Steven M. Sipple: Rewind unkind for NU fans
Fast forward. Pause. Rewind.
Oh, my.
For some reason, I felt compelled to watch the Nebraska-Southern Cal football game one more time Sunday to see if the replay really was as ugly as what I witnessed from the press box Saturday night.
It was worse.
I regret if it sounds like I’m piling on Nebraska, but this was painful stuff for Big Red fans.
Three especially eyebrow-raising developments from an eventful evening on Stadium Drive:
Development I: Nebraska’s best defenders — or the players alleged to be the best defenders — at times were in position to make tackles and simply missed. They stumbled, bumbled or outright whiffed. I don’t want to list first-string defenders who missed tackles or were non-factors because there isn’t enough space in our newspaper to do so.
Credit USC. The top-ranked Trojans’ tailbacks often turned missed tackles into large gains in a 49-31 triumph that wasn’t as competitive as the final score indicates. On at least five occasions, a top Husker defender failed to wrap up the ball carrier, for whatever reason.
Nebraska’s problems on defense arguably can be traced to a general lack of tenacity. Let’s face it, the Huskers needed to play with controlled fury if they expected to pull off the upset. They needed defenders flying to the ball. They needed to gang tackle. They needed to play with unyielding intensity. I didn’t see any of those things occur to any significant degree. The Blackshirts’ lack of fire on such a monumental occasion was inexplicable.
Yes, Nebraska defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove ultimately is responsible. His defense wasn’t ready for the task. Period.
This had better change quickly. Texas A&M ranks fifth nationally in rushing, averaging 296.3 yards. Oklahoma State and Texas have been known to run the ball well at times. Heck, even Ball State — Nebraska’s foe this week — rolled up 262 rushing yards (6.2 per carry) Saturday in a 34-31 road victory over Navy. On the other hand, the Cardinals allowed 521 rushing yards (8.0).
Development II: Nebraska continues to struggle running the ball effectively against the top teams on its schedule. In 2006, we’re talking about USC, Texas, Oklahoma and Auburn. This year, we’re talking about USC and Wake Forest. In those six games, the Huskers rushed a combined 181 times for 440 yards, or 2.43 per carry. NU’s first-string I-back, junior Marlon Lucky, managed only 33 yards on 17 attempts Saturday night. USC’s tailbacks were stronger, faster and more decisive in getting up the field.
An inconsistent running game won’t produce many championships, that is unless you’re fortunate enough to play in the Big 12 North Division, where nobody runs the ball particularly well or plays great defense.
Development III: It’s difficult not to notice irony in the way USC bludgeoned Nebraska on the ground Saturday night. It’s as if Pete Carroll and Co. said, “OK, Nebraska, we’re going to beat you the way you used to beat teams in your program’s glory days. We’re going to be merciless with a take-no-prisoners rushing game. You did it with guys like Mike Rozier, Calvin Jones, Lawrence Phillips and Ahman Green running behind big and nasty offensive lines. We’ll wow you with our stable of backs and a big ol’ line of our own. Try to stop us.”
I was wowed. So were Nebraska’s defensive linemen and linebackers, I presume.
So, in some ways, what goes around comes around, right? Nebraska’s great teams in the 1990s used to do what USC did to the Huskers the last two seasons. USC’s wealth of talent reminds me of NU’s most recent national championship teams. If you simply appreciate great football, you’re grateful for men like Carroll and Tom Osborne.
Meanwhile, Nebraska is left to lick its wounds. Such an ugly loss saps much of the momentum fourth-year head coach Bill Callahan seemed to be building in his program. The Huskers’ setback energizes the hardcore anti-Steve Pederson crowd that may never get over Frank Solich’s firing. The bickering between factions in Husker country now resumes with a gale force.
Not all the news was bad for Nebraska Saturday night.
Callahan came up with a good game plan on offense, especially compared to last year’s conservative approach against USC. And Sam Keller found a nice rhythm operating the plan. He stood firm in the pocket despite pressure. He zipped strikes in a quick passing game. Receivers were open, as usual. He encouraged teammates even after the outcome was decided.
Yet those two interceptions obviously were killers. Sam now has five of them in three games. Zac Taylor didn’t throw his fifth pick last season until the Big 12 title game.
OK, enough bad news and negativity for one day.
My advice to Big Red fans: Skip watching the replay and thank goodness for the Big 12 North.
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
Oh, my.
For some reason, I felt compelled to watch the Nebraska-Southern Cal football game one more time Sunday to see if the replay really was as ugly as what I witnessed from the press box Saturday night.
It was worse.
I regret if it sounds like I’m piling on Nebraska, but this was painful stuff for Big Red fans.
Three especially eyebrow-raising developments from an eventful evening on Stadium Drive:
Development I: Nebraska’s best defenders — or the players alleged to be the best defenders — at times were in position to make tackles and simply missed. They stumbled, bumbled or outright whiffed. I don’t want to list first-string defenders who missed tackles or were non-factors because there isn’t enough space in our newspaper to do so.
Credit USC. The top-ranked Trojans’ tailbacks often turned missed tackles into large gains in a 49-31 triumph that wasn’t as competitive as the final score indicates. On at least five occasions, a top Husker defender failed to wrap up the ball carrier, for whatever reason.
Nebraska’s problems on defense arguably can be traced to a general lack of tenacity. Let’s face it, the Huskers needed to play with controlled fury if they expected to pull off the upset. They needed defenders flying to the ball. They needed to gang tackle. They needed to play with unyielding intensity. I didn’t see any of those things occur to any significant degree. The Blackshirts’ lack of fire on such a monumental occasion was inexplicable.
Yes, Nebraska defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove ultimately is responsible. His defense wasn’t ready for the task. Period.
This had better change quickly. Texas A&M ranks fifth nationally in rushing, averaging 296.3 yards. Oklahoma State and Texas have been known to run the ball well at times. Heck, even Ball State — Nebraska’s foe this week — rolled up 262 rushing yards (6.2 per carry) Saturday in a 34-31 road victory over Navy. On the other hand, the Cardinals allowed 521 rushing yards (8.0).
Development II: Nebraska continues to struggle running the ball effectively against the top teams on its schedule. In 2006, we’re talking about USC, Texas, Oklahoma and Auburn. This year, we’re talking about USC and Wake Forest. In those six games, the Huskers rushed a combined 181 times for 440 yards, or 2.43 per carry. NU’s first-string I-back, junior Marlon Lucky, managed only 33 yards on 17 attempts Saturday night. USC’s tailbacks were stronger, faster and more decisive in getting up the field.
An inconsistent running game won’t produce many championships, that is unless you’re fortunate enough to play in the Big 12 North Division, where nobody runs the ball particularly well or plays great defense.
Development III: It’s difficult not to notice irony in the way USC bludgeoned Nebraska on the ground Saturday night. It’s as if Pete Carroll and Co. said, “OK, Nebraska, we’re going to beat you the way you used to beat teams in your program’s glory days. We’re going to be merciless with a take-no-prisoners rushing game. You did it with guys like Mike Rozier, Calvin Jones, Lawrence Phillips and Ahman Green running behind big and nasty offensive lines. We’ll wow you with our stable of backs and a big ol’ line of our own. Try to stop us.”
I was wowed. So were Nebraska’s defensive linemen and linebackers, I presume.
So, in some ways, what goes around comes around, right? Nebraska’s great teams in the 1990s used to do what USC did to the Huskers the last two seasons. USC’s wealth of talent reminds me of NU’s most recent national championship teams. If you simply appreciate great football, you’re grateful for men like Carroll and Tom Osborne.
Meanwhile, Nebraska is left to lick its wounds. Such an ugly loss saps much of the momentum fourth-year head coach Bill Callahan seemed to be building in his program. The Huskers’ setback energizes the hardcore anti-Steve Pederson crowd that may never get over Frank Solich’s firing. The bickering between factions in Husker country now resumes with a gale force.
Not all the news was bad for Nebraska Saturday night.
Callahan came up with a good game plan on offense, especially compared to last year’s conservative approach against USC. And Sam Keller found a nice rhythm operating the plan. He stood firm in the pocket despite pressure. He zipped strikes in a quick passing game. Receivers were open, as usual. He encouraged teammates even after the outcome was decided.
Yet those two interceptions obviously were killers. Sam now has five of them in three games. Zac Taylor didn’t throw his fifth pick last season until the Big 12 title game.
OK, enough bad news and negativity for one day.
My advice to Big Red fans: Skip watching the replay and thank goodness for the Big 12 North.
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
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