Nebraska Football: Previewing The Cornhuskers' Game Against Idaho

If you're a Nebraska fan watching the game against the Idaho Vandals (September 11, 2010, 11:30 a.m. CDT, PPV):

YOU'LL BE HAPPY IF...

THEIR QUARTERBACK GOES DOWN, AND GOES DOWN HARD: A crucial component of Nebraska's success defensively last year was the pressure on the quarterback the Cornhuskers were able to apply from their front four. While Bo Pelini was certainly not afraid to dial up a blitz, knowing that the front four alone could bring heat on the quarterback changed how offenses had to play against NU.

Idaho is much more of a passing team than Western Kentucky was, so this game will be the first opportunity for the Ndamukong Suh-less front four to go up against a passing threat.

FOUR QUARTERS ARE PLAYED: After NU got to a comfortable lead against the Hilltoppers last week, it was clear that both the offense and defense suffered from a lack of focus and intensity. That lack of focus was a big part in Western Kentucky's resurgence in the second half, ultimately gouging the Blackshirts for nearly 300 yards.

Pelini, needless to say, was not pleased, and it's safe to assume he...informed the team of his displeasure at practice. If NU can put in four solid, focused, intense quarters of football, regardless of the score, we will know that Pelini's message got through to the team in a hurry.

YOUTH IS SERVED: Pelini may not have played all his cards in the opener against Western Kentucky, but he made it pretty clear that redshirt freshman Taylor Martinez is his quarterback. If Martinez, along with sophomore quarterback Cody Green and sophomore tailback Rex Burkhead, see the majority of playing time, we will get a pretty clear window into NU's offense for this year and for the years to come.

YOU'LL BE SAD IF...

IT'S A HAPPY HOMECOMING: Nathan Enderle, Idaho's starting quarterback, is a veteran with loads of experience and a solid arm. He's also a native of North Platte, Nebraska, and fended off a late push from Nebraska's recruiting to stay with Idaho. Enderle led the Vandals to an 8-5 season last year, and if his return to Memorial Stadium is happy for him, it will be bad for NU fans.

TURNOVERS RETURN: Nebraska was even with Western Kentucky in the turnover battle last week, with two each. If there's a way for an overmatched team to hang around with a physically superior opponent, it's getting turnovers. NU's new penchant for rotating in both quarterbacks and running backs has a number of benefits, but it also means that there is a heightened risk of a player coming off the bench a little cold and more likely to bobble a snap or a handoff. That can't happen, against Texas or against Idaho.

THIRD TO FIRST: Nebraska was only 4-for-15 in third down conversions last week. Idaho held North Dakota to only 3-for-13 on third down in their 45-0 rout of the Fighting Sioux. Yes, NU is a little better than North Dakota, but one of the areas NU needs to improve is its third down conversions to be successful.

FEARLESS FORECAST

One of the great cliches in college football is that a team has the greatest improvement between weeks one and two of the regular season. We're about to find out if that holds true for Nebraska, coming off a decisive but inconsistent win against an out-manned Western Kentucky to face a stronger opponent. NU is still physically superior on both sides of the ball, but unless execution is sharp the game could be within 10 to 14 points going into the fourth quarter.

In some ways, the blatant lapses in focus last week may work in Pelini's favor, as he will have something very obvious to point out to his players as something to improve on and to ensure that complacency doesn't kick in. Pelini's strength has always been responding to a problem, so history suggests he will be able to do so on Saturday.

Nebraska 45, Idaho 13.

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