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Friday, September 13, 2002

By Ray Fittipaldo, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Nebraska senior defensive end Chris Kelsay is tired of the questions. All he wants to do is answer the critics.

The critics have been loud since Nebraska was throttled by Colorado and Miami in the final two games last season. Colorado rushed for 380 yards and scored eight touchdowns against the top-ranked Cornhuskers in a 62-36 victory in Boulder, Colo.

In the Rose Bowl, with the national championship at stake six weeks later, the Cornhuskers were pushed around on defense again. Miami went to the air and passed for 362 yards and won easily, 37-14. Had Miami wanted, it could have scored as much as Colorado. It was 34-0 at halftime.

After opening the season with three easy victories against Arizona State, Troy State and Utah State, three teams that play with more finesse than power, Nebraska receives its first opportunity to regain some respect on defense Saturday night when it comes to Beaver Stadium to take on Penn State.

"Criticism always motivates you," said Kelsay, a 6-foot-5, 255-pound All-America candidate. "Anytime someone tells you you're not good, you strive to prove them wrong. A lot of people gave us guff during the off-season. And we deserved it. We've just got to keep it in the back of our minds and use it as fuel for the fire.

"Colorado moved the ball on us way too much, especially in the running game. They put way too many points on the board, more than a Nebraska team should give up. We had some breakdowns in the Miami and Colorado games. But we've put that behind us. I'm tired talking about Colorado and the Rose Bowl. I'm focusing on Penn State now."

Kelsay is one of six returning starters on defense, and there is some doubt about how the Cornhuskers will match up against Penn State.

The Nittany Lions might not be as overpowering as Colorado was last year or as prolific as Miami, but they do have a strong passing game with Zack Mills and a solid running game with Larry Johnson behind an experienced offensive line.

Penn State coaches have shown their players the videotapes from the Colorado and Miami games. Nebraska defensive coordinator Craig Bohl said some changes were made in the off-season but did not get into specifics. He also said, "We are stronger than we were the past couple of years."

One change in philosophy has been in pass coverage. The Cornhuskers were a mostly man-coverage team last season. This season they are playing predominantly zone. The change was made to limit big plays -- four of Miami's touchdowns in the title game were of 21 yards or more -- and to create more turnovers.

"Playing zone helps out a lot," said Nebraska cornerback DeJuan Groce, who has accounted for four of the team's seven turnovers this season, all interceptions. "We used to be man-based and run with the receivers. Now we have a chance to read and make more picks. The zone will help out with our turnover margin, which we wanted to improve this year. We get to attack the ball a lot more."

Mills said the switch to zone coverage is the biggest change. He said the Lions are going to avoid Groce. Mills played against Miami cornerbacks Mike Rumph and Phillip Buchanon last season and said Groce is of the same caliber.

"He is definitely as good, if not better," Mills said. "We know what side of the field he'll be on. We'd like to throw the other way. We're going to be aware of where he is at all times, and we're going to try and throw the other way."

Nebraska has allowed 13 points and 309 yards per game against its first three opponents, but those numbers were posted against a rebuilding Pac-10 team, an average independent and a team that is new to Division I-A. The Cornhuskers are eager to take a step up in competition.

"Not that Arizona State, Troy State and Utah State aren't quality competition, but we like playing the Penn States, Texases and Colorados," Kelsay said. "This is what we look forward to -- smash-mouth football. We want to set ourselves apart from the critics. This will be a big test for us. I think we'll be up to the challenge."