Nebraska went into this game believing this was their year, the year they finally turned things around and got that marquee win by defeating a ranked blueblood opponent in Michigan. This team and Matt Rhule believed it could happen, and they had the fans believing it too. And why not, this is Matt Rhule’s year three. Since Rhule’s arrival every Husker fan has pointed towards this game. This was the one, this was the game that showed us the turnaround was real. In the words of ESPN’s Lee Corso, “Not so fast my friend.”
Michigan won this game 30-27 in Nebraska’s house and did it convincingly. Don’t let the score fool you. Yes, it was only three points, but Nebraska was never a threat in this game. Everything Huskers fans feared and doubted after the first three games came true. Nebraska’s offense struggled in the red zone. The defensive line couldn’t hold up against a Big Ten power running game, and finally, the offensive line wasn’t as good as we thought they were.
Before the game I talked about clichés, “this game will be won in the trenches.” I said there was more to this game than line play. Well, I was wrong. All the old sayings were true in this one. What we saw from Nebraska was a team who still doesn’t have Big Ten caliber lineman. Both Michigan’s offensive line and defensive line dominated Nebraska. Michigan was clearly the more physical team, in fact so much so that interim coach Biff Poggi told his team at halftime, “I know it’s 17-17, but physically we’re beating the snot out of them.” That’s a statement Nebraska players and coaches need to remember during preparation over the next two weeks.
Matt Rhule said after the game, “I feel like somebody hit me with a hammer.” Rhule isn’t alone. This loss has caused fan fatigue. Nobody is talking about this game. I’ve seen it already, family, on my website, and comments on my videos. There aren’t any. It’s as if nobody cares. Usually with losses you get comments about what needs fixed and positive takeaways on how the Huskers will come back despite the loss. But yesterday and today, crickets.
While I’m disappointed, I said before the game a loss wouldn’t change Nebraska’s goal of winning 9 to 10 games. With their performance yesterday, it may not be as realistic, but that goal remains. Saying that, here’s what was good and what was bad Saturday.
Good: Quarterback Play
Even under all the pressure you have to give Dylan Raiola props, he finished the day 30/41 with 308 yards, 3 TD’s and 1 INT. With sacks, he was -49 rushing. I know there has been a lot of talk about Raiola getting quicker and being able to scramble, and maybe I’m comparing him to Michigan’s Underwood, but Raiola looked slow when moving out of the pocket. His protection must improve if this team is going to get close to reaching its goals. Poor tackle play plus an immobile quarterback allows defensive lines to pin their ears back and bring it. That’s why Holgorsen needs to consider playing TJ Lateef in the redzone. Lateef is 11/12 with 254 yards and 1 TD passing. He’s also rushed 9 times for 34 yards and two touchdowns. He isn’t a one trick pony. He brings that extra element needed in the redzone.
Bad: Running Backs
Emmett Johnson is a good running back, but he isn’t Michigan’s Justice Haynes. Nebraska doesn’t have a back of that stature in their running back room. Emmett is the best back on the team at pass protection, and multiple times against Michigan he was outmanned. Nebraska is missing a big-bodied back. I hate to harp on it, but it was a mistake when the Huskers didn’t cough up the money to keep Dante Dowdell or after the fact, grab Chamar Brown out of the portal. Dowdell 6’2” 227lbs, was Nebraska’s leading rusher last season with 675 yards and 12 TDs. This season at Kentucky he has a 5.9 yard per carry rushing average after 3 games. Brown 5’11 214lbs, has proven himself to be a tough inside runner and has rushed for 206 yards, with a 4.2 yard per average and 4 TDs. He also has 8 receptions for 75 yards and 1 TD. Nebraska needs to get the 6’3” 215lb Kwinten Ives up to speed because he’s needed.
Good: Receivers
The receiving group still looks like the strength of this team. The three starting wide receivers along with TE Luke Lindenmeyer are Raiola’s safety blanket. After yesterday Jacory Barney is Nebraska’s leading receiver for the season with 21 receptions for 301 yards and 3 TDs. Three players are tied with 16 receptions for the season, Dan Key, Luke Lindenmeyer and Emmett Johnson. Key’s 16 receptions have netted 226 yards and 3 TDs. Nyziah Hunter has 13 receptions for 192 yards and 1 TD. Add in Cortez Mills and Isiah Mozee and Raiola has multiple targets to go to.
Bad: Offensive Line
The offensive line gave up 9 tackles for loss and 7 sacks. And with taking away sack yardage, Nebraska only rushed for 43 total yards. With no running game and unable to protect Raiola, it was ugly at times. Making it worse, Michigan sacked Raiola more than once with a three or four man front and no blitz. The Nebraska offensive line simply couldn’t match Michigan’s physicality.
Bad: Defense
While everyone will point fingers at the defensive line, it was a consorted effort. The Blackshirts gave up 290 yards rushing on 31 carries for a 9.4 yard per carry average and 3 TDs. They gave up explosive TD runs of 37, 54, and 75 yards where the ball carrier was never touched. The only thing I’ll say on this is that while the defensive line wasn’t good, the rushing yardage and the big runs fall on the Blackshirts as a whole. At one point in the 4th quarter, they allowed Michigan to put together a 15-play drive that ate up over 9 minutes of the clock. On top of that, after going 1/7 on third downs, they allowed Michigan to convert three 3rd downs of, 5 yards, 9 yards and 10 yards. It was a glaring example of an upper tier Big Ten offensive line against an undersized Big Ten defensive line. If Michigan had better receivers, the score may have been worse. The Blackshirts were only able to log 5 tackles for a loss, 1 sack and 1 forced fumble on the day.
Jury is still out: Defensive Backs
Going into the Michigan game, the Husker’s receiving group was considered their greatest strength. The defensive backs weren’t far behind. After four games the Blackshirts only allow 75.8 receiving yards per game. Ceyair Wright was only targeted 4 times before the Michigan game. Surprisingly, Michigan threw at him 8 times. He allowed three completions for 19 yards and had 1 pass break up. Marques Buford, who typically starts only played 22 snaps, being benched in the first half. Tackling is also now in question since there were eight missed tackles in the games and five were by defensive backs. The pass defense numbers are somewhat in question as the Blackshirts have yet to face a formidable receiving group and teams may not be passing due to the Blackshirts porous run defense.
Jacory Barney Jr. continues to impress
Let’s just go ahead and say it, Jacory Barney Jr. is an absolute dog. The kid is tougher than hell and can play ball, and is there anybody with more heart? Time after time we saw him make a play and take a big hit only to jump up and go again. Barney had 6 receptions, 120 yards and 2 TDs against Michigan. His longest was 52 yards, a leaping catch in the end zone on a Hail Mary from Raiola to end the half. He also had 3 punt returns for 21 yards. Watching him, it seems like only a matter of time before he breaks a big one. However, he did display poor judgement by fielding a punt at the three-yard line. Making several big plays before that, he may have got caught up in the moment.
Nebraska has an open week before facing Michigan State at home. Michigan State also has an open week before traveling to Lincoln. Spartan QB Aiden Chiles is multi-talented with a good arm and the ability to scramble. On the season he has passed for 656 yards, 6 TDs and 1 INT. He also rushed 30 times for 123 yards and 1 TD. He can be dangerous and the Blackshirts will have to account for his legs. The Huskers cannot afford a letdown. They’ll need to have a good two weeks of practice and get some things figured out, because, as they found out Saturday, the Big Ten plays big boy football.
Stats gathered from ESPN – Serving Sports Fans. Anytime. Anywhere.
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