Nebraska Vs. San Jose State: Gameday Thoughts

Do I know the way to San Jose? No. But, I don't have too since the Spartans of San Jose State are coming to Lincoln today. Okay, pardon me if I'm a little punchy. As I write this, the Cornhuskers are just a few hours from kick off against the Spartans. My football thoughts are racing. This week, they center on the Husker defensive backs, the NU running game and week-to-week improvement.

Pick City?
If there is one thing I'm looking for in this week's game, it is interceptions. Turnovers, no takeaways, should dictate this game. SJSU quarterback Kyle Reed - talented though he may be - is making his first ever start. And the game is in Lincoln. I think he may be giving a few balls back to the NU defense today. The Huskers will likely play a lot of Nickle (5 defensive backs) and Dime (6 defensive backs) on defense. If Pelini and company can get pressure from the defensive front, look for Husker defensive backs to be opportunistic and go for the ball in flight.

Ganz the Runner
The Husker coaching staff has gushed about how impressive quarterback Joe Ganz was as a passer last week, particularly in the first half. IF San Jose State noticed that effectivenss (and how could they not?), then I suspect they may try to play NU straight up against both the run and the pass. That's an advantage to NU's offensive line going against an undersized SJSU defensive front. It's a recipe for running the ball.

I think Ganz will still shine, this time as a runner. Look for NU to roll out a bevy of running backs to work in tandem with Ganz on the read option out of the shotgun in addition to more traditional two-back sets. I'll even call out a possible stat line. How about Ganz rushing for...85 yards and a score, while maybe throwing for another? I'm good with that. And, in terms of the passing game, two words - play action. Look for the tight ends and receivers to benefit from a physical run game to spring big plays.

Injury Updates
Okay, the undoing of everything I just called for could be injuries. The Huskers are still likely to miss offensive tackle Lydon Murtha and free safety Ricky Thenarse today. The backups at those spots will need to be very effective today for NU to play well as a team. You'll likely see Javario Burkes return to the starting lineup along the offensive line, which is good. That goes for Major Culbert and Armando Murillo in the defensive backfield as well. So, that's a net positive on injuries, if you want to score it that way.

Early Start Issues...
Will the relatively early start time affect the game in any way? Maybe. Sure, it affects the tailgaters. But, it probably won't bother NU. The Huskers have a pretty solid routine that won't change. I think the early kick is actually more difficult for the Spartans. They are from the West coast. It is hard enough to change time zones for a game, but the early start exasperates things. I won't get in to all of the social psychology details, but the body function and habits are affected by time. When you change timing, it matters. And the Spartans' bodies think they are playing a full-speed game at 9:30 AM.

Second-Week Improvements
Anyone who has ever played competitive sports or really done anything difficult knows this grain of truth - you never improve more than you do in between the first time and the second time you do something. Basically, game experience changes everything. Coaches know what they have. Players know the speed of the game. All of those mental mistakes and correctable issues from last week have been addressed in practice. I am not saying NU won't make any mistakes today (nobody is perfect), but if the coaches are worth a salt, I can assure you that the Huskers will play at a higher level this week.