NU Notes, 10/3: Special teams continue to struggle
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Nebraska's woes on special teams coming into the game were mostly limited to kick coverage, having given up two returns for touchdowns in the first three games.
On Saturday, it was kick receiving that bit the Huskers in the behind early. The Huskers started the first possession of the game on their 8-yard line thanks to indecision from return man David Horne on the opening kickoff. The junior running back caught the ball at the goal line and hesitated. Two plays later, NU fumbled into its own end zone for a safety.
On NU's next opportunity to receive a kickoff in the second quarter, the Huskers were called for a block in the back, putting the ball at the 7-yard line.
NU got into more trouble on a punt return with 4:37 left in the half when a clipping penalty moved the Huskers' starting field position from the KU 32 to the 47.
PERSONNEL CHANGES: Nebraska made a few changes to its kick-coverage unit Saturday. Most notably, defensive starters Josh Bullocks and Stewart Bradley saw time on kick coverage.
Punter Sam Koch also saw his first action kicking off for Nebraska.
MUFFED CALL: Nebraska appeared to receive a bad break with 28 seconds left in the first half when what appeared to be a Kansas fumble was ruled an incomplete pass.
Husker cornerback Kellen Huston put a major hit on KU wide receiver Brandon Rideau after he caught a pass and took two steps at about the Nebraska 30-yard line. The ball came out after the Huston hit, but officials ruled no fumble.
GAMBLING MANGINO: With the ball on his own 49 and facing a fourth-and-a-foot situation, Kansas coach Mark Mangino went for it less than midway through the third quarter.
Quarterback Adam Barmann ran a quarterback sneak on the play and got the first down by inches. KU went on to score a field goal to take an 8-7 lead.
NO JOSHIN': Former Husker star athletes Josh Brown, Erick Strickland and Adam Stern were among those on hand Saturday night.
Brown and the undefeated Seattle Seahawks are off this week. Strickland goes to camp with the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday. And Stern just finished an outstanding season in the Atlanta Braves' organization.
Brown, who regularly talks with Sandro DeAngelis, was asked if he felt for NU's current kicker when DeAngelis hit the crossbar on a 45-yarder in the first half.
"Do I feel for him? 45? You need to make it. You should make it," Brown said. "But I don't want to jinx myself there. It's definitely not good when you miss. It's more embarrassing when you drop short or hit the crossbar."
DeAngelis missed from 44 yards in the third quarter.
BIG GAIN: The first play from scrimmage for Kansas marked the longest run of the year against the Nebraska defense. John Randle broke loose for a gain of 16 yards. The previous long run against the Blackshirts covered 14 yards. Randle later bettered that with a 29-yard run in the third quarter. Nebraska entered the game with the nation's best rush defense, allowing an average of 41 yards per game.
CARRIKER, McPHERSON OUT: Neither defensive end Adam Carriker nor right cornerback Lornell McPherson started Saturday night. Carriker (ankle) and McPherson (hamstring) practiced throughout the week after missing the Pittsburgh game because of injuries. Wali Muhammad started in place of Carriker, and Cortney Grixby earned his second career start in place of McPherson. Carriker entered the lineup in the third quarter, and McPherson didn't play.
KOCH'S HIGHS AND LOWS: First, the highlight for Husker punter Sam Koch.
Kicking from the Nebraska 47-yard line, he got a friendly role on a second-quarter punt that rolled to the Kansas 2. The Jayhawks gained no yards on three plays, punted, and gave NU a short field, leading to the Huskers' first touchdown.
"It wasn't the greatest kick, but when it rolled, I knew our punt team would be down there," Koch said.
Now, the lowlight. With a chance to again pin KU deep for the Jayhawks' final drive of the game, he shanked a punt that went 16 yards, giving KU possession at its own 22.
"Basically, I just took my eye off the ball, wasn't focused," Koch said. "Coach (Bill) Busch and everybody was like, ‘Just put it down there, don't do anything spectacular.'"
Well, he did one of those things.
WHERE'S WALDO?: If field position is as important as coaches say, then Kansas had a roller coaster of a night. The Jayhawks started near midfield the first three times they touched the ball. After two possessions around the 20, Kansas then found itself taking over at its 2-yard line, 5 and 9 on its next three chances.
"We had good field position in the first quarter but then we had a lot of lousy field position," said Kansas coach Mark Mangino. "A lot of it was good special-teams play by Nebraska. I'd like the ball to bounce another way for us a few times."
DEFENSIVE BATTLE: Mangino said the offensive struggles by both Kansas and Nebraska could be attributed to the defenses.
"I think you have to give credit to their secondary. They are very, very good," said Mangino. "Our defense got turnovers and did a good job tonight against both the run and the pass. Our defense played well enough to win.
"The bottom line is that Nebraska's offense ran into a good defense and our offense ran into a good defense."
WHEN IT COUNTS: The Kansas offense posted 305 total yards, with quarterback Adam Barmann throwing for 200 and running back John Randle rushing for 105 yards. But it couldn't pick up yardage when it needed to, according to Barmann.
"We ran the football well. We don't have a problem picking up yardage between the 20s. It's in the red zone that we stall," he said. "That's not something we've done well lately. We get a drive going and then sputter out in the red zone."
-- Lincoln Journal Star
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