Can the Huskers Discover a win in Columbus?

It seems like it has been an eternity ago that the Cornhuskers traveled to Ann Arbor and had their doors blown off, the hood ripped out and the tailpipe dragging by halftime.  That Husker team was no match for the Wolverines at that point and time and they knew it. Adrian Martinez was still hobbled, players were about to bail on the team and the defense couldn’t stop Lincoln Southeast’s offense that day.

Fast forward a month later and things are looking up in Lincoln.  Adrian Martinez is starting to look healthy, the running game has settled in with Devine Ozigbo and Maurice Washington giving a little Thunder and Lightning and the offensive line has improved considerably since Michigan.

Why am I telling you all these things you already know?  It’s because Nebraska is headed to Columbus, Ohio to take on a wounded Buckeye team and they may have the confidence to play with them.  Ohio State is reeling from their loss to Purdue, two Saturday’s ago. The media, the fanbase, even Urban Meyer’s wife, is questioning the Buckeyes right now.

Now I’m about to pop the balloon.  While Nebraska has improved greatly on offense the last month, the defense still isn’t quite prepared to go toe to toe with one of the best passing offenses in the country.  Nebraska has continuously been one of the worst teams in the Big Ten against the pass. They have failed in almost every Big Ten game to have a legitimate pass rush. Against Ohio State that will make for a long night.

I’m not saying Nebraska can’t compete with Ohio State, in fact I imagine Nebraska will be fired up and if they don’t turn the ball over early, could even be in the game until the fourth quarter. If Nebraska were to get a few breaks and the Buckeyes implode, you could even see an upset.  That would be a big feather in the cap for Scott Frost and it would show recruits that Nebraska, with all their dings this year is really on the road back up.

What is clear to me, is that Scott Frost has established his culture in Lincoln.   The Huskers are in better position in one month, to take on the Big Ten East’s behemoths.  That shows me that this staff and this program are improving week to week. We knew when the rebuild started that it wasn’t going to be easy.  Nebraska still has a lot of work to do on the recruiting trail and in development of players. Those things don’t always show up against Bethune Cookman, but they will against Ohio State.

It comes back to the old saying, “Day by day, we get better and better.”  Nebraska is getting better, and this weekend they have a chance to prove it.  That is all we can ask for.

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ON WITH THE REWIND…

Our previous score prediction for the Bethune Cookman game was Nebraska 46 – BC 17.  The actual score was Nebraska winning easily 45-9. Nebraska did what they needed to do, they beat an inferior team badly and allowed players on the bench that never play, an opportunity to get out in front of the home crowd.  Nebraska hasn’t played a game like that in a long time, it was a refreshing change.

Quick Notes:

Defensive Backs…  Here is your chance Blackshirts.  You’ve been put on blast as much as any position group, but you have started to show improvement.  Travis Fisher has only been here 11 months, but I finally have started to see this group come together.  Cam Taylor, Deontai Williams and even Braxton Clark in small doses, have integrated themselves and helped build depth.  JoJo Domann coming back from injury has injected a spark. Dicaprio Bootle and Lamar Jackson have bought in. This has helped transform an eyesore into a budding unit.  They will be tested mightily this weekend. How they respond will show us what the future could be on defense.

Pass Rush…. Nebraska needs someone that can get to the quarterback consistently, but that player isn’t on the roster right now, or is a year and a lot of weight training and conditioning from being that player.  That doesn’t mean that Huskers can’t get to the quarterback without some creative sets and blitzes. If Nebraska has any chance against Ohio State, defensive coordinator Erik Chinander will need to figure out a way to get to Dwayne Haskins.  If the Huskers can do that at all, they at least will give themselves a shot to win.

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Recruiting …Nebraska had a great week in recruiting, but it was somewhat overshadowed by one player that didn’t commit to the Huskers.  As someone that has followed recruiting way to close for a long time, I encourage Husker fans to wait until signing day before you start the sky is falling routine.  Every year, Nebraska loses out on a player from another state when it seems like they are in the basket, only to have them go somewhere else. It stings, sure, but there are always recruiting wins that we don’t even worry about how it looks to the team that loses out on the players that come to Lincoln.  I’m encouraged by the people that are already on board for 2019. There is always room for surprises along the way, don’t sweat the ones that get away.

Score Prediction: Ohio State 44 – Nebraska 35

I know that the Huskers think they can win in Columbus.  I know that I think they can win, if they get some breaks and the Buckeye’s aren’t interested during an early morning game.  What I’m not sure of, is where Nebraska can make mistakes and still win. Urban Meyer doesn’t like Nebraska and will look to run up the score whenever he can.  If he gets a break here or there, he will exploit it. Nebraska is better than they were a month ago, but on the road in Columbus may be a tall order for the Huskers to deliver a victory.  Don’t care though, I will still be cheering! GBR!!