Blackshirts play tough in red zone
Yes, the Blackshirts were unable to prevent Texas from scoring in the final minute of the game.
Regardless, the Husker defense came up big multiple times and prevented Texas from scoring touchdowns in the red zone on four occasions Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove said the Huskers needed to stop the Longhorns in the red zone to have any shot at a victory.
“Our goal was to play great red-zone defense today,” Cosgrove said. “I think we accomplished that.”
Right from the start, Nebraska’s red-zone defense stepped up after Quan Crosby returned the opening kickoff 78 yards to the Husker 9-yard line.
The defense responded by allowing Texas to get only 4 yards and made the Longhorns settle for a field goal.
Cosgrove said that stop helped set the tone of the game, which Texas won 22-20.
“They felt good about it, and you know they were winning their matchups,” Cosgrove said of the Blackshirts.
At the end of the first half, after a Zac Taylor fumble, the Longhorns moved the ball to the Husker 22, but were unable to put any points on the board when Greg Johnson missed a 39-yard field goal. Johnson missed another field goal in the third quarter. The second miss was from 31 yards.
Leading 16-14 in the fourth quarter, the Longhorns moved the ball to the Nebraska 2 with less than eight minutes left.
The Blackshirts again stepped up. Texas running back Selvin Young got two handoffs and was stopped twice in the backfield. Quarterback Colt McCoy’s third-down completion got a mere 2 yards, and again Texas had to settle for a field goal, keeping it a one-possession game.
Senior linebacker Stewart Bradley said he wasn’t surprised that the Blackshirts were able to hold their own in the red zone.
“It’s worth more in the red zone than in the hot zone,” Bradley said. “So, you’ve got to fight for it. Obviously, it takes the throw of a deep pass away because of the short field. We’re excellent in that phase of the game, and we showed it today.”
Nebraska did more than just stop the Longhorns in the red zone, as they applied consistent pressure on McCoy all day. The Blackshirts sacked the freshman quarterback three times and forced him into three quarterback hurries.
All in all, the Huskers had 10 tackles for loss. Two were by junior linebacker Steve Octavien.
Octavien hadn’t played since the USC game because of injury. In addition to his two tackles for loss, Octavien led the Huskers with 10 total tackles, and forced running back Jamaal Charles to fumble late in the third quarter.
Octavien wasn’t the only previously injured linebacker to play well. Junior Corey McKeon, who injured his ankle in last week’s win at Kansas State, recorded two tackles.
Cosgrove was happy to have the two linebackers on the field.
“Corey McKeon, you know I’m real proud of him,” Cosgrove said. “He gutted it out. (Octavien) just adds. He adds depth, for one. It’s tough to ask a guy to play three positions every game. He just added depth, explosiveness, and enthusiasm.”
Although the Longhorns may have stolen a win Saturday, senior defensive end Jay Moore, who had a sack and three tackles for loss, said the defense gained some confidence.
“We know we can play with the big boys,” Moore said.
Regardless, the Husker defense came up big multiple times and prevented Texas from scoring touchdowns in the red zone on four occasions Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove said the Huskers needed to stop the Longhorns in the red zone to have any shot at a victory.
“Our goal was to play great red-zone defense today,” Cosgrove said. “I think we accomplished that.”
Right from the start, Nebraska’s red-zone defense stepped up after Quan Crosby returned the opening kickoff 78 yards to the Husker 9-yard line.
The defense responded by allowing Texas to get only 4 yards and made the Longhorns settle for a field goal.
Cosgrove said that stop helped set the tone of the game, which Texas won 22-20.
“They felt good about it, and you know they were winning their matchups,” Cosgrove said of the Blackshirts.
At the end of the first half, after a Zac Taylor fumble, the Longhorns moved the ball to the Husker 22, but were unable to put any points on the board when Greg Johnson missed a 39-yard field goal. Johnson missed another field goal in the third quarter. The second miss was from 31 yards.
Leading 16-14 in the fourth quarter, the Longhorns moved the ball to the Nebraska 2 with less than eight minutes left.
The Blackshirts again stepped up. Texas running back Selvin Young got two handoffs and was stopped twice in the backfield. Quarterback Colt McCoy’s third-down completion got a mere 2 yards, and again Texas had to settle for a field goal, keeping it a one-possession game.
Senior linebacker Stewart Bradley said he wasn’t surprised that the Blackshirts were able to hold their own in the red zone.
“It’s worth more in the red zone than in the hot zone,” Bradley said. “So, you’ve got to fight for it. Obviously, it takes the throw of a deep pass away because of the short field. We’re excellent in that phase of the game, and we showed it today.”
Nebraska did more than just stop the Longhorns in the red zone, as they applied consistent pressure on McCoy all day. The Blackshirts sacked the freshman quarterback three times and forced him into three quarterback hurries.
All in all, the Huskers had 10 tackles for loss. Two were by junior linebacker Steve Octavien.
Octavien hadn’t played since the USC game because of injury. In addition to his two tackles for loss, Octavien led the Huskers with 10 total tackles, and forced running back Jamaal Charles to fumble late in the third quarter.
Octavien wasn’t the only previously injured linebacker to play well. Junior Corey McKeon, who injured his ankle in last week’s win at Kansas State, recorded two tackles.
Cosgrove was happy to have the two linebackers on the field.
“Corey McKeon, you know I’m real proud of him,” Cosgrove said. “He gutted it out. (Octavien) just adds. He adds depth, for one. It’s tough to ask a guy to play three positions every game. He just added depth, explosiveness, and enthusiasm.”
Although the Longhorns may have stolen a win Saturday, senior defensive end Jay Moore, who had a sack and three tackles for loss, said the defense gained some confidence.
“We know we can play with the big boys,” Moore said.
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