In a matchup between two 5-5 football teams, Nebraska will host the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. There’s a myriad of parallels between the two teams going into this game— both have 2nd year head coaches, both have relieved their Offensive Coordinators of their duties in the last two weeks, and last but not least, both are one win away from securing a bowl game.
Wisconsin hosted #1 Oregon last week at Camp Randall and nearly came out with the win, but a stagnant offense prevented the upset, and with their third loss in a row, Head Coach Luke Fickell decided to part ways with Offensive Coordinator and Quarterbacks Coach Phil Longo. At this point, it’s a little murky who will be calling plays for the Badgers in Longo’s absence. Fickell commented on the matter, saying, “I don’t think it’s really important as to who’s calling. I guess it gives you the ability to point a finger at somebody.”
Fickell’s thoughts on the situation are a bit contradictory given the fact they just fired the person in charge of calling the shots for bad performance. It seems that it certainly does matter who’s calling the plays, especially if you’re going to make a change with two games left in the season.
This should make Nebraska fans feel even better than they already did about the addition of Offensive Coordinator Dana Holgorsen. Would you rather have a seasoned, well accomplished offensive mind running the show, or some regular Joe Shmoe? There’s a right answer, and yes, it’s obvious.
Dana Holgorsen took the podium on Tuesday to answer questions about the Huskers offense, and he did not hold back from his straight-shooter personality, specifically speaking on the efforts of blocking at the Wide Receiver position.
“I know 17 isn’t a big kid, but he’s a tough kid. But there are some good sized kids out there. You know, 16, 18, 4, 29, I mean these guys are big bodies. I’m like, why are you not blocking worth a crap on the perimeter? It’s embarrassing. Being a receiver, they are like, ‘I want touches, throw me the ball.’ The first thing I said to them was, ‘if you don’t start blocking out there then you aren’t going to get the ball thrown to you’.”
Holgorsen was right in his assessment, and against USC, you could see a higher level of intensity on the edge. There’s a line you must walk as a coach when it pertains to calling out your players, and Holgorsen did it with blunt candor and straight-forwardness, something Nebraska fans seem to appreciate in their new Offensive Coordinator.
While Nebraska may have the advantage between the two offenses, Wisconsin’s defense played a stellar game against Oregon just a week ago. The Badgers held the best team in the country to just 16 points and without a score in both the 2nd and 3rd quarters. Holgorsen will need to have an improved sense of the playbook and the personnel by the time the game rolls around, or the Huskers offense will have a hard time finding success.
Holgorsen thinks he may have found someone who can help.
“I found a young kid that I think can help us play on Saturday,” Holgorsen said. “Just keep your eyes open for that.” As to what player that is remains unknown, but Holgorsen continues to keep Husker fans interested during a stretch of games that constitutes the opposite.
Nebraska can get to the six win mark this Saturday, and even though it’s against a struggling Wisconsin team, it would be a reason to celebrate.
Score prediction: 24-17, Nebraska outlasts Wisconsin
