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Buckle up. I take forever to say anything, and this one gave me more than I was hoping to digest. If last night's game made you go apesh#t (*sheepishly raises hand*), or despair, or rise from your seat in the waning minutes, take stock of that. The previous two or three seasons have left many Nebraska fans feeling nothing but a detached sense of lethargy. Whatever lays ahead of this team, one thing we can rejoice over is that their character and never-say-die spirit have reenergized the program, which was desperately needed. We have serious problems (we'll have a reality check in a moment). Yet however bad it looked, last night we watched Nebrsaka reach for a dagger, take aim at Michigan State's throat, and miss nicking an artery by this much in their house. That is a far cry from the 63-13 shadow that was creeping over us as it has done for so many seasons. Consistency demands I respect that outcome. (And I don't want to hear a peep about that "they let off the gas" bullsh#t. A football game lasts 60 minutes.) I said before the game that a respectable loss against this opponent was immaterial in the grand scheme of things. I hold to that. We lost close to champions. Others have said that ours is not a championship-caliber team. I agree, but we have enough to get to Indie, and once there, you have a shot. What more can you ask for considering the health of the team? Our defense is approaching stellar despite the gutting of the LB corps, the youth in the secondary, and the series of unfortunate offseason events. They gave us every opportunity to win the game. The offense failed us. Which brings us to the reality check. 1. Our offensive line is horrendous. I cannot recall a more overhyped position group in recent memory than that left side. Cotton's falling on his ass was probably a good thing: it perfectly encapsulates the severity and magnitude of the trouble we're in if we do not improve. Ameer is an incredible athlete, but alas, thou art mortal. I do not have near the expertise to offer specific solutions, but with where we're positioned mid-season, I do want an answer to this question: would burning a redshirt or two change anything? If not, what––if any––viable options are on the table? 2. Beck committed to the run just like I hoped he would in the beginning. And though I was sickened and dismayed by what we saw out there as the game went on, upon further reflection I don't know what any coordinator could have done in-game to correct a line that blocks no one. More to the point, the answer going forward is not to find a new identity. Option/run is our identity. We need to think of the option/run game like a Samurai thinks of swordsmanship or a Spartan thinks of war: it is a philosophy to be mastered with years of complete, uninterrupted focus. Resist all temptation to abandon it. Continue to recruit exclusively to it. 3. This is not a critique of the man himself, but I do not know what Barney Cotton does for a living. We do not have any tight ends. They've been raptured someplace. What I do know is that with the expansion of recruiting personnel, this offseason would be an opportunity to put him to better use and get a QB coach. We need one badly, and have for some time. Throw down six figures and get a pro. A teacher. Beck has gone on record as saying the quarterback is the most difficult and important position in his offense. Act like it with your personnel decisions. 4. We are badly hurt. All over. I can't imagine this defense at full strength. We have enough talent to brawl our way back, but expect to fight tooth and nail. Mainly because . . . 5. Northwestern says hello. This bi-week could not have come at a better time. We have to regroup, rethink a few things offensively, and prepare to finish strong. No one else is close to what we saw last night, but all of them have the talent to sneak away with one. We need to put MSU behind us and return to work on our system. I hope this game does wonders for the defense and the pride they play with. They can hold their heads high.