Big Red Board

Hey fans,

Hope your weekend was good. The Huskers held up their end. They got a win.

And BTW (see how internet savvy I’ve become?), thanks for all of the email and postings on other boards about the radio broadcasts. Some of you wrote in with memories of days gone by listening to the games with your mom and dad, playing football in the backyard with the game on pretending to be the players themselves; and how this weekend was sort of a visit “back home” with the game only on the radio. I appreciate that a lot and by all means, keep it up!

End of self-promotion part of the blog.

We did some good things vs. Iowa State but can certainly get better. You know me, I’m a glass half full guy so I choose to hang on the positives: McKeon, Ruud and Green were all much better on defense. Yes, we did have some gap busts but not nearly as many as vs. Ball State. Yes, we did give up some large pass plays but the safties did a better job of helping in coverage and I thought Grixby had one of his better all around games. The pass rush was improved and stayed that way even though we at one time were down three first team defensive linemen.

On the offensive side, Keller was very good again and the line protected him well. He picked up blitzes and checked down to keep the chains moving. His two-minute drill at the end of the half was a thing of beauty slightly overshadowed (sadly so) by his mental mistake in the last :14. His INT was a mess up but that was the only really bad throw he made all day.

The running game was pretty good….can be better but Marlon ran for over 100 yards and when you consider we only had the ball for about 6 plays in the entire first quarter, and quickly got down 10-0, that again takes you out of your initial plan to run it more.

The turnovers were the problem on offense again. Gotta cinch that up because the rest of the schedule will certainly convert three give-a-ways into more than three points.

Kicking game was solid except for the roughing the punter penalty, the disorganization on ISU’s fake punt attempt and the off-sides penalty that kept an ISU drive alive in the first half. BC was very, very unhappy with the above.

I was most disturbed by the inability of the Blackshirts (for the second consecutive week) to get off the field. ISU converted way, way too many third-and-long situations to keep drives alive. That 17 play-97 yarder in the 2nd half was mind-boggling. In fact, for the day, I think the Cyclones had 7 drives where they moved it at least 40 yards. That is just not good enough.

But it was a step in the right direction. It wasn’t exactly what we need to get and yes ISU had the worst statistical offense in the Big 12 but right now I’m looking for baby steps with this defense. I’m looking for them to get a little better at something new each week without sacrificing a phase from the previous week. This week it was gap responsibility, tackling and a pass rush. They were all measurably better. Against Missouri we need all of the above plus some big plays to end drives. My goal this week is for the LBs and DBs to contest the ball better while it is in the air. Make the MU skill people work for what they get.

Despite the win, this was not a good week for the Huskers considering what KSU and Colorado did. They “raised the bar” in the Big 12 North. They went up against the best in the league and smacked them in the mouth. For the Buffs, they held OU to 46 yards total offense in the first half. That is incredible. And KSU? Give those guys their due props. They may not be loaded with future NFL stars, but they obviously buy into what Prince is selling. And yes, they did get 21 unconventional points in that win but bottom line: They did it. And Colt McCoy got a headache in this game. They came after him and hammered him. You have to do that to win on the road in this or any other league.

Five top ten teams got beat this weekend. Two other ranked teams lost. Several of these kingpins lost at home. It can be done. The Huskers can do it this weekend. Just borrow the blueprint from our westerly and southerly neighbors.

Tags: Jim Rose //