2010 Nebraska Cornhuskers preview

It has been an eventful offseason for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, as they will move to the Big Ten next season, a shift that almost led to the implosion of the Big 12. And the Huskers have enough talent to possibly go out with a Big 12 title, something they came within a second of last year in the conference championship game against Texas.

The Huskers have improved in each of Coach Bo Pelini’s first two seasons, capped by last year’s Big 12 North title, 10-4 record and rout of Arizona in the Holiday Bowl.

Nebraska brings back eight starters on both sides of the ball but loses one of the most dominant players ever in defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. The defense allowed a nation-best 10.4 points a game in 2009, a tough number to duplicate without players like Suh, Larry Asante and Phillip Dillard.

The quarterback job reportedly is up for grabs despite Zac Lee returning as the starter from last year when he completed almost 59 percent of his passes but with barely more touchdowns (14) than interceptions (10). The Huskers finished next to last in the conference in passing yards per game, but the relied on a ground game and their defense. Lee finds himself competing with sophomore Cody Green and redshirt freshman Taylor Martinez.

Whoever wins the QB job will hand off a lot to senior Roy Helu, Jr., who is coming off a 1,147-yard season that led to a spot on the All-Big 12 second team. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry and scored 10 touchdowns.

The defense should still be very good, led by junior defensive end Jared Crick, who had 9.5 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, 73 tackles, four pass breakups and a blocked kick last year. Nebraska’s cornerback combination is among be the nation’s best. The Huskers might run a defense called the “Peso” often. It’s a 4-2-5 alignment that is used in the pass-happy Big 12. It worked well last year.

The Nebraska schedule sets up favorable as it gets Missouri and Texas at home and misses Oklahoma in the regular season. NU should close out its Big 12 life with another division title.

Sept. 11 Idaho

Sept. 18 at Washington

Sept. 25 South Dakota State

Oct. 7 at Kansas State

Oct. 16 Texas

Oct. 23 at Oklahoma State

Oct. 30 Missouri

Nov. 6 at Iowa State

Nov. 13 Kansas

Nov. 20 at Texas A&M

Nov. 27 Colorado

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