This is probably a good time to take a Saturday off. Last Saturday was not fun to watch. I went to the game excited to watch some second and third teamers play. I always like to see a game like this where the reserves, who have practiced hard, get a chance to play. It is a chance to see who the next stars will be. In years past when Nebraska was dominant, I enjoyed watching these games.
Well Saturday we were lucky to win. Take away four plays and this game was even. Give the Jackrabbits two touchdowns called back and we were in for a fight or even a loss. Give the Jackrabbits credit but good grief, they are a team we should stubble with fighting to win the Big 12 Championship and maybe even something bigger.
This game reminded me of the Iowa St. game we lost last year 9-7. We should of won this game but we didn't. We lucked out Saturday. South Dakota St. reminded me of the NU-USC game a few years ago when Callahan tried to shorten the game and give us a chance to win but we lost to a superior team. I think that score might of been 17-3 or something like that also.
We have made strides the last couple of years but now we expect more because we have the players and coaches to do it. We were missing something on Saturday.
Teams continue to run the ball on Nebraska. Opponents don't make big yards but they control the ball by making three, four, and five yards. We miss Will Compton and Sean Fisher. We miss Suh! We miss Dillard! The middle isn't bad, but right now they aren't good enough to step up to the great teams we will be facing this year and next.
The secondary has had tons of praise but they have been beaten a number of times. Fortunately the opposing team isn't able to get the ball to their open receiver. Saturday, a receiver had their our defender beaten and the throw was long, short, or wide.
Oklahoma St. is scary and their offense will give us trouble. I am glad we have a few weeks before we face them.
The offense is still struggling. I have said this a number of times but until we play some POWER football and let our offensive line just buckle down and knock people down, we may continue to struggle. Let the football run. I know we don't want to run the fullback trap play but why not? Use our weapons.
Last year we ended as one of the top two or three teams in the country. It is possible that the coaches feel we are on track and will improve weekly and we will be back or above that level by season end. Maybe this was our Iowa St. game from last year and we won this time.
We'll find out a little more a week from tomorrow against Kansas St. The teams we have played will not win any games against high caliber teams. But we are 4-0 and the season continues.
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