Dwayne Nov 14 09

At the beginning of the year the KU game did not concern me one bit. This whole week those concerns became apparent. This is a nice win for NU to try to continue some momentum heading into the conference title game. Everything comes down to next week. I really want to see an opportunity to play Texas. It would do wonders for this program.

Tara G Nov 14 09

Great NU start on offense, but throughout the game Suh & Crick were almost silent the entire game. What happened this past week? We had an amazing game against OU defensively, we need to step up our game. We need to beat Kansas State because I really want a match-up against those Texas Longhorns (and BEAT 'EM)

HuskerFan4Life Nov 14 09

Don't forget that win in Waco, which gives us our first 3 game win streak of the season. I was more worried about this game than next weekend with the kittens because I felt that we might be in for a defensive let down after 80+ snaps against OU. Our crowd needs to bring it next Saturday night and I guarantee big Suh and Crick will be all over the pretenders from the little apple!!!

duecer Nov 14 09

Watson still needs to go. Please 3rd and 12 and he calls an option play to the short side? The offense is still not where it should be, the play calling is limited and uninventive. WE seriously need an Offensive Coordinator!

HuskerFan4Life Nov 14 09

duecer, I completely disagree with everything about your statement. Watson put together a great game plan against KU and gutted out an awesome victory on the road against a quality opponent. Nothing is gonna come easy against Big 12 opponents and I see this Nebraska team showing improvement. We lost by one against VT and two points to ISU. We could very easily be 9-1 this year with a very young group on offense. This team took a major step today against KU and will only get better. Go Big Red!!

Bill Nov 14 09

duecer,
I seem to remember Tom Osborne calling tons of options to the short side in his day.

Just sayin'.

Dwayne Nov 14 09

Deucer,
That isn't a very smart comment at all. Huskerfan is spot on with his rebuttal. This team is VERY young and to be able to play in that title game would be HUGE at this point. Have we dominated the North. Certainly not, but progress is happening whether you want to admit that or not. I really like our chances with Texas if we get there with nothing to lose.

Greg Morrow Nov 14 09

The fascinating thing about the team, right now, is it's difficult project out how segments of it will do, from one week to the next.
I'd like to think that the way Helu and Robinson closed things out on the last drive, when Kansas desperately needed the stop, will carryover and Nebraska can build on it.
In this case, maybe it will.
It was great way to finish though. Just fantastic!

I think the lack of up front pressure had to do with the Pelini brothers keeping gap discipline. But also, last week's game was about the most intensely emotional and physical they'll play again, so...

Coming off Okie, then playing prideful Kansas on Senior Day.
The team kept focus, nothing chippy and they weren't flat. Business like.

I thought Pelini was going to bust something he'd need later, after the tripping call.

Bill in Iowa Nov 14 09

Watson called a brilliant game. You could see Lee's confidence building throughout the game. We utilized a lot more play action and bootlegs. Lee was rolling out of the pocket making throws and even tucking and running for good yardage. The line was agressive, we saw the sweep and trap work well with our big guys pulling and smashing people. KU could NOT stop the run in the 4th quarter! They new we were going to run every play of the last drive and we just marched right down the field! I thought the Offense took a big step forward today.

James Moore Nov 14 09

Great conference win on the road. You need wins like this in a season and we finished this game out. WR's stepped it up today and our much maligned Zac Lee had a fairly good outing today. But the important thing is that this OFFENSE finished this game out. When they had to get the job done they did. Surprised that Kansas ran the ball as well as they did but HuskerFan had it bang on the nose, lots of snaps last week in an emotionally charged Oklahoma game. . .

I think that this team should just stay in the I, 34 Iso-Blast, 34, 34 and more 34. If we show one-back, go heavy, the power packages work. Hopefully McNeill will be healthy for next week. But at this point we're not going to light up the scoreboard filling the air with footballs or multiple looks. We go in each week with the offense we have, not the one we want. No problem, just feed Helu (big fella stay healthy!!!), and feed him so more. Gotta find a way to make this unit work with the guys we have. I'd like to see the occasional TE waggle or PA rollout on some of the one-back zones, but hey no matter how you cut it TODAY was progress. 31 points!!!

Gomes has had a heck of a season for us and the more this season goes on he just gets better and better. I'm really excited about this defense for next season. Meredith, Allen, Crick, Steinkuhler, Fisher, Compton, Martin, Dennard, Amukamara, and Smith could be quite a unit. And there's still Ankrah, Moore, Williams, May, Gomes & Hagg still in the fold. ALL with ANOTHER year's experience in Coach Pelini's system. . .

On to Kansas State with a chance for a slot in the Big 12 Championship game and the outright Big 12 North title in Coach Pelini's 2nd season. Anyone remember December 2007? We've come a long, long, long way. . .

ruggerhusker Nov 14 09

Well, we finally have seen the offense win a game! That was what we need on the road. No excuse for the defense, they are ranked at the top of the nation across the board. They should have never been in that situation.
I am hoping that next week we see both units show up, and stomp on the kittens! I think for the first time this year, we will see this come true.
Have Watson fired? You didn't see the same game that I watched, although I had to watch it over the internet, it was a brilliant game plan. The option short side, that looked more like an audible then a sent in play, mistake, but something that Zach seen.
I am hoping (Not that I don’t love the win) that the Pelini Brothers are all over the defense. They just didn’t look sharp like usual. Almost like they weren't prepared or overlooked the Jaybirds. They are better then they looked tonight. I am more than excited to see them put together both units for the rest of the seasons.
I can only hope that we play out and meet Texas. This is something that I have wanted all year. I really want to see how good this defense is against a great offense. Tonight I am hoping was their down game, and all teams should have one.
Great win on the road! Nice to see the offense step it up a notch while the defense struggled! That is how a good team wins!

GBR!

Matt Nov 15 09

Duecer--I see your point, but you're completely overlooking the multitude of plays Watson called that were spot on, including the Option Pass and sending Paul on those wheel routes. That, and until McNeil went out (any status?), the TE was getting some play, which has been my biggest gripe (since he's the second-best receiver on the team IMO).

I think the Apollo 13 comment Bo made concerning the offense was spot on, and I think we've found our groove on offense again. So I think we need to wait until we win the Big XII North (and the Big XII outright) and then see at the end of the season if Watson still needs to go.

If anything, I think we saw a stubborn streak with Wats earlier and Bo and Co. brought him out of it. We're all guilty of it at one time or another, and Wats, just like everyone in Huskerland, is a human being--only difference is that he's under an enormous microscope by an impatient fan base that (mostly?) was spoiled by owning the 1990s.

BTW, make sure you vote for Suh on the ESPN poll. Any player that gets triple-teamed during a game is a special player that is obviously a gamechanger and the definition of what the Heisman was originally intended for.

Sometimes, Nebraska has to remind the rest of the collegiate football world what this game is about--the Suh for Heisman campaign is an excellent example of that.

redgrashoper Nov 15 09

I guess that is why we watch the games? Never know how it is going to come out!

I am on Watson side but frustrated at times. Where is Burkhead? Is he going to make it back this season?

KU had a good game plan to take our D line out of the game by a moving pocket and and QB draws. That keep us out balance and D didn't control game like last week.

Looking forward to a great game next week with a Husker win!

DJ Nov 15 09

No TV but web radio is even better.
Suh and Crick will get shut down against Colorado too. Formula to stopping Suh one-on-one is putting a big tackle in the guard spot on {Suh pass rush} and double Crick. The defensive effort reminds me of the Fla Atlantic game w/o the talent.
Margin of victory isn't good enough to enjoy, especially they had a chance of putting 27 on the Blackshirts.
Offense in red zone. I'm tired of FGs. Well, at least we were automatic.
The offense...OKAY. I felt good about the Huskers now like I did after the Mizzou game. Then, the next 2 weeks Cornhuskers lose. Offense can't definitely make many mistakes next week against K-State. Speaking of K-State, should Bo run up the score if we get a comfortable lead? (Remember '03 confrontation leading to Solich firing.)
Watch how Texas manhandle Kansas next week. Then, you all will see a real defense and OFFENSE.

WyHuskerFan Nov 15 09

Dj, I'm not sure how to respond to your nonsensical post, so I won't even bother. Kansas was probably the most experienced offense we faced all year and the Blackshirts prevailed. Yes they moved the ball, D bent but didn't break. Meier will probably play on Sundays and Briscoe has a shot too. Don't know about Reesing whose a little small to play at the next level but definately has the smarts. Good game for the Blackshirts to build off of. Heard Carl comment that he needed to change how he prepared his D for the rest of the year because they were tired from intense practices.

Give Lee his due. He came up big when he needed to. Missed a few open guys, but managed a good game. The offense seemed really focused and almost penalty free. Special teams were awesome.

KState has their own issues and I don't think they can handle the Huskers at home on senior day. The crowd will be wild. More at stake than the OU game and they'll be pumped.

We'll head to Boulder to put the final nail in Hawk's coffin which Buffs fans have ready and waiting.

Go Big Red!

Matt Nov 15 09

WYHuskerFan--

Even if we hang 100 on Colorado in our win, I don't think that Hawkins is going anywhere--the Colorado AD doesn't have the money to pay off his contract, they're millions in the red already. I think they're stuck with Hawkins for at least another year or two...when the bailout is such that a booster is willing to pony up some pocketchange to get him out of there.

As for Rex Burkhead, supposedly the last we may see him for the Colorado game, but remember that he likely won't be full speed right away, so I wouldn't be shocked to not see until until the bowl game.

As for Texas rolling up Kansas, that won't amount to much--we know Texas has a better offense than Nebraska, but I'm interested to see how the Texas defense does--I have a feeling that we'll see Kansas hang just as much, if not more on Texas.

The Count Nov 16 09

Matt:

If they want Hawkins gone they'll make it happen. Somebody will cough up the bread to get him out of there. They are already having 2 for 1 and half price giveaways on tickets. They can't afford to keep him.

Matt Nov 16 09

The Count--

The reason the University of Colorado Athletic Department is neck-deep in the red currently is because they had to take a bank loan out to give Gary Barnett the boot. No booster stepped up then, and the likelihood of a booster stepping up now (economy and all) is less than it was before. And frankly, the Colorado boosters have had--what--three years to step up to the plate and help the department with it's debt load/Barnett buyout, and they still have yet to do so.

And let's say that some magical benefactor swoops in and saves the day in Colorado to buy out Hawkins--Colorado still won't be able to afford anyone because of the debt load the AD currently has. They'll have to settle with a no-name and pray, which is more or less a managed gamble at best.

Colorado is in a tailspin, and I don't think they'll recover any time soon. That's a good thing, though--more Colorado recruits for Nebraska to pick up. :)

The Count Nov 16 09

I still say if they want him gone bad enough they'll find the $. Now what may save him from what I am hearing is not a lack of $ but a lack of give a "F**K" on the part of the fan base and boosters. Truth is unless they are really good Colorado doesn't care about it's football team.

I agree that program is a mess.