Steven Bender/DN Nebraska defensive tackle Jeremy Slechta celebrates with teammates after his interception during the Huskers’ win against Kansas on Saturday.

The claw was actually a giant cast on Slechta's right hand, the result of yet another injury to a Cornhusker interior lineman. KU quarterback Dylen Smith searched for a Jayhawk receiver over the middle. Slechta was back in shallow coverage.

"I was in the right place, right time," said the junior from Papillion.

Slechta watched as the ball stuck in his arm like a rock would in a slingshot. It was almost too easy. And for the NU interior linemen, it was about time something happened without the difficulty of a kidney-stone passing.

As the key trio of Slechta, Jason Lohr and Loran Kaiser prepare for one of the better rushing foes of the season in No. 16 Kansas State - yes, Kansas State. The Wildcats bring with them nine games' worth of pain, injury and lost time.

At different times of the season, each player has either been injured or, as in Lohr's case, out of condition after being injured for two-a-day practices.

"It's been one thing or another most of the season" said Lohr, who leads the defensive tackles with 32 stops in 2000. "As soon as it looks like one guy's healthy, another guy would get hurt."

Right now, all three are healthy enough to play, as Kaiser, the senior from Grand Island, saw extended action against Kansas after playing sparingly in the loss to Oklahoma. Before that, he sat out three games with a sprained foot.

Nebraska Defensive Coordinator Craig Bohl said it continues to hamper Kaiser's production, but he could start on Saturday.

Slechta's broken hand was received against OU. Besides having to take awkward notes in class and occasionally use an awkward three-point stance, the 6-foot-6, 285-pounder has lost the ability to grab and throw offensive lineman.

Instead, he uses the cast as a human billy club of sorts to smack lineman out of the way.

"That's worked a couple of times," he said. "But it's still been tough at times."

Despite the turmoil, there have been few rushing defenses better than the No. 4 Huskers. They give up only 101 yards per game, good for 19th nationally.

Despite the injuries, NU Defensive Line Coach Jeff Jamrog said hasn't detected opponents attempting to exploit an injured middle.

The most rushing yards this season weren't relinquished in the 27-24 overtime win against Notre Dame as some might expect, but against Missouri, when a number of quarterback scrambles netted the Tigers 203 rushing yards overall.

That was the only NU opponent over the two-century mark this season. San Jose State weighed in with 193 yards. ND had 184. Only Oklahoma, with 118 yards, managed triple digit rushing figures otherwise.

Kansas State, if it has its way, would be No. 5.

Though KSU's 214 rushing yards per game pales in comparison to the 381 yards Nebraska averages, the Wildcats, with running backs Josh Scobey and David Allen, have struck a balanced offense that relies equally on a diet of wide off-tackle plays, quarterback draws from Jonathan Beasley and options.

On tape, Slechta said, KSU's front six rival Notre Dame's in terms of strength and agility. For some years, the Wildcats have boasted one of the largest offensive lines in college football. In several previous matchups, including last season's 41-15 blowout in Lincoln, that line wasn't quick enough to stuff the smaller, speedier Husker defense.

"But they look more agile this year, at least on tape," Lohr said. "They look pretty good."

Said Slechta: "They'll get into you. They can move you around. They're the best line we've probably faced so far this season."

And while Beasley has taken his share of public beatings by the media and KSU fans alike, both Huskers said he poses problems similar to the Irish's Arnaz Battle, another average-throwing, fleet-footed signal caller.

"You get out of your lane, and a guy like Beasley can get out a scramble," Slechta said. "He's got a little better arm than Battle did, too."

Lohr said he doesn't expect K-State to reach that sort of advantage.

Even with the injuries, Nebraska's healthier than it has been, save Slechta's claw, in some time. It sets up to be a game decided by the big bodies, rather than the skill positions of the Oklahoma matchup.