Husker linemen look to live up to old standards

By Nathan Walters  |   Monday, August 28, 2006  |  Comments( 6 )

Nebraska Cornhuskers
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In the 1990s, the Nebraska Cornhuskers' offensive linemen could have been mistaken for giant steamrollers on the football field, flattening everything in their way. From 1991-2001, the line and option attack that defined Nebraska football allowed the Cornhuskers to lead the nation in rushing seven times.

However, when new coach Bill Callahan came to town and implemented the West Coast Offense in 2004, Nebraska's rushing attack dipped from stellar down to the cellar. In 2005, the Cornhuskers hit rock bottom, finishing dead last in the Big 12, rushing for a meager 96 yards per game. Quarterback Zac Taylor also felt the heat of the young and inexperienced offensive line, being sacked 38 times.

It's no surprise, then, that most of the focus in Lincoln this fall has been on making the offensive line more like what Husker fans refer to as "The Pipeline." This line must be able to give Taylor more time to throw the ball to his experienced receivers as well as opening up holes for the young tailbacks to run through.

Of the players that started the Alamo Bowl game against Michigan and opened up huge holes for running back Cory Ross to rush for 165 yards, four return. And of the four, two are seniors.

Senior center Kurt Mann has started all 23 games for the Cornhuskers the past two seasons and has a strong grip on his position entering the 2006 season, as well. Mann was named to the Rimington and Outland Trophy Watch List. The Rimington Trophy, given to the nation's best center, is named after former Nebraska center Dave Rimington.

The 6-foot-4, 290-pound Mann was a second-team All-Big 12 pick last fall, and is also on the Preseason All-Big 12 team. He will play the 2006 season as a graduate student after earning his degree in mechanized systems management in May. He completed his undergraduate work with a 3.982 cumulative grade-point average.

Senior guard Greg Austin is also very experienced on the line, as he's lettered three times and has played both right and left guard, as well as center during his tenure in Lincoln. He played in all 12 games in 2005, with 10 starts at left guard, helping the Cornhuskers rank among the best passing units in the Big 12.

Sophomore Lydon Murtha saw more action than most underclassmen in 2005, playing in nine games and starting in three of them. At 6-7 and 315 pounds, Murtha is one of the largest players on the offensive line. He is very versatile and can block well in either passing or rushing situations. Both Murtha and offensive tackle Victory Haines are 6-7, making them the tallest players on the Nebraska roster. Murtha will be battling Mike Huff (6-6, 305-pound sophomore) for the starting tackle.

Junior Chris Patrick began the 2005 season on the bench and stayed there for most of the year before putting on a show against Colorado and Michigan, starting both games. In 2006, Patrick, the only offensive lineman below 300 pounds (6-4, 290), looks to keep his spot atop the depth chart.

Offensive lineman Carl Nicks joined the Huskers from Hartnell Junior College in Salinas, CA. Nicks, weighing in at 325 pounds, looks to challenge for playing time right away. Nicks started his career playing defensive tackle but found his niche on the offensive side of the ball. He received a four-star rating from both Rivals.com and Scout.com.

Sophomore Matt Slauson is the biggest player on Nebraska's roster at 6-5, 335 pounds, and is the returning starter at right tackle. Slauson took over the RT position after senior Seppo Evwaraye was slowed by a foot injury late in the season. Much like Murtha, Slauson started the final two games of the season against Colorado and Michigan. His play helped the Huskers post the second-best passing game in school history with 392 yards at Colorado.

With so many additions to Nebraska's offensive line in the offseason, as well as returning depth, many a Husker faithful are wondering whether this offensive line will look like the lines of the past that opened holes so big a dump truck could drive through them. The Huskers have plenty of depth and talent at running back, but all that talent will be void if the backs have no holes to run through.

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