The second snap of the season, however, will nestle gently into the talented hands of one Sam Keller. There are a number of reasons this should happen, but I applaud Callahan for keeping the race open as a source of motivation for all involved. Masterful move.
But if the majority of college football fans are willing to assume that Keller will end up as the starter--and I haven't seen anyone outside of Nebraska who doesn't--then today's poll question is aimed at determining just how high or low you think he can go in one season in Lincoln.
Of the seven games Keller started at ASU, the only one I vaguely remember watching was the LSU game and there's little better recommendation for the Sunshine State Slinger than that game: 35-56, 4 TDs, 0 INTs, O Sacks. Pretty impressive numbers against the notoriously physical Tigers, but what happened in the rest of those 2005 starts?At this point we're all probably familiar with Keller's numbers from that 05 half-season (2, 165 yds., 309.3 ypg, 20 TDs, 9 INTs, 145.78 QB Rating), yet what about the micro view? Let's take a quick look:
--ASU opens against Temple and Keller apparently plays left-handed. How else to explain two interceptions against the Owls? Other than that, exactly what you'd expect out of a game against Temple: 14 completions, four touchdowns.
--The next three games, starting with LSU, probably sent the Arizona State Sports Information Department scurrying to pull together a Heisman campaign: 74-123, 1,235 yds, 12 TDs, 0 INTs.
--Hold that Heisman, Sam tosses 5 INTs against USC as ASU squanders a 21-3 lead against the greatest team ever in any sport.
--Against Oregon Keller puts up a pedestrian 277 yards on 56 attempts with two TDs and two INTs and then in a loss to Stanford he is 10 of 16 before busting up his hand. Season, and sample size, over.
Now, there are some moments of brilliance in there and nothing truly horrendous but the bottom line is Keller was 3-3 as a starter (removing the Stanford loss where the season-ending injury ocurred).
Also worth noting is that Keller's replacement, Rudy Carpenter, ended that 05 season as the highest rated passer in the country beating out Brian Brohm, Vince Young, Matt Leinart, Troy Smith, Colt Brennan and Brady Quinn. Therefore, it seems possible that ASU's offense and its component parts may have been at least partially responsible for the numbers Keller was able to post that season.
So which Sam Keller is the real Sam Keller? Is he an offensive virtuoso or simply a talented but ultimately untested QB? Nebraska's success in 2007 will depend quite a bit on the answer to that question but sitting here 25 days away from the first game there is no way to do that definitively.
There is, however, a more tangible way to look at this and he just happens to be hanging out in Lincoln at the moment. Somewhat quietly Zac Taylor earned Big 12 Offensive POY honors last year by completing nearly 60% of his passes and throwing 26 TDs to only 8 INTs. Nothing as eye-popping as Keller at his best, but pretty damn good nonetheless.
Which brings me--finally--to the question o'the week:
Will Sam Keller exceed Zac Taylor's 06 numbers in 2007?
To clarify, I'm talking about comprehensive performance probably best represented by QB rating. For your reference: last year Taylor finished at 146.2 and in his seven games in 2005 Keller put up a rating of 145.78.
You can vote at right and if you prefer a little essay with your multiple choice, feel free to comment below.
Last Week's Result: Spirits appear to be high in Huskerland as nearly 70% of the responses to last week's question were of the "Yes, Bill Callahan will win a national title at Nebraska" variety. If that's the case, he'll have to buck history to do it.
Callahan is the fifth coach in college football history to have taken a college coaching job after taking a team to the Super Bowl. None of the previous four won a national title.
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