Nebraska I-backs Dan Alexander and Correll Buckhalter have taken plenty of criticism during their careers for not being game-breakers. Well, they still aren't consistent threats to go the distance every play, but the senior duo has been solid, each averaging more than six yards per carry. And the fumble problems that plagued the Huskers last season have been all but eliminated as NU has lost just two fumbles this season. Some of the credit there also has to go to Crouch, who has developed better touch with his option pitches.

As usual, the fullback position has been fairly quiet in the Nebraska offense that uses the position to open big holes for the I-backs and quarterbacks. Starter Willie Miller, who is averaging 4.9 yards per carry, needs to break one up the middle every now and then to keep opposing defenses honest. Look for more and more of redshirt freshman Judd Davies, who averages almost 10 yards a carry, as the season goes on.

GRADE: A

Split end Matt Davison and wingback Bobby Newcombe have done their jobs this season, but more was expected out of Newcombe. Since moving from quarterback early last season, Newcombe was expected to be a Johnny Rodgers-type talent. So far, he's just been a good wingback and an adequate deep threat.

GRADE: B+

All-Big 12 center Dominic Raiola and preseason All-Big 12 guard Russ Hochstein have truly stepped forward as the leader of this group along with sixth-year senior tackle Jason Schwab. Tackle Dave Volk, who filled in admirably last year when Schwab was injured, has been solid, but most in this group agree that sophomore guard Toniu Fonoti -- all 6-foot-4 and 335 pounds of him -- is well on his way to being one of the all-time greats at Nebraska. He entered the Tech game with a team-high 79 pancake (knockdown) blocks and could break the single-season school record.

Some people may have expected that Nebraska would be able to line it up and score about every play this season behind this line, but that hasn't quite been the case. Defenses are still bring eight, nine and sometimes even 10 players to the line of scrimmage to gang up on the run and it's nearly impossible to block eight players with five. Nebraska head coach Frank Solich could help the line out with a few more play-action passes.

GRADE: B

Cornerback Keyou Craver has stepped into Ralph Brown's role of locking up on the opponents' best receiver and has performed well. Erwin Swiney has improved since returning from his groin/abdomen injury that forced him to miss all of last season and DeJuan Groce is like a third starter. Joe Walker makes more mistakes than Mike Brown did at rover, but that's certainly not an insult. Dion Booker and Clint Finley give Nebraska added depth and backup Troy Watchorn has earned a Blackshirt for his ability to be in the right place at the right time.

Many may look at all the passing yards Nebraska has allowed this season and point fingers at the secondary, but the truth is most of it hasn't been their fault.

GRADE: B

As for Vanden Bosch, he finally showed signs of coming to life Oct. 7 against Iowa State. However, he has just two sacks this year in what some of us expected would be an All-America type season for the senior. At the other rush end position the trio of Chris Kelsay, Demoine Adams and Justin Smith was ineffective enough that true freshman Benard Thomas was pulled out of his redshirt season to add some pass-rushing ability. Kelsay, now the starter, appears ready to step up.

The inside down linemen have been quiet, but again, that is to be expected. Guys like defensive tackle Loran Kaiser and nose tackle Jason Lohr are supposed to take on blockers and allow Nebraska's linebackers to make the plays. Injuries have plagued this group -- Kaiser missed a second consecutive start against Tech -- which does have decent depth thanks to Jeremy Slechta and Casey Nelson.

Overall, the pass rush and initial surge from the line must improve or teams will continue to rack up yards against the Huskers. The effort against Texas Tech was certainly a good start.

GRADE: C+

Everyone knew the Huskers would be green at the outside linebacker positions as neither strongside linebacker Scott Shanle or weakside linebacker Randy Stella were in the top two spots on the depth chart last season. Their progress hasn't come along as quickly as was hoped. Shanle, after an early bout of bad tackling, has improved. Stella is a great athlete and has the ability to make big plays but is often caught out of position.

So far this season, many of the big pass plays against the Nebraska defense have come off of underneath routs. Several of those plays came on blown coverage by the linebackers.

GRADE: C-

Both the kickoff and punt coverage teams have made statistical improvement. Much of that comes from punter Dan Handenfeldt and kickoff man Chace Long doing a better job of placing their kicks.

Hadenfeldt is a couple of yards off of his record-setting punting average last season, but is reliable. Place-kicker Josh Brown has yet to miss an point-after kick and entered the Tech game 2-of-5 on field goals. However, you get the feeling that Solich doesn't have quite the confidence in Brown that he had in NU's previous kicker, Kris Brown.

The punt return unit has been the best of this group, although it also staggered early. Newcombe continues to be a threat every time he gets a return. Kickoff returns have been unspectacular so far.

GRADE: D+

Last year, Solich had to wade through early-season personnel questions. This year, it's been special teams trouble and some defensive lapses. For the most part, the third-year coach has handled it all in stride.

As for defensive coordinator Craig Bohl, you knew he would receive some criticism as he attempts to replace Charlie McBride. Never mind that Bohl had been the Husker linebackers coach for the past five years. Bohl has done a respectable job considering the relative inexperience of the Husker defense. However, even Bohl even admits that inexperience can no longer be used as an excuse.

GRADE: B

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