22 BIG 12
NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS
Cornhusker receivers earning respect
By Spencer Schubert The Daily Nebraskan
LINCOLN, Neb. — It is something several receivers on the Nebraska football team feel they have been lacking from their opponents.
After two games, 14 different players pulling in at least one reception against Arkansas State and quarterback Zac Lee playing above coach expectations in terms of accuracy, the Nebraska wideouts think they finally have it.
It, of course, is respect.
"Since I've been here, there's always been a question mark at receiver," Nebraska wide receiver Menelik Holt said. "For a while, we haven't had a good name just attached to our receiving group. I think teams are going to have to respect us now to know that we can catch the ball and win."
Holt said part of that respect was also due to the guy throwing him and the other receivers the ball. Lee has thrown all over the competition in Nebraska's 2-0 start to the season, averaging just under 300 yards passing throughout those two games.
Lee connected with six different wide receivers, five different tight ends, two running backs and a fullback in Nebraska's 38-9 win over Arkansas State. Receiver Niles Paul said he couldn't be happier about the way the ball was distributed.
"It forces defenses to play us true," Paul said. "They can't focus on one receiver. They will know we have four different guys that can get them with the deep ball, and that in itself will make them play us true."
Paul led all receivers on Saturday, pulling in six balls for 69 yards and a touchdown to go along with a rushing
touchdown. This was a welcome sight among Paul's teammates after the receiver barely saw a ball come his way against Florida Atlantic.
Paul caught two balls for 13 yards and never really had a chance to break out against the Owls' defense. Although frustrated, Paul never showed it throughout the next week of practice, his teammates said.
"Niles didn't complain," Holt said. "Last week, we knew Niles would be one of those guys who made big plays, and he just wasn't able to get the ball thrown to him. It didn't faze him; he still was positive.I knew we wanted to see a guy who worked that hard all camp to get into the end zone."
Holt was the one who made a key block on Paul's 30-yard touchdown run on a reverse play. After Lee made the reverse flip to Paul, Holt's responsibility was to crack down on an ASU player expected to be in good position.
After the block, Paul was able to sprint down the sidelines and find his way to the end zone. That play, among others, had teammate and fellow wide receiver Curenski Gilleylen excited to see Paul getting his touches.
"He definitely got some looks," Gilleylen said. "I think it definitely brings a spark to the whole offense. No matter where we are on the field, we think we can go up and make the big catch."
The diversity in receiving options has Lee in what some see as a good situation as the team gets ready to take on No.14 Virginia Tech tomorrow.
Nebraska's Niles Paul catches a pass from quarterback Zac Lee against Arkansas State's Cordarriese Mingo in the first half the Cornhuskers' 38-9 win. Nebraska travels to Blacksburg, Va., this weekend to face the Virginia Tech Hokies.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nebraska can now focus on Virginia Tech game
By Michael Shaefer The Daily Nebraskan
LINCOLN, Neb. — Did anyone else see that elephant — er, Hokie — walk into the stadium on Saturday?
Nebraska jumped out to a 24-6 lead over Arkansas State at halftime. Quarterback Zac Lee was nothing short of brilliant, and the Huskers were playing a little better defense than the week before.
No one watching the first half would accuse Nebraska of looking ahead to next week's date with Virginia Tech, and
defensive coordinator Carl Pelini was blown away by the play of the team.
"I thought we took the field with a better attitude than any point since we've been here," Pelini said. "I thought we took the field with a killer instinct."
Coach Bo Pelini called his team's play sloppy, but that's to be expected. It's hard to play good defense when your mind is in Blacksburg, Va.
After halftime, though, it seemed like the Huskers' focus was elsewhere.
The defense gave up just three points in the second half, but it was far from on point.
Communication problems and a lack of containment allowed for several big plays from the Red Wolves. Arkansas State's running game found holes outside the box, and its passing game even picked up with a 43-yard post play.
On offense, Nebraska scored on its first possession of the half but sputtered after that
Safety Rickey Thenarse said there might have been a drop in focus later in the game because the end result wasn't in question.
"It is kind of hard to stay focused when you know you are beating a team." Thenarse said.
Though coaches will say their team
is focusing on one game at a time, that doesn't mean players weren't thinking about Virginia Tech during Nebraska's 38-9 victory.
"Everyone has it in the back of their minds," Thenarse said. "We all know that game is going to come."
Thenarse admitted he's been thinking about the Hokies for a while, and why wouldn't he be?
It won't be prime-time again, but Nebraska will have a national audience and an opportunity to provide some answers for its 2009 season.
THE WAVE SEPTEMBER 18,2009
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN