Nebraska CB Daniel Davie looks to bounce back against Miami

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) Nebraska cornerback Daniel Davie better be ready Saturday. Miami quarterback Brad Kaaya is coming his way.

Everybody on the Cornhuskers' defense knows it after South Alabama picked on Davie mercilessly last weekend.

''I'm pretty sure the first play is going to be play-action pass deep shot,'' linebacker Michael Rose-Ivey said. ''They're going to keep testing him. I know Daniel is going to respond well.''

Secondary coach Brian Stewart said he's doing all he can this week to put Davie in position to bounce back from his dismal outing.

South Alabama's Cody Clements threw Davie's direction 11 times and completed eight of those passes, if you count a 56-yarder for a touchdown that was nullified by a penalty on South Alabama's center. Davie was taken out of the game early in the fourth quarter of the 48-9 win after he was called for pass interference.

Coach Mike Riley said he didn't expect Davie to lose his starting job, but Davie's leash would appear shorter with the return of Jonathan Rose from suspension and the development of sophomore Chris Jones.

Stewart said he expects Kaaya to try to work the right side of the field until Davie proves he's got it covered during Saturday's game in Miami Gardens, Florida.

''I'd do it, too,'' Stewart said. ''They're going to see if we've got that fixed. We're going to show them we got it fixed.''

Davie, a senior from Beatrice who has started 15 straight games, did not do interviews this week.

Davie gave up plays of 55 and 33 yards to South Alabama receiver Josh Magee in addition to the long TD pass that was called back. Clements placed the balls well, but Magee had a step on Davie on each of them.

The Huskers are surrendering 346 yards a game through the air to rank 120th out of 128 FBS teams in pass defense. BYU and South Alabama completed a combined 59.3 percent of their passes.

Nebraska (1-1) has faced 91 pass attempts through two weeks, second-most in the country, and there'll be plenty more against Miami (2-0). Kaaya was 21 of 32 for 287 yards against Florida Atlantic last week.

Rawshawn Scott and Herb Waters, who have combined for 16 catches for 234 yards, are Kaaya's main receivers. Slot receiver Stacy Coley should be back after missing last week's game with a hamstring injury. Tight end Standish Dobard, at 6-4 and 262 pounds, is a burly target.

Stewart said Davie must refine his coverage technique.

''It's up to me to get him where he can finish, teaching him how to play the ball better, whether it's finishing by looking for the ball, attacking the ball or going through the receiver's hands,'' Stewart said.

Rose-Ivey said he tried to encourage the demoralized Davie on the sideline last week.

''It was late in the fourth quarter and we were kind of running the clock out, and I told him this one's over and we're going to need you down the road - it's going to be soon, and it's going to be a big opportunity,'' Rose-Ivey said.

Stewart said he gave Davie his space after the game but did let him know he must get better.

''He's not going to be hip-hip-hooray because he's going to be upset,'' Stewart said. ''I talked to him about it, that it's a game of ups and downs. What you have to do is be a good teammate first. Go celebrate (the win) with your teammates, then look at it on tape and make some corrections.''