Please Put Purdue Away Today!!!

It seems as if anytime Nebraska gets any momentum rolling, they manage to find a way to stop it themselves.  Not that other teams don’t have good coaching, solid NIL money and lots of Big Ten television money to build with.  It does seem though, that anytime Nebraska is in a tight game, the other team just has to wait for the meltdown, and they can come out with a win.

Not only is Nebraska 0-10 in their last 10 overtime games, but they also don’t get first downs.  Other teams score at will on the Blackshirts, and the offense gets penalties and sacks that drive it so far back it might as well punt.  And yes, I do recognize that punting in overtime is never something you do.

Nebraska has a big bullseye on it’s back.  You can see it as far away from Lincoln as Scottsbluff and other Big Ten teams continue to use it to their own advantage.  I could sense it from head coach Matt Rhule after the game.  How do the Huskers continue to lose tight games over and over?  The bullseye is that Nebraska will fold themselves in a game if you can keep it close.

Someday, Coach Rhule will get if figured out, or else he will follow Bill Callahan, Mike Riley and Scott Frost into the pile of coaches that couldn’t figure out the code to win in Lincoln.  

Don’t get lost in the loss though.  Nebraska could have and arguably should have led against Illinois 28-10 at halftime last Friday.  If two pass plays wind up as touchdown drives, instead of a field goal and an interception, Illinois is hoping not to lose two in a row in Penn State this weekend.

Instead, Nebraska hits the road with their rooking quarterback, trying to get back on track.  An all too familiar feeling in Husker Nation.  Now would be a great time for the Huskers to respond to something with positive momentum.

Bleed Husker Red Tees

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last game prediction was Nebraska 28, Illinois 10.  The actual score was Illinois 31 Nebraska 24 in overtime.  Nebraska had multiple chances to win this game.  A terrible missed pass interference call in the first quarter that made Nebraska settle for a field goal and a questionable play called a touchdown on the field, but overruled into an interception on replay were both plays that altered the course of the game.  And the final drive in regulation that wasn’t a kneel down included a wide open Husker in the end zone and a just missed field goal try that wasn’t necessarily the right call.  I won’t question the coaches on the field goal, because they had a touchdown call the play before.  Either way, Illinois did a great job of handling the Blackshirts and held on for dear life that Nebraska’s wunderkind quarterback wouldn’t get the Huskers to the promise land.

Quick Notes:

Dylan Raiola…You could easily argue this was Raiola’s coming out party.  He dominated a good Big Ten defense through the air for four quarters.  Long pass plays to Isaiah Neyor, Thomas Fidone and Jacorey Barney Jr. were simply breathtaking to watch.  He converted third and long multiple times, and made NFL throws throughout the game.  Never mind the overtime, he made some errors, but without him, Nebraska would have lost that game by 3 touchdowns.  Raoila is a problem for the Big Ten, and Husker fans better just enjoy the ride, he won’t be in Lincoln more than 3 years.

Isaiah Neyor…Neyor continues to find the end zone for Nebraska.  He has made arguably the biggest plays for the Huskers through the air in the first third of the season.  If Neyor had been able to make the crazy catch in the end zone count on Friday, he would have had three touchdowns and likely the player of the week in the Big Ten.  He has that type of potential.

John Bullock…I’m not sure that Bullock is the best player on Nebraska’s defense, but I’d argue he has been the best player the last two games for sure, and likely all season.  His attention to detail includes batting down passes, making sacks and covering short catches across the field and bulleting in to make a tackle.  The rest of the Blackshirts could use some of the effort that Bullock has given week in and week out.  

Ceyar Wright…When Tommi Hill went out of the game in the first half, Wright was the next man up.  Not only did Wright play well, but he also actually played himself into a starting role.  Even if Hill can play this week, or next, Wright played so well that Marques Buford Jr. should be able to move back to safety or even nickel.  Wright looked like a top 100 player coming out of high school.  If that lasts, Nebraska may have found their next high draft pick.

Score Prediction:  Nebraska 24, Purdue 20

I was way off last week.  I thought Nebraska was ready to springboard into Big Ten play and show that they are a top 5 conference team.  They aren’t there yet, and probably aren’t this season.  That doesn’t mean there isn’t still plenty to play for.  Heck, if Nebraska can win all but two more games, they would have an outside shot at the expanded playoffs this season.  Unfortunately, they travel to Purdue, and honestly, that place has not been good to Nebraska.  I expect another ugly game, where the Huskers need to run out the clock to win on Saturday.  There are always three to four plays in West Lafayette that seem like they are from a bad fairy tale.  I think the Huskers will survive and advance this week.  And that will be good enough, GBR!!!

Friday Night Lights in Lincoln

 

Preseason is over. That’s what I said after Nebraska finished up 3-0 in the non-conference game on Saturday and then Coach Matt Rhule stated the same thing at his press conference on Monday.

Nebraska is off to their best start since going 7-0 in 2016. Consequently, Nebraska has only opened the conference season with a win two times since then, in 2017 against Rutgers and home and in 2019 against Illinois on the road. The last 7 years haven’t been kind to Nebraska, but the Big Ten hasn’t done them many favors, opening with conference games to start the season. Nebraska hasn’t won any of those season openers in conference. 

BLEED HUSKER RED TEES

Nebraska is finally in a place that they should start to beat teams like Illinois more consistently. Minnesota, Illinois, Northwestern have been better programs in the last decade than Nebraska. That shouldn’t happen. Nebraska’s resources are so much more than those programs. You could argue that they all have better in state and regional recruiting, but Nebraska has a national brand, and let’s be honest, they should go into those states and take the best players from places like Illinois, Minnesota or even Iowa and Wisconsin occasionally.  

The next step in the evolution of this current Husker team is that they have the best player on the field. Dylan Raiola is starting to look like he is a top 10 quarterback in the country. If that is truly the case, then a game against a team like Illinois, who is well coached, physical and has talent, won’t matter as much because they don’t have a player like Raiola. Nebraska needs to continue to strike while the iron is hot and land these difference makers because that is what separates the top from the middle in the Big Ten.

There is a unique opportunity to play at home in Lincoln on Friday night for the Huskers. I don’t like the fact that Nebraska is playing on Friday nights, I’ve always felt like that should be limited to high school games. However, because of the 400th sellout and it’s a night game at home against a Big Ten antagonist, Nebraska should use that platform to their advantage. It’s the perfect time for Raiola to lead the team to a win and keep the momentum going.

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last game prediction was Nebraska 50, Northern Iowa 7. The actual score was Nebraska 34, Northern Iowa 3. I have to give Northern Iowa a lot of credit for a solid game plan. They held the ball from Nebraska, using their running game to extend drives and made the Blackshirts work. They held the ball for 38 minutes, compared to Nebraska’s almost 22. Unfortunately for the Panthers, the game really was never in doubt and Nebraska simply didn’t get a chance to run up the score. Another game where second and third string Huskers were playing early in the game, gives Nebraska yet another opportunity to build depth and give young guys experience.

BLEED HUSKER RED TEES

Quick Notes:

Carter Nelson…The big-time athlete from Ainsworth came out firing on the Huskers first possession, catching his first Husker touchdown pass. The big freshman can move and is going to be a huge piece of the puzzle for the Husker offense in the future. It will be interesting to see how Nebraska incorporates him into the Big Ten season.

Jacory Barney…Barney continues to show his explosiveness. Every time he runs an end around or runs behind Raiola on the snap I just sit and wait for him to blow up on a play. His 10-yard rushing touchdown last weekend was so perfect. He set up his block, followed it into the end zone and even though he got popped at the end, he jumped right up like a kangaroo. If he ever gets to return a kickoff, look out.

Isaac Gifford…If Gifford isn’t the quarterback of the defense, he certainly plays like it. He was consistently in the right spot on plays, helping to keep Northern Iowa in check, leading the team in tackles. Every week someone from the defense steps up onto this list. It will likely be someone else next week.  

Tristan Alvano…Alvano was two for two on field goal tries last week. That was a welcome sight after a miss the week before. Nebraska will need Alvano’s leg this season. Hopefully he continues to get more opportunities to deliver. His injury in camp is still keeping him from being consistent according to the coaches, so Saturday was a good step in the right direction.

Score Prediction: Nebraska 28, Illinois 10

Every year my predictions usually hit stride around conference time. Nebraska knows that kind of team they have at this point, and I think Coach Rhule knows that this team is as good as the upper 1/3 of the Big Ten. This type of game is where we find out for sure. Nebraska needs to dominate the group in the middle third of the conference. This is one of those games. If Nebraska doesn’t cover the 7.5 point spread this weekend, I will be surprised. I expect the Blackshirts to dominate and Raiola to keep on trucking. Friday night football, Memorial Stadium will be loud and GBR!!!

BLEED HUSKER RED TEES

Ranked and Ready for Northern Iowa

Well, well, well, look at who is ranked this week!  Nebraska joined the AP writer’s poll and the Coaches Poll for the first time since 2019 this last week after dispatching Colorado at home.  And it is not the kind of ranking built on momentum from the prior year, but rather based on the outcome of the current season.  Since 2016, Nebraska’s last winning season, Nebraska has not enjoyed a ranking based on merit of played games in the same season.  

And while Nebraska dominated a suspect Buffalo team, they left plenty of meat on the bone to work on before Big Ten play starts against Illinois.  A surprisingly good Illinois, now that the season has started.

Nebraska missed another field goal with Tristan Alvano.  It has been a rough start to the season for Nebraska’s kickers.  Alvano and John Hohl have each had mistakes, missing field goals and kicking the ball either out of bounds on a kickoff or to Jimmy Horn versus Colorado for a big return.  Top it off with Head Coach Matt Rhule opening up the long snapping and short snapping duties for competition this week, and it’s clear that special teams, at least in the kicking department need to work out some kinks.

BLEED HUSKER RED TEES

It hasn’t been all bad though.  Another Ty Robinson blocked field goal this last week, along with Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda returning punts for positive yards for Nebraska, there continues to be parts of special teams looking good.  Of course, a partially blocked punt, and a muffed kickoff return offset some of those great plays.

And while freshman quarterback sensation Dylan Raiola has at times looked like a pro, Nebraska’s wide receivers were relatively quiet against Colorado.  Jamal Banks and Isaiah Neyor did not provide a lot of stats against Colorado’s defensive backs.  Freshman Jacory Barney, Jr. however did provide explosive plays, but the run of holding calls against Nebraska negated most of those.  Top it off with Rahmir Johnson’s long touchdown run being called back and the second half of the game really was kind of a bummer on offense.

The great thing about all those problems?  As Matt Rhule said, it’s a perfect game to teach because Nebraska won easily despite struggling in so many areas.  It means Nebraska hasn’t hit their ceiling yet.

Nebraska has another opportunity to work on their own team this week against Northern Iowa.  This is basically the end of the preseason for the Huskers.  Once Big Ten play starts, that’s where the rubber hits the road.  Illinois, Indiana, USC and Rutgers have all shown that those games are probably going to be more competitive than they seemed prior to the start of the season.  Nebraska needs to work out the kinks, because the difference between 28-10 versus Colorado, might be the difference between 13-10 scores in the Big Ten and we all saw how that worked out in Matt Rhule’s first year.  After last week, Nebraska seems to be trending up for those games, rather than down.

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last game prediction was Nebraska 37, Colorado 21.  The actual score was Nebraska 28, Colorado 10.  The Huskers made sure this game was over at halftime.  They sucked the venom out of Colorado and spit it on the turf in front of them in that first half.  The crowd didn’t disappoint and the Blackshirts rode that wave of fury and noise and dominated the high scoring Buffaloes.  This game score could have and probably should have been 45-10.  If that is any indication of where things are going this season, Nebraska is going to be a lot of fun!

Quick Notes:

Ty Robinson…Look who is back again!  Robinson set the tone against Colorado from the first snap.  Batting down passes, hitting Shedeur Sanders, getting a sack and blocking a field goal were all in a night’s work from the stud defensive tackle from Arizona.  Robinson was a highly recruited four star when he was in high school.  That potential is being realized this season and should make him an easy draft pick for the NFL.

John Bullock…Bullock was a nightmare against Colorado.  He made multiple plays on multiple drives and played like a man possessed.  Bullock was instrumental in the pick six by Tommi Hill and dominated and entire series in the second half making seemingly every play on defense.  Bullock and Mikai Gbayor have been stalwarts for the defense.  Bullock coming back for one more season has paid huge dividends for the Huskers.

Tommi Hill…Hill made the play of the game against Colorado, a 7-yard interception return for a touchdown after a great punt by Brian Buschini.  That play lit an already fired up crowd, and really put doubt and fear into Colorado.  That play cemented the Blackshirts as the dominant force on the field and made the Huskers almost unbeatable against the Buffaloes.  

Dante Dowdell…Dowdell set the tone on offense, running over Shilo Sanders and breaking the safety’s arm in the process.  While we didn’t want to see Sanders get hurt, the play set the tone for the Husker offense that it was going to pound away at their defense and that is exactly what Nebraska did.

Jacorey Barney Jr.…I’ve stated it before, but Barney is the most explosive player I can remember for Nebraska since Bobby Newcombe.  He completely changes the game when he makes a reception or does an end around.   While Jalen Lloyd also has some of those same skills, Barney has been able to showcase more of his speed the first two games.  If Lloyd gets healthy, he and Barney together will be a hard duo to contain.  Barney had a game of yards overturned by holding penalties that had little effect on the actual play itself.  Nebraska needs to stay more disciplined, and those plays will help blow out games.

Score Prediction:  Nebraska 50, Northern Iowa 7

If Nebraska is as good as I think they are, they will be playing the backups early in the third quarter.  I expect Nebraska to work on their passing game and get the tight ends more involved in this game.  I also expect to see Dowdell and Rahmir Johnson both with big days.  Nebraska shouldn’t be run over by the Northern Iowa rushing attack.  That is all Northern Iowa has to counter the Blackshirts and it likely won’t do much.  Nebraska should roll in another night game, and then the Big Ten season begins.  GBR!!!

Bleed Husker Red Tees

It’s Go Time In Lincoln! Beat CU!

 

The air has been pretty cool in Lincoln this week.  Almost like the city if calmly prepared to host an old ex-in law at home, but this time, we don’t plan on being hospitable!

I can’t remember the last time the state has been this pumped up for a game.  There is so much momentum right now in the program.  Nebraska is hosting over 40 high school prospects that they have offered scholarships this weekend.  Dylan Raiola is the talk of college football when it comes to new and exciting freshman quarterbacks.  Deion Sanders is the perfect foil, flamboyant, yet charming, but arrogant enough, Nebraska Nice, doesn’t apply.  Nebraska has lost three straight to Colorado, but certainly feels like this time, the Huskers have the horses to come out on top.  Throw in a night game at Memorial Stadium and that is one wicked gumbo ready to be eaten up.

Bleed Husker Red Tees

So how will Nebraska respond?  

I think a lot of about Nebraska playing two games in the last 20 years that mirror a lot about the emotion and expectations of this game.  In 2010, Nebraska was poised to win the Big XII, expectations were a mile high, and Texas came to Lincoln.  Nebraska was looking for revenge for the :01 second game loss that Mack Brown seemingly willed into existence, denying the Huskers a conference championship from the prior year.  Nebraska was teed up to blast off back into college football relevance, but the game was a disaster from the start.  The Huskers played about as poorly as they could play and an average Texas team left Lincoln winning 20-13.

The next game I think of is 2014 in Lincoln against the Miami Hurricanes.  Nebraska fans remembered every Orange Bowl matchup with Miami and now it was time to get them on their own turf.  It was probably the most intense matchup from a non-conference game that I ever attended.  Nebraska was really good that year, but for many Bo Pelini reasons, could not get over the Wisconsin hurdle.  Nevertheless, the team, especially the Blackshirts made play after play in that game, feeding off the crowd that was restless and relentless.  It was a great atmosphere, and Nebraska sent the Hurricanes packing with a 41-31 loss.

This Colorado game falls in that same category to me.  I’m not sure Colorado is better than Miami in 2014.  I think they are better than the 2010 Texas team, but I expect the Huskers to respond better than they did that day.  Expectations are a wild part of these games.  Nebraska should have beaten Colorado twice under Scott Frost but failed both times.  You could argue Nebraska never had a shot to beat CU in Boulder last year, but the game itself certainly lead one to believe that Nebraska, with an actual offense, could have won that game.  This year, with the game in Lincoln, I foresee a different outcome.

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last game prediction was Nebraska 45, UTEP 17.  The actual score was Nebraska 40, UTEP 7.  The start of the Dylan Raiola era in Lincoln was about as good as it could get.  Nebraska only turned the ball over once, gave up one quick touchdown drive, had some great highlight reel touchdown catches and the Huskers played over 100 players in the game.  The starters were out of the game in the middle of the third quarter.  Those are old school Nebraska type game events.  Nebraska is good.  They may be very good.

Bleed Husker Red Tees

Quick Notes:

Dylan Raiola…He will get mentioned in this blog a lot this year.  After last year’s quarterback roulette wheel, Nebraska looks about 10 times better this season with Raiola.  He didn’t force throws.  His accuracy out to 20 yards is as good as any Husker quarterback I’ve ever witnessed.  He has a huge spotlight on him this week.  I’m not sure how he will respond, but I will say this week has little bearing on his career at Nebraska.  If he stays healthy, by the time he leaves he will be a first round NFL draft pick.

Ty Robinson…Pro Football Focus said that Nebraska didn’t blitz one time against UTEP.  Robinson and the defensive line did a great job getting pressure in the backfield without any help.  Robinson had to sit out the first half of last year’s game at Boulder against CU.  He could be a major disrupter against the Buffaloes freshman five star left tackle, making his first start on the road.

Rhamir Stewart…Shoutout to the young safety.  He had his first interception of his career against UTEP.  In a game that had fewer turnovers than the Huskers may have wanted, Stewart and Malcom Hartzog both had picks.  Stewart likely won’t play a lot this season, but it’s good to see the young depth building up on the Blackshirts.

Dante Dowdell…His fumble notwithstanding, Dowdell had the best look of any of the Husker running backs in the first game.  I still think Emmett Johnson is going to be really good, but Dowdell has power that Johnson doesn’t.  Rahmir Johnson is still the starter this week, but I could see Dowdell being the hammer against Colorado.  He just can’t put the ball on the turf.  Luckily, he doesn’t have a history of fumbling in high school, so it may be a one off.  Nebraska has some nice options in the backfield.

Isaiah Neyor…The transfer from Texas made the highlight play of the game on a deep throw from Raiola for 59 yards.  Neyor caught the ball, stumbled away from two defenders, then rebalanced himself and scored.  The play was great from the get-go and Neyor certainly is someone that Nebraska should be able to use consistently this season.  He and Jahmal Banks barely came out of the game before it was a blowout.  It will be interesting to see if Nebraska rotates more at receiver this week.

Score Prediction:  Nebraska 37, Colorado 21

To me this game is going one of two directions.  One of these teams is going to take the game by the horns and handle it.  I’m just not sure which team will do it.  All the signs point to Nebraska finally cracking this egg and letting the yolk run.  Matt Rhule has been a master at rebuilding programs at Temple and Baylor and he seems to be headed in that direction in Lincoln.  Sometimes you have to walk before you can run, but honestly, with this set of Blackshirts, Dylan Raiola under center, and a crowd that will be rocking at night, this game points to a Nebraska convincing win.  I’ll be there screaming my head off and GBR!!!