KSU-preview Texas
Post view: KSU—preview TexasAnother business trip handled. Another pack the lunch pail, get the job done and come home weekend. Nebraska 21, K-State 3…and along the way we exorcised another demon of On the road nightmares. The last time the Huskers had won at Manhattan, native son Bob Dole was on the presidential ticket. Wow, that IS a long time. To be fair, the Wildcats for that 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2004 meeting were flat better. OK, we were better in 2000, but their coaching staff beat us that night. Anyway, all of those bad memories are gone for now and lets focus on what went right. To start with: a lot went right. Running game: check. Passing game: check. Special teams: double check. Pass defense: check. Toughness: check. Coaching: check-check (takes some moxie to pull off a fake field goal on the road on your first possession) Had a little problem moving the ball in the third and fourth quarters but chalk that up to conservative play calling and an inspired effort from KSU’s plucky defense.But what the Husker nation yearns to know is: Did this get us properly sharpened up for Texas?
Quick answer: Don’t know. Long answer? Don’t know.When the Horns come in here on the weekend, they will represent the highest ranked team to invade Memorial Stadium since Oklahoma burst in here in the top spot in 2001. That was the Eric-the-great-Heisman-clinching catch game. And the Huskers will probably have to have a similar game plan to beat Texas this year. Play good, solid defense, make every play on special teams and capitalize on opportunities given to the offense. No mistakes. No turnovers. No penalties. No big breakdowns on defense. The Big Red will also likely have to throw the ball down field. Texas is giving up only around 50 yards per game on the ground. That is stingy. So, expect Taylor and company to spread the Horns out with four wide receiver sets, multiple looks from the TE and much more play action (especially early in the game). I expect Texas to try and win the battle at the line of scrimmage without blitzing initially, but if Taylor heats up, the Horns will bring the stampede. That is when the eight most important inches on the field are between Zac Taylor’s ears. It’ll be a classic chess game with him and Texas All-American safety Michael Griffin. Same thing happened in 2001 between Crouch and then OU star Roy Williams. We remember that outcome well.GBR!
Quick answer: Don’t know. Long answer? Don’t know.When the Horns come in here on the weekend, they will represent the highest ranked team to invade Memorial Stadium since Oklahoma burst in here in the top spot in 2001. That was the Eric-the-great-Heisman-clinching catch game. And the Huskers will probably have to have a similar game plan to beat Texas this year. Play good, solid defense, make every play on special teams and capitalize on opportunities given to the offense. No mistakes. No turnovers. No penalties. No big breakdowns on defense. The Big Red will also likely have to throw the ball down field. Texas is giving up only around 50 yards per game on the ground. That is stingy. So, expect Taylor and company to spread the Horns out with four wide receiver sets, multiple looks from the TE and much more play action (especially early in the game). I expect Texas to try and win the battle at the line of scrimmage without blitzing initially, but if Taylor heats up, the Horns will bring the stampede. That is when the eight most important inches on the field are between Zac Taylor’s ears. It’ll be a classic chess game with him and Texas All-American safety Michael Griffin. Same thing happened in 2001 between Crouch and then OU star Roy Williams. We remember that outcome well.GBR!
Published on 10/16/2006