PASADENA, Calif. -- It's hard to argue that the big uglies in the trenches, the guys who bite, claw, spit and scratch their way to success, don't really get all the credit they deserve.

But if there's any place where offensive linemen are appreciated, a place for big guys where an All-American left tackle is as heralded as a 1,000-yard rusher, it's Nebraska.

For these mammoth men, often with big biceps, short hair and barbwire tattoos, are what make Nebraska go. Without their protection, Heisman winner Eric Crouch would be walking with a cane. Running back Dahrran Diedrick would be fuzzy and confused. And Nebraska just simply wouldn't be Nebraska.

"It's one place where people realize how important it is to win the battle of the trenches," said offensive tackle Dan Waldrop. "A part of the game that most people overlook, they appreciate. It makes you feel as important as anyone. As important as Eric Crouch."

And perhaps in no bigger game, on no bigger stage, will this group's importance be stressed than in Thursday's national championship game against Miami in the Rose Bowl presented by AT&T. For the Huskers to have any chance to win and silence all those who say they don't belong, they must run the football. The must control the time of possession and keep the ball away from the Miami offense.

"In a perfect world, we'd hold the ball for about 40 minutes and run 60 or 70 plays," Waldrop said. "We'd have no problem with that."

	“	We've heard a lot about (the Miami O-Line). They're a great group of guys. But we're pretty good too. ”
		— Nebraska's guard Toniu Fonoti

Whether or not they'll be able to do that remains to be seen. Though the Hurricanes rank 40th nationally in stopping the run and have looked vulnerable against the option, they will have had over a month to prepare for Nebraska. And don't think they aren't keyed up for the challenge.

"The key against their line is to get your precise timing down and get penetration," Miami senior defensive tackle Matt Walters said. "With the right angles and the right timing, you can disrupt their offense. And that's how you get under their skin."

For much of the week, almost all of the offensive line pub, whatever there has been of it, has centered on the Hurricanes. Led by Outland winner and 2002 Heisman contender Bryant McKinnie, the Miami line is considered by many the nation's best. But the folks from the Heartland, where producing All-American linemen is as routine as feeding cattle, aren't so sure.

"We've heard a lot about them. They're a great group of guys," Nebraska All-American guard Toniu Fonoti said. "But we're pretty good too."

The numbers support that claim. Eric Crouch has been sacked just five times this year. Only one of those sacks has come in the last eight games.

In addition, the Husker ground game leads the nation with 314.7 yards per contest. To put into perspective, second-place Rice averaged 281.5 yards per game, some 33 yards back.

Both Crouch and Diedrick have rushed for 1,000 yards, marking only the third time in Nebraska history that the school had two 1,000-yard rushers in the same year. And all this comes from a group that lost three of its five starters from last year, including All-Americans Dominic Raiola and Russ Hochstein.

"We've faced some pretty good offensive lines this year in Boston College and Virginia Tech, but this one, hands down, will be our toughest test," Walters said. "Luckily we get to go against our line a little bit to prepare."

Led by the 6-4, 360-pound Fonoti, Nebraska's size is impressive, averaging 6-4 and 312 pounds between the five starters. Fonoti is Nebraska's career leader in pancake blocks, having leveled 379 defenders in three years. As a team in 2001, the five Husker starters knocked opponents on their tail 639 times.

But for all that size and power, Walters said, you'd be sorely mistaken if you think these guys are solely out to push you around.

"It's more than just a power line," Walters said. "They can get off their blocks, get to the linebackers and really finish off plays. They have great feet and are pretty darn quick for how big they are."

Imagine that. Someone who is 6-4, 330 pounds with a rare blend of quickness. No wonder they are such heroes back on campus.

"When we walk around, people know who we are, they know what we do. It really is something considering we're linemen."

Wayne Drehs is a staff writer at ESPN.com. He can be reached at wayne.drehs@espn.com.