Report card, 11/13
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BY BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star
PASSING GAME (B)
Zac Taylor, who now has NU’s single-season passing record with 2,094 yards, had one of his better recent games before taking a vicious hit and leaving the game in the fourth quarter. His two touchdown passes to Nate Swift were right on the mark, and the offensive line, with two freshman tackles, did a better job with protection. Harrison Beck’s interception could be attributed to many things: nerves, tough play call and throw, good defensive play by Bryan Baldwin.
RUNNING GAME (D)
It’s still a chore for this offense to generate anything on the ground, although 93 yards is certainly an improvement from the previous three weeks. More troublesome were the seven fumbles, although only two were lost. That might not have been the case without two heads-up plays by guard Brandon Koch. He recovered two fumbles, including one on NU’s game-winning drive.
AGAINST THE RUN (D)
Is it that difficult to stop the quarterback counter play? Or the quarterback, period? Kevin Cosgrove said he hadn’t seen Allan Evridge run the ball that much (30 times) all season. But when NU couldn’t prove it could stop Evridge, why shouldn’t K-State keep putting the ball in its quarterback’s hands? Oh, and more bad tackling, especially early in the game. This business of trying to strip the ball instead of tackling the ball carrier is getting old.
AGAINST THE PASS (A)
Why did this game take nearly four hours to play? Partly because K-State was 6-of-30 through the air. Twenty-four incomplete passes will slow down any game. Evridge was 5-of-27 and didn’t complete a pass until the third quarter. Nebraska was credited with eight pass breakups and had one interception, by Corey McKeon. Zac Bowman was burned on a 43-yard completion but also had a breakup. K-State’s 103 passing yards were a season low.
SPECIAL TEAMS (B)
The only thing holding this grade down was an ill-advised decision by Marlon Lucky to bring the ball out of the end zone on a kickoff. It gave NU the ball at its 2-yard line, and Cory Ross was tackled for a safety on the next play. Otherwise, some excellent punting by Sam Koch, including a heads-up kick after a bad snap; solid field-goal kicking by Jordan Congdon in tricky windy conditions, including the game-winner from 40 yards; and two more blocked kicks by Zach Potter and Barry Turner (extra point and field goal).
GAME MANAGEMENT AND PENALTIES (B)
Nebraska had eight penalties and still showed problems with false starts. Good lobbying by McKeon and Bo Ruud on the tipped pass that negated a pass-interference call deep in NU territory. Without it, the play might not be reviewed, and K-State may end up with a TD on the possession instead of a field goal. Bad timeout before Congdon’s winning field- goal attempt. NU seemed rushed, Bill Callahan said. And debate it all you want, but if Harrison Beck is your No. 2 quarterback, and he’s your best option for trying to win and become bowl-eligible, then play him.
PLAY CALLING (D)
Why in the world do you throw a swing pass out of the end zone? Not only was it a bad call from the 2-yard line, it was a play opponents have been sniffing out all season long. Defensively, any other ideas for trying to slow down a running quarterback?
OVERALL (C)
Two safeties, two blocked kicks, three failed point-after attempts, 39 incomplete passes, 22 penalties, 10 fumbles, six reviewed plays, and nearly four hours of football between two struggling teams. Enough to give anyone (including this writer) a splitting headache. But credit Nebraska for finding a way to win for the seniors and gain bowl eligibility, even if the victory came against a very bad Kansas State team.
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