I have to be honest, my gut is a little uneasy about this one. Although I believe the Huskers are the better team going into the game, I'm somewhat concerned about a possible let down after the stellar performance the Huskers displayed against South Alabama. There are other reasons for my chagrin. This is the first road game. Miami is hungry after last year's loss in Lincoln. The game will be played on grass, and weather could be a factor. Still I will have to go with the Huskers 35-21. Here's my analysis (gut informed by brain).
Brad Kaaya: Kaaya is, without question, an excellent passer. After 2 games, he's ranked 49th in total passing yards with 460 passing yards (230 per game), completing 37 of 59 passes (62.7%). He hasn't thrown any interceptions and has tossed for 3 touchdowns. The good news is that he put up these numbers against less that formidable competition. The bad news is that probably doesn't matter too much. I look for Kaaya to really be on his game this Saturday. It will be crucial for the Huskers to get pressure on him early and often to disrupt his timing.
Running Back: The good news is that Duke Johnson is gone. The bad news is that Joseph Yearby and Mark Walton have emerged as a two headed monster for the Canes at running back. Yearby is a local Miami high school hero. Yearby is 5' 9" and 202 lbs. (doesn't that sound eerily Abdullah like?). Yearby is quick and slippery. It's difficult to lay a lick on him straight up and he slips out of a lot of tackles. Against FAU, Yearby had 146 yards on 18 carries (8.1 ypc). He also had 3 receptions for 97 yards. Mark Walton is similarly built but has a different style. He's not afraid to run between the tackles. He only had 42 yards on 14 carries (3 ypc), but scored three touchdowns against FAU.
Wide Receiver and Tight End: The Canes lost two of their top wide outs in the first game of the season. One of them, Stacy Coley, should be back for the game with the Huskers. Coley was a Freshman All American, but his production dropped significantly last season. Still, he's a potential star at the position. None of their returning receivers had more than 300 yards receiving last season. So it's largely an unproven group. Miami's tight end is Standish Dobard, an Edna Carr graduate and ranked the no. 4 TE coming out of high school. Last season he had 147 yards on 7 catches as a back up. He's 6'4" and 262.
OL: With several new starters, the offensive line is considered one of the weak spots for the Canes. They certainly are big, averaging 310 lbs.
Defense: The strength of Miami's defense is their secondary. The defense has allowed subpar competition to rush for 276 yards total in two games, 57th best in the country.
Brad Kaaya: Kaaya is, without question, an excellent passer. After 2 games, he's ranked 49th in total passing yards with 460 passing yards (230 per game), completing 37 of 59 passes (62.7%). He hasn't thrown any interceptions and has tossed for 3 touchdowns. The good news is that he put up these numbers against less that formidable competition. The bad news is that probably doesn't matter too much. I look for Kaaya to really be on his game this Saturday. It will be crucial for the Huskers to get pressure on him early and often to disrupt his timing.
Running Back: The good news is that Duke Johnson is gone. The bad news is that Joseph Yearby and Mark Walton have emerged as a two headed monster for the Canes at running back. Yearby is a local Miami high school hero. Yearby is 5' 9" and 202 lbs. (doesn't that sound eerily Abdullah like?). Yearby is quick and slippery. It's difficult to lay a lick on him straight up and he slips out of a lot of tackles. Against FAU, Yearby had 146 yards on 18 carries (8.1 ypc). He also had 3 receptions for 97 yards. Mark Walton is similarly built but has a different style. He's not afraid to run between the tackles. He only had 42 yards on 14 carries (3 ypc), but scored three touchdowns against FAU.
Wide Receiver and Tight End: The Canes lost two of their top wide outs in the first game of the season. One of them, Stacy Coley, should be back for the game with the Huskers. Coley was a Freshman All American, but his production dropped significantly last season. Still, he's a potential star at the position. None of their returning receivers had more than 300 yards receiving last season. So it's largely an unproven group. Miami's tight end is Standish Dobard, an Edna Carr graduate and ranked the no. 4 TE coming out of high school. Last season he had 147 yards on 7 catches as a back up. He's 6'4" and 262.
OL: With several new starters, the offensive line is considered one of the weak spots for the Canes. They certainly are big, averaging 310 lbs.
Defense: The strength of Miami's defense is their secondary. The defense has allowed subpar competition to rush for 276 yards total in two games, 57th best in the country.
