Phillip Dillard had fun Saturday.

It was the fourth quarter, Nebraska trailed Ball State by two points, and the Cardinals were 6 yards from the Husker end zone … 6 yards, perhaps, from sealing a major upset.

Dillard, listed as Nebraska’s No. 2 middle linebacker, was playing. He remembers fans in North Stadium standing and getting loud. He remembers seeing quarterback Nate Davis’ eyes get big.

“And then,” Dillard said, “you’re like, ‘OK, we’re going to make this stop.”

Frank Edmonds ran right on first down. Dillard stopped him for no gain. Edmonds went left on second  down. Dillard stopped him a yard later. Andre Jones batted away a third-down pass in the end zone, and Ball State settled for a field goal.

The Huskers, just like Dillard said they would, had stopped ’em.

“I always believe that,” Dillard said. “I never think that they’re going to score. I always believe that we’re going to make a stop, and our defense is going to get the job done. Because if you don’t have faith, and all the talent, you can still fail.”

Dillard’s two key fourth-quarter tackles were largely lost in Nebraska’s 41-40 victory that set off another week of criticism for the Blackshirts and their coach, defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove.

Dillard, a sophomore, said it’s the most snaps he’s ever played at MIKE linebacker, a position where senior incumbent Corey McKeon has admittedly been subpar. Dillard finished with six tackles — he has 17 for the season — and was playing with the game in doubt.

Clearly, Dillard is pushing McKeon for playing time. Will there be a new starting linebacker Saturday, when Nebraska hosts Iowa State in its Big 12 Conference opener?

Cosgrove, also the linebacker coach, said only that coaches were “creating competition,” and that it’s a “competitive situation” right now.

Dillard said he couldn’t tell, that he’s focused on doing his job when told.

As for McKeon?

“To know my reps are getting cut because we’ve got to get other guys in, it kind of hurts,” McKeon said on Tuesday. “But you can’t deny Phillip Dillard. He’s a great player, so you’ve got to get him in, get him some reps. He’s the future of this organization. He’s going to be a stud coming back.

“I’ve come to an understanding with it, especially — especially — without me playing well.”

Two years ago, McKeon had a career-high 11 tackles against Iowa State. That included a school linebacker-record five tackles for loss. He led the Huskers with 98 tackles that season, and his 22 tackles for loss were a school linebacker record.

Last season, McKeon had 69 tackles. Through four games this season, he has 15.

What’s happened? McKeon’s not certain. But his struggles have led to late-night talks with Cosgrove. He’s talked to his father, a high school coach. He’s asked others, including close friends.

McKeon said he’s watched almost every game from the past two years to try to find differences. He notes a different defensive scheme, and the fact he’s in coverage downfield more often.

“One of my strengths is blitzing, and we can’t blitz. There’s too many mental errors,” McKeon said. “When you blitz the way we blitz and play zone coverage with it, you’re very vulnerable. Very, very vulnerable. If guys aren’t doing their jobs and making mental errors and missing assignments, you can’t blitz.

“I look at it and think maybe I’m not getting as many opportunities because I’m not in the game as much. But it’s not an excuse. It’s really bothered me.”

Dillard said his relationship with McKeon is fine, that the two have agreed to work together as teammates, help each other.

As for the overall defense, Dillard said players are still close, that they’re determined to prove they’re a good defense. He talked about buckling down and staying focused.

When asked who was the defense’s leader, Dillard paused for five seconds.

“I don’t know,” he said. “It’s really hard.”

He then said everybody had respect for senior captain Bo Ruud, that Ruud is positive and never downgrades players.

Dillard also said players had respect for Cosgrove.

“He’s calling the right defenses. You can’t put that on him,” Dillard said. “The players are making mistakes. It’s not always the coaches. There’s times we have mental busts and we don’t do our job, because we’re not paying attention. We’re not staying focused.

“If we execute the defensive calls, then we shouldn’t have problems.”

Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.