Dwayne Jarrett’s Departure Greatly Improves NU’s Chances in 2007
It's hard to think of a single player that did more to hurt the Huskers in 2007 than USC wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett. Jarrett had 11 catches for 136 yards and two touchdowns for the Trojans in the 28-10 Southern Cal victory. In addition to the two scores, Jarrett caught a 21-yard pass on third and twenty to set up a Steve Smith touchdown catch and later converted a third down with a 14-yard catch and set up a third and short with a 19-yard grab on second and twenty that became a Chauncey Washington touchdown run on third and one.
So it has to be good news for Nebraska that Jarrett will skip his senior season to enter the NFL draft. Sure, the Huskers were expecting to have some help in the secondary that was absent in the 2006 contest, but not having to cover the two-time Walter Camp All-American and Biletnikoff award finalist should even the odds substantially for Nebraska.
The Trojans also lose senior wide receiver (and Biletnikoff semifinalist) Steve Smith who had over 1,000 yards receiving in 2006 with 9 touchdowns. Southern Cal always reloads, however. The Trojans top returning wide receiver is Patrick Turner who at 6'5� will be a tough match-up for any Husker. Still, I'll take the unproven player that averaged fewer than 10 yards per catch over that duo any day.
1/17/2007
NU no longer has “preseason” games this year. Two quality opponents to start off the season is a great test for this team. Yes, Nevada did take Miami down to the wire…but how good was Miami? Wake Forest is the defending ACC Champion so how nice would it be to go to their backyard and pick up the win a week before the Trojans come to town. The only concern is the team looking ahead and not taking care of business agains the Demon Deacons.
1/17/2007
Any team that beats a Miami team after weeks of rest is a team with athletes and skill. I’m actually much more worried about the Huskers looking ahead to the Wake game and taking the Nevada game lightly. Look no further than 2006’s Kansas home game to find a reason why Nebraska can’t rest at any point on a lesser opponent just because its a home game.
I live in LA, and while out at the bar got to speaking with a USC fan (who, of course, wore his colors out to a game his team wasn’t even in—thanks, Michigan). He was a good guy and immediately the talk turned to 2007, and subsequently to Keller. You could visibly see in him his disdain for Keller, and in opposition to that, his great admiration for Taylor. He said that in every physical aspect of the game (throwing for power and accuracy, running, etc.) Keller is far superior to Taylor. But that Taylor was guttier, more level-headed, and certainly classier than a player who did nothing but talk smack to a team he lost to twice.
I told him I hoped for the life of Husker Nation that he’s learned a thing or two in the past couple years. I don’t think, even if he’s a big winner, that dirty trash talk will sit well in Nebraska.
But I gotta say, I’m willing to roll the dice for a Heisman-caliber QB with an ‘N’ on his helmet.
1/17/2007
Does anyone else want the ‘07-08 season to start next month?!! NU is going to have a WONDERFUL opportunity to emerge on the national scene after a long absence. Our schedule is filled with top 20 teams. We’re returing the entire offensive line, WR corp, experience RB’s, and a former Heisman hopeful at QB. Defense returns the LB corp, and improves in the secondary. I know we lost all 4 starters on the DL, but I’m expecting the new group will be very succesful! I’ve been waiting for the 2007-2008 season since BC recruited the current sophomore class. How many days until the first game?
1/17/2007
Yeah, Nick. I’m willing to roll the dice with Keller, but not from that bozo from Ark.
Only seven more months to go, Grant. We need some of that juice which Chris Farley drank to go into hybernation.
1/20/2007
I think it’s riotously funny, that Steve Sarkisian {quarterbacks coach} declined further consideration for the Raiders job!
Selfishly, I would have liked him to go early, along with Lane Kiffin and Jarrett!
7/23/2007
perhaps the Neb-SC game will be a great one, who knows. I do know this, however, that unless coach Bridges comes to the game with a winning game plan, instead of that horses ass don’t lose big philosophy like last year, Neb doesn’t stand a chance. Even the fans at last years game were scratchin their heads when coach Bridges ran time and again on third and eight. BORING/DULL NORMAL. I’m sure Lincoln is a tough place to play as well, but, SC has plenty of winning experience on the road at places such as, Auburn, Arkansas, Notre Dame, VaTech, etc. No question Keller is a fine QB, and should make Neb offense better, but, too bad he picked this year to play SC. USC’s defense should be the finest defensive unit in the country(see Lindy’s 2007 analysis of USC). Oh, and about that QB kid you said you didn’t want, what program wouldn’t want a 5 STAR QB, who was named Gatorade national prep player of the year, whose record since high school and his freshmen year at Arkansas is 52-1. Nebraska I guess. Too bad to, because after Keller’s 1 and done year (whoopie) he’s gone, and you could have had Mustain step right in. Hhhmmm, not a bad idea ehhh, but, I guess you have another Gatorade player of the year in the wings learnin the system (if coach Bridges even has a system). Sorry bout that, I kinda messed up. It’s USC who has 2 FIVE STAR QB’s who have been named Gatorade national prep player of the year in the wings, sorry for the oversight. Anyway big red, all the best ......oh and ,,,,fight on.