The Husker Road Remains Filled with Holes

I keep writing week after week, wondering when it is time to start thinking the Huskers are going to win a game.  After Nebraska failed to win early games they were favored in, it probably won’t be a stretch to say they may not win until they play Bethune-Cookman.

We have already covered the fact that this year’s Husker team has razor thin margin for victory week in and week out.  We know that the defense is going to need to improve to a level that isn’t probable or maybe even doable this season. As fans, it can be frustrating, but every week I come back and I’m thinking, maybe they have a chance?

Now this week may not be THE week that it happens but hear me out.  We finally saw a glimpse of what Adrian Martinez and this offense can be in the second half against Purdue.  We saw a lot of it during Colorado, but when Martinez hurt his knee, the process had to start over again. Devine Ozigbo started to show out as the lead running back, and the wide receiver corps may be about to start a solid rotation.

Adjustments have been made on special teams, but there is still a way to go.  Caleb Lightbourn had a tragic week punting, but J.D. Spielman started at punt returner and looked solid.  Jaron Woodyard seems to be settling in as a kick returner. With any luck, hopefully that part of the equation will start to provide some dividends.  Barrett Pickering hasn’t elevated himself yet, but as a true freshman, you have to think that he will continue to improve as the season goes on.

Special Guest This Week: Grant Wistrom

Defensively, Nebraska is going to have to figure out a way to establish a pass rush.  Nebraska is toward the bottom of all FBS teams in the country on stopping 3rd and long, but the Blackshirts are in the middle of the pack in overall 3rd down conversion defense.  It’s not like they are big time stoppers, but if the offense doesn’t make any turnovers, Nebraska could upset someone that they aren’t supposed to, just by being a bit above average stopping a team on 3rd down.

If Nebraska can figure out a way to improve their blocking on offense and start to pressure the quarterback on defense, they could fight their way out of this losing streak and start heading the other direction.  It’s a lot to ask, but we see glimpses of it each week. Going to Madison to play the Badgers might not be the time to see it up front, but I think Nebraska will show up this week and give it the old college try. You never know, they might even keep it close.

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Our previous score prediction for the Purdue game was Purdue 33 – Nebraska 27.  The actual score was Purdue winning 42-28 and the Blackshirts again failed to hold up their end of the bargain for most of the game.  They did make some stops in the 4th quarter, but by then the damage was done and the offense couldn’t bail them out.

Quick Notes:

Blackshirts…  David Blough took Nebraska apart for the majority of the game.  Defensively, Nebraska is reaching too much and not filling their responsibilities and it continues to kill them with big plays.  The Huskers held Rondale Moore somewhat in check, which was surprising, but plenty of other playmakers made Nebraska pay.

Wide Receivers…. Losing Tyjon Lindsey may seem like a bad week for the Huskers, but I honestly don’t know if Lindsey was ever going to be a big part of the offense.  Nebraska looked for ways to get him involved and he just never seemed to stand out. Kade Warner starting was a bit of a shock to most of us, but honestly, he played well in his first career start.  Stanley Morgan and J.D. Spielman are all Big Ten performers week after week. Nebraska needs at least one more wideout to step up and really help them out. It would be nice if Mike Williams, Jaron Woodyard or Andre Hunt could be that player.  I expect that we will start to see more of a rotation, if for nothing else, Morgan and Spielman will be burned out by November otherwise.

Tearing it out by the Root … This team has some underlying issues that are keeping the Huskers from reaching their potential.  Whether it’s too many penalties, players not listening and doing their own thing in games, or simply not knowing how to play hard, Coach Scott Frost has had to continuously establish a new culture.  We can face it, it is probably worse than most of us could have imagined. What is happening now is that players that aren’t “all in” continue to disappear from the team or have less playing time. It won’t be pretty and it won’t happen overnight, but Nebraska continues to rip out the old to start planting the new.

Score Prediction: Wisconsin 35 – Nebraska 17

Nebraska figured out some things on offense last week against a Purdue team that was better than anyone probably thought.  They wore the Boilermakers out in the 4th quarter and they made them defend the entire field and the Huskers put up a lot of offense.  I expect Nebraska to put up a lot of yards per play this week, but it probably won’t show up on the scoreboard.  Wisconsin is the worst type of matchup for this Husker team, they physically try to beat you up and Nebraska isn’t quite ready for a game like that.  I think it will be close at half but Wisconsin will keep the ball and wear down the Blackshirts in the end…Don’t worry, we will still be cheering like crazy, as always, GBR!!