn losses, six of them were by four points or fewer.

With the win over OU and a last-second, one-point loss to Texas, Nebraska demonstrated that they can compete with both South Division powerhouses.

Now they must figure out how to build upon those games and assert themselves as the true Big 12 juggernaut.

On Oct. 16, 2010, the Huskers have an opportunity to do just that. Circle the date on your calendar.

Call it a gut feeling. Call it Karma. Call it revenge.

But on that day, at the urging of over 85,000 frenzied fans, an angry Husker squad will feast on fresh beef and bring the Longhorns' sickening run of luck to a gruesome (and long overdue) end.

Write it down.

8. Limit turnovers.

For any team to be successful, limiting turnovers is a given.

In 2009, Nebraska tied for 33rd nationally in turnover margin and third in the Big 12 behind Texas and Kansas State.

Broken down further, the Huskers had 28 takeaways (eight fumble recoveries and 20 interceptions) and 23 giveaways (11 fumbles and 12 interceptions).

Obviously, the Iowa State debacle was a bit of an aberration. Meanwhile the Blackshirts' 20 interceptions landed them near the top of the heap in that category.

But a quick look at last year's two undefeated teams, Alabama and Boise State, shows that taking care of the football pays dividends.

The Broncos and Crimson Tide ranked third and fourth nationally in turnover margin with takeaway/giveaway totals of 35/14 and 31/12 respectively.

This is another area in which the Huskers can improve and thereby increase their chances of winning that elusive Big 12 trophy.

9. Increase the production of the receiving corps.

Headed into last season, big things were expected of the Huskers' receivers to fill the holes left by the losses of Nate Swift and Todd Peterson.

If you've followed my sportswriting for any length of time, you'd know that I'm not the type to call out any specific Nebraska player. After all, they're still amateurs.

In this case, however, it's unavoidable.

As autumn approached, wideouts Chris Brooks and Menelik Holt were tabbed as the leading candidates to step up into the void.

Brooks, a fifth-year Senior, was hampered by a couple of injuries late in the season, but by then it didn't matter as he had been relegated to a supporting role. He finished the '09 season with 14 receptions for 179 yards and a touchdown.

Holt fared no better with 15 receptions for 175 yards a a single TD.

In addition, tight end Mike McNeill, who had a superb Sophomore season, was unable to elevate his production in 2009.

In the end, the top three Nebraska receivers were the sometimes inconsistent, sometimes explosive Niles Paul (40-796-4), the less than sure-handed Sophomore WR Curenski Gilleylen (17-302-1) and McNeill (28-259-4).

No other Husker receiver caught more than one touchdown.

While some of the Husker's receiving woes could be blamed on Zac Lee's inability to deliver the ball on target, it must be noted that the Nebraska receivers need to play more intelligently and hold onto the ball in 2010 to help the Huskers improve.

This year's crop of wide receivers will be led by Paul, Gilleylen, Sophomore Khiry Cooper and Junior Brandon Kinnie. At tight end, the Huskers return McNeill and the overshadowed Senior, Dreu Young.

All of them will enter the 2010 season with something to prove.

10. Keep the special teams play special.

This aspect of the Huskers' play is of lesser concern, especially when compared to the offense.

Alex Henery was a perfect 38 of 38 on extra-point attempts. He also set a season record in field goals made, connecting 24 times out of 28 tries. At times he appeared to be stuck on automatic.

While Nebraska was 80th nationally in net punting, Henery exhibited a strong leg, with several booming punts and effectively pinned opposing teams inside their own 20-yard line multiple times.

That lethal ability to help the Huskers keep their opponents buried deep in their own territory was a key reason that Nebraska's net punting average was only 34.67 yards.

Kickoff specialist Adi Kunalic recorded 29 touchbacks, but, unfortunately (and uncharacteristically) kicked the ball out-of-bounds on Texas' final possession in the Big 12 Championship, giving them a short field.

That gaffe marred an otherwise fine season and it was apparent after the game that no one felt worse about it than Adi himself.

In the return game, Nebraska ranked 19th and 30th in kickoff and punt returns respectively.

Niles Paul ranked 24th nationally in punt returns with a 10.71 yard average and one touchdown.

Though he had no kickoff returns for a touchdown, his 42-yarder against Texas provided a much-needed spark and helped provide good starting field position which the Huskers were able to parlay into a fourth quarter field goal by Henery, bringing Nebraska within a point of the Longhorns.

This is not to say that the Husker special teams was flawless, but with a minor tweak here or there, they should be even more special in 2010.

11. Reduce costly penalties.

Penalties, penalties, penalties.

Every season, every team tries to minimize penalties.

For Husker fans, two penalties in 2009 stand out above all the others:

Kunalic's kickoff out of bounds in the Big 12 Championship which set up the Longhorns at their own 40 and Larry Asante's horse collar which gave Texas 15 more valuable yards of real estate.

However, it might surprise you to learn that, in 2009, Nebraska was the 10th most penalized team in the country; 100 penalties to the tune of 894 yards.

Not what you'd expect from a team coached by a perfectionist such as Bo Pelini.

That's 894 yards that Nebraska's opponents did nothing to earn.

For a team whose seventh-ranked defense held opposing teams to an average of 272 total yards of offense, that's the equivalent of surrendering over three games worth of yardage.

Improving this lack of discipline should be one of the top priorities for the Nebraska coaching staff heading into the 2010 season.

It's a simple equation; successful teams make less mistakes, thereby reducing the number of opportunities for other teams to take advantage of those mistakes.

12. Finish close games.

It's fitting to finish this article with the Huskers' need to finish off their opponents.

How many times did you hear or say that the Cornhuskers could have or should have finished last season 13-1 instead of 10-4?

Probably a lot considering that Nebraska's 2009 campaign was littered with several meltdowns, two occurring with a minute and change remaining.

Obviously Texas and Virginia Tech leap to mind.

Aside from those notable last-second heartbreakers, the Huskers had multiple opportunities to put away the plucky Cyclones, even though it was apparent that the football gods were squarely against Nebraska on that dreary day.

Yet, in other games, Nebraska let off of the gas too soon and almost paid for it with another loss.

In Waco, the Huskers jumped out to a 20-0 halftime lead, only to let the Bears claw their way back into a game that ended up going down to the wire.

Additionally, on an occasion in which Nebraska took care of business late in the fourth quarter, despite earlier errors that kept their opponent in the game, they managed to open the door once more.

In the last regular season game, Colorado came out of the halftime break and whittled Nebraska's lead to 21-17 after a drive-extending defensive holding penalty on third down. The Huskers, despite giving the Buffaloes another opportunity by starting the fourth quarter with a fumble, put together an almost seven-minute, 80-yard touchdown drive which should have ended things.

But then a pair of Husker penalties and 35 yards of Colorado offense allowed the Buffs to set up shop at the NU 15. It took an interception by Prince Amukamara on fourth down to seal the deal.

So in the last two examples, Nebraska averted disaster and came away with a win.

And a win's a win, right?

Not if you expect to be among the nation's elite, win the Big 12 and contend for a National Title.

It's a cliche of the highest order to say that a football team must play for a full 60 minutes or that they should keep their foot on the throats of their opposition when they have the chance.

But that's exactly one of the things that the Huskers must do in order to finally bring that coveted Big 12 Championship trophy back to Lincoln.