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!!