Freshman Rex Burkhead had his first career 100 yard game
against Colorado on Friday. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey).
Nebraska walked out of Boulder on Friday with a win, however the victory was far from impressive. Head Coach Bo Pelini expressed his disappointed in how the team played especially the defense allowing 403 yards to an offense that's not exactly stellar. However, one of the bright spots for the game was the play of freshman running back Rex Burkhead.
With the Huskers seemingly giving Roy Helu a break with only 14 carries, it was Burkhead who was the workhorse for Nebraska on a drive that all but sealed the game for the Big Red. Credit the offensive line as well but as Colorado loaded the box with eight or nine players, Burkhead was able to consistently pound the ball through the Buffalo's defensive line setting the Huskers up for second and third and short situations. The drive also capped off the freshman's first career 100 yard game.
The impressive play of young Burkhead should excite fans as his versatility will be needed if Nebraska plans on pulling off the upset against Texas on Saturday. Burkhead's ability to get low to the ground and get behind offensive lineman not only makes him tough for defenders to find, but his deceptive strength gives him the bruiser capability that Nebraska has lacked since the departure of Quentin Castille.
Another part of the native Texan's game that will be desperately needed is his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. Many forget Burkhead's shifty third down catch and juke against Missouri that kept the drive alive for Nebraska. It was that same drive in which Zac Lee hit Niles Paul for a 57 yard touchdown to spark the Nebraska rally. Though Marlon Lucky didn't quite live up to expectations as a Husker, it's clear the Huskers have missed him as a receiving threat and Burkhead has the ability to put that back into Nebraska's offense.
Now don't get me wrong, this game like always revolves around Roy Helu. The better Helu plays, the greater Nebraska's chances are of pulling off a big upset. The game will also depend largely on the Huskers ability to use the play action. But the only way that can consistently work for Shawn Watson's offense is if Nebraska can have success running the ball.
The fact that the offense depends so greatly on Helu's play is exactly the reason it's vital to see Burkhead step up again versus Texas. Nebraska needs the one player aside from Helu who can bust out and have a big game and with Texas having such a strong defense, I just can't see much success coming from the passing game, even if the ground game starts clicking. The game will be sort of a homecoming for Burkhead so there's no doubt the Texas product will be giving it his all on Saturday is hopes of getting Nebraska their first BCS appearance since 2001.
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