Chats

Brian Christopherson

November 1, 2007 at 2:31 p.m.

My pleasure to be here, Ryan. Looking forward to it.

Brian Christopherson

November 1, 2007 at 2:37 p.m.

My first thought is to say Advantage Kansas. But Joe Ganz is one confident guy, who might actually present more problems to Kansas because of his running ability. Ganz has been in the program for four years. He knows the offense inside and out. I think the big question is whether he'll be able to control his emotions and not try to force the action in his first start.

Brian Christopherson

November 1, 2007 at 2:40 p.m.

I don't think Ganz will be rattled, but I don't think Kansas is going to be underprepared for the mobility he brings to the table, either.

Brian Christopherson

November 1, 2007 at 2:49 p.m.

D-line. D-line. D-line. Nebraska's has just been getting whipped all year up there. I think most Husker fans underestimated the loss of last year's defensive ends: Adam Carriker and Jay Moore. Those guys were capable of slowing plays down up front, even when teams spread Nebraska out. This year, Nebraska's d-line isn't slowing anything down.

Brian Christopherson

November 1, 2007 at 2:53 p.m.

It's weird to say in Nebraska, but I think it was a loss that actually left a positive feeling with some Huskers. For the first time in a long time, they weren't embarrassed with how they played. That said, you wonder how that fourth-quarter meltdown -- letting Jamaal Charles run for 216 yards in one quarter -- is going to play on guys' minds.

Brian Christopherson

November 1, 2007 at 2:58 p.m.

They certainly aren't going to a bowl game if they played the way they did the past month. They might not go to a bowl even if they step up their game.

It'd be hard to pick Nebraska in any of its final three games. Certainly, hardly anyone is picking them this week.

A previous poster is right. Nebraska looks confused against the zone-read option. Kansas will surely have plenty of it for Nebraska. If KU runs right down the field on the first drive or two, this one could get pretty ugly.

You wonder what the Texas score might have been if the Longhorns had spread the Huskers out before the fourth quarter.

Brian Christopherson

November 1, 2007 at 3:03 p.m.

Hate to keep harping on the defensive line, but I think it's been that. I don't think people thought the defensive line would be great, but they thought it'd be adequate. It just hasn't been. Nebraska has some decent enough skill players, but the Huskers are consistently losing battles in the trenches. You can talk all you want about your Sam Kellers, Joe Ganzes and Marlon Luckys, but if a team doesn't have some maulers on its defensive line, it doesn't have much hope.

Brian Christopherson

November 1, 2007 at 3:10 p.m.

I don't think so. I think Tom Osborne is evaluating a bigger picture than just results on a given week. Now, IF this team suddenly looked completely different, and just won its last three games in stirring fashion, certainly that might change the climate surrounding this coaching staff a bit. But the way things have been going, that is certainly a big and almost unrealistic IF.

Brian Christopherson

November 1, 2007 at 3:19 p.m.

Great question. I think you're right. Nebraska is entering a dangerous territory where some coaches might be slow to come here given what has happened in the past five years. (It should be noted that "Restore the Order" was a nice little slogan, but hardly accurate. Nebraska was just 8-4 the year that slogan was all the craze, order restored if you compare it to the previous three decades of Nebraska football.) I think Tom Osborne might help Nebraska if a new hire is indeed made. He is a coach's coach, and he's not the guy that fired Solich after a 9-3 regular season, so perhaps he'll be able to talk to potential candidates in a way that Steve Pederson could not have. But your point is well-taken. The expectations are through the roof here, some outsiders would even say unrealistic given the current climate of college football. I could see it making a few coaches back away, certainly.

Brian Christopherson

November 1, 2007 at 3:20 p.m.

By the way, to the last answer, I left out a word. I meant to write: "hardly order restored if you compare it to the previous three decades of Nebraska football."

Brian Christopherson

November 1, 2007 at 3:24 p.m.

Oh, I was waiting for the Bo question. There is obviously a groundswell of support for Bo Pelini here. He captured a lot of hearts in his one year as defensive coordinator. Mostly, people admired the fire his defenses played with.

I can't get in Osborne's head, but obviously he hears the Bo chatter. If he makes a coaching change, you have to think he'll at least give Pelini a lookover. That said, Osborne doesn't strike me as the type of guy to just bring someone in to coach because the masses are screaming for him.

I think Pelini would be considered but I have no predictions because I don't know anymore on that than anyone else. I think only Osborne knows right now.

Brian Christopherson

November 1, 2007 at 3:30 p.m.

I think Joe Ganz could be good for this offense. Sam Keller was a solid enough quarterback and vocal leader, but I do think the college game is fit for guys like Ganz, guys who can scramble on a third-and-six and move the chains for their team. So yes, I think Ganz's feet can give something to this offense that was previously lacking.

That said, I don't think Ganz alone can turn the tide. The fact is, Nebraska's got serious issues on defense. Unless Ganz can go both ways and play some defensive tackle or linebacker, I don't see Ganz alone altering the outcome of this game in NU's favor.

Brian Christopherson

November 1, 2007 at 3:33 p.m.

Thanks everyone. Enjoy the game.