OSU Vs. Huskers Preview

If you like a good kick in the shins, then as a Husker fan, last week was right up your alley.

We are supposed to be past this at Nebraska, at least that is what many of us believed. You don’t think you are ever going on the road to get hammered by Indiana. I mean, come on. Indiana?

Last year when Michigan came into Nebraska and basically humiliated the Huskers, you could blame that on the Scott Frost culture, the fact that Nebraska had been beaten down for years on end and the fact that, as we know now, Michigan was blatantly cheating and figured out every team’s play calling. (Not that the cheating mattered, Michigan was going to kill Nebraska regardless of cheating.)

But who you do you blame now? It’s easy to start with Matt Rhule. How could he have not known that the Huskers weren’t ready? Marcus Satterfield, the offensive coordinator? Tony White the defensive coordinator? Ed Foley, the special teams coach?

Let’s face a fact, Nebraska played a game that we have become accustomed to seeing on a regular basis the last decade. Even Bo Pelini, who won 9 games each season was blown out multiple times. I doubt anyone forgets Nebraska’s one and only Big Ten championship appearance.

Bleed Husker Red Tees

So how and when does it stop? Well, I have a theory about that, but most Husker fans aren’t going to like it. Nebraska is just going to have to be patient with Matt Rhule. I know it sucks that Curt Cignetti has Indiana primed for a playoff run in his first year at Indiana. I get that first-year coaches across the country are winning at a level never before seen in college football. That is going to happen in this day and age of NIL and free agency that occurs, allowing coaches to bring kids from their prior successful stops into their new environments.

We will know at the end of the year if Matt Rhule is up to the task of winning at Nebraska. I’ve seen enough from him at Baylor and Temple to know that eventually he will get the program in a good spot. How high that spot is, well that is up for debate. The thing I’m reminded of about Baylor is that when he left, there were multiple NFL guys on his football team, but he took raw athletes and made hay with them. His first recruiting class is basically playing for the first time this season. It’s going to be at least another year before his overall impact on the program is felt from the Jimmie’s and the Joe’s side.

So, if the players on the field continue to get better, then it really is up to coaching. On that, I was sold on Matt Rhule until last weekend. He can easily turn it around by playing Ohio State competitively. And while I doubt Nebraska is there to compete with the Buckeyes on an even field this week, if they bounce back and get two more wins this season, that will basically meet the prediction that I had at the beginning of the year. All is not lost, and I think Rhule has shown the fortitude to make changes if needed to be successful. In today’s world of instant gratification, Husker fans are going to need to show some patience for this to work out. Hopefully Nebraska football will reward Husker Nation soon, otherwise that patience is about to wear thin.

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last game prediction was Nebraska 31, Indiana 24. The actual score was Indiana 56, Nebraska 7. Tag me as someone else that didn’t see this coming. I had watched Indiana play two other games this season and nothing prepared me for them playing like this and on the flip side, Nebraska playing this poorly. It’s gut check week in Lincoln. And if I’m Coach Rhule, the first time a guy dogs it, he is out of the game. You can’t have anyone, especially veteran players hanging their head when things get tough.

Quick Notes:

Thomas Fidone II…The only bright spot in this game was Fidone and the fact that Nebraska used him in the passing game in a way that they haven’t all year. I still can’t forgive Fidone for his lousy blocking part of the time, but if he can provide a spark in the passing game, hopefully Dylan Raiola can use him as a security blanket, as opposed to the running back check down that every team has figured out.

Mikai Gbayor…Gbayor was about the only Blackshirt that showed up last weekend. He didn’t play great, but he had the lone sack on a blitz and made some stops that stemmed some of the tide. The linebackers didn’t play great, but they had little or no safety help in the running game and were left in limbo most of the game because of Indiana’s RPO offense. For the first time this season, John Bullock did not shine for the defense.

Dylan Raiola…Raiola finally had a freshman game. I talked about it in last weeks blog, but it’s a long season for a freshman, no matter how talented. Top it off with the fact that Raiola clearly isn’t healthy and has some sort of ankle issue and right now Nebraska can’t rely on him to be a star. He needs help in the running game, and it must come this week. If Raiola is truly hurt, then put Heinrich Haarberg on the field for a series or two. Nebraska needs a spark and if Raiola isn’t healthy, then it is ok to rest him.

Score Prediction: Ohio State 38, Nebraska 14

It pains me to type this out, but these two schools are meeting at the worst possible time for Nebraska. Ohio State had a bye weekend and is coming off a close loss that they most certainly will be wanting to atone for, and Nebraska is a wounded duck right now. Nebraska will have to play a perfect game to have a chance, but I believe Ohio State is too talented and Nebraska has lost some of its mojo. It’s not a great week to try and get that back. Either way, I’ll be hooting and hollering for the Huskers and hope I’m wrong again this week and GBR!!!

Indiana Vs. Nebraska Preview

A long time ago, Tom Osborne said something to the effect that if you start a true freshman, you will lose at least one game a season you were expected to win.  

That has stuck with me for a long time. Nebraska has been in the position to start a true freshman many times in the last 15 years. More often than not, it’s because that was the best player at that position. However, that hasn’t been a big benefit in most cases.

That’s what makes this season with Dylan Raiola playing so intriguing.  

I don’t consider Raiola in the same class as say a Cody Green, Adrian Martinez, Tyler Moore or an Earnest Hausman. All of those players started games as freshman at Nebraska and all but Adrian Martinez didn’t make it all four years in Lincoln.

You have others that have started, like Wan’dale Robinson, Maurice Washington or Gabe Ervin that you thought may be ok, but only Ervin has been on the Husker roster throughout his career and Ervin still has eligibility left so you never know.

So where does that leave Raiola? His closest comparison is probably to Adrian Martinez, but unlike Raiola, Martinez had no veteran on the team that started the prior season, like Heinrich Haarberg. Raiola also played his senior season of high school, which Martinez did not and certainly cost Martinez valuable repetitions at a position that needs them. Martinez started out getting hurt in the first game of the season and the Huskers were 0-6 before we knew it in Scott Frost’s first year, so this season clearly is not like that one.

Raiola sticks out, unless you want to count Tommie Frazier. Frazier didn’t start the first few games of the season but took over for a veteran Mike Grant. Frazier of course lost a heartbreaker against Iowa State that season. That’s why the Osborne quip came up in my mind this season. Was Raiola’s loss to Illinois his loss? He likely played his worst game against Rutgers so far this season. The easy part of the Husker schedule is now over. Arguably the Huskers have three games remaining that they will be favored in, but for the most part, they will be underdogs a lot going forward. Dylan Raiola has played way better than even the most rose-colored glasses fan would have guessed. It’s only natural to wonder if the Rutgers game was a speed bump or a precursor for the rest of the season? 

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last game prediction was Nebraska 28, Rutgers 24 (OT). The actual score was Nebraska 14, Rutgers 7. Nebraska played a great first half and held on for a ride in the second half. Rutgers was so physical, yet Nebraska absorbed the absurdly high temperatures and the Scarlett Knights running game. Nebraska has yet to give up a rushing touchdown on the season, as they are the only team in the country that can make that claim. Rutgers came into the game with a top-notch rushing attack and the Blackshirts took their steam away from them. The offense played great ball control in the first half, but Dylan Raiola’s first game where he didn’t play great certainly influenced that side of the ball. Hopefully Raiola got his clunker out of the way.

Quick Notes:

Rahmir Johnson…Every week it seems like the Husker’s third back in the rotation ends up making the biggest plays. Johnson had a huge catch on a screen pass that set up Nebraska’s first touchdown and he also had the longest rush of the game, an 18-yard scamper. Nebraska needs more out of its running game, eventually Johnson, Dowdell and Emmett Johnson are going to need to break out for Nebraska to hit their ceiling.

James Williams…The Blackshirts were the main story in this game and the lead of that tale was Williams. Williams applied pressure to the Rutgers quarterback the entire second half. He finished with 2 sacks and 2 tackles for loss, but more importantly, he was in the defensive backfield consistently. If Williams can supply that sudden pash rush, Nebraska could have a field day in games that they have the lead in the second half. Williams doesn’t play all the snaps, but when he out there he has been a game changer.

Ty Robinson…Big *** Ty continues to create havoc for opposing teams. Robinson had another sack and a couple of tackles for loss. It is amazing how well he and Nash Hutmacher play each week. Rutgers Coach Greg Schiano said that the Husker defensive line is one of the top five in the nation. Robinson leads the way, not just by is vocal role, but his active play and terrific motor. Robinson has been the best player up front all season, which is no small feat considering Hutmacher is playing right next to him at a high level.

Ceyar Wright…What can you say about Wright? He has been the best cornerback on the field since he became a starter for Tommi Hill. As great as Hill had been last season and this season before he hurt his foot, Wright has been even better as of late. If they can ever get Hill back on the field, we could see the most dominant set of cornerbacks Nebraska has had since Prince Amukamara and Alfonzo Dennard roamed the defensive backfield for the Blackshirts.

Bleed Husker Red

Score Prediction: Nebraska 31, Indiana 24

This is probably the only prediction that has A. Nebraska winning and B. Nebraska scoring 31 points. Indiana has arguably been a top 3 offense in the Big Ten this season and for good reason, they have killed everyone they have played. What hasn’t happened yet is that they haven’t played anyone that has a defense as good as Nebraska’s. On top of that, if Dylan Raiola is healthy after a bye week and Nebraska starts to go with a bigger run package that includes Micah Mazzccua, I expect the Husker offense to break out against an Indiana defense that is undersized for the Big Ten. Nebraska’s physicality will show on the road, and I predict a big Husker upset! GBR!!!

Scarlet and Cream > Scarlet and Gray

What do we think of the Blackshirts so far this season? After a rough outing against Northern Iowa, in which they didn’t perform overly well, they back that game up with probably their worst performance against Illinois, arguably back to playing Michigan at home in 2023.

So which version is going to define this season? With Rutgers coming into town, it makes you wonder if Illinois was a bump in the road, or will the defense bow up like they did against Purdue, making the game a one-sided affair, that the offense only had to find themselves to get the Huskers a win.

I think the Blackshirts may have found themselves a little bit last week against Purdue. It’s no secret that the Boilermakers running back Devin Mockobee has been a sore spot against the Huskers. He ran wild in 2022, churning out 178 yards, helping Purdue win a shootout against the Blackshirts. He was injured in 2023, and Nebraska won easily at home. This time Mockobee was healthy, and Nebraska went to work, bottling him up for only 41 yards on 13 carries. The prior week he had gashed Oregon State for 10 yards a carry on 16 carries, so he was in a groove.

Ceyar Wright has been a godsend for Nebraska, replacing preseason All-Big Ten selection Tommi Hill while he battles a foot injury. He has been so good in fact that Nebraska can go back to leaving him on an island and play with an extra player in the box. It was no coincidence that Isaac Gifford had a much better game last week, being freed up to be a playmaker instead of worrying about help side pass defense.

The defensive line looked better as well. Nash Hutmacher and Ty Robinson have been solid players so far, but having guys like MJ Sherman and James Williams step up and help put pressure on the quarterback is a big help. With Jimari Butler battling injuries, Nebraska needs all the help they can get on the defensive line.

So now that Rutgers brings in the leading rusher in the Big Ten, will the Blackshirts stand up to him like they did Mockobee? If the Nebraska that played against Purdue shows up, Nebraska will be in great shape. If the Nebraska that played against Northern Iowa and Illinois shows up, it will be a long bye week in Lincoln.

Bleed Husker Red Tees

ON WITH THE REWIND…

Last game prediction was Nebraska 24, Purdue 20. The actual score was Nebraska 28, Purdue 10. It was obvious with score tied at 0-0 at the half that Nebraska was going to need to step it up on offense. The field goal unit was about as miserable as they could be in West Lafayette. Two blocks and another outright miss, Nebraska could not get anything going in the kicking game. Dylan Raiola to the rescue, as he led three second half scoring drives. I don’t think Nebraska’s offense is bogging down anytime soon. They continue to move the ball with ease. When they needed to put points on the board, they stepped up and delivered in the red zone last week. Rutgers will likely be the same type of bend but don’t break defense. The Huskers will need to play like the second half this week to have any chance of winning.

Quick Notes:

Dylan Raiola…This kid, I swear, he just never sweats. When Nebraska needed to score in the second half, after Purdue took a field goal lead, he just calmly led the team down and put it in the end zone. He would tack on two more scoring drives in the fourth quarter. Whatever you think about Nebraska football, it is clear that Raiola is the straw that stirs the drink in Lincoln.

Emmett Johnson…Nebraska needed a running back to step up against Purdue and that back was Emmett. Johnson continues to have the most make you miss move in the running back room. On top of that, he has as good of hands as Rahmir Johnson. As Emmett starts to make plays blocking in the passing game, I believe he will start to see more carries. It’s apparent to me that Dante Dowdell and Emmett are the top running backs for the Huskers and the carries should reflect that. Although Gabe Ervin ran like a man possessed last week. It will be interesting if he his finally starting to recover from his injury.

John Bullock…I feel like Bullock is becoming a mainstay on this list each week. Again, he was the prominent player for the Blackshirts, this time, sealing the game with an interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Bullock has been a one-man wrecking crew. Clearly the most consistent player for the Blackshirts.  

MJ Sherman…Whether it was two sacks, or one and a half (I’ve seen both) Sherman had his best day as a pass rusher for Nebraska. Sherman has been a leader on the team, saying all the right things and working hard. It was nice to see him have a breakout game. If he and James Williams and Kai Wallin can continue to get to the opposing quarterback, the Blackshirts still have another level to reach. It was a great game for Sherman.

Bleed Husker Red Tees

Score Prediction: Nebraska 28, Rutgers 24 (in overtime)

Nebraska played the first half last week like a team that wasn’t sure they could beat Purdue. They played the second half like I thought they would play against Illinois. They carved up Purdue on defense and held the Boilermakers offense in check throughout the game. I expect Rutgers will have a plan up their sleeve and expect one special teams’ touchdown for them in this game. I think Nebraska will play well enough to win, but not in regulation. This week, Nebraska gets a monkey off it’s back by winning in overtime and starting the season 5-1. The best start of the season in 8 years, and GBR!!!