Husker Game Preview

Lincoln -- Nebraska appears to have rebounded nicely from it worst season in 41 years.

After a disappointing 7-7 record in 2002, the 10th-ranked Cornhuskers (5-0, 1-0 Big 12) return to conference play for the first time since the season opener when they visit Missouri on Saturday.

``We're back if we continue to win and play this season out and have a great year,'' Nebraska coach Frank Solich said. ``We're just at the end of five games. In order to turn a corner here, we just need to keep winning.''

Nebraska will be on the road for just the second time this season as it looks for its 25th straight win against Missouri (4-1, 0-1), which hasn't played since a 35-14 loss at Kansas on Sept. 27.

``It will be a very physical contest, but Missouri has had two weeks to prepare,'' Solich said. ``I am sure we will see some things that are a little different, and they will throw some wrinkles in there.''

Solich credits his new assistants with fueling his team's success this season. He shuffled his coaching staff during the offseason, removing himself as offensive coordinator and hiring former Husker Barney Cotton to call the plays. He also fired defensive coordinator Craig Bohl and brought in Bo Pelini from the Green Bay Packers.

``I am comfortable with our staff in terms of how they have fit together,'' Solich said. ``We have had a lot of guys who have really stepped up and have worked well together.''

He said he is extremely pleased with his team's defensive play this season, but added the offense needs to improve. Outside some big plays in Saturday's 30-0 win over Troy State, Solich said his team's offense has been lacking.

``We have not been able to control the ball like we did in earlier games,'' he said. ``We need to get to where we are executing a little better on both sides of the ball.''

The nation's top-ranked defense controlled the game against Troy State from start to finish as Nebraska posted its first shutout in three seasons. Troy State was limited to just 150 yards of total offense, committed four turnovers and made it across the 50-yard line just three times.

``Our defense is playing lights out, running around like madmen,'' quarterback Jammal Lord said. ``We'll keep on rolling with the defense and try to keep playing better on offense.''

The Huskers are averaging 26.8 points - their lowest average since 1977 - for the season, and 163.5 rushing yards over the last two games after running for 292.7 in the first three.

``We have not really run the ball well in the last two games,'' Solich said. ``We have been able to create some big plays in the air.''

Lord totaled 1,412 yards rushing last season, the third-most ever by a Division I-A quarterback. This season, he has run for 340 yards and five touchdowns despite being the focus of opposing defenses.

Lord led the Huskers with 72 yards on 14 carries with two touchdowns and completed 7 of 12 passes for 135 yards with an interception against Troy State. Matt Herian caught three passes for 110 yards to become the first Nebraska receiver in two seasons to go over 100 yards in a game.

Missouri also has a weak passing game, and it was exploited by Kansas two weeks ago as Brad Smith was held to 62 yards passing and leading receiver, tight end Victor Sesay, managed just 25 yards.

Smith, who last season became just the second player in Division I-A to pass for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in the same season, is tops in the nation among quarterbacks in rushing, averaging 77.4 yards per game.

``He's a very good quarterback, but our main thing is we can't just focus on one guy,'' Nebraska linebacker Demorrio Williams said. ``It will be a good challenge, but our focus is the whole team, not just him.''

The Tigers are ranked 11th in passing offense in the Big 12 - 163 yards per game - with only the run-oriented Cornhuskers worse. Improving on that won't be easy against Nebraska which has outscored Missouri 163-58 in its last four trips to Columbia - all Cornhusker wins.

``I think we need to go deep more,'' senior tight end J.D. McCoy said. ``We have the athletes to do it and Brad's got the arm. I think that's something we can definitely do, and will help everything on offense if we can stretch the defense out.''

In the past five meetings between the two schools, Nebraska has averaged 327.4 yards rushing per game, while holding Missouri to just 95.0 yards.