Deja Vu All Over Again!

So here we are again.  Nebraska is playing Iowa for a chance to close the season on a high note.  A win in Lincoln would put Nebraska into a bowl game for the first time in three seasons.  Man, that is hard to type. How did it get this way? You can look back at a season filled with what if’s and what could have been’s.  

Nebraska held on to win a couple of games, but they have blown double digit leads this season like a Pez dispenser.  Colorado, Indiana, Purdue are all games that Nebraska should have won. You can argue that they were lucky to beat Northwestern.  The Huskers finally put it all together against Maryland, but you have to wonder if that was a one week wonder, or if they are finally ready to get down to business.

Nebraska has improved somewhat on last season.  In some ways, they have regressed. I think the thing that I will take away from this season, no matter the score against Iowa, is how far away the Huskers really are.  And yet they are so close. They simply don’t have the depth to bench non-performers from week to week. It forces you to ride or die with the players on the field.

That’s the reality that Scott Frost finds himself in right now.  Nebraska needs to close hard in recruiting this season. They need to get another big influx of talent that can push the starters next year.  Nebraska brings back a lot on offense. They need to supplement that with players at wide receiver and depth at running back. It’s no secret that development at those two positions hasn’t come to fruition.

Defensively, Nebraska needs to take a big step forward next season.  It will be the third year in this system. The excuse that players are still learning will be out the window.  The Huskers will have to replace a lot of players on the defensive line and find someone to take over for Lamar Jackson at corner.  Otherwise, a lot of players will be back. You saw a little bit of the young guys on defense against Maryland. I think there is talent in the back-ups, but it will need to make a big jump to play more consistently and actually stop some third down plays to help the offense have a short field.

Special teams have had a few bright spots in the punt block area, but they have struggled mightily in practically every other area.  That must improve for the Huskers to have any shot at winning the division in years to come. I don’t know yet how that will happen.

How does that affect this weekend against Iowa?  I’m not sure. The offensive line and Dedrick Mills seem to be figuring out what they are good at, and it couldn’t have come at a better time as the Hawkeyes are in the top two teams the Huskers will play on defense.  So was the Maryland a precursor to what we will see on Friday, or was it the lone last bright spot for 2019? I don’t know, but what we do know, is this season has been a disappointment. The only way this season comes out as a wash is to beat Iowa at home.  That will be the injection that Scott Frost needs to move on to next season.  

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ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last week’s prediction was Nebraska 36, Maryland 30.  The actual score was Nebraska 54, Maryland 7. If anything could go wrong for Maryland it did.  Nebraska played really well and Maryland didn’t have any answers from the first turnover, to trying to slow down the 6th string kicker, one team could do nothing right.  Nebraska could do nothing wrong.  

Quick Notes:

Dedrick Mills…Mills had his second straight week of high volume yards per carry.  He looks comfortable playing now, when often a the beginning of the year, he was just a step the wrong way.  I think the offensive line is playing at the level that they expected all year. I expect Mills to have a big game against an Iowa team built to stop the run.  It will be an interesting clash of power on scheme.

Adrian Martinez…. I don’t know if he his close to 100% healthy, but he has finally started to live up to the promise that he showed last season.  I don’t know that he can throw the ball down field with much accuracy. Some of his play decisions on zone read and passing leaves me scratching my head.  All that being said, he is the one player than can make the Iowa game a win for the Huskers. If Martinez plays well at all, I expect the game to be a tight one.

Lamar Jackson…It is crazy to think that this will be his last game in Memorial Stadium.  When Jackson committed to Nebraska, I have to admit, I was really stoked. He hasn’t always been the most consistent and he has been maddening with his decision process over the years.  In the end, his ability to put his trust in defensive backs coach Travis Fisher has propelled Jackson into the conversation of a first round draft pick. That’s quite a ride. I will miss Jackson when he is gone.  I’ve enjoyed his career.

Mohamed Barry…Like Lamar Jackson, this will be Barry’s last game in Lincoln for the Big Red.  Barry hasn’t had quite the same success over his career as Jackson, but the thing about Barry, he bleeds red like the players of old.  It’s unfortunate that he hasn’t played on better teams during his time at Nebraska. When there is a need for someone to step up to the podium and talk after tough losses, Barry has always stood tall.  You have to admire someone that always takes the heat. I hope he closes out his career with a great game. I would love to see him play in a bowl game.

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Score Prediction:  Nebraska 28, Iowa 27

I don’t know why, but I have a feeling Nebraska is going to grab this win.  The Huskers seemed to have found themselves a little bit against Wisconsin. They realized that they don’t have to lay down when the going gets tough.  Last season, with a better offense, the Hawkeyes had to hit a last minute field goal to beat the Huskers in Iowa City. I think there is enough to play for that the Huskers will show up.  I also expect Coach Frost to lay all the cards on the table, including playing Luke McCaffrey in whatever position they need to get that speed on the field. If Wan’Dale Robinson can play at all, Nebraska may win by two touchdowns.  Frost will get it done and the Huskers will be going bowling. Dress warm and GBR!!

Must Win Weekend

There won’t be another opportunity like this for Nebraska again.  A reeling Maryland program that has more losses that Nebraska and may be even more beat up at this point.  Nebraska needs to capitalize on this opportunity to set up a possible bowl game entry against Iowa right after Thanksgiving.

Nebraska played hard against Wisconsin, the offense rushed for more yards against Wisconsin than any other team has all season.  The Husker offense continues to make large chunk plays. Unfortunately, they haven’t been able to capitalize with points. It’s killing them.

Coach Scott Frost said this week that if they could score 30 points a game they should win most of them.  We haven’t seen very many games in the Big Ten when the Huskers could score 30. They finally seem to have the offensive line working well enough to move the ball, but due to play calling, effort or whatever, Nebraska struggles in the red zone.

The Nebraska defense hasn’t held up their end of the bargain either.  They continue to struggle to stop the running game. Part of that is because they defensive line doesn’t keep the offensive line from meeting the linebackers.  Another reason is that the secondary at safety is so banged up, they have walk ons and true freshman as backups to the starters. When the starters come out, it is a big drop off.  When they are hurt and have to play, it is just as bad as when the leave.

Those aren’t excuses, they are just the reality.  Nebraska has underachieved this season, for multitudes of reasons.  Some of it is the player personnel, some of it is depth, some of it is coaching.  If you could pin point any one thing, you would say it should be easily fixed. That’s simply not the case.  Nebraska should be working on their 7th or 8th win this weekend, instead they are fighting to stay bowl eligible with 2 games left.  Lost chances, poor decisions and lack of leadership will mark this 2019 season. If Nebraska can somehow pull out a win at Maryland, they will have it all on the line in one week.

If they fail to win this weekend, it will be a long cold winter in Lincoln.

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ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last week’s prediction was Wisconsin 38, Nebraska 21.  The actual score was Wisconsin 37, Nebraska 21. It should have been much closer than it was.  Nebraska’s inability to make a field goal and keep the game close to a one possession game in the second half, forced Nebraska to try and make fourth down conversions when they could have used field goals, if only they had made the first one.  Nebraska’s inability to score in the red zone continues to be costly to this team.

Quick Notes:

Blackshirts…The inability to tackle has been a huge killer for this team.  Tack that on to the inability to get a consistent pass rush and you can see how the defense can’t win a game on their own.  Nebraska’s offense has had it’s own problems, but they are exacerbated by the defense’s inability to flip the field, create turnovers or get quick 3 and outs.  Nebraska will need to address all of this again this off season. Will it ever get better for Erik Chinander? He better figure it out, because the leash will start to get shorter the longer it takes to turn the Blackshirts around.

Cam Jurgens…. It has been an interesting season for the redshirt freshman from Beatrice.  He struggled early in the season with high snaps and often looked lost. Watching him against Wisconsin though, I started to think that Nebraska will have it’s first All Conference Center since Dominic Raiola.  Jurgens plays really hard. When he latches on, he plays to the whistle and he is able to get down the field and throw blocks that clear a lot of space. The entire offensive line has played much better as of late, but Jurgens’ rise has been especially notable.

Dedrick Mills…Can’t stress enough how big of a player he was against Wisconsin.  He was difficult to bring down, broke big runs and forced Wisconsin to play fewer defensive backs which opened up the passing game.  Sometimes as a player, the game, in a new system, doesn’t click right away. Mills has worked hard and now seems to understand where the seams are being created and he isn’t hesitating.  I feel like he will have a huge game against Maryland and probably against Iowa if he can stay healthy.

Young Players…Nebraska has played younger players quite a bit as we close out the season.  Ty Robinson, Myles Farmer, Braxton Clark, Chris Hickman and Keem Green have all seen an increase in snaps.  I expect a great many of the to continue to play more as the season winds down. It is apparent that the 2019 recruiting class has a lot of players that will help next season.  It’s nice to see them get the game reps that they wouldn’t otherwise get with the old red shirt rules. Nebraska has a bright future, these kids will the core of that future.

Score Prediction:  Nebraska 36, Maryland 30

For the first time in a long time, I think Nebraska will win a game on the road.  Maryland really is banged up and are playing out the string. If Nebraska can get up early on the road, they should cruise.  More likely, they will score often, but make mistakes that cost them easy points. It will make the game much closer than it should be, but in the end, I like the Big Red today.  With any luck at all, it will set up a big match for Iowa when they come to Lincoln. Turtle soup for the Huskers! GBR!!

Prepare Yourself Husker Fan!

We are in the last quarter of a Husker football season that has been beyond brutal when compared to preseason expectations.  Nebraska is fighting to get to six wins and a bowl game. I’m not convinced that all the players on the team are “all in” to get there.

I won’t call out specific players in the Purdue game but there was some false efforts by some players. Nebraska came back and took the lead in a fourth quarter game. They had done so many things right to get there, but had so many things they did wrong.  They looked great in blocking two punts. The defense had moments where they looked like they had the game in hand. Then the final Purdue drive happened and like so many other games this season, defeat was snatched from the jaws of victory.

Unfortunately, Nebraska failed to capitalize in a game on the road.  They had a double digit lead, but this time it really felt like it didn’t matter.

The issue with losing, once you do it a few times, it becomes easy.  Winning is hard. Doing the right thing all the time is hard. Nebraska, for years, never had to worry about playing out the string in a season because there was always something on the line for them.  The last three seasons, in November, there just hasn’t been much to play for in Lincoln.

That can wear kids down.  Think about this, if Nebraska fails to make a bowl game this season and possibly next, this will be the first class in most fan’s lifetimes that a recruiting class at Nebraska has failed to play in a bowl game.  I never thought in a million years that would happen. Nebraska has too many things in their favor. The fan support is the biggest thing. Fans continue to fill Memorial Stadium. Tradition and input are next. Nebraska is second to none in tradition and with the announcement of new facilities this fall, they are making sure that they won’t be left behind when it comes to providing the best athletic experience in the country if they can.

Scott Frost has not coached like a wunderkind the last two years.  Nebraska has failed to win more than one game on the road. There have been multiple games Nebraska has given up double digit leads.  There have certainly been questionable decisions throughout.

All that being said, Nebraska has a chance at home to shock Wisconsin.  You get the feeling based on interviews that the Badgers aren’t all that concerned about Nebraska.  Wisconsin is chasing Minnesota and they are much better stocked to thump Nebraska in Lincoln than most teams.  If Frost is honest with his team and they come out and play hard, it might still not be enough for this group of Huskers to come out victorious.  Based on early preseason, it’s quite a deflating look at where Nebraska football is right now.

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 ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last week’s prediction was Purdue 33, Nebraska 31.  The actual score was Purdue 31, Nebraska 27. Nebraska’s road woes continue.  This time with a 3rd string quarterback leading a last minute drive and Nebraska overrunning a reverse and allowing a go ahead touchdown.  Nebraska has a hump that they continue to fail to get over.

Quick Notes:

Adrian Martinez… Martinez was really rusty against Purdue.  He turned it around in the second half and led two touchdown drives, but the poor play in the first half probably kept Nebraska from winning.  Martinez hasn’t found his spark from last season. If he would happen to find it the last three games, they could be exciting. I think he will get it turned around, but I will be interested to see if he has to sit out he spring to heal up.  I don’t think he has been healthy all season.

Darion Daniels…. This kid has been the best transfer I can remember at Nebraska.  He plays hard all the time, has a lot of talent and is a leader of the team.  I felt horrible for him that he didn’t score against Purdue. It might have completely changed the game.  Nebraska failed to capitalize on that turnover with a touchdown. Daniels may not play again this season due to injury.  That will really hurt Nebraska’s chance of sneaking into a bowl game. I hope he comes back. He has been a joy to watch this season.  

Special Teams…There are so many times that Nebraska’s special teams could help them out, but haven’t.  Against Purdue, they were able to block two punts. Unfortunately, Nebraska couldn’t capitalize on both of them.  They also struggled on returns again. The kicking game has been poor and below average most of the season. If Nebraska is going to get back to winning tight games, they will need to make some major changes in the off season.  Special teams might be the biggest needed change.

Linebackers…No sugar coating it, Nebraska’s linebacker play has been really bad in the Big Ten.  I’m not sure why they have struggled so bad. It’s a veteran group, but unless you have great play at linebacker, the 3-4 doesn’t do much to stop anyone.  This is a position group that has some serious soul searching to do this off season. Blown assignments, bad coverage, failure to make any big plays and a lack of pass rush has made this group easy to exploit by opposing teams.  Purdue consistently used the tight ends in the passing game to burn Nebraska. Those are coverages that linebackers are responsible for and they simply couldn’t do it.

Score Prediction: Wisconsin 38, Nebraska 21 

I’m going to hope I’m really wrong on this prediction.  Nebraska has played well at home for the most part and the crowd should help if the Huskers can strike early.  I worry that the offense won’t be able to do much, especially if Wan’Dale Robinson is out. If Nebraska can create turnovers and take care of the ball, they will have a shot.  I just think the Huskers are firing on about 2 cylinders on offense and will struggle. Let’s hope I’m wrong! GBR!!

When Will It End?

There is a certain amount of madness that encompasses Husker football the last three seasons.  Every time I think we are past it, Nebraska Football in general finds another way to stick it right to the heart of the fans.  

I know there is a certain number of other fans of other programs that are relishing the utter chaos that Husker football has found itself.  In some ways, that’s probably what it’s all about, wallowing in someone else’s misery, if you can’t have any joy of your own. Maybe that’s what I tell myself to get over the crushing agony each week.

We go through the same song and dance, over and over, right when you think they have righted the ship (Colorado? Minnesota? Indiana?) another disaster befalls the entire program.

And yet, here I sit, writing another blog, watching yet another game, or at least preparing to watch another game.  A wise person once told me, “enjoy these games, if you are lucky you get 13 a year, that’s not many and before you know it, you’ll be at the end of your life and be glad you watched any at all.”  That quote came circa 2011, but I keep that in my pocket when I think about how bad things have been for Husker fans the last few years. We only have four more games left in this season, if we are lucky five.  I know from last November until this August was an eternity. It’s been too long since Nebraska has played in a bowl game.

I wouldn’t even complain if we played in the Mars/M&M Bowl on the planet Pluto, as long as I get to watch Nebraska play again.

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So really what is the point?  We all sit and criticize what we are watching.  As a state, and as a, (God forgive me) “Husker Nation,” we all come together a dozen times each fall and share a bond that you don’t always find in other areas.  I won’t let a couple of down seasons ruin that for me. There are too many other bad things in the world to not enjoy some of the great things that we have all shared together with Husker sports.

So as a fan with way too much emotion invested in Husker Football, I’ll just ask that you think about how lucky we are to get to watch Nebraska represent us each week.  The road ahead with this rebuild is probably far tougher than we can imagine. Scott Frost told us it would take a while. He probably knew better than any fan, media member, or outside observer.  I just want to see Nebraska get back to playing an extra game each year. All the other stuff at this point…well I’m just going to enjoy as much of it as I can.

 ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last week’s prediction was Nebraska 24, Indiana 23.  The final score was Indian 38 Nebraska 31. Nebraska really needed to win that game at home, to have a chance at getting to a bowl.  Don’t get me wrong, they only need to finish 2-2 down the stretch, but this is a game you hoped you would win so the pressure wasn’t so great.  The backup quarterbacks played superb outside of a couple of plays, but the defense continues to melt down when it’s needed the most. Nebraska hasn’t had a killer instinct in almost 4 years.  It seems a lot longer.

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Quick Notes:

Quarterbacks… Noah Vedral and Luke McCaffrey played so well, you didn’t really miss Adrian Martinez last week.  McCaffrey especially gave the Huskers a jolt of athleticism at the position that it made you wish Martinez could get back to his 2018 form.  I will say, the group looks to be very exciting in the future and having great quarterback play is paramount to having a winning football program.  I think that Martinez has been playing hurt all year. I hope that the time off has allowed all his ailments to heal. We will need him to be healthy the last four weeks to have any chance of winning.

Road Games…. Since Scott Frost has returned, Nebraska has won exactly…one road game.  Out of 8 road games, that is about as rough a stat as you can have. It takes some resolve to win on the road.  You have to beat out the crowd, the feeling of not being in your own bed the night before and the realization that everything is just a little different when you walk into the stadium.  Great teams relish going on the road and beating someone. For Nebraska to get to that point, they will need to beat teams that are reeling. With only one exception, they have yet to do that under the Frost era.  

Erik Chinander…There has been a lot of talk this last week, that the defensive coordinator at Nebraska is in over his head at Nebraska and in the Big Ten.  As someone that has coached myself, I will say, better players make you look much smarter. I’m sure that Chinander has felt the pain of these losses and the poor play of the defense and wondered a little bit why his schemes haven’t worked.  As a coach, sometimes you need to shake up your own belief system, to see if you can shake something loose. I realize this group isn’t super talented, but I hope that the Blackshirts can rise up, once again and aren’t just a sieve the rest of the season.

Wan’Dale Robinson…Nebraska is so lucky Robinson picked them last year over his home state school of Kentucky.  There is no telling where Nebraska would be without him. He has played like a man on fire when given the ball.  His ability to make small holes into big runs has been a big reason Nebraska was able to move the ball up and down the field against Indiana.  I hope for his sake that he can last the next four games. I’d like to see Dedrick Mills get some more touches to try and lighten his load. Either way, he is electric, and he makes the Nebraska offense look bright for the future.  

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Score Prediction: Purdue 33, Nebraska 31 

Nebraska’s failure to win on the road the last two years is starting to make me weary.  I’ve thought Nebraska could have won at least four games the last two seasons on the road and they have failed in all but one opportunity.  I don’t know if the answer to the Husker road woes is with this group of players. If Rondale Moore plays for Purdue it will be trouble. Nebraska has shown that they can’t stop anyone from throwing the ball, because they fail to get a pass rush.  If Nebraska comes out flat, like they did at Minnesota, Tommie Frazier in his prime wouldn’t be enough to save them. I hope I’m wrong, but I will be cheering as hard as ever. GBR!!

A Long Two Weeks

The roller coaster that is Nebraska football took a huge dip two weeks ago.  Since then it has dropped off on a slow slope that was the longest two weeks that I can remember in Lincoln.  

Super sophomore and probably the best overall athlete on the team, Maurice Washington not only called it a day on the field, he left the team off from it as well.  Nebraska was apparently being held together by glue and Popsicle sticks. An embarrassing road trip to Minneapolis revealed that while the team isn’t deep, it may not be good either. 

In  2018 we all new Nebraska could have a rough year.  The 0-6 start confirmed that. 2019 was supposed to be different.  Nebraska brought back a lot of young talent on offense, including freshman All-American Adrian Martinez.  Throw in some prize recruits like Wan’dale Robinson and Rahmir Johnson and you could see the Huskers not skipping a beat.

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Instead, the team has done the opposite of what it did in 2018.  The 2019 version doesn’t seem to have the same drive and motivation the 2018 team had, despite all the losing.  Nebraska is certainly young and they have little depth, but it is startling to see that the really don’t have many difference makers on the team.  On offense, outside of J.D. Spielman, the only shining light from week to week has been Robinson. The offensive line has regressed to the point that I don’t see how they are going to play well enough to win more than one more game the rest of the season.

Losing Martinez was a huge blow two weeks ago, but I would venture to guess that John Elway in his prime would struggle behind this current construction of the once fabled Pipeline.

All is not lost.  I think Nebraska can make a bowl game.  They have three winnable games on the schedule.  This is assuming that they can play up to the level that they reached against Northwestern.  The Blackshirts struggled last week, but in their defense, the offense’s lack of production really stresses a defense that is designed to play with a lead, take chances and defend the pass.  This variation of the defense isn’t a heavy run schemed unit. Minnesota used that against Nebraska and it paid handsomely. A 14-0 halftime deficit seemed like 100.

So where does that leave Nebraska?  Well I have to think the Washington saga coming to a close may actually help the Huskers.  That was a lot of drama the last month and honestly, when bad seeds left the team last year, the Huskers responded by playing harder and tougher.  I’m not overall certain this group of Huskers can turn that around in 2019. They need to do it this weekend, otherwise, what was once a promising season, may turn into a bigger disaster than last.  It will be a L-O-N-G off season if Nebraska fails to win another game.

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last week’s prediction was Minnesota 34, Nebraska 28.  The final score was Minnesota 34 Nebraska 7. A game that didn’t look great on paper, looked way worse in person.  Nebraska was disinterested and played like it. Without Martinez and Robinson, Nebraska isn’t going to win many games, if any, the rest of the year.  I don’t think they will go win less, but if they play like that moving forward, they will.

Quick Notes:

Adrian Martinez… People have been calling for him to step aside and let Noah Vedral have a crack in a game, but I think most Husker fans realize that Martinez is the best player to get Nebraska any chance at winning in the Big Ten.  Nothing against Vedral, but this isn’t the 1994 Huskers where you can just plug in anyone at quarterback and let the Pipeline and Lawrence Phillips bowl everyone over. I’m not convinced that Martinez will play this week, but you have to hope that he gets healthy soon.  A bowl game could be riding on it.

Offensive Line…. Offensive it right.  This unit has been subpar to awful this season.  One drive they look like they are going to dominate (Illinois), the next they can’t block my grandma.  The inconsistency has destroyed any rhythm that offense had built up in the non conference season. By week 8 in the season you should be seeing some major improvement.  If we don’t have a better unit this week, you might as well start playing younger players, like Ethan Piper and Bryce Benhart. Veterans are great, but if you are going to get your tail kicked in, you might as well let the young guys take the beating, in hopes of cranking it up the next season.  

Scott Frost…Frost is juggling a lot of issues right now.  He is an offensive wizard, at least we have seen some of that, yet this unit has been awful the last 3 games.  Maurice Washington has been a sideshow this year, that Frost, looking back was probably better off avoiding until his legal matters played out.  On top of that, expectations from Frost, his staff, the media and the fans have pushed him to do things to win today, that may not be what he wanted to do to build for the future.  Frost is in a tight spot. He needs to recruit better, no doubt, but when you aren’t getting better on the field week to week, you start to battle that on the recruiting trail as well.  I’m totally convinced Frost is the right man for the Husker head job, but I’m not entirely sure that he was ready for the team he inherited. The next 5 games will make a huge difference in how long this rebuild will last.

Maurice Washington…I won’t bring him up again, mostly because I’m pretty certain he will never play in Lincoln again, but he needs to be talked about one last time.  Sometimes a player is so talented, that as a coach you put up with a lot of headaches, because you are always convinced that you are the one that can get the most out of him.  We saw that talent with Washington. The problem is, when a kid is young, immature and doesn’t have a lot of things working for him in his personal life, sometimes you can’t reach him.  Eventually, someone will get to him. Unfortunately, for Frost, it probably won’t be him. Like I mentioned above, I will miss his speed and that sudden burst for sure, but you have to wonder if him leaving might be a lift for the rest of the team.  

Score Prediction: Nebraska 24, Indiana 23 

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This weeks prediction is based on two things.  Nebraska had a week off. They needed it in the worst way.  Indiana played Maryland on the road and played hard and fought for the win.  It’s not always easy to go back to back on the road in the Big Ten and win when you aren’t Ohio State.  On top of that, I think we see Luke McCaffrey quite a bit this weekend. I think that will spark a Husker offense a little bit and maybe the offensive line will play their best game all season.  The city of Lincoln, the crowd in Memorial Stadium and the Husker team know that this game could determine their bowl eligibility. I think we will see a Husker team come in and fight hard. Now, if Adrian Martinez and Wan’dale Robinson play, I like Nebraska’s chances a whole lot more.  This prediction is based on the fact that I don’t anticipate either of them playing. If they do, I expect a better game from the Huskers. GBR!!

Gopher Broke

It is clear to me that Nebraska as a program, is finally figuring some things out about how to win close games.  That’s important because Nebraska lost most of those toss-up games last season. Beating Northwestern was not a small feat, considering Nebraska was playing back up players across the board on offense.  Even the defense was without arguably their most productive player, with Khalil Davis suspended last week.

You can look at the win as exciting and a continuation of Frost’s maturity as a coach.  When things aren’t working like you want, as a coach you have to make adjustments. Sometimes, those adjustments are to hang on and ride your defense and don’t turn the ball over.  It worked against a Northwestern team that was probably even more beat up offensively than Nebraska. It doesn’t matter though, survive and advance.

Now, Nebraska has a different kind of quest.  They leave for Minnesota with Adrian Martinez likely to be on the shelf.  Backup quarterback and native son, Noah Vedral came in and played well in limited action against Northwestern.  We don’t know how he will respond when he has an entire game plan to run. For all his faults this season, Martinez still makes some plays that wow you.  He hasn’t been consistent this season, but that largely can be attributed to an offensive line that continues to allow defenders to go unimpeded into the backfield.

Vedral won’t be immune to that pressure either.  If Nebraska, who is technically still very much alive to win the Big Ten West, can figure out a way to improve on the O-Line, they could close out the season on a roll.  Unfortunately, they continued to have issues snapping the football against the Wildcats and it really does hamper the way the offense runs their system. The bigger question this week will be how good the protection is for Vedral and will J.D. Spielman be available to play against his home state?

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Martinez has better days ahead of him.  I feel as if something has been bothering him, other than just high snaps, since the beginning of the season.  You could argue that being a captain and being a leader has taken a toll on the kid. I think it is more likely that Martinez has been playing through some injuries all season and it has forced him to give up on the free wheeling he was able to do as a freshman.  I expect some of that to come back. Luckily Vedral has three years into the Frost system. It should allow Nebraska to survive short term and allow Martinez a chance to sit back and watch the team play for a change. It could be good for Martinez. It also could be a good chance going into the bye, to get healed up for the stretch run.

Of course, all of this could be moot if Martinez somehow finds a way to play this weekend.  I just don’t suspect that he will. Nebraska has a chance to really put a big win on the board in Minnesota this week.  It will be interesting to see if the conservative nature of the game will continue for the Huskers. Or maybe this is the week that the offensive line gels and Nebraska runs all over the field behind a back up quarterback.  Either way, the coaching staff has come a long way from 2018. A big win over the defending West champion Wildcats may be the hump that Nebraska needed to get over.

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last week’s prediction was Nebraska 28, Northwestern 24.  The final score was Nebraska 13, Northwestern 10. It wasn’t pretty by any means, but Nebraska got it done.  No turnovers made the difference. Nebraska continues to struggle on offense, but they have as many wins as they did all of last season.  Eventually something will click for this team on offense. The defense continues to keep the Huskers in games. How long can Nebraska hold out waiting for the offense to shine?

Quick Notes:

Darrion Daniels… I pick Daniels as the MVP of the team last week. He consistently pushed the interior of the Northwestern offense back into the back field.  He has been a tremendous pick up for Nebraska. He allows Carlos Davis, Khalil Davis, Deontre Thomas and Ben Stille to play their more natural spots on the end.  He also requires double teams and sometimes triple teams, which allows the linebackers to run free and make plays. He has been an All Big Ten caliber player for Nebraska this season.  Just a tremendous player for the Blackshirts in 2019.

Lane McCallum…. Two weeks ago, I said that special teams, more specifically the kicking game, would lose a game for Nebraska.  It almost happened this last weekend, but then the walk on from Norfolk, transfer from Air Force, back up safety walked out and put his name in the record books alongside Alex Henry, Brett Maher, Kris Brown and any other kicker that has played a big role in Nebraska lore.  It wasn’t pretty, but that was a big kick on Saturday in front of a crowd that needed it. Congrats to McCallum, you will remember that day for the rest of your life.

Maurice Washington…You really hope that this kid can get healthy and get his act together.  There is no question in my mind that he is the most talented player on the Husker roster.  You can argue about other player’s production, but Washington can physically do things other people just cannot.  On the flip side, he has issues with attitude and commitment that are keeping him from reaching his potential. If Nebraska has any chance of winning the West Division, Washington will have to turn his season around.  I think all Nebraska fans want the kid to live up to that ability. The question is, will Washington figure it out before he leaves Lincoln?

J.D. Spielman…This week, as much as any other, requires Nebraska’s most production player to play big again.  Spielman has been open and simply missed by Martinez multiple times this season. When Spielman went out in the second half against Northwestern, it wasn’t just Martinez missing him.  Spielman opens up the offense for Nebraska. Without him running around, this team simply has not been able to stretch the field. Spielman has missed time the last three seasons. Every game or quarter he sits out limits Nebraska’s ability to run their offense.  Hopefully he can get healed up this weekend, Nebraska is going to need him. IF he doesn’t play, I just don’t see how Nebraska gets against the Gophers.

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Score Prediction: Minnesota 34, Nebraska 28

Every week I try and give an accurate prediction of how the Huskers game will unfold.  Unfortunately, this week, I think Nebraska will go into their bye week with a loss. Nebraska has been playing on a razor’s edge most of the season when it comes to playing just well enough.  Outside of Ohio State, you could argue Nebraska could have lost or won every other game on their schedule. I hope I’m wrong and that Nebraska is getting better week to week they make a statement on the road.  Unfortunately, with a bad weather forecast, the probability of playing with limited playmakers and the lack of road wins in the Scott Frost era, I see Nebraska playing close this weekend, but not being able to get it done.  It is hard to win on the road with a back-up quarterback. I will be in the stands cheering though, so I hope that helps….as always, GBR!!

Big Week for Nebraska

Welp, that didn’t go well.  Nebraska responded to Ohio State coming to Lincoln, along with ESPN’s GameDay and the announcement of new facilities, with their worst game of the season.  You could argue it was the worst game since Michigan last season. That game was turning point for Nebraska in 2018. Will the Ohio State game be that for Nebraska in 2019?

Honestly, I kind of doubt it.  I think the Huskers are who they are.  They don’t have a strong offensive line.  Quarterback Adrian Martinez has suffered from this.  Martinez looks lost when he is pressured. He clearly is not seeing anyone open down field.  Last week he had trouble making routine throws. Nebraska has failed to find a consistent downfield threat to open the running game.  All the speed that Nebraska has recruited on offense hasn’t made the impact that many fans had hoped. 

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Turnovers are a huge issue so far for Nebraska in 2019.  Nebraska wa yos 3-1 going into Ohio State because their defense had played well enough to overcome the offense.  The Buckeyes blew through the defense on Saturday night like they were swiss cheese. The special teams for the Huskers also played so far below par, they could have competed in the Masters.

The quick fix for Nebraska though is the upcoming schedule.  When many pundits and fans alike pushed the scenario that Nebraska could win the west division, it was based on the fact that, outside of Ohio State, Nebraska has a relatively easy schedule. Most difficult games are at home.  Nebraska needs to make hay over these next 5 weeks if they have any chance of making a bowl game, let alone challenging Iowa or Wisconsin for a division title.

With Northwestern this weekend, the Wildcats are wounded.  Nebraska needs this win. I’d argue that this game is as important as any game remaining on the Husker schedule.  If you win this game, you only need to win two more to make a bowl game. If you lose this game, you are back at .500 and headed on the road to Minnesota.  The Gophers have improved considerably from last season. If you are 3-4 headed into the final five games, it really does not look the Huskers can win the required three games to get into a bowl game.  

When Scott Frost was hired, he told anyone that would listen that this wouldn’t be an overnight success like he had at Central Florida.  I think most fans, including this blogger, thought that with the coaching staff would be able to overcome the recruiting deficiencies of the last 5 seasons.  While I know it sounds like an excuse, I think this staff had a better idea of how far off the team was from being able to compete at a high level. I think fans are starting to understand that now as well.

I’m not getting off my early season prediction of 8-4 just yet.  I figured Nebraska would beat Colorado, so that is one loss that I didn’t predict.  I think Nebraska can win all the next four games. The difference now, after watching them play this season, is I would not be surprised if they only won a couple.  Nebraska still has a long way to go.

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ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last week’s prediction was Ohio State 44, Nebraska 36.  The final score was Ohio State 48, Nebraska 7. The Huskers turnover woes continued with three first half interceptions by Adrian Martinez.  Ohio State came to play and Nebraska could not withstand the onslaught. A terrible performance pretty much in every aspect. Nebraska clearly is a way away from playing well against a top 5 team in the country.  How far? Who knows for sure, but it didn’t look close last Saturday.

Quick Notes:

Adrian Martinez… If you had said at the start of the season that Martinez will struggle this year, I might have agreed with you some, but would have been very doubtful.  Unfortunately, Martinez has played well only in spurts. Against Ohio State, he was really…. well, awful. This team will only go as far as he can take them.  Say what you want, but as he goes, this Husker offense goes. When he is playing well, running the ball hard, Nebraska is difficult to stop. We simply have not seen enough of that consistency this season.  He needs to get healthy this week against Northwestern.

Special Teams…. It’s not just Barrett Pickering being out.  It’s not just the back up punter kicking off.  Outside of J.D. Spielman’s lone punt return touchdown, the special teams continue to be bad across the board for Nebraska.  If this continues to be the case, Nebraska may have to look at making changes to the coaching next season. It may be that they need to shift responsibility around to someone else.  Sometimes a change to shake things up is a good thing. Nebraska has had awful special teams play going back at least four seasons now. It needs to shape up.  

Coaching…I rarely criticize Scott Frost.  I have been around him. I have watched him as a high school athlete, a Husker and now as a coach.  He is as competitive as anyone that I know. One thing that I’m sure of though, he needs to start preparing younger players on offense.  If the offensive line and wide receivers continue to play this bad, it may be time to start playing younger players. They may not have the experience, but they must be better equipped that some of the play we are seeing out of the veterans.  Sometimes you need to get your veteran’s attention. Putting someone on the bench isn’t always a bad thing.

J.D. Spielman…Get this kid the ball.  I don’t care how you do it.  Reverses, screens, downfield throws, lining him up in the backfield, whatever it takes.  He was Wan’dale before Robinson arrived. Get one of your best playmakers the ball more often.  Nebraska has advantages on the offensive side, they need to focus on getting those players the ball more often.  If Maurice Washington doesn’t play this week, Spielman is the difference maker the Huskers need to use.

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Score Prediction: Nebraska 28, Northwestern 24

In a game of who wants it more, I think playing in Lincoln will give the Huskers the push they need to get over the hump against Northwestern.  Nebraska had them on the ropes last season in Evanston, they just couldn’t knock them out. Scott Frost knows this team needs this victory. It will set the tone for the second half of the season.  Northwestern has always played Nebraska super tough. They are well coached and they don’t make mistakes. If Nebraska can overcome turnovers, or keep them to a minimum, they could win big. I suspect they will still struggle with penalties and turn it over a couple of times.  Hopefully they can overcome it to equal the amount of wins they had last season. GBR!!

Husker Gameday Game Day!

Measuring sticks come and go.  Each season gives Nebraska a few and each season, at least recently, Nebraska has responded with a loud thud.  Except in one instance. Last season Nebraska went to Columbus, Ohio expecting the worst. The Huskers responded by playing arguably their best game of the season, losing 36-31.  For a change, it looked like Nebraska was actually moving forward instead of backwards.  

This year, though, it seems as if Nebraska is still in the same place they were last season.  Even though Nebraska started 0-6 in 2018, it feels as if this 3-1 start to 2019 isn’t much better.  I think the loss at Colorado really put things in perspective for most people. Even Coach Frost said it in his press conference on Thursday, he hopes that Nebraska can stay with Ohio State and allow the crowd to carry the team.  This doesn’t feel like a team that is 3-1. Barely beating Illinois on the road will do that to you.

This game may not matter much in the overall scheme of things.  Nebraska certainly won’t be out of winning the West division with a loss. If they keep the game close, it may show everyone again how great a job Scott Frost is doing with this particular group of kids.  If they get blown out it will confirm the status quo that Nebraska is still seasons away from being a playoff contender.

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An upset would really get the ball rolling, however.  If Nebraska puts on a big performance, while ESPN sets up shop in Memorial Stadium, it would signal that the program is headed to better days.  

I don’t expect Nebraska to win.  I don’t think many do. It’s not to say that they can’t, but eye test certainly doesn’t favor the Huskers.  There is an upper echelon in college football that older Nebraska fans know all too well, but many younger fans just haven’t been able to experience yet.  I think in year four of this staff, you would hope that this type of game will be a distant memory. In year two, it just doesn’t seem reasonable. 

This season has already been more of a success than last season.  Nebraska is half way to a bowl game and has better talent than they did last season.  They may even be better coached than last year too. It is hard to keep expectations in check.  It’s harder to know that Nebraska just isn’t quite ready for big boy football just yet. I think it’s one of those stepping stone games.  This weekend, Nebraska will find out just how much farther they have to go. 

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last week’s prediction was Nebraska 41, Illinois 29.  The final score was Nebraska 42, Illinois 38. The game was much closer than it should have been.  Nebraska fumbled the ball four times and had an overwhelming disadvantage on penalties. The crazy thing is, Nebraska played it’s best game on offense in many ways. Not counting the fumbles of course.  The Blackshirts were put in bad spots all night, but responded when they needed it in the second half. Nebraska proved they could win a game on the road when they don’t play their best. A glass half full person would say that’s a good omen as they move through the season in the Big Ten.

Quick Notes:

Clean Game… I don’t know if it is Big Ten referees or just playing better competition, but Nebraska takes one step forward (Northern Illinois) then three steps back in their first conference game.  Poor officiating not withstanding, Nebraska continues to shoot themselves in the foot. Fumbles are a plague on this team that Nebraska has failed to cure. Add in special teams gaffs and failure to capitalize on the other teams mistakes and you wonder if Nebraska will ever be a consistently clean team?  Northwestern isn’t that great this season, but they are always one of the cleanest teams in the Big Ten. If Nebraska could get themselves 3/4 of the way to that, they could become a dominant team in the West division.

Wan’dale Robinson…. Co-player of the game last week with Adrian Martinez.  Robinson was so ballyhooed out of high school that if he failed to make a difference in a game this season, it would have been a disappointment.  The kid delivered when called upon. That hasn’t been the case often at Nebraska in the past. It’s not clear whether Robinson should play more running back, but I think we found out that he needs to at least be in the conversation.  Robinson carried Nebraska in the fourth quarter last week. If Maurice Washington can stay healthy, he gives Nebraska a one-two punch that only a couple teams in the Big Ten can match. It will be interesting to see how Coach Frost monitors touches going forward.  

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Blackshirts…Say what you want about Illinois, but they have a couple of weapons on offense that are as good as any in the conference.  The fact that the defense played average in the first half, but bulled up in the fourth quarter was a step forward from the Colorado loss.  Nebraska probably won’t be more athletic than most teams on defense, but if they do their job, the schemes seem to give the Huskers a fighting chance in each game.  If the Blackshirts can fill their expected roles this season, the defense can still win games for the Huskers.

Special Teams…Yikes!  I don’t know if it is because of the kicking game being so unbalanced, but Nebraska put out a stink bomb last week.  Kickoffs were short, the punting game looked like they were going for broke when playing it safe was maybe the better call.  Nebraska will be at best a seven to eight win team without getting special teams under control. At worst, they could be lucky to win a couple more games based on the issues that it causes.  The SOS for help needs to be put out in the worst way.

Score Prediction: Ohio State 44 Nebraska 36

This game is funny.  Nebraska went to Columbus and scared the hell out of the Buckeyes last season.  Nebraska is better than last season, so you would think they could replicate their performance.  Unfortunately, Ohio State looks like they are much better too. Nebraska probably caught OSU flat footed last season, because no one outside of Nebraska thought they could win.  I think Ohio State thinks that they could lose this game in Lincoln. That alone will have their attention. I expect Nebraska to play hard, but if they play anything like they did in Illinois, they won’t be able to climb out of a hole against Ohio State.  I think Ohio State gets a great start, with Nebraska closing hard at the end. Either way, I will be screaming like a lunatic inside the Sea of Red, GBR!!!