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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| Bleedhuskerred.com |
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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| Carriker Live |
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.
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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| Bleedhuskerred.com |
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!!
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