Nebraska drops some bulletinboard material for MU

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Originally Posted by http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/ncaa/09/30/pelini.missouri.ap/index.html?eref=si_ncaaf

Pelini: Nebraska's goal is shutout versus Missouri

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- To say the least, Bo Pelini has set an ambitious goal for his Nebraska defense against Chase Daniel and the high-scoring Missouri Tigers.

"I've never gone into a game making concessions. I won't start this week," Pelini said Tuesday. "We're going to play the best we possibly can and try to shut them out."

That might sound like crazy talk from the first-year head coach. The fourth-ranked Tigers (4-0) come to town Saturday averaging 54 points and 596 yards a game and a Heisman Trophy contender in Daniel. During one stretch this season, the Tigers scored on 15 straight possessions.

"Phew," cornerback Prince Amukamara said, shaking his head, when told those statistics.

But players are on board with the Pelini party line.

"We're not in it to hold them under 30 points. That's our goal, to stop them," free safety Matt O'Hanlon said. "If we do what we're supposed to do and do it right, it's definitely possible."

Nebraska's defense hasn't exactly been a brick wall this season. In Virginia Tech's win in Lincoln last week, a Hokie offense that ranked 112th nationally put up 35 points and 377 yards.

Defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh saw enough positives to build on against the Tigers.

"This team is definitely capable of shutting them down and putting them in tough situations, which we did in brief instances when we were executing on the same page against Virginia Tech," Suh said.

Missouri decimated Nebraska's defense last year in Columbia. The Tigers rolled up 606 yards in a 41-6 win. Daniel completed 33-of-47 passes for 401 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for 72 yards and two TDs on 11 carries.

Former defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove employed a 3-3-5 alignment, with three pass rushers and the other eight defenders dropping back into coverage.

Daniel said after the game that he was surprised the Huskers played only one style of defense the whole game.

"That's like high school stuff," he said then.

O'Hanlon said Daniel's 2007 comment still resonates.

"It gives us that extra motivation," he said. "Last year, we came in with one look and maybe we didn't make as many adjustments as we should have, but this year in coach Pelini's new defense, we'll be making adjustments constantly."

Pelini said the key to controlling the Tigers is pressuring, if not sacking, Daniel. The Huskers also must be ready to make tackles in the open field because of the way Missouri's offense spreads people out. And they can't afford to lose track of running back Derrick Washington, receivers Jeremy Maclin, Jared Perry and Tommy Saunders and tight end Chase Coffman, among others.

Any breakdown, Pelini said, could lead to a quick strike by Missouri. Fourteen of the Tigers' touchdown drives have lasted less than 2 minutes.

In 40 series led by Daniel, the Tigers are yet to go three plays and out. Nebraska's defense, on the other hand, has forced just nine three-and-outs in 53 series.

"He does a nice job," Pelini said of Daniel. "I don't know if he's as good as I've seen. There are a lot of good guys out there. He makes good plays. He runs their offense well. He's well-coached and he makes great decisions."

Nebraska will be best served if it can establish ball control and keep Daniel off the field.

"It's very important when you play a team like Missouri. You want to limit their shots," Pelini said.

Missouri's offense has proved it doesn't need much time to be productive. The Tigers are 115th nationally in time of possession (26:08 average), but they're second in scoring.

Still, Suh said he and his defensive teammates will need help from the Huskers' offense.

"It's always been said that the best defense is to have your offense on the field," Suh said. "That would be great, for them to run the ball down their throats and eat up the clock. The less time I'm on the field, the better."

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