Let's Really Get Rolling!!!

The Huskers answered the bell against Michigan State.  I mean they REALLY answered it! From the week before and scoring at will over Illinois, to the next week when the Blackshirts had to lead the charge on a freezing and windy day, the Huskers are starting to resemble what us aged veterans remember from a bygone era.

Nebraska may not be back nationally, but I feel confident that they are officially back.  I know that playing Iowa this weekend and getting a win on the road is going to be a Herculean task, but I also know that Nebraska will no longer lay down when someone punches them in the mouth.

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How far they have come from Ann Arbor.  Scott Frost knew that it was the low point.  It was hard to tell Husker fans at the time, but a large shift was coming.  Players that weren’t buying in were about to hit the road. Players that stayed made a commitment to getting better.  Players that you wouldn’t necessarily point too before the season started, have become physical leaders on this team.

Nebraska has finally embraced the physical nature that has eluded them the last four seasons.  Even under Bo Pelini Nebraska too often would get down against Wisconsin or Ohio State and roll over.  They may have hit the Michigan State and Northwestern teams in the mouth, but against the league elite, they rarely could hang with the more physical teams.

We don’t know if it is permanent, but I would suspect with Coach Frost it is.  You don’t reverse a soft culture overnight. This staff has put in the work, showed the kids how to be great players and they have followed, sometimes begrudgingly, but they have finally found the fun in football again.

As Nebraska likely finishes up their season with Iowa, I expect the Huskers to be physically prepared to step up against the Hawkeyes.  The last three seasons under Coach Mike Riley have been an embarrassment against Iowa. I no longer worry that we will be under prepared.  That in and of itself is a great feeling to many Husker fans.

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ON WITH THE REWIND…

Our previous score prediction for the Michigan State game was Nebraska 28, Michigan State 24.  The actual score was Nebraska kicking their hopes into the wind and being rewarded with a 9-6 victory.  Never has the cold felt so good! Nebraska played a physical, dirty team toe to toe and didn’t back down and gave as good as they got.  Never mind that Michigan State play calling was a lousy as ever, Nebraska earned the victory.

Quick Notes:

Blackshirts… This group won a game for the Huskers for the first time in forever.  They stepped up all over the place. I can’t get over how much the defensive backfield has improved this season.  To me, they have been the MVP of this season. Mo Barry continues to be the fiery leader this team needs. His play covers up some deficiency of the defensive line.  I expect that to get corrected through weight training and off-season work. It’s hard to make that jump during the season in the Big Ten. Overall, every level answered the challenge against the Spartans and it was glorious

JD Spielman…. Spielman’s absence against Michigan State showed a glaring weakness for the Huskers.  Without his ability to stretch the field, the Huskers had a hard time making perimeter plays and it was a lot more difficult to find open receivers for Adrian Martinez.  It may be a precursor for next season. Unless Nebraska can find that third wideout that can consistently get open, the offense could take a step back against good teams next season.  They need J.D. to play against Iowa.

Barret Pickering …Give this kid a lot of credit.  After Northwestern, it would have been easy to mail it in this season and not get any better.  Instead Pickering had his best game of the season against Michigan State with swirling winds to boot in.  Pickering is on pace to equal Drew Brown’s field goal percentage as a freshman. That bodes well for the Huskers kicking game and supplied a big win in 2018 for the Huskers.

Score Prediction: Nebraska 24 – Iowa 23

If the weather holds on long enough, I see Nebraska putting some points on the board against the Hawkeyes.  Wind will be the biggest factor as it seems to be the only thing that can slow Adrian Martinez down. This score is based on J.D. Spielman playing this Friday.  If J.D. doesn’t play this weekend, it will be hard for the Huskers to score many touchdowns. Devine Ozigbo and the offensive line may need to step up their game for the Huskers to get the final win.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone and GBR!!!