THE GOOD ...
- THE GAME PLAN WORKED: Nebraska's defensive game plan was to contain Tyrod Taylor, prevent him from gashing NU with long runs, and make him win the game with his arm. Nebraska was successful in doing so, Taylor simply played smart and mistake-free football.
- NEVER SAY DIE: The 'Huskers had every opportunity to check out and mail this game in when it was 28-10 in favor of the Hokies. They didn't. Last year's squad would have. This is a team that is tough mentally and will not quit on a game. The comeback was very impressive, and encouraging.
- HELU THERE: Roy Helu, Jr., has shown himself to be Nebraska's best runner between the tackles, and I am mystified why he is not the starting tailback. Marlon Lucky is a very talented football player, but more in the Reggie Bush mold. It took the Saints a season to realize that Bush is more valuable with a real RB behind center and Bush lined up in different areas to allow him to attack the edge. I am hopeful it doesn't take Watson and Co. that long to realize that truth about Lucky.
THE BAD ...
- UNFORGIVABLE IMMATURITY: My reservations about Bo Pelini's hire centered around his temper. I recall vividly the personal foul he got called against him in the Alamo Bowl against Michigan State. What happens, I thought to myself, if he loses it in a crucial situation? Well, we sure found out. No, the call against Pelini wasn't the reason NU lost the game. But it was a heck of a lot easier for VT to score from the 10 than from the 20, especially with the additional deflating effect of ANOTHER penalty from the team's leader. It's no shock they were distracted to the point where they couldn't make another red zone stop. And it's no shock there was a personal foul on the extra point after the touchdown, making a comeback that much harder. The bottom line is that Pelini is the head coach, and he's got to be the adult on the field. He cannot allow himself to be selfish and indulge his passions to the detriment of this team. Grow the hell up, Bo. Now.
- DANCING ON THE RAZOR'S EDGE: Nebraska's red zone defense kept NU in the game, forcing field goals instead of touchdowns. That's been the hallmark of the defense this year, but that's a dangerous game to play. As the level of competition rises, the defense can't play with fire like that. They have to play just as well between the 20's as they do in the red zone for NU to have success.
- BALANCING ACT: It's becoming clearer that Shawn Watson has no faith in his running game. NU running backs only had 15 carries. Fifteen in an entire game. No wonder the offense was at best erratic. Even if the run isn't successful right away, maintaining an attempt to "pound the rock" sets up play action, allows a defense time to rest, and establishes a physical tempo for the game. VT was coming off a tough road game and NU had the week off, yet it was VT more than NU that looked the more physical team on Saturday. That can't happen.
- 3-3: Of the three games starting with VT on Nebraska's schedule, the Hokies were the most beatable. By losing on Saturday, Nebraska is staring down the barrel of a likely 3-3 start and needing to go on the road to an improving Iowa State team to stay above .500 for the season. That is a daunting task, and will be a huge challenge to this coaching staff if it comes about.
... AND THE REALITY CHECK.
Sadly enough, Nebraska still isn't ready for prime time. Virginia Tech exposed a number of NU's weaknesses, both physical and mental. It seemed clear that Nebraska was not ready for a team of the Hokies' size and speed, at least until the end of the game. They've played with fire starting slow against lesser opponents. They've finally suffered a consequence for doing so.
THE BIG PICTURE
There is a culture change happening in Lincoln, and there's going to be growing pains. We've all spent so much time putting this new staff under the microscope that it's easy to forget that it's functionally a rookie staff with a group of players they didn't recruit. We've seen some rookie mistakes, both from coaching and from players, and as a result NU is 3-1 going into conference play. The critical thing to watch from here forward is if the same mistakes keep getting made. That is how we should be measuring progress in the Pelini era, year one.
THE NEXT GAME
Missouri (-10) at Nebraska. Looks obvious, doesn't it? Mizzou with a week off and a more talented and experienced squad, and Nebraska coming off a deflating loss. But keep in mind, Nebraska's strength is defense, which matches up better with Missouri. Conversely, Nebraska's offense is their weak point, but Missouri's defense is quite porous. It is entirely possible, given that Gary Pinkel is still Mizzou's head coach, that the Tigers could come into Lincoln overconfident after NU's loss. Couple that with Nebraska's favorable strength-vs-weakness matchup, and there might be the ingredients for a happier evening for the Children of the Corn. I'm not calling the upset, but I would take Nebraska and the points on this one.
GBR, baby.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
NU FOOTBALL - Happy/Sad, Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech @ Nebraska - 09/26/08, 7:00 p.m. CDT
YOU'LL BE HAPPY IF ...
- Nebraska gets the run going early. The strength of the Hokies is their defense, and Nebraska has shown a tendency to abandon the run if it doesn't start well. This game does not play into Nebraska's strength if Joe Ganz has 50 or more pass attempts.
- Virgina Tech turns the ball over. Memorial Stadium is still a tough place to play, and with a night game the Sea of Red well be well (ahem) lubricated and ready to be loud. Tyrod Taylor, VT's quarterback, is unproven and will be in the most hostile atmosphere he's seen as a starter. If the we-can't-call-them-Blackshirts-yet get an early interception, the crowd becomes an even bigger factor.
- Alex Henery is on target. Both teams are stronger on defense than on offense. As a result, there could be a lot of field goal attempts in this game. Except for one howler, Henery has been deadly accurate this season. NU will likely need his accuracy to be successful.
- Nebraska gets physical. Virginia Tech played a tough road game last week against North Carolina, and had to put on a huge comeback to pull the game out. It's tough to go on the road two weeks in a row, and NU needs to take advantage of that by leaning on the Hokies and wearing them down.
YOU'LL BE SAD IF ...
- The defensive front four get greedy. Taylor is a great athletic talent, and may actually be more dangerous on a broken play than a designed one. Nebraska's defensive line has to be disciplined in order to control the gaps and not give Taylor huge holes to run if a pass play breaks down.
- Ganz doesn't play well. For the "preseason" schedule for Nebraska, Ganz was the straw that stirred the Nebraska offense's drink. If he gets rattled, starts forcing the ball, or (God forbid) gets injured, Nebraska is in a world of trouble.
- Virginia Tech gets substantially ahead early. This year's Nebraska team has come back and been in fights this season, but with lesser competition. If VT gets ahead early by ten points or more, the ghosts of last season will begin haunting both the team and the fans. That's a big hill to climb against a team with the confidence of a road win last week.
FEARLESS PREDICTION: Nebraska 23, Virginia Tech 13
GBR, baby.
YOU'LL BE HAPPY IF ...
- Nebraska gets the run going early. The strength of the Hokies is their defense, and Nebraska has shown a tendency to abandon the run if it doesn't start well. This game does not play into Nebraska's strength if Joe Ganz has 50 or more pass attempts.
- Virgina Tech turns the ball over. Memorial Stadium is still a tough place to play, and with a night game the Sea of Red well be well (ahem) lubricated and ready to be loud. Tyrod Taylor, VT's quarterback, is unproven and will be in the most hostile atmosphere he's seen as a starter. If the we-can't-call-them-Blackshirts-yet get an early interception, the crowd becomes an even bigger factor.
- Alex Henery is on target. Both teams are stronger on defense than on offense. As a result, there could be a lot of field goal attempts in this game. Except for one howler, Henery has been deadly accurate this season. NU will likely need his accuracy to be successful.
- Nebraska gets physical. Virginia Tech played a tough road game last week against North Carolina, and had to put on a huge comeback to pull the game out. It's tough to go on the road two weeks in a row, and NU needs to take advantage of that by leaning on the Hokies and wearing them down.
YOU'LL BE SAD IF ...
- The defensive front four get greedy. Taylor is a great athletic talent, and may actually be more dangerous on a broken play than a designed one. Nebraska's defensive line has to be disciplined in order to control the gaps and not give Taylor huge holes to run if a pass play breaks down.
- Ganz doesn't play well. For the "preseason" schedule for Nebraska, Ganz was the straw that stirred the Nebraska offense's drink. If he gets rattled, starts forcing the ball, or (God forbid) gets injured, Nebraska is in a world of trouble.
- Virginia Tech gets substantially ahead early. This year's Nebraska team has come back and been in fights this season, but with lesser competition. If VT gets ahead early by ten points or more, the ghosts of last season will begin haunting both the team and the fans. That's a big hill to climb against a team with the confidence of a road win last week.
FEARLESS PREDICTION: Nebraska 23, Virginia Tech 13
GBR, baby.
NU FOOTBALL - NU Re-View:Nebraska 38, New Mexico State 7
THE GOOD ...
- I GOT RHYTHM: Actually, more accurately, the Nebraska offense finally looked like it had some rhythm. No surprise that as the running game became more effective, the entire offense started clicking. Hard to tell given the competition, but the NU offense looked the best it has so far this season.
- TURN 'EM OVER: One of the calling cards of Pelini's first stint at Nebraska was forcing turnovers. As the game wore on, the secondary was able to start turning New Mexico State over. I think turnovers are infectious, and as the DBs get more confident in getting turnovers, more will come.
- TRICKERATION: Lucky's TD strike to Joe Ganz was a little flashback to the Callahan era, but it was fun to see. More importantly, it gets that play on tape to give teams on the schedule something to worry about.
- THEY'RE INTO IT: At the end of the third quarter, going into the beginning of the fourth quarter, NMSU had 11 plays inside of Nebraska's 10 yard line. That's hard to do. It's even harder to have that many plays and not score, which the we-can't-call-them-Blackshirts accomplished. And as the Aggies were trying to punch it in, the crowd was as loud as I've heard in the first three games. Perhaps warming up for Virginia Tech and Missouri?
THE BAD ...
- D-LINE WOES: Pierre Allen, in for the injured Barry Turner, ended up on the trainer's table as well. It's not clear how bad his injury is, but Nebraska cannot afford much more attrition on the defensive line.
- KICKER KONCERNS: (OK, that's a pretty lame headline to this one, and makes this look a bit like something from Mortal Kombat. Although, how cool would it be to see Adi Kunalic's fatality move ...) Kunalic is still struggling with consistency in getting the ball into the end zone. He's got a phenomenal leg, but when he mis-hits the ball it looks a bit like when I hit my driver. Similarly, the otherwise-dependable Alex Henery badly shanked his first FG attempt. I wonder if the late field goal attempt was more to help his confidence than anything else.
- A 31-POINT PLAY?: OK, what in the world was New Mexico State head coach Hal Mumme doing calling a timeout in the dying moments of the game, with Nebraska up 38-7? Had he gotten a bookie somewhere to give him a 30-point spread and he had taken the points? Never was I happier to see a play fail than the post-time-out incompletion afterwards.
- NEXT MAN UP: Perhaps it's just me, but I thought it strange that #2 QB Patrick Witt is wearing a #2 jersey, and #3 QB Zac Lee is wearing #3. If that's the case, shouldn't Joe Ganz get to rock the ace, and shouldn't we put #4 on Beau Davis?
... AND THE END OF THE PRESEASON.
Nebraska has come through the first part of their season unscathed, but relatively untested. The teams NU has played so far have been at least respectable (I'm talking to you, Kansas State before playing Louisville), but the level of play rises with the next three games. We know that NU is 3-0, but we don't really know how much stock to put in that record. We'll find out soon enough.
THE BIG PICTURE
Say what you will about Steve Pederson, he did a masterful job in setting the schedule up this year. Nebraska has had at least some test, enough to get some of the kinks out. They get a week off to prepare and to rest, and then get a game against a nationally-respected team. At home. At night. On national TV. Then, if NU wins that game, they get the most dangerous team in the Big XII North. At home. Probably on national TV again if NU beats the Hokies. Now, I don't think NU has the horses to run with Missouri. But putting that game at home, after potentially a huge win over Virginia Tech, with the team and the fans being sky-high, gives Nebraska the best possible chance to stun the Tigers they could possibly have.
THE NEXT GAME
Virginia Tech at Nebraska. No spread yet, although I did finally call one right last week. Tough to say how this game is going to go. We will learn a lot about the Hokies this weekend as they travel to a greatly-improved North Carolina team. One way or the other, I think this game is Nebraska's to lose. VT coach Frank Beemer's decision to burn QB Tyrod Taylor's redshirt after VT's opening-day loss to East Carolina reeks of desperation, and it's hard to imagine how the team is going to be able to gel. Virginia Tech struggled last week against a good Georgia Tech team, but won. But now they have to play a tough road game against UNC, then turn around and play ANOTHER (hopefully) tough road game in Lincoln. However the North Carolina game turns out, that doesn't bode well for VT against the 'Huskers.
GBR, baby.
- I GOT RHYTHM: Actually, more accurately, the Nebraska offense finally looked like it had some rhythm. No surprise that as the running game became more effective, the entire offense started clicking. Hard to tell given the competition, but the NU offense looked the best it has so far this season.
- TURN 'EM OVER: One of the calling cards of Pelini's first stint at Nebraska was forcing turnovers. As the game wore on, the secondary was able to start turning New Mexico State over. I think turnovers are infectious, and as the DBs get more confident in getting turnovers, more will come.
- TRICKERATION: Lucky's TD strike to Joe Ganz was a little flashback to the Callahan era, but it was fun to see. More importantly, it gets that play on tape to give teams on the schedule something to worry about.
- THEY'RE INTO IT: At the end of the third quarter, going into the beginning of the fourth quarter, NMSU had 11 plays inside of Nebraska's 10 yard line. That's hard to do. It's even harder to have that many plays and not score, which the we-can't-call-them-Blackshirts accomplished. And as the Aggies were trying to punch it in, the crowd was as loud as I've heard in the first three games. Perhaps warming up for Virginia Tech and Missouri?
THE BAD ...
- D-LINE WOES: Pierre Allen, in for the injured Barry Turner, ended up on the trainer's table as well. It's not clear how bad his injury is, but Nebraska cannot afford much more attrition on the defensive line.
- KICKER KONCERNS: (OK, that's a pretty lame headline to this one, and makes this look a bit like something from Mortal Kombat. Although, how cool would it be to see Adi Kunalic's fatality move ...) Kunalic is still struggling with consistency in getting the ball into the end zone. He's got a phenomenal leg, but when he mis-hits the ball it looks a bit like when I hit my driver. Similarly, the otherwise-dependable Alex Henery badly shanked his first FG attempt. I wonder if the late field goal attempt was more to help his confidence than anything else.
- A 31-POINT PLAY?: OK, what in the world was New Mexico State head coach Hal Mumme doing calling a timeout in the dying moments of the game, with Nebraska up 38-7? Had he gotten a bookie somewhere to give him a 30-point spread and he had taken the points? Never was I happier to see a play fail than the post-time-out incompletion afterwards.
- NEXT MAN UP: Perhaps it's just me, but I thought it strange that #2 QB Patrick Witt is wearing a #2 jersey, and #3 QB Zac Lee is wearing #3. If that's the case, shouldn't Joe Ganz get to rock the ace, and shouldn't we put #4 on Beau Davis?
... AND THE END OF THE PRESEASON.
Nebraska has come through the first part of their season unscathed, but relatively untested. The teams NU has played so far have been at least respectable (I'm talking to you, Kansas State before playing Louisville), but the level of play rises with the next three games. We know that NU is 3-0, but we don't really know how much stock to put in that record. We'll find out soon enough.
THE BIG PICTURE
Say what you will about Steve Pederson, he did a masterful job in setting the schedule up this year. Nebraska has had at least some test, enough to get some of the kinks out. They get a week off to prepare and to rest, and then get a game against a nationally-respected team. At home. At night. On national TV. Then, if NU wins that game, they get the most dangerous team in the Big XII North. At home. Probably on national TV again if NU beats the Hokies. Now, I don't think NU has the horses to run with Missouri. But putting that game at home, after potentially a huge win over Virginia Tech, with the team and the fans being sky-high, gives Nebraska the best possible chance to stun the Tigers they could possibly have.
THE NEXT GAME
Virginia Tech at Nebraska. No spread yet, although I did finally call one right last week. Tough to say how this game is going to go. We will learn a lot about the Hokies this weekend as they travel to a greatly-improved North Carolina team. One way or the other, I think this game is Nebraska's to lose. VT coach Frank Beemer's decision to burn QB Tyrod Taylor's redshirt after VT's opening-day loss to East Carolina reeks of desperation, and it's hard to imagine how the team is going to be able to gel. Virginia Tech struggled last week against a good Georgia Tech team, but won. But now they have to play a tough road game against UNC, then turn around and play ANOTHER (hopefully) tough road game in Lincoln. However the North Carolina game turns out, that doesn't bode well for VT against the 'Huskers.
GBR, baby.
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