Spartan Hangover?

Nebraska comes into the Big Ten season, battered and bruised a little bit, but also a little tougher.  This certainly isn’t their first Big Ten game of the year, but that Illinois loss feels like it happened in a different time and to a different team.

Going on the road and outplaying a top team in the country will do that to a person’s memory.  The question becomes, can Nebraska come back without a hangover?

Anytime you play well on the road, you hope that it filters into the next week, but often that isn’t the case.  It is not easy to put all the work into a game plan, come up short, then do it all again.  Really good teams struggle with back-to-back road games against top 25 teams.

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So, is Nebraska a good team?  On the surface it is starting to look like they are.  They are consistent on defense, and they are becoming very efficient on offense.  Special teams?  Well, let us just say that they exist and that’s about the best way to put it.  Nebraska really could be a good team, but they have continued to hammer their own foot at the worst possible time with special teams’ gaffes.  

It’s like a consistent beating metronome that the Huskers special teams produces errors.  And it has been shared by multiple people, so it’s not just one piece.  You could argue that both of Nebraska’s losses were cemented with awful special teams plays that undermined otherwise solid efforts.

Now this isn’t to say all else is perfect.  Nebraska still misses tackles that really good teams make.  They have yet to consistently sack the quarterback.  Forcing fumbles is so foreign that I couldn’t tell you the last time we recovered one.

Offensively, the inability to run the ball for any significant yards is a problem.  In fact, the entire offensive line is like having a sharp blade and a dull blade on the same sword.  They continue to pass block well enough that Adrian Martinez has played like an All Big Ten quarterback, but they also let players come through so often that you wonder if they are taking tolls on the turnstile.  

It’s not hard to imagine why the Huskers are sitting at .500 at this point in the season, but it’s not difficult to see that they are closer to turning the corner than they have been in five seasons.  The blade of a sword is narrow.  It isn’t hard to think Nebraska could fall to either side of it moving forward.

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ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last game prediction was Oklahoma 38, Nebraska 28.  The actual score was OU 23, Nebraska 16.  In a game that most thought would be a blowout, Nebraska had plenty of chances to take down a top five team on the road.  I was at the game and OU fans were sweating it pretty hard.  The blocked extra point was such a lift for Oklahoma because it honestly felt like Nebraska was the better team until that happened.  I’m not sure that they weren’t the better team.

Quick Notes:

Omar Manning…I know a lot of people keep saying that Manning hasn’t really shown them enough to know what all the fuss was about when Nebraska earned his commitment.  After last weekend I think you can start to put those thoughts in your back pocket.  Manning is an athlete that Nebraska fans haven’t seen in red for a long time.  He is everything you want when you look at a wide receiver.  Nebraska needs to continue to look for him downfield.  He will make the game a lot easier for everyone if teams have to game plan for him.

Travis Vokolek…You don’t have to look far to see the benefit of have Vokolek back last week.  He provides a big lift on the edge to help out in blocking, but he also takes pressure off from Austin Allen in the passing game.  Vokolek is a big reason why Nebraska had more success running the football last week with the running backs.  It should help Nebraska’s run game this weekend against Michigan State, which they will need to keep the Spartans off balance.

Rahmir Johnson…Just when you think you have the running back rotation figured out, Ryan Held and Scott Frost give you another change.  Johnson started his first game ever for the Huskers and he played the best game of his career.  He didn’t necessarily blow up the stat sheet, but he pushed the ground game enough to make Oklahoma respect it.  I don’t know if he will be the guy moving forward, but he certainly earned another shot at it.  

Cam Taylor-Britt…I feel like he is one of my kids that is really good at something but is trying so hard that they are making themselves worse.  Calm down Cam.  He keeps trying to reach for interceptions when the easy play would do.  He is positioning himself trying to bait quarterbacks and he just isn’t consistently in the flow of the game yet.  I think Taylor-Britt will get it going this week.  If he does, this will catapult him into the discussion of All Conference.  

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Score Prediction:  Nebraska 30, Michigan State 28 

Who knows what we will see this weekend?  On one hand, it’s is a rough environment in East Lansing, especially at night.  Michigan State coach Mel Tucker has already handed Coach Frost one road defeat in their last encounter.  Michigan State has blown out the first three teams they have played.  Everything points to a Spartan win and Frost still searching how to get above .500.  So why am I picking the Huskers?  For one, Adrian Martinez.  He is playing at a level he has never played at in college.  Second, the Blackshirts.  They went into Norman and held the Sooners to their lowest point total in five seasons.  Last, I think this team is starting to finally believe they are good.  Sometimes, getting a team to believe in itself is as difficult as anything a coach has to deal with.  I think Frost has finally channeled this program into what he wanted it to be when he got here.  Now is the time, or it probably never will be.  GBR!!

Stormin’ Norman!

If all the bastions of college football were considered royal marks upon the United States, the Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial would be thought of as a King piece upon the chess board of America.

Ok, so that might be overstating a bit, but you get the idea.  Nebraska has had plenty of heartbreak in Soonertown in their own storied history.  It’s also the site of possibly Nebraska’s greatest triumph, the Game of the Century.  

Nebraska moves into this week with some question marks on the offensive side of the football.  The injury bug has depleted the tight end room and the wide receiver room.  The loss to open the season in Illinois feels like it was a year ago, but it still feels like a fresh wound that likely won’t heal this season.

The Huskers run to the quarter pole of the season with a chance to make a statement.  Of course, we have been saying that for 5 years now and Nebraska has yet to beat any ranked teams in that time frame.  I read yesterday that Nebraska hasn’t beat a top 5 team on the road since 1997…. read that again!  Man, how long have we been wandering in this wilderness?

It’s not that the Huskers have been horrible that entire time frame, but even teams like Kansas, Oregon State and Duke have more exciting wins the last 10 years than Nebraska probably does.

It doesn’t make sense how a college team with the resources that Nebraska has could go this long without just falling into an upset.  A day when everything clicks and nothing goes right for an opponent.  I don’t know that Nebraska will get that this weekend in Norman, but man, if Nebraska didn’t truly sell their souls to the devil in the 90’s, you would think we are due for a pallet cleanser at some point.

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ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last game prediction was Nebraska 28, Buffalo 24.  The actual score was Nebraska 28, Buffalo 3.  At the end, it wasn’t even that close.  Nebraska had two touchdowns called off due to poor penalty calls and another one that possibly should have been called but has often been missed by referees.  Had Nebraska won 45 to 3, I wonder if the narrative would have been different this week at all.  The days of blowing teams away in the first quarter may be gone for Nebraska, but in my mind, even with the continued mistakes on special teams, that may have been one of the top 3 most complete Husker games of the Scott Frost era.  That was encouraging.

Quick Notes:

Luke Reimer…What else can you say about the Big Ten Defensive Player of the week?  Reimer played at a level that we haven’t seen a Nebraska linebacker play at for a long time.  He seemed to be everywhere against Buffalo.  His interception was so close to a pick six, I honestly thought he was a fullback on that play the way he was running the football.  Reimer has been someone the coaches keep pointing to as a Sunday type of player.  If he continues to play like that, he could be on the path to some All-conference honors.

Samori Toure…So far, Toure looks like the missing piece for Adrian Martinez to play at an all-conference level.  Toure is consistently so wide open that Martinez has to look at him on every play.  We knew that Toure was a likely NFL draft pick had he went into the draft last spring, but he has so far been a spring board for the entire Husker offense.  It remains to be seen if he will continue to play at this high level when the conference season starts, but you have to admit he has at least made it look like Nebraska will have big play potential every week.

Chris Hickman…The tight end position has been snake bit this year for Nebraska.  All Chris Hickman has done is taken that opportunity to make his mark.  I’ve been impressed with Hickman’s blocking, even if he is relatively skinny for that spot.  That isn’t what has made him special the last couple of weeks.  He has been a security blanket for Martinez the last two weeks, when he was needed the most.  Hickman looks like he will be a part of the offense moving forward, even after the other players get healthy.  That’s a big plus for Nebraska down the road.

Offensive Line…This grade isn’t good so far.  Nebraska has continued to struggle with pass rush against lesser teams and the holes for the running backs have all but vanished so far this year.  The offensive line, in my opinion, is what is keeping Nebraska from being a borderline top 25 team.  If the Huskers could block even at a mid-tier level, the offense finally has the weapons to make teams pay for overplaying the run.  However, when teams can pin their ears back and do whatever they want, it makes any offense shaky.  Credit to Adrian Martinez for being elusive enough to not make it a disaster every week.  This group has to improve for Nebraska to have any chance at making a bowl game.  

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Score Prediction:  Oklahoma 38, Nebraska 28 

I’ve been all over the place on predicting this game.  Nebraska could implode and give up 63 points, or they Blackshirts could prove that the first 3 weeks weren’t a fluke and hold Oklahoma to 30 points or less.  I lean more toward the latter actually.  I think Oklahoma is underestimating the Huskers.  I also think if Nebraska had their full complement of tight ends and receivers, they could make this a game.  I’m expecting OU to get out to an early lead and kind of coast, but I don’t think Nebraska just sits back and takes it and I think they will come away from this game with some confidence that they can play with better teams.  I’m leaving for Norman as soon as I finish this so GBR!!

Hot One Today!

I thought this week, after a resounding win, fans would back down on their criticism of the Huskers and Scott Frost, even if it was just for a few days.  Boy, was I wrong.  I don’t normally listen to Husker talk radio, but it was a pretty large consensus that Nebraska’s win did nothing to sooth the masses.

You also have to wonder, if Nebraska doesn’t turn this thing around, how will recruiting pan out?  Right now, Nebraska is sitting at the bottom of the Big Ten in recruiting standings.  They only have a handful of commitments and it is widely known that they only plan on taking a small class, but even so, to be last is a hard pill to swallow.  

This weekend provides another opportunity for Nebraska to put some of this horrid losing behind them.  Going to Norman next week at 2-1 will be a lot easier than the other scenario, because if Nebraska loses, the heat will be overwhelming. 

The good part of all of this?  Nebraska has it all in their own hands.  They can be the team that bounces back from losing to Illinois, to beating Buffalo and then giving the Sooners all they can handle.  They (OU) sure didn’t look invincible this last weekend.  If Frost is going to have any chance of showing that he deserves more time in Lincoln, it has to start this weekend. 

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last game prediction was Nebraska 30, Fordham 10.  The actual score was Nebraska 52, Fordham 7.  For the first time in what seems like forever, Nebraska did what they were supposed to do.  They created turnovers, they buckled down at the end of long drives and the offense wore down and opponent and was able to play backups in the fourth quarter.  Not much to critique wrong with the score, even if it took a quarter for the Huskers to get going.

Quick Notes:

Adrian Martinez…Three weeks in a row that I have him on here, but as he goes, so go the Huskers.  He followed a below par performance with another exceptional one.  That’s good, he needs to outplay the Forham’s of the world.  Now the pressure intensifies.  Buffalo’s defense is probably as good at Illinois.  Martinez needs to start making the the throws that differentiate bad quarterbacks for the good ones.  This week is when it needs to happen.

Markese Stepp…Finally, Nebraska was able to get a running game going.  Stepp was a big part of that.  It’s not that Gabe Ervin isn’t talented, he is, but sometimes you need a veteran presence to get the team on a roll.  Stepp was able to do that and looks like he could separate himself a little in the running back room.  My hot pick, Sevion Morrison scored two touch downs and he also looks like he will start getting more carries. 

Deontai Williams…He was the best player on the field against Fordham.  He had to picks and another tackle for loss that impacted the game.  He is one of the best players on the field.  He s one of the only difference makers on the blitz that Nebraska has.  They need him to play at an All Big Ten level.

Blackshirts…A solid performance last week, but they need to hold the line this weekend.  It’s not that they aren’t capable, they really are the strength of the team so far.  This game is an opportunity to show that they really are going to be the backbone of the team.  With Oklahoma and their air display coming up, Nebraska has to continue to figure out how to pressure the quarterback while thwarting the running game.  I feel like the defense will the difference in whether the team goes bowling or not.  

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Score Prediction:  Nebraska 28, Buffalo 24 

I hope I’m way off and Nebraska covers going away by more than two touchdowns this Saturday.  Nebraska has the talent that they should be able to run away with this game at the end.  The big “however” is Buffalo is really solid, well coached and will be wanting to make a statement.  Will Nebraska be in the same boat?  They need to make the statement more than the Bulls.  Until we see it with our own eyes, consider us skeptical.  Either way, as always, GBR!!

Let's Try This Again...

If you could have drawn up a worse opening game outcome for Nebraska, I’d love to hear how it would turn out.  Nebraska simply repeated the same bone headed mistakes that they have churned out for the last four year, even if this time they found new ways to do it.

I can probably count on both hands, specific plays that have cost Nebraska victories in the Scott Frost era.  Almost all of them have been blunders that were simply inexplainable and had to be watched with your own eyes.

Players like Cam Taylor-Britt, Adrian Martinez and Connor Culp need to lead by example.  Nebraska won’t have success until the players that the team counts on for that success, learn to play clean and play within themselves.  Going into season four of the Scott Frost era, it looks like Nebraska is still a long way from that.

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Don’t get me wrong, Nebraska will have some ups this season.  Nebraska looked like the better team most of the first half of the game in Champaign.  The defense played exceptionally well in the first half.  On Nebraska’s lone first half touchdown drive, the offensive line looked like they were going to be solid this year, even if it was only one drive of the game, you could see the potential.

That is really what is so frustrating with this team.  They will probably win five games this year, but it will be the four close losses that will stick with you when Nebraska likely misses another bowl season.  Scott Frost can’t seem to get them over the hump, and to be honest, I don’t know if anyone outside of seasoned football people know what he needs to do different.

We don’t go to practice.  We don’t see why certain players play one week, then don’t play another.  We have no idea what special teams practice looks like.  How on earth do you explain two missed extra points by an All Big Ten kicker?  It’s bizarre.

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We all wondered how this team would come out and play in week zero, and most of us were skeptical, but hopeful.  Now that we have seen the same outcome that has been the story of the Scott Frost era, it’s right to question whether he will ever figure out the way to maximize his team.  Unfortunately, none of us know the answer, but we all feel like we know where the road leads. 

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last game prediction was Nebraska 31, Illinois 24.  The actual score was Illinois 30, Nebraska 22.  Same old story.  A horrible decision on a punt return gives away a possession and points.  Nebraska has an interception and a chance to take over the ballgame, overturned by an unnecessary penalty.  A late first half fumble gives the opponent what would be a devastating touchdown that clearly influenced the defense to start the second half.  It’s hard to be a solid team when your supposed playmakers kill you with the worst possible decisions.  Nebraska continues to shoot themselves in the foot.

Quick Notes:

Adrian Martinez…I don’t know if he has ever fully overcome his shoulder issues that plagued him the last couple of seasons.  His inconsistency throwing the football is maddening and it really has put Nebraska in precarious positions.  There is no question he can be a dynamic playmaker when he is playing well, but at this point, you have to squint really hard to figure out if he is helping or hurting the team.  People bag on the Nebraska offense and the effectiveness of it, but rewatching the game, open receivers are continually missed and simply have to make too many plays on the ball when they do get it.  It’s likely never going to change.

Running game…I guessed on Sevion Morrison starting, but he didn’t even see the field last week.  He couldn’t have done much less than the players that were out there.  It’s not all on the running backs, the offensive line couldn’t get out of their own way on the run scheme.  Gabe Ervin looked like a freshman.  Markese Stepp looked like he will be solid, but you will have to commit to running the ball.  When Nebraska had the lead, they simply didn’t try to impose their will.  Once they were behind, they simply couldn’t afford to try and develop a running game and that was that.  

Oliver Martin…Probably the player of the game on offense.  Martin made some big catches and looked like he will be really good for Nebraska this year.  Omar Manning and Samori Toure had some nice catches as well.  It looked like Nebraska wide receivers were having some trouble getting open, but going back, they were open quite often.  Either Martinez didn’t see them, or he was under too much pressure.  Nebraska has good options at wideout.  They need to take advantage of that. 

Cam Taylor-Britt…The punt return was bad, but a reversed interception was even worse, and it wasn’t Taylor-Britt’s fault.  The defense played well for 3/4s of the game.  They did give up a couple of long, time consuming drives, but they forced the starting quarterback out of the game and made enough plays to win.    The defense will need to lead this team if they have any hope of going to a bowl game.  I expect Taylor-Britt to be one of the main guys doing that as the season moves forward.

Score Prediction:  Nebraska 30, Fordham 10 

This game should be a blowout.  If it is not, Nebraska has worse problems than they showed in week one and that was bad enough.  One thing I thought about after last week’s loss is that kids are resilient.  They want to play, and a loss probably doesn’t carryover for the players quite like it does for the fans.  Once practice starts after a loss, they have to let go and move on.  You don’t go play football at a major university if you can’t get over a loss.  I expect the team to do that.  Nebraska needs to get an easy victory this week.  Hopefully they can take advantage of a lower division opponent and get some of the young guys some plays.  It’s the first time in two years Nebraska will have played an out of conference opponent.  That’s crazy to think about.     GBR!!

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