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(Photo: Shandie Stewart, Stewart Photography ) The tape speaks to the trouble No. 1 can stir up. Matt Rhule found a couple of Kenny Soares rushes worth underlining from Michigan State's game against Notre Dame. On both, Nebraska's head coach wasn't sure an Irish offensive lineman even got a hand on the Spartan edge defender. Soares offered an explanation for how he created those clean paths to quarterback CJ Carr. On those rushes, he used what the Spartans call the "ghost move." "You flash your hand, 'Oh, I'm there, and now I'm not anymore,'" Soares told reporters in East Lansing. "Respect all, fear none" has been a phrase around Nebraska's camp. It applies here, where those plays illustrate the challenge awaiting the Husker offensive tackles Saturday. "Their edge rush and their edge players are as good as we'll see all year," Rhule said Monday. Nebraska's offensive line has earned its own confidence heading into Saturday's Big Ten opener in East Lansing. But Michigan State will test more than the Huskers' ability to keep cranking up a running game that ranks 12th nationally. Nebraska also can't let edge defenders like Soares disappear on one side of a block and reappear next to Anthony Colandrea. Rhule brought up Michigan's Jaishawn Barham, who caused Nebraska problems last season, while discussing Soares. "There's a lot of guys who can push the pocket. Soares can go speed to power, but he also has a quick inside move. He can dip the edge," Rhule said. He can disrupt a game if you let him. "He's a factor in their run game as well. His analytics grades, when the ball has been run to him, he's very strong. So he's an excellent player," Rhule said. "To me, every week there's guys that pop off the tape. You say to yourself, 'OK, that's a guy that causes the other team to win.' He's one of those guys that causes his team to win." The Spartans have a player worth accounting for at each level of their defense. Soares carries a stout 77.0 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, including an 83.7 pass-rush grade. Linebacker Jordan Hall returned to action last week with 13 tackles against Notre Dame. Viewed by Rhule as one of the better players in the Big Ten, Hall owns a team-best 80.9 PFF grade. Safety Devin Vaught is a constant on the film, cleaning up plays and leading Michigan State with 18 tackles. His 79.6 overall grade includes a 90.7 run-defense grade and a 91.0 tackling grade. That's the challenge, though it isn't a woe-are-the-Huskers conversation. Nebraska's offensive line added veteran pieces through the portal and is leaning on returning players such as Justin Evans, Elijah Pritchett and Gunnar Gottula as it works to become the group that gets the final laugh in the Big Ten trenches. "I think it's just going to come down to us kind of chipping away for the first three quarters and then go try to win it in the fourth quarter," Gottula said. Gottula's ability to play either tackle spot has proved immensely valuable. He and Pritchett have led the way at the bookends, while Tree Babalade has rotated in for snaps. Offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen said Babalade needs to raise his practice level before those game reps become more evenly distributed. The Huskers have encountered different challenges up front through three games. After Week 1, Rhule said the group had another level he knew it could reach. After Week 2, the emphasis was on straining longer to keep Colandrea from taking hits on deeper-developing pass plays. Against North Dakota, Nebraska stayed consistent with its attack rather than trying to outsmart a defense throwing plenty of pressure at it. The Huskers put some good material on tape themselves, rushing for 277 yards without allowing a sack. Keeping the quarterback clean is always the mission. But, yeah, offensive linemen also get fired up when that quarterback runs through a defender on one of the game's first plays, as Colandrea did Saturday. "It's pretty easy to go out there and fight for a guy like Anthony at quarterback. He takes on the identity of our team, which is tough grit, brotherhood and relentless execution," Gottula said. "He's just a gritty dude, tough dude. Seeing him do stuff like that, that's just him. That's just his personality. It's easy to block for and work for a guy like that." Gottula likes the balance in Nebraska's offense. He likes how the screen game is developing. He likes the counter game, which allows him to pull and search for work downfield. He also understands that every Big Ten week will put a good player directly in front of him. You'd better bring "the same level of attention to detail" each time out, said Gottula, who posted a team-best 81.4 PFF pass-blocking grade against North Dakota. Because Soares and the Spartans have been studying the opportunities they failed to finish against Notre Dame. "I think limiting explosives starts up front with us," Soares said. "We just gotta be better getting to the quarterback. We have opportunities, but we gotta finish. We had plenty of opportunities last game where we could've sacked the quarterback, we were in the right spot, we just gotta be able to get him on the ground." The tape carries a warning for both sides. Nebraska has seen how quickly Soares can disappear from a block. Michigan State has seen the Huskers generate balance, protect their quarterback and keep leaning on a defense. Buckle the strap. Big Ten play is here. "This won't be a game where you remain fresh," said Rhule, answering a question about Jamal Rule but offering a description that applies to everyone. "This will be a battle, a four-quarter war."