Almost Perfect
Talent can be defined as the capacity for near-perfect performance. Coming into the season, we said that the 2007 Husker team appeared (on paper) to be the most talented at Nebraska since the 2001 squad that played for the national championship. The near-perfect performance by Nebraska on Saturday seemed to validate that.
The defense gave up a whopping 3 points to the Wolfpack and held them to less than 200 total yards. The Wolfpack didn't manage a single drive over 41 yards. And they needed long drives because the Huskers special teams kept them pinned deep in their own territory all day (only two drives began beyond Nevada's 30-yard line and one of those resulted from a failed fourth down conversion attempt by Nebraska on Nevada's 39).
The Huskers 413 rushing yards and 625 total yards were the most against a Division I-A opponent since a 2001 game against Baylor (which came into that game with a far less impressive resume than the Wolfpack). Marlon Lucky had a Heisman-worthy stat-line. He had more yards from scrimmage than any Husker player since Calvin Jones in 1991.
But there's a difference between near-perfect and perfection. Keller and his receivers gave an uneven performance. The Huskers were struggling to get plays off in time, which seemed to contribute to Keller's lone interception that went for a Wolfpack touchdown. The defense tallied only one sack (but it's hard to get many when the opposing offense is only on the field for 20 minutes).
The real concern was the injury to Ty Steinkuhler. Despite Kevin Dixon's promise (as evidenced by his heads-up interception), the defensive line is the area where Nebraska can least afford injuries.
But putting aside the nitpicks, Husker fans were treated to a complete performance in all phases. Granted it's only one game against a questionable opponent, but it's still gives reason to be encouraged.
9/2/2007
Nebraska played as close to the vest as possible. Dreyers couldn’t make vanilla, more vanilla. If Nebraska was running circa 2001’s offense, the two hundred yards passing would make you think they were trying to run up the score. National media would have said so, too.
Yet, this team held back. To the extent it was like a final scrimmage, only Keller couldn’t wear the green jersey.
The team isn’t so much being redefined as realigned. The team is now (again) a power team with an added legitimate passing component. (If the “Z’s” do their part and catch it.)
The running game was methodical and ruthless, but only because Callahan wanted the O-line to establish it’s identity for the season. Marlon’s, too. Don’t think that was good for his confidence? To me, that’s all that was.
Now, Callahan can get to the more pressing matters, after evaluating game video.
As Tom alway’s said, “teams usually improve the most, from the first game to the second.”
Next week, the passing game gets it’s due attention (but in a balance fashion).
9/3/2007
Great to see that we handled our business. The 70 carries was a juicy piece of meat to throw at the base but the overall performance was beyond pleasing. The Lucky explosion cements his status as a truly big-time, big-play feautre back. Hopefully he stays healthy & can show the same big-play ability on a week by week basis. 600+ yds with only 185 allowed was great. Six touchbacks was the biggest surprise. If we can expect 1/2 per game it would be huge. I’m not sure if I saw one all weekend so we seem to have stolen a kicker. Castille was a nice feature. Knew he was good but to get such immediate production was nice. Welcome back Mr. Bowman & next week Mr. Purify. Gosh it seems like this bunch is gonna be special.
9/4/2007
I would like to see something that makes me think all our receivers can catch and not give up the ball. The “incomplete pass” (that I thought was a fumble) was scary. I don’t want to see any of that in big games. Could all be attributed to Game 1 jitters - lets hope that’s all it is. Fumbles have cost us many big games that I can think of - Texas, Oklahoma, Texas Tech a few years ago.
9/5/2007
Doombob, you had to bring up the Smith’s fumble at the end of the Texas Tech game following his interception. Heartbreaking to recall that one. Great point though. Opening play of the Conference Championship game vs Oklahoma? Purify fumble. 3rd & 1 with under 2 to go at home vs Texas? Nunn fumble. Anyone recall Crouch’s Sophomore year down at Austin when we fumbled TWICE inside their 5? Alexander & Buckhalter in the backfield? Didn’t we set a record for lost fumbles that year. I think to that 99 team cause that was the best one of the Crouch era. Win that one & instead of smashing Tennessee in the Fiesta Bowl we play Florida St or Virginia Tech. Great point though on the fumbles. . .