First things first: Nebraska vs. Nevada

By Josh Lashley  |   Wednesday, May 02, 2007  |  Comments( 2 )

Nebraska Cornhuskers
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Before a pair of back-to-back September meetings that will let them know exactly where they stand among the nation's elite, the Nebraska Cornhuskers will have a superb opportunity to work out some kinks and show off their talents in the Sept. 1 season opener. That day, the team will host Nevada, representing the Western Athletic Conference.

While the Wolf Pack present a greater first-game challenge, at least on paper, than, say, Maine or Western Illinois, this is a chance for the Huskers to gain confidence and momentum leading into matchups with Wake Forest and USC, respectively.

A decisive triumph over a Wolf Pack squad that finished 8-5 overall and dropped a one-point game to Miami in the 2006 MPC Computers Bowl could be a strong way of showing that Nebraska is immediately firing on all cylinders.

Veteran Nevada head coach Chris Ault is looking for a solid starter at quarterback and may find him in sophomore Nick Graziano, who threw for 150 yards and rushed for another 24 (including a pair of touchdowns) at the Silver and Blue Scrimmage held in April.

While the quarterback position may still be somewhat of a question, there is little doubt as to who are the go-to wide receivers for the Wolf Pack. Juniors Marko Mitchell and Mike McCoy had 39 and 23 catches, respectively, last fall.

Luke Lippincott, a junior who rushed for over 450 yards and nine TDs in 2006, should be a handful at the running back position, and the offensive line is expected to be anchored by another junior, Dominic Green.

Nevada, which will face Nebraska for the first time, has skill on offense, but the main player to watch for the Wolf Pack comes on the defense. Senior linebacker Ezra Butler was first team all-conference last season and paced the team with 71 tackles, including seven sacks.

Other linebackers to consider are junior Josh Mauga and senior Jeremy Engstrom. Last season, Mauga recorded 56 tackles, Engstrom 41. The defensive front returns some veterans, but the secondary is somewhat inexperienced, which could cause the Wolf Pack a variety of problems against Nebraska.

A strong point for Nevada, which could be a key for the team in the early season, is its special teams. Zachary Whited averaged just over 39 yards per punt last year, while kicker Brett Jaekle made eight out of 11 field goals in 2006. D'Angelo Wilson is a force on punt returns, and Dwayne Sanders does a commendable job at returning kicks.

On Sept. 2 last year, Nebraska downed Louisiana Tech by just under 40 points in the first game of the season. In the opener this year, a victory by the same margin may not happen, but if it does, the Nebraska football community will head into Winston-Salem North Carolina for a battle with the Wake Forest very much ready for what's in front of them.

Original Nebraska Cornhuskers insight, courtesy of RealFootball365.com
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