Rex Burkhead!

trackster

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Looked around and couldn't find a topic for Burkhead. My gosh, let's show him some love here--he looks like the next Toby Gerhart!

Averaging 10 yards/carry so far this afternoon...
 

Colonel_Reb

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Rex has 3 carries for 16 yards in the first half. ESPN announcer Ron Franklin (Ole Miss alum) was talking up Rex earlier in the game and calling for him to get more carries.
 

white lightning

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Nebraska has come out passing more than usual. It seems to be working as they now have a 2 td lead in the 2nd half. Hopefully Burkhead can get some chances to run the ball in the 4th quarter.
 

Colonel_Reb

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Rex has 7 carries for 29 yards and a catch for no gain with 4 minutes to go. It would be great to see him get the ball more, but with Martinez doing as much on the ground as he is doing, and a good passing game, it might not happen.
 

itsme

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Aaron Green commits to Nebraska

Five-star running back Aaron Green's decision to commit to Nebraska is one of the most significant gets for the Huskers in years.

This is big for coach Bo Pelini and Nebraska for another reason, though. In the past, the Huskers have always gone after downhill, straight-line running backs. The offense relied on big linemen and a power running game. Green, who's No. 10 in the ESPNU 150, is different. He gives Nebraska an explosive, quick, hit-the-crease-and-go guy. For the most part, the Huskers haven't had a back like this before. It marks a change in the Nebraska recruiting philosophy and what Pelini is trying to establish. He's bringing in guys who are more athletic, who can threaten the perimeter and are playmakers on offense, all while remaining stingy on defense.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/football/news/story?id=5736559Edited by: itsme
 

Observer

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itsme said:
He gives Nebraska an explosive, quick, hit-the-crease-and-go guy. For the most part, the Huskers haven't had a back like this before. It marks a change in the Nebraska recruiting philosophy and what Pelini is trying to establish. He's bringing in guys who are more athletic...
So, if another Danny Woodhead appears, will they be interested this time around?
 

Colonel_Reb

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Not good news for Rex, that's for sure. He has plenty of competition at RB right now. With all the hype surrounding Green, there will probably be a clamor for him to contribute right away. Maybe they will redshirt him though.
 

trackster

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I don't get it. If you click on Green's name in the story, it takes you to a scouting evaluation which isn't especially raving. Green is undersized, has no power, and is described as not very fast. His high school numbers are good, but dozens and dozens of runners have done better. Frankly, I can't figure out why the author was hyperventilating over such a mediocre prospect. He sure doesn't sound like he's in Burkhead's league.
 

white lightning

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At least Helu will be in the NFL next season. Let's hope that they redshirt this kid. If not then Burkhead needs to continue to improve. The problem is that he was playing more last year. He needs to touch the ball more. Feed Burkhead the ball and get out of his way.

Let's stay positive. We cannot afford another loss of talent like with Wegher who might just have helped the Iowa Hawkeyed to be undefeated this year instead of having 2 close losses.
 

snow

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I wouldn't be too worried about Green, for next year at least. Burkhead's job should be secure even if they don't redshirt Green. They will be in the big 10 next year right? Remember how talented McGuffie was? even he struggled at times as a true freshman as he needed a year to mature and gain some weight. Green is not as talented as McGuffie, looks smaller and I doubt he will do anything special his first few seasons.

Besides, the way Nebraska's offense is looking, they are probably going to run a lot of two back sets/triple option type stuff. They run the option out of the pistol formation quite a bit with Martinez. For the most part Burkhead will probably be the dive back going up the middle and Green would be the guy in motion becoming the pitchman if Martinez decides to keep it. They have done this with Burkhead this season lined up as a slot receiver and had Helu as the dive back. Burkhead had a few 20+ yard gains this way. Burkhead is too valuable to take significant playing time awya from, he has the speed to hit the outside and the power to run up them middle but you can never have enough good backs when you are running this type of offense.

Burkhead has had about the same amount of carries as Helu this season. The only beef I have is, they don't run that one play with Burkhead that they do with Helu. Its where they are in pistol, Martinez fakes the handoff and roles out and runs toward one side of the field while Helu has the ball and is running to the opposite, teams are so focused on Martinez that Helu is 15 yards downfield before they even realize who has the ball, he has had 2 60+ yard runs this way which has raised his ypc up. Burkhead could have done the same thing with the same play.
Edited by: snow
 

Jack Lambert

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Yeah, I don't think Green will be a factor as much his freshman year. But the Nebraska fans were wetting themselves silly over getting Green, along with the QB, Jamal Turner. To be fair, they were just as excited about getting white QB Bubba Starling.

In a few years, Nebraska won't have as many white players, with all the affletes they're trying to pluck from Florida and Texas. But, with all their white-walkons, they'll still be easily a majority white team roster wise.

Their lineup should look something like this. At least 2-3 white walk-ons will outperform their "scholarship" counterparts like Eric Martin.
QB, 3-5 OL, TE, FB, 1-4 defensive starters. Anywhere from 7-12 starters.Edited by: Jack Lambert
 

Colonel_Reb

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I hope y'all are right, I just don't have much confidence in any coaches right now.
 

ToughJ.Riggins

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What happened to the Rex Burkhead thread I started lol?

Productive black RBs with small frames and good measureables are always rated high by WhiteRivals, BrownieScout and BSPN/Luginbill Scout's INC. Small VERY PRODUCTIVE white RBs with VERY ELITE measureables and game film are usually completely unrated even if they break various records in their state (see Nile Knapp, Danny Woodhead and Cory McCaffrey). Or they are listed as FBs or LBs if they are big enough.

The biggest problem is the team DWFs and media calling for playing time for a guy like Green as a true freshman over Burkhead who's been VERY productive so far- just because of the hype of a 5 star rating. Hopefully Pelini has a few vertebra in his spine to stand up to these losers and play the best. WhiteRivals is as EXTREME and wacko regarding sports as the Nazis just in the reverse direction- except they don't even want whites competing at all to expose their lie where even Hitler allowed Jesse Owens in Berlin.
 

Colonel_Reb

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Just found this fairly positive blurb about Rex in an article called "11 offensive players about to explode."

RB Rex Burkhead, Nebraska

Burkhead is just your typical Husker, always playing to the whistle,
fighting for extra yards, and doing the little things to be successful.
Now, that's not to suggest that he lacks flash. The junior-to-be has a
good burst of speed through the hole and will make people miss if they
attempt to arm tackle. As a backup and the focal point of the Wildcat
formation, he rushed 951 yards and seven scores, adding three touchdown
passes on only four attempts. Just a solid football player by all
measurements, he's in line for an expanded role now that starter Roy Helu
Jr. has exhausted his eligibility. With 20 or so carries a game,
there's no reason why he can't he earn All-Big Ten honors by December.
 

white lightning

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This is going to be great. He will have to bring his A Game though going against teams like Ohio State, Penn State, Michighan and Iowa to name a few. I'm not worried though. This kid is very talented. He has the combonation of speed and power needed to be a good running back. I hope he has a great year. Go Huskers!
 

dwid

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[video=youtube;dnOKLh8fwEU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnOKLh8fwEU[/video]

Footage from his last two seasons. He should have a breakout season next year. With a fully healthy Martinez, if he progressed in the passing game then I don't see why Burkhead wouldn't be able to put up 1500 yards next year. Hes got all of the tools. DWFS want 5 star freshman to take snaps away but this should be Burkhead's year. Edited by: dwid
 
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I was watching the Texas A&M vs Oklahoma game and they showed a highlight from the Northwestern vs Nebraska game. Burkhead had a 1 yd TD run. The two announcers were trying to find somebody to compare Burkhead to. They decided he most resembled Ed Podolak from the Chiefs. I had never heard of this guy before.
 

dwid

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I was watching the Texas A&M vs Oklahoma game and they showed a highlight from the Northwestern vs Nebraska game. Burkhead had a 1 yd TD run. The two announcers were trying to find somebody to compare Burkhead to. They decided he most resembled Ed Podolak from the Chiefs. I had never heard of this guy before.
He was a good all purpose back for the Chiefs, had a couple of years with 1k from scrimmage, 4 with 1k all purpose, leading the league in all purpose yards in 1970, he had 40 tds but 42 fumbles, Burkhead hasn't had too many ball security issues. If I had to compare Burkhead to a White back it would be a prime Craig James, before his knee injuries (he had some injuries in the USFL before the NFL). James was fast, powerful and shifty, also a great receiver, could catch one in the flat or run a route down the field.
 

Leonardfan

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Burkhead is fun to watch. I am glad he will reach 1000k yds rushing this year joining Zach Line :high5:
 

jaxvid

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I was watching the Texas A&M vs Oklahoma game and they showed a highlight from the Northwestern vs Nebraska game. Burkhead had a 1 yd TD run. The two announcers were trying to find somebody to compare Burkhead to. They decided he most resembled Ed Podolak from the Chiefs. I had never heard of this guy before.

He he, Ed Podolak? we had a thread a while back about how announcers had to go back to the 40's to compare white skill position players, like "oh he looks like Bronco Nagurski out there, or he play's like Sam Hutson". Funny stuff.

I think the network should hand out a guide for announcers so that they can handle these difficult racial situations. They have decided that all white receivers resemble Wes Welker, even if they are 9" and 30 lbs bigger and suited for the outside not the slot. Doesn't make a difference because all white recievers resemble Wes Welker, that's how it works.

For running backs I think they all should resemble John Riggins, even guys like Danny Woodhead. In a few years maybe Peyton Hillis.

But Ed Podolak? Ouch, that's faint praise indeed. If you're going to go back that far at least pick a guy with some style, like maybe Larry Csonka.
 

Leonardfan

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Swope was compared to Welker yesterday, although the commentators quickly followed that up with the face he is bigger than Welker, yet they are the same player :thumbdown:
 

Carolina Speed

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I was watching the Texas A&M vs Oklahoma game and they showed a highlight from the Northwestern vs Nebraska game. Burkhead had a 1 yd TD run. The two announcers were trying to find somebody to compare Burkhead to. They decided he most resembled Ed Podolak from the Chiefs. I had never heard of this guy before.


Does anyone here at CF think that in the announcers small minds, that not being able to compare Burkhead to any white RB, that there just might be something wrong here? I didn't think so.

I guess the reason I'm not an announcer is because when these uncomfortible racial issues come about, I would speak out and say something like the truth, thus getting fired.

Does anyone remember the time Tom Brookshire said when announcing a University of Louisville basketball game, that they were a good team but the fives starters IQ's wouldn't add up to 25? I don't believe he ever announced again. I may some details wrong, but I think it went something like that.
 
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