Nebraska's defense on Saturday

[BigRedBuster]

There is a lot of talk on the radio (1620) about Nebraska's defense being the key to the win on Saturday.

 

I tend to agree with this. I believe our offense can score on pretty much anyone. Maybe that is being over confident. But, as a fan and not a player, I can be that.

 

But, we need to be able to stop MSU. After Miami there were concerns about linebacker play and the short crossing routes and RBs in the flats in the passing game. Illinois isn't a world beater as a team but going into that game, I kept hearing that their short passing game was very good and they would spread the ball all over the place. It seemed to me that we handled that well.

 

Was that a case of the staff and players making adjustments and learning how to handle that better than against Miami? Or, was Miami so much better at it that they were able to gain some good yards and score with that part of their offense?

How confident are you in that our defense can control MSU's offense? How good is MSU's offense? They have been averaging 50 points per game. They have gained basically 50/50 with the rush/pass. They have scored a few more rushing TDs 16 to passing TDs 11. They have thrown 3 interceptions and have fumbled twice without losing either one.

 

Is Zaire proving to be the answer we have been looking for in the LB crew? Is the combination of he and Gerry good enough to cover that middle territory while also giving run support?

[BIGREDIOWAN]

Illinois is 23rd in the country in passing offense, Miami is 46th in the nation. So Miami isn't better than Illinois in that respect and I think part of our issues with the short passing game with Miami was from emotions and the angles we took during that game. Sure our LB's don't have the sideline to sideline speed we'd like, but if they take the right angles it's a moot point.

 

I'm confident our offense is going to do what they do, I'm worried about their offense as they're no slouch that's for sure. They're 18th in the nation in total offense and will be the best offense and defense we've faced this season. Our defense is really rising though and in a much better position than they were last year at this time and Nebraska as a whole is in a much better position than we were last year at this time. If we play with the fire and intensity we did against Miami then for some reason I just think we'll win this game. We come out flat, we're screwed..................if we hold Sparty to 3 or 4 three and outs, we win this game cause of the potency of our offense.

[ZRod]

Don't forget that Illinois's QB was a late scratch too.

 

My only real concern on D is still the secondary. They seem to be improving, but we won't know for sure until Saturday. The front four can take care of business in the run game as long as the backers fill. The only run game issues we've had were when offenses spread us out, and the safties didn't step up in run support or missed a one on one tackle, but that was only a handful of times.

 

Offensively we'll get ours. We just need to take care of the ball, that is paramount!

[IllinoisHuskerFan]

BEND BUT DONT BREAK. Give up FGs not TDs. 3rd down defense and RZ defense I think is the key to this game. They have to be able to get off the field on 3rd down.

[Danny Bateman]

Don't forget that Illinois's QB was a late scratch too.

 

My only real concern on D is still the secondary. They seem to be improving, but we won't know for sure until Saturday. The front four can take care of business in the run game as long as the backers fill. The only run game issues we've had were when offenses spread us out, and the safties didn't step up in run support or missed a one on one tackle, but that was only a handful of times.

 

Offensively we'll get ours. We just need to take care of the ball, that is paramount!

This has been an issue. I feel better about our secondary personally but the linebacker play is one of my keys to the game. It has me a bit worried with MSU's run heavy attack. They did a good bit of running on us last year and we've always been more susceptible to a strong running game than a pass-heavy attack-- Bo eats the latter alive.

 

If they DO play well and we can stuff some runs and get them in some 3rd and long situations, Randy and the DL can pin their ears back. I respect Cook as much as anyone, but things could get ugly for them at that point.

[HUSKER FREAK]

One of the biggest things that I noticed with our poor tackling in space at times besides the angles(which is also huge) is we need to fly to the ball and not stop and wait for the juke, and then try to tackle. If you fly to the ball and make contact or slow them even it gives the rest of the D time to catch up and prevent the huge play.

[admo]

I think our defense will have to be as stingy against them as they will be against us.

 

The most important factor that keeps me a little uneasy is the level of quarterbacks we have faced.

 

FAU lost their returning starting qb to an early 2nd qtr injury. It was competitive at that point, and we still would have won. But their inexperienced backup went 5-18 for 2 1/2 quarters against our defense. Our defense took advantage of that.

 

McNeese used a 2 qb system, a passer and a runner. Together they did ok against us, and they had a few drops on third down with open running space. I think it was huge when Gerry batted away a pass near the goal line to force a decision to kick a FG to tie. Had they scored, then Ameer's incredible play would have sent it to overtime.

 

Fresno lost Derick Carr to the NFL. They went with a qb making his third career start. He was rotated with a Duke transfer in the previous games because neither were playing well enough. His experience was brief. Our defense took advantage of that.

 

Miami was depleted at qb going into the season. They went with a true freshman and going up against our defense making his 4th career start. He still completed 28 passes for 359 yards, 3tds and 2ints. Duke Johnson ran only 18 times, but still had 177 yards on 23 touches. Our defense played ok at times, but better in the second half.

 

Illinois did not play their starting qb Wes Lunt because of injury. He was having a nice season, 100-152 1237 yards, 11tds through 4 games. That would have been a better challenge for us. Still, their backup qb threw for 310 yards on our defense.

 

Going into the Michigan State game, we really have not played against a good, experienced QB. I've always thought that when it comes to matchups, the better QB of the two teams usually wins. Unless they have a porous defense.

 

In comparison, this will be a difficult challenge for us. Our defense is going up against a real solid QB that just wins. Connor Cook has played in 20 games, started 16 including 2 bowl games and a CCG against Ohio State where he threw for 304 yds and 3Tds. They beat the Buckeyes on the biggest stage. He also beat Stanford in the Rose Bowl and threw for 332 against them. I think he has only lost once in his career in a close game to Notre Dame. The Huskers better be ready, because this is the real deal and what we've all been anticipating. I know we have talent, we have confidence, and will be up for the challenge. We will find out if the Blackshirts are for real or if they are a year away.

[Landlord]

One of the biggest things that I noticed with our poor tackling in space at times besides the angles(which is also huge) is we need to fly to the ball and not stop and wait for the juke, and then try to tackle. If you fly to the ball and make contact or slow them even it gives the rest of the D time to catch up and prevent the huge play.

 

 

This is exactly the opposite of how good tackling is taught.

 

 

 

 

 

Anyways, I think Miami has a lot more speed than MSU does, and I think it's well known at this point that MSU's offensive scheme plays into our defensive scheme well. It will be more difficult with Cook back there (he's fairly mobile) and three years worth of game film at their disposal, but we absolutely have the capacity to come out the victors in that battle.

[Bigred_inSD]

Randy Gregory better be floating around like he did against Michigan last year. Make cook locate him every snap. Zaire or love can come flying off the other end and really disrupt things. I hope Malik Collins is starved all week and eats Langford in pregame.

[BigRedBuster]

 

One of the biggest things that I noticed with our poor tackling in space at times besides the angles(which is also huge) is we need to fly to the ball and not stop and wait for the juke, and then try to tackle. If you fly to the ball and make contact or slow them even it gives the rest of the D time to catch up and prevent the huge play.

 

 

This is exactly the opposite of how good tackling is taught.

 

 

 

 

 

Anyways, I think Miami has a lot more speed than MSU does, and I think it's well known at this point that MSU's offensive scheme plays into our defensive scheme well. It will be more difficult with Cook back there (he's fairly mobile) and three years worth of game film at their disposal, but we absolutely have the capacity to come out the victors in that battle.

 

He's been sacked three times. Has 11 attempts for 8 rushing yards.

 

He might be able to step aside to avoid a sack. But, I'm not expecting him to tuck it and run it.

 

I haven't watched MSU yet this year. I'm assuming they have a similar type philosophy of short drops and getting rid of the ball fast as Miami did. If that's the case, it would minimize what Gregory can do unless our DBs can lock down the receivers so he has nobody to throw to.

 

That said, I saw something on twitter the other day that shows he is known to fit the ball into very small spaces to receivers. That is bad if they complete them. However, if he tries that with us, our DBs will have opportunities to intercept him. He has thrown 3 interceptions so far this year.

 

 

 

FYI.....It is supposed to be in the 40s with 50% chance of rain during game time on a natural grass field. If it rains, that will add an interesting new twist on this.

[Bigred_inSD]

If it rains and hampers the passing game I think our chances greatly increase.

 

Although if its a close game I'm setting the over under at 10 of fights about imani not getting enough carries.

[Landlord]

Oh man. Just imagine the sequel to the 2009 Missouri monsoon except on actual grass.

[NUinID]

Defensively NU needs to stop the run, which I think is very possible. You will see more base defense in this game than you have in all others. They are a very traditional pro style offense. MSU does some things very well offensively but they don't do anything out of the ordinary. NU needs to hold them to about 130 rushing.

 

Remember Nebraska is by far the best defense they have faced this year. Oregon is middle below average on defense.

[NUpolo8]

Oh man. Just imagine the sequel to the 2009 Missouri monsoon except on actual grass.

God that was such a joke that game even went off. NU didn't even have electricity in their locker room at the half.

[StPaulHusker]

 

Oh man. Just imagine the sequel to the 2009 Missouri monsoon except on actual grass.

God that was such a joke that game even went off. NU didn't even have electricity in their locker room at the half.

 

27-12 win on the road.