Husker Report Card: Texas
A weekly look at how NU fared in all phases of the game.
RUNNING GAME (C)
Brandon Jackson had two solid runs of 9 and 18 yards and averaged 5.7 yards on seven carries. Other than that, the Huskers weren’t able to sustain anything on the ground against a Texas rush defense that ranks second in the nation. Nebraska managed only 38 yards, although sacks resulted in 25 yards lost. The fact the Huskers couldn’t run in the first half allowed Texas to focus entirely on assaulting Zac Taylor.
PASSING GAME (C)
This was ugly in the first half, what with Texas bringing the house and sacking Taylor four times and pressuring him numerous others. Taylor’s interception came as he was being blitzed, and it set up Texas’ second touchdown. Protection was considerably better in the second half, and Taylor began finding some rhythm. Still, he missed a few targets, and was victimized by a couple of drops. On the shovel pass: great running by Brandon Jackson, and a critical block by Dane Todd downfield.
AGAINST THE RUN (B)
Those Texas backs run tough, huh? Nebraska, though, came up with key run stops in the red zone, particularly on the first series of the game, then again on the final series. Some great tackles by the linebackers, in particular Bo Ruud and Steve Octavien.
AGAINST THE PASS (B)
Coverage was good. Not perfect, by any means, but in comparison to other games, pretty solid. Cortney Grixby had Limas Sweed well-covered in the end zone on a second-and-11 pass from the NU 14-yard line in the third quarter. Texas missed a field goal on that possession. Good coverage on the final pass, too, but why in the world did Mack Brown call that play? Steady pressure on Colt McCoy, both from the front four, and with blitzing.
SPECIAL TEAMS (D)
For cryin’ out loud, you’ve got a 30-mile-per-hour wind at your back. Kick the ball to Beatrice already. The low liner to the 12-yard line on the opening kickoff isn’t acceptable, and in this case, cost Nebraska three points. Why Terrence Nunn didn’t field the punt that was downed inside the Nebraska 1-yard line, nobody knows. But it cost him his job for the remainder of the day.
PLAY CALLING (A)
Well, “98 Bronco” struck again. Great play call against an overpursuing Texas secondary. Some more trickery success came with the double reverse. The shovel pass to Brandon Jackson was a good call, but Jackson really made things happen on that play by breaking some tackles.
GAME MANAGEMENT AND PENALTIES (D)
Total mismanagement of timeouts at the end of the game. Why wait until 32 seconds remained before calling your first timeout? Why waste a timeout to ice the kicker? The dipsy-do on the final kickoff return also wasted valuable time. Nebraska very well could have had around 30 seconds with which to work, not 12.
OVERALL (B)
Suppose Le Kevin Smith can offer Terrence Nunn some words of encouragement? This game played out much like the Texas Tech game did here a year ago, with the same result ” heartache. If you’ll recall, it wasn’t long after that loss that things went awry for Nebraska. For all of their mistakes and frustrations Saturday, the Huskers can glean many positives. Watch out, though. There’s a trap game upcoming in Stillwater.
RUNNING GAME (C)
Brandon Jackson had two solid runs of 9 and 18 yards and averaged 5.7 yards on seven carries. Other than that, the Huskers weren’t able to sustain anything on the ground against a Texas rush defense that ranks second in the nation. Nebraska managed only 38 yards, although sacks resulted in 25 yards lost. The fact the Huskers couldn’t run in the first half allowed Texas to focus entirely on assaulting Zac Taylor.
PASSING GAME (C)
This was ugly in the first half, what with Texas bringing the house and sacking Taylor four times and pressuring him numerous others. Taylor’s interception came as he was being blitzed, and it set up Texas’ second touchdown. Protection was considerably better in the second half, and Taylor began finding some rhythm. Still, he missed a few targets, and was victimized by a couple of drops. On the shovel pass: great running by Brandon Jackson, and a critical block by Dane Todd downfield.
AGAINST THE RUN (B)
Those Texas backs run tough, huh? Nebraska, though, came up with key run stops in the red zone, particularly on the first series of the game, then again on the final series. Some great tackles by the linebackers, in particular Bo Ruud and Steve Octavien.
AGAINST THE PASS (B)
Coverage was good. Not perfect, by any means, but in comparison to other games, pretty solid. Cortney Grixby had Limas Sweed well-covered in the end zone on a second-and-11 pass from the NU 14-yard line in the third quarter. Texas missed a field goal on that possession. Good coverage on the final pass, too, but why in the world did Mack Brown call that play? Steady pressure on Colt McCoy, both from the front four, and with blitzing.
SPECIAL TEAMS (D)
For cryin’ out loud, you’ve got a 30-mile-per-hour wind at your back. Kick the ball to Beatrice already. The low liner to the 12-yard line on the opening kickoff isn’t acceptable, and in this case, cost Nebraska three points. Why Terrence Nunn didn’t field the punt that was downed inside the Nebraska 1-yard line, nobody knows. But it cost him his job for the remainder of the day.
PLAY CALLING (A)
Well, “98 Bronco” struck again. Great play call against an overpursuing Texas secondary. Some more trickery success came with the double reverse. The shovel pass to Brandon Jackson was a good call, but Jackson really made things happen on that play by breaking some tackles.
GAME MANAGEMENT AND PENALTIES (D)
Total mismanagement of timeouts at the end of the game. Why wait until 32 seconds remained before calling your first timeout? Why waste a timeout to ice the kicker? The dipsy-do on the final kickoff return also wasted valuable time. Nebraska very well could have had around 30 seconds with which to work, not 12.
OVERALL (B)
Suppose Le Kevin Smith can offer Terrence Nunn some words of encouragement? This game played out much like the Texas Tech game did here a year ago, with the same result ” heartache. If you’ll recall, it wasn’t long after that loss that things went awry for Nebraska. For all of their mistakes and frustrations Saturday, the Huskers can glean many positives. Watch out, though. There’s a trap game upcoming in Stillwater.
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