Huskers and Sooners lock horns in Norman
Sports Network | October 29, 2008
Norman, OK (Sports Network) - The fourth-ranked Oklahoma Sooners bring an end to a three-game swing against teams from the Big 12 North, as they welcome the Nebraska Cornhuskers to Norman this weekend.
The Sooners are 7-1 on the year and have won two straight games since their only loss of the season, a 45-35 setback to Texas. Since then, Bob Stoops' team has taken care of business with a 45-31 win over Kansas and last weekend's 58-35 handling of Kansas State. Oklahoma sits a game behind both Texas and Texas Tech in the Big 12 South. The Longhorns and Red Raiders meet this week in a critical divisional matchup.
The Cornhuskers have had their ups and downs this season, but enter this contest with a little bit of momentum, capturing two straight victories to move to 5-3 on the season. Last time out, Nebraska was able to successfully defend its own turf with a 32-20 win over Baylor. Bo Pelini's squad is still in the hunt for the Big 12 North title, tied with Missouri and Kansas atop the standings at 2-2.
Oklahoma owns a 43-37-3 edge in the all-time series with Nebraska and has won each of the last three meetings, including the most recent, a 21-7 decision in the 2006 Big 12 Championship Game.
Senior wideout Nate Swift made it look easy last weekend against Baylor, as the Nebraska pass-catcher hauled in a career-high 11 balls for 121 yards and two touchdowns, leading Nebraska to its second straight win. Quarterback Joe Ganz has lit up opposing secondaries this year, including a 336-yard, three-TD performance against Baylor. It was the third straight game that Ganz had thrown for 300+ yards.
Ganz currently leads an offense that is averaging a hefty 446.1 yards of total offense. The success is due in large part to nearly 300 yards passing per outing (297.0). Ganz has played well all year long and has completed an efficient 70 percent of his passes, for 2,303 yards and 15 TDs. Swift has been the big play threat, leading the team in receptions (44), receiving yards (607) and TD catches (six). Todd Petersen (40 receptions, for 454 yards, two TDs) is also a reliable target downfield.
The Nebraska defense has shown glimpses of strong play this year, but at other times, struggled. On the season, opponents are putting up just over 24 points per game, while moving the chains to the tune of 358.8 ypg. One area in which Nebraska has come up short this season is in producing turnovers. The Cornhuskers have just eight takeaways, including five INTs.
Senior LB Cody Glenn is the team's top tackler with 44 stops. He also has six TFLs and one forced fumble to his credit. Junior strong safety Larry Asante is a close second in tackles (42), with two TFLs and one sack. Leading the charge in terms of upfield plays is senior end Zach Potter, who paces the team in TFLs (nine) and sacks (three).
Coach Pelini knows his defense has its work cut out for them this week with Oklahoma's offense.
"They are physical up front. They have a really good offensive line. Obviously, their quarterback is very efficient. Front to back, you talk about all aspects (of their offense), they have playmakers, they have a good offensive line and they are very well-coached. They don't try to trick you. Everybody has their special plays, but they are very efficient. They are very good."
The Sooners scored a school-record 55 points in the first half last week against Kansas State and held on for the 58-35 decision. Unlike most weeks when Heisman hopeful Sam Bradford torches opponents with his arm, it was OU's ground assault that pounded the Wildcats into submission, racking up 273 yards and four TDs.
Still, this offense is run at optimum productivity, with Bradford leading the way. The sophomore sensation has completed 67.8 percent of his passes on the season, for 2,775 yards, with 29 TDs and just five INTs.
Although the numbers are impressive, Bradford is not completely satisfied with his play thus far.
"There are still a lot of little things that I'm not doing as well as I should be doing right now that Coach Heupel is trying to work with me on. There are a lot of things even in the run game that I'm not doing like not selling fakes, not making right assignments. I think there are a lot of little things that everyone on the outside doesn't see that I'm trying to work on right now."
He likes to spread the ball around and has a number of viable options downfield, led by wideouts Juaquin Iglesias (44 receptions, for 746 yards, five TDs) and Manuel Johnson (33 receptions, for 574 yards, eight TDs) and tight end Jermaine Gresham (29 receptions, for 467 yards, seven TDs).
The ground game is spearheaded by talented backs DeMarco Murray (624 yards, nine TDs) and Chris Brown (576 yards, eight TDs).
The defense has played to mixed reviews this season, but with an offense that can put points on the board in bunches, the OU defense has not really had to force the tempo for the most part. Still, with 67 TFLs and 29 sacks in the first eight games, this is a unit that still likes to get upfield and disrupt things.
Redshirt freshman linebacker Travis Lewis has played lights out to this point, pacing the team in tackles (84), with 8.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks and three INTs. Junior LB Keenan Clayton is a distant second in terms of stops (53), with 8.0 TFLs and 3.5 sacks. Up front, the team relies heavily on the play of sophomore defensive tackle Gerald McCoy (9.0 TFLs, 6.0 sacks) and junior rush end Auston English (8.0 TFLs, 4.5 sacks).
