Go Furself

YES YES YES!!!

Bye week hopefully gets Vokolek (ideally fully) healthy.

I agree in this game/matchup the focus should be to contain the run game (be Blackshirts!) and force Illinois's QB to consistently beat you with his arm. I disagree in this game/matchup that you are setting yourself up for disaster if you play the corners/DB's back because if the corners/DB's are locked on to the WR at the line of scrimmage then they make it easier for the WR to block them which springs Chase Brown for long(er) runs. Nebraska does not have somebody that can match up man-to-man with Chase Brown so zone, containment and gang tackling is the solution to containing/slowing him down. I have no issue being aggressive and going for some TFL's by blitzing out of the zone as long as it is focused on blitzing Chase Brown first and adjusting to Tommy DeVito once the blitzer(s) sees DeVito is passing/keeping. Force Tommy DeVito to consistently beat you with his arm and not his legs or Chase Browns' legs. A lot of DeVito's completions and yards come off play-action so those in coverage cannot get fooled by action in the backfield (DB's go with receivers first on action to running back and adjust accordingly to cleanup/help with run); let the front 7/8 focus on the run.

Nebraska's defense has struggled with tackling this season so those Chase Brown yards after contact numbers are something the defense better prepare for (ex. wrap up, hold on, gang tackle) during the extra bye time. Tommy DeVito, Illinois' QB, is a game manager; not a play maker. Defensive Game Plan: Stack the box, maintain gap integrity, get to Chase Brown in the backfield, wrap up (don't over-pursue), hang on and gang tackle until he [Chase Brown] is on the ground or the refs blow the whistle. Force Tommy DeVito to consistently beat you with his arm and not his legs or Chase Browns' legs. A lot of DeVito's completions and yards come off play-action so corners and safety in coverage cannot get caught looking in the backfield; let the front 7/8 focus on the run. Blitzers should focus on Chase Brown first and adjust to Tommy DeVito once they see DeVito is passing/keeping. Illinois is coming off a bye too so maintain focus and discipline to thwart trick plays. A lot of zone and match zone (corners go with receivers first on action to running back and adjust accordingly to help with run) with the strong safety coming down to support the linebackers in the box to stop the run game.

It was frustrating to watch Nebraska's defense play unphysical, soft (i.e. far off the line of scrimmage) coverage and consistently only rush three or four. Purdue's QB is immobile and their WR's are undersized and pose no deep threat so get after the QB by blitzing and play physical against the WR's (i.e. press/jam/lock up/bump/etc.) at the line of scrimmage to knock them off their timing on short routes. If you know their QB is immobile and wants to throw from a clean pocket then make the pocket uncomfortable by blitzing and putting pressure on him. If you know they are throwing short routes you don't have to cover for very long so play physical against their WR's at the line of scrimmage, cutoff or step in front of some of those short routes and look for a pick or pass breakup early in the play knowing their QB is under pressure from the blitz. Purdue ran 101 offensive plays (54 passes and 47 rushes) and never got called for holding.

It was frustrating to watch Nebraska's defense play unphysical, soft (i.e. far off the line of scrimmage) coverage and consistently only rush three or four. Purdue's QB is immobile and their WR's are undersized and pose no deep threat so get after the QB by blitzing and play physical against the WR's (i.e. press/jam/lock up/bump/etc.) at the line of scrimmage to knock them off their timing on short routes. If you know their QB is immobile and wants to throw from a clean pocket then make the pocket uncomfortable by blitzing and putting pressure on him. If you know they are throwing short routes you don't have to cover for very long so play physical against their WR's at the line of scrimmage, cutoff or step in front of some of those short routes and look for a pick or pass breakup early in the play knowing their QB is under pressure from the blitz. Purdue ran 101 offensive plays (54 passes and 47 rushes) and never got called for holding.

To the Whipple haters: Whipple, in his first year and to no fault of his own, inherited arguably the worst offensive line in the last 60+ years of Husker football. Whipple has praise from Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger and the last QB he coached at Pitt, Kenny Pickett, broke all of Dan Marino's passing records at Pitt and started his first NFL game last Sunday. Pump the brakes on Whipple because he did NOT construct this offensive line.

Whipple, in his first year and to no fault of his own, inherited arguably the worst offensive line in the last 60+ years of Husker football. Meanwhile, Whipple has praise from Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger and the last QB he coached at Pitt, Kenny Pickett, broke all of Dan Marino's passing records at Pitt and started his first NFL game last Sunday. Pump the brakes on Whipple because he did NOT construct this offensive line.

Oklahoma got shutout and blown out 49-0 by Texas. Gonna be tough to climb back in the rankings after that one. How's your sarcastic comment and hype video holding up now?!

Might be worth trying Chancellor Brewington at fullback to help out the offensive line so Grant has someone blocking for him. Brewington's strength is blocking and he can run short routes good enough to help in the pass game as well. Another package might make it tougher on opposing defenses.

Might be worth trying Chancellor Brewington at fullback to help out the offensive line so Grant has someone blocking for him. Brewington's strength is blocking and he can run short routes good enough to help in the pass game as well. Another package might make it tougher on opposing defenses.

Halftime adjustments are cool!

Wonder what was said in the locker room at halftime?

There are no locks for the Huskers this year.