KINNIE CAN

Brandon Kinnie had only one catch Saturday, but his 36-yard touchdown grab in the second quarter showed why the coaches are so encouraged with their No. 2 receiving option. Kinnie snatched a dart from Taylor Martinez on a slant pattern and looked to be wrapped up by two defenders near the 10-yard line. But Kinnie never went down. His feet kept chugging in the middle of the pile, and he ultimately scored the Red team's second touchdown of the day. At 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, Kinnie has the physical makeup to be a game-changer. And he'll likely have plenty of chances next fall, since opponents will be shading Niles Paul's way more often than not.

— Jon Nyatawa

McNEILL IS FOR REAL

Mike McNeill as the adjustor. The senior starter for the past two years at tight end has made a seemingly seamless switch to wide receiver. It looks like a more natural fit for McNeill, who uses his big body to match well with defensive backs in coverage. He's a constant mismatch in the slot and possesses the athleticism and skill set for which the Huskers search at receiver. “Just working out in space,” McNeill said, “and being more creative in my routes, I like it.” And as a bonus, apparently, McNeill can throw the football a bit, too. His Bouncerooski catch and completion to Niles Paul ranked as perhaps the top highlight of the Red-White game.

— Mitch Sherman

ERIC MARTIN

Eric Martin at linebacker. OK, the sophomore still isn't ready to play at a consistent level in the Big 12. He's going to get lost at times. But with patience, Martin might develop into a star. He showed his stuff Saturday with a first-half play on Niles Paul. The senior receiver, a bad matchup for any other linebacker on the NU roster, caught a Cody Green pass in space, but Martin stood his ground and drove Paul to the sideline, showing nice athleticism. As a middle linebacker, he requires months, if not years, of work to reach Phillip Dillard's level of play. Martin actually has a higher ceiling than the ex-Husker star who played such a vital role last season for the Blackshirts.

— Mitch Sherman

INNOVATION ON O

Nebraska didn't unveil much of its new-look offense, a revamped approach that initially debuted during the Holiday Bowl. Obviously, there was no Wildcat formation. And there certainly weren't many sophisticated play calls. Just take coach Bo Pelini at his word when he says he's pleased with the unit's progress. But there were a few noticeable wrinkles that will likely be utilized next fall. The offensive linemen were standing at the line of scrimmage about 24 inches between one another. That's six inches wider than last season. Also, in the shotgun formation, the running back was sometimes lined up a couple of yards deeper than the quarterback. It gave the back more momentum and also seemed to provide a more deceptive play action.

— Jon Nyatawa

ANOTHER YEAR FOR ADI?

Maybe Adi Kunalic can redshirt. The senior kicker has one year of eligibility left, and he doesn't necessarily want to spend it as a kickoff specialist and as Alex Henery's backup. Kickoff coverage gave Nebraska a much-needed field position edge all year. Kunalic played an integral role in that. But if Henery can boot kickoffs consistently the way he did Saturday, it might give the coaches enough reason to sit Kunalic for a year. Henery's two kickoffs went to the end zone, even though he didn't properly execute his mechanics. “My steps weren't the greatest,” he said. “I'm still working on that.” But Henery feels confident that he could assume that role, if needed.

— Jon Nyatawa

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