Go Big Rust
19 comments so far
September 29, 2008 by
It’s easy to look back the NU-Virginia Tech game and think that the Hokies’ nine first quarter points were the difference in the ballgame. Beyond the fact that nine points is greater than the five point final margin, the quick start emboldened the young Tyrod Taylor, it took the crowd out of the game, and it may have taken the Huskers out of their offensive game plan.
It could also be argued that the bye week may have contributed to the slow start for Nebraska. The Hokies were playing their fifth game in five weeks while the Huskers were playing just their fourth game after finally finding a good rhythm in their third game played two weeks ago.
If it was the tipping point in that game, then maybe the same might be true when Missouri comes to town. After finding a fourth quarter rhythm against Virginia Tech, the Huskers are just seven days from playing another game under the lights in Memorial stadium. The Tigers on the other hand rested this past weekend after four mostly good weeks of football. It’s also been thirty years since Missouri won in Lincoln, so it’s not exactly business as usual trying to get a win at Nebraska.
A slow start by the Tigers would fire up the NU crowd and inspire confidence in a wounded Husker team in what is the most important game of the season for both squads to date. The winner gets the inside track to winning the division. The loser no longer controls their own destiny. College football is a game of momentum, and a little momentum early could go a long way for the Huskers.
It may not be the only way for the Huskers to win, but a rusty Tiger team can only help. Let’s hope after this week it’s Missouri fans asking “what if�?
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Tyrod Taylor Sep 29 08
The huskers ar terrible, face it. 4 years away from contending.
Bill in Iowa Sep 29 08
The V-Tech game has placed Huskers fans expectations for this team back to realistic. I don't think anyone expects this team to beat Mizzou, even at home, even if Mizzou is a little rusty coming off a bye week. However, anything is possible.
To take down Mizzou, first we would have to play a flawless game, expecially in the secondary - no more mental breakdowns. And Pelini is going to have to dial up some pressure on Chase the likes he has never seen. That might be possible for 2 or 3 quarters, but I don't know if we can ask 1st team d-line to go that hard all 4 quarters without replacements. The offense is going to have to control the clock which means running the ball and sustaining drives.
Can we do it? I hope so, but the very things we need to do against Mizzou have been shown to be weak areas for Big Red - namely rushing the ball and breakdowns in the secondary. We have exactly one week to get it together.
JBLING22 Sep 29 08
Seriously guys what I saw out of NE-Va Tech Game was not a terrible team.. First of all people, we are not Nebraska from the 90's.. Its 2008 , the past was great, but relishing in it does no good for the future... What i did see however was an improved team from last year... I know the rushing game sucks, and all that jazz, but from a fans stand point the fact that they were down 18 and fought back to have a chance, shows an extreme improvement over last year.. If we were down 18 last year at that point in the game, we would have got beat by 50.
I can deal with not being the best athletically gifted team, as long as were out there fighting till the end.. The wins will come boys and the future is looking promising.. Maybe were not on the same page as Missouri now, but I'ld much rather be losing a 5pt game to Va Tech, playing hard, then what we were at last year... We would have been beat by 30, give progress time... If we reach a Bowl game .. thats progress , and we can go from there
Andy Sep 29 08
The way I look at Saturday's game.
In general, we played a pretty poor game. Our offense struggled much of the game. Our defense couldn't keep VT out of the red zone (though they executed well once there), we lost the turnover battle and got killed by penalties, and outside of Swift's return, our special teams were average.
And we lost by 5.
To a better than average team. A team that is at the top of its division, is one late blocked kick away from being undefeated, and has a good chance to find themselves in a BCS bowl at the end.
Take heart, Husker fans. If someone had told you 10 months ago we would play this poorly against VT, you would have thought we'd lose by 60.
We lost by 5. Keep the faith. Good things are coming.
Ackos Sep 29 08
Why is it that NU always makes young QBs look like hypesman hopefuls?
Joel Schmidt Sep 29 08
Just a few things that I took away from this game...
Regardless of what the score was, I saw us consistently get 3 and outs that gave our O all kinds of chances. Our D forced so many field goals, even with minimal substitutions on our line. They also seemed to be keyed in to every reverse/fake handoff that VT ran (anyone remember the frustrations of wake forest last year?). I think that our secondary assumed they could play off of the green WRs...everyone wanted to make the stop against the run. That for me is the only explanation I can come up with for letting their guys past our SAFETIES consistently on 3rd down.
I also think watson gets a little trigger happy with the PA passes...if we don't actually run the ball to set it up, who are we fooling?
Good article
Austin Sep 29 08
I think Ganz throws better off of PA. It gives our (slower) possession receivers more time to get down the field. Ganz has so many deep throws, but our receivers are big, not fast, so it takes them more time to stretch the field. Usually Ganz only needs half-a-second to make the throw.
I think we had more success in the second half because our I-backs ran the ball more, which set up the PA passes.
tom Sep 29 08
Like Bo, every week I expect a win. I try to find the sometimes illogical leap that tells me my Huskers will beat an opponent that is ranked in the top 5. Call me a mark, but I'm a fan and I think we can win against Missouri. I'm not stupid, but I may have a blind spot when it comes to my team's chances. I know where our weaknesses are and I know what all of the evidence points to and I still think we can win. Crazy, isn't it. Go big rust.
Andrew Sep 29 08
"It is necessary for me to establish a winner image. Therefore, I have to beat somebody."
- Richard M. Nixon
This sure does fit here!
James Moore Sep 29 08
Well like any other attack that appears unstoppable (Patriots last year come to mind) you've got to attack the command center, aka the QB. Any attempts at trying to sneak in a run must be snuffed out early. Defensive line gotta stay in lanes and get upfield. Dillard would be an excellent spy for Daniel or whatever TB is in the game. I'm calling this now, Cody Glenn will do a fantastic job matching up with Coffman. Secondary MUST carry out ALL assignments, cover, and tackle in space. IF they make a big play, keep your heads up!!! Hunker down and play ball, the game is not over on one play. . .
Run on 1st down, move the chains, get the offensive line involved early making plays, establish some cohesion and confidence, let our defense rest, keep their offense off the field and DO NOT abandon the run on 1st down (and if Helu is hot, please stay with him Coach Watson!!!). I honestly think that we should be able to move the ball against Missouri. Their defense is not in Virginia Tech's class. Work McNeil down the middle early and on play action. Peterson, Swift, Holt and Paul have matchups that they can win one-on-one on the outside. Remember Juice Williams and Illinois got some serious numbers against this secondary. The best friend of the defense is going to be our running game and how effective it turns out to be. . .
OU7times Sep 30 08
I'll say:
Nebraska- 34
Missouri- 56
Steve Sep 30 08
OU7,
If you take Missouri and give me 22 points, I'll take that bet! Deal? Name the stakes.
Husker Football Sep 30 08
I just get this sinking feeling sometimes that the MO/NE game is going to end poorly.
I hope it doesn't end up being a blowout.
That said, we didn't do all that badly against VT, but NE played so casually the first quarter, you could sense that they were frustrated at the results.
Defense needs to get fanatically aggressive. It seems like they're almost polite. With VT, they got juked out of their shorts more than a few times.
OU7times Sep 30 08
No offense intended on my prediction Steve but I will make a friendly wager of $30 in Runza GC's. If I win I'll take a red, Big Red Network Nebraska shirt like the one on your website. Would it be too much to have you Jason and Darren (if feasible) sign it?. I would frame it and put it on my wall. I would send it right out, you have my word.
Steve Sep 30 08
OU7,
If I'm getting 22 points, that's a deal. It may take a few weeks for us to get signatures etc. together but I'm sure we can get it done (if we need to).
OU7times Sep 30 08
It's a deal. Mizzou minus 22.
OU7times Sep 30 08
If I win, I'll hang it next to my "Husker Hankey" from the 1987 "Game of the Century II".
Skerz Oct 03 08
Now this is the type of banter between fans that I appreciate. Not the garbage that the Mizzou fan runs.
As far as the game he is what I think (not that it matters):
I think if we go out against Mizzou in the first quarter like we have in the last 4 games and especially last week’s game we are boned. We will not be a good team with this set of players or possibly certain players in certain positions on this team. I can understand our offense being stopped but we can’t have turnovers, a blocked anything and we need to have first downs. If we get shut down in the 1st quarter through mistakes or through completely conservative play then I am not convinced we will make it to a bowl game this year
Steve Oct 04 08
OU7,
Send me an e-mail to steve@bigrednetwork.com with your mailing info. Clearly you had this one sniffed out better than I did. It will probably take about 3 weeks before I get the shirt to you. The BRN crew is gathering in Ames and we'll get the thing signed then. Also, what's your size?