The Top Ten Questions About the Huskers in 2011
Nebraska leaves the Big XII and heads to the Big Ten. During this transition, there arises several questions. The answers won't be available till this fall or possibly this spring.
Speculation is the only thing one can go on and the answers to these questions seem an eternity away.
But the season gets closer with each day that passes and so do the answers to these questions.
Number 10: Can Nebraska Stop the Fumbles?
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Last year, Nebraska put the ball on the ground 45 times. That number was among the worst in the nation. Out of the 45 times Nebraska fumbled, only 16 of them were picked up by the opponent. Regardless of how many fumbles the Huskers lost, the fumbles need to stop. How can the Huskers stop the fumbles? Taylor Martinez was a key contributor to the fumbles last year. Will he be mature enough (if he starts) to hang on to the ball?
Number 9: How Will the Kicking Game Progress Without Henery and Kunalic?
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Alex Henery ended his career as the all-time scoring leader at Nebraska and also handled the punting duties for the Huskers. Adi Kunalic was almost automatic at placing the ball in the end zone on kickoffs.
How will this aspect of the Husker's game fare in the years to come?
The future looks bright. Mauro Bondi, Nebraska's 2011 recruit, shows promise. He definitely has the leg but how will he perform under pressure when the game is on the line?
Number 8: Can Nebraska Win the First Big Ten Title?
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There's a saying that goes, "You can only make a first impression, once." Nebraska could show the Big Ten it means business by winning the first Big Ten title.
The only question is can they win it?
They were very competitive in the first half of last year's Big XII Title game. The Huskers do lose Amukamara, Hagg, and Gomes, but bring back Dennard, Crick, and most of the offense.
Before the Huskers can even play in the championship, they have to get there. That may prove to be a difficult task with road games at Wisconsin and Penn State, plus playing host to the Buckeyes.
Despite all of this, Nebraska can win the Big Ten title.
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Number 7: What Team Will Become the Huskers Biggest Rival?
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Nebraska's biggest rival was and always will be Oklahoma. Over the years, the two teams had storied matchups, with both often being ranked.
No one will ever replace the Sooners, but who will become the Huskers biggest Big Ten rival?
It could be Ohio State. Two storied football programs facing off in historic matches sounds like the making of a rivalry.
Or it could be Wisconsin. Barry Alvarez was pushing the Big Ten to make the Huskers Wisconsin's official rival.
Many people seem to think it will be Iowa. The two teams and states have a lot in common.
Who will be the Huskers new rival?
That answer probably won't come this year because rivalries take time to develop, look at Michigan-Ohio State.
Number 6: How Will the Huskers Fare in Big Ten Road Games?
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Nebraska won every game on the road in 2010, except for a controversial game against Texas A&M. Those road games included Kansas State, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, and Washington.
Not exactly the most intimidating venues.
The Big Ten hosts several of the country's biggest college football stadiums. The Huskers will have to go to Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, and Penn State. All but Minnesota are tough places to win.
How will the Huskers perform in these arenas?
It is unrealistic to believe that Nebraska will win all of its road games, but a majority is definitely possible.
Number 5: Who Will Emerge as the Huskers Home Run Threat?
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Nebraska has been searching for a true home run threat ever since Todd Peterson and Nate Swift graduated.
Niles Paul had the speed but lacked the consistent hands a wide receiver in college must have.
When thinking about who could be the home run threat for the Huskers in 2011, the names Brandon Kinnie and Kyler Reed come to mind.
Last year, Nebraska experimented with tight ends moving to the receiver position. The result was not as good as people hoped.
Mike McNeill switched to receiver and saw his reception totals go down. Kyler Reed is a bit faster than McNeill and could make the transition easily.
Among the other potential candidates for the Huskers home run threat are Jamal Turner and Daniel Davie. Jamal Turner is definitely athletic enough to play almost every position on the field, including receiver. Daniel Davie is fast but questions remain about his ball-handling skills.
Is one of these guys going to become the down field threat for Nebraska? Or will it be someone else?
Number 4: How Will Nebraska's Defense Hold Up in the Big Ten?
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Nebraska has had a stellar defense since Ndamukong Suh was a senior in college. That was against the spread offenses of the Big XII.
The Big Ten is a whole new game. Most Big Ten offenses have a power-running game. They tend to have beefed-up lineman and running backs as hard to take down as a Mack truck.
Nebraska's defense has achieved the level of performance it has, by using speed. The secondary is fast and has hands as good as most receivers.
The linebackers are the main question. Nebraska uses under-sized linebackers who can get around the field fast.
Can this strategy stop the hard-hitting backs of the Big Ten? What will happen to the Peso? Will the Pelini Brothers keep the same defense? All are good questions that will be answered this fall.
Number 3: What Will Bubba Starling Do?
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Bubba Starling. The four-star football recruit from Gardener-Edgerton High School in Kansas, who is also an ace at baseball. Bubba is a force on the football field and, given Tim Beck's requirement for who will start at quarterback—leadership—could start right away.
But the main story here is baseball. Starling is almost a lock for a top five pick in the MLB draft.
Nebraska has seen it happen before.
What will Starling do? There has been rumors his family wants him to go to college and get an education.
Number 2: What Will the Offense Look Like?
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Shawn Watson is out and Tim Beck is in as offensive coordinator.
What will Beck choose to do with the Husker offense?
He could go in a million different directions. Some possibilities are the zone read, spread, option, or a fast-paced no huddle.
What will the offense look like?
There's a report that Bo Pelini told a recruit the offense would be a spread/ spread no-huddle, looking kind of like Oregon's offense.
Number 1: Who Will Be Quarterback?
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Nebraska has had a new starting quarterback each season for at least the last five years (Zac Taylor, Sam Keller, Joe Ganz, Zac Lee, and Taylor Martinez). That could be the case in 2011.
Tim Beck has said that a key consideration for who would start at QB is leadership.
Beck has a huge list of candidates he can choose from. There's Taylor Martinez, last year's starter, Cody Green, Brion Carnes, Kody Spano, Jamal Turner, or, possibly, Bubba Starling.
Martinez will probably get the nod, but only if he can show that he's matured from the redshirt freshmen who took many sacks and dropped a lot of balls.
If not, look for Starling or Carnes behind center this fall.
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