Sam Keller Done For Season?

by Jon Johnston on Oct 29, 2007 12:15 PM CDT in Nebraska Husker Football

Word out of Lincoln is that Sam Keller has a broken collarbone and is done for the season. Note that there's been no official word on this yet.

Joe Ganz - Now Your Starting QB

Looking at the replay, Keller first tries to get up, then grabs his right wrist and falls back to the field. A trainer later assists Keller off the ground pulling him up by the arms, so clearly it wasn't his wrist that was broken. He was clearly in a lot of pain as he left the field.

If Keller is gone, we'll with Joe Ganz for the rest of the way. I guess we're going to see if the fall-off is all that great between the two. I wasn't real high on Keller. I think he has a tendency to stare down his receivers and his turnovers this season have come at inopportune times, although Matt at SMQ points out that he played very well against Texas. He finally threw the ball down the field and the offense opened up with a lead, two things that have been rare this season.

Keller's stats for the season:

Sam Keller - 2007 Season Stats

Rating	Completed	Attempted	Int	Comp %	Yardage	TD	Long	Average/Game	Average/Comp.

133.74	205	325	10	63.1	2422	14	73	269.1	11.81

A decent, but not great completion percentage, and his touchdown to interception ratio should be much higher than it is.

Keller certainly isn't to blame for the season going the way it has and he's been a stand-up guy all the way through. I would like to see Joe Ganz get a shot at starting and playing most of a game, but this isn't how it should happen.

Perhaps Keller can come back in time for a bowl game, granted that we can pull off two more wins this season.

[Update] - It is official now. Linebacker Lance Brandeburgh is also out for the season with a shoulder injury. ]

Tweet Comment 7 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Its official

LJS saying he is done for the year in a interview with BC. He says a shoulder injury but said they had to talk to Sam to get the details. Ganz will start Saturday at KU.

Also Lance Brandenburgh is also done for the season with a shoulder injury.

by taflorom on Oct 29, 2007 12:45 PM CDT reply actions

too bad

Sam was one of the few vocal leaders on the team this year. Hired-gun or no, he humbled himself, led the scout team and earned a lot of respect from his teammates and the coaching staff. He wasn't the world-beater we all hoped he would become, but he was one of the few offensive bright spots over the course of the season. For what it's worth, I disagree with your assessment re: staring down receivers, blight. When he threw interceptions, that was often the cause. But as we saw in the Texas game, he's pretty good at looking off safeties, as well. He's been doing that most of the season but hasn't been able to click with some of the receiving corps. I'd be curious to see what percentage of those 120 incompletions were dropped balls.

In short, Sam's a good Husker. I hope he makes an NFL roster (though I fear a broken collarbone may keep him from preparing for the combine and pro days like he should).

We move on. KU, FEAR THE GANZ!!

Can you hear this, Denver, or shall I turn it up for you?

by Ignignokt on Oct 29, 2007 3:28 PM CDT reply actions

People seem to forget

that Keller only started about 8 games for ASU and was in his 1st year as a starter in Calli's O, yet they seem to have been expecting him to lead us to a NC or something.
He's had a fairly rocky journey and hasn't seen the opportunity to settle in with a team/system for 2-4 years such that he could develop all of his potential.
I think he played pretty darn good this year, though with some lapses due to the learning curve on this team. I wish he could be here for a year or two more to develop.
We face a similar situation next year in breaking in a QB--and probably HC, FTM--so it's going to be awhile before we see any 10 win seasons.
I feel very bad for Keller, but thank him for his play and leadership this year.

Hope his arm heals fast...

'za blang thang

by Ze Robertinho on Oct 29, 2007 6:30 PM CDT up reply actions

good points

I don't know if he has a big enough resume to do much in the NFL. I guess that's what a combine is for.... if he gets there.

Keller is a perfect example of things not going like you want them to when you get to the college level.

The most popular guy around is always the backup QB, so now I guess we're going to find out what Ganz can do. He's certainly had the time to learn, although not on the field.

Go Big Red!

by Jon Johnston on Oct 29, 2007 7:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Retreads always flop...

Try recruiting someone with some moose knuckles. Not a loser who couldnt make it on the BCS bound Sun Devils. Now with Gabbert de-committing, you are SCREWED...to use the parlance of the day. Tell my boy ARBY's that I am looking for him, once he gets back from Basken Robbins with Callahan. Yes, you better sacrifice a cow this weekend, in hopes of beating the Buffs. My god is Callahan bad. So is Watson. What a schmooh Watson is. I cannot wait to see that kid on the sideline, tears streaming down, when you hit total rock bottom. Boo Hoo...the best Halloween ever.

by Kid Buffaloe on Oct 29, 2007 3:53 PM CDT reply actions

62-36

You liked that score, right? I bet you did. You know who gets credit for that, right? Of course you do. See you after Thanksgiving.

Can you hear this, Denver, or shall I turn it up for you?

by Ignignokt on Oct 29, 2007 4:01 PM CDT up reply actions

30-3

You liked that score right? Well I didnt. And Powder Puff Watson stunk it up good that game. Enough to lose his job. Well that's how well he faired in 2005, When the Buffs "suddenly" saw a 9-2 season, fall to 7-6. All because the "O" fell apart. Thanks. Too bad he couldnt interview well with the Utes, you might have had a decent team this year. Maybe Baylor will take him.

by Kid Buffaloe on Oct 29, 2007 5:04 PM CDT reply actions