Payback, Chicago-Style
"He pulls a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue. That's the Chicago way and that's how you get...Colter". OK, so maybe it's not a completely accurate quote from The Untouchables, but it's pretty close. This year, just outside Chicago the Huskers will face Northwestern. The Wildcats undermined an otherwise promising season in 2011 with a victory in Lincoln. Dan Persa was the star quarterback for the Wildcats who started the game and led NW to their first touchdown, but it was Colter who did the most damage with two rushing touchdowns and another one passing. This year, Nebraska will be coming off a bye week when they head to Evanston to face a team that should be dog-tired after going into it's eighth straight game without a break.
A year ago, the Huskers had seemingly made their season with a dominant performance over Michigan State. Nebraska was ranked ninth nationally hosting an unranked Northwestern squad. This time, regardless of what's happened building up to the game with the Wildcats, the Big Red will be rested and focused on erasing its most disappointing home game from 2011.
Among the losses to graduation for NW was wide receiver Jeremy Ebert, whose 81-yard touchdown against the Huskers was the back-breaker in 2011. That was part of a six-catch 147-yard performance. More concerning for the Wildcats will be the loss of two starting defensive tackles and their top reserves at defensive end. Defensive line play is generally a key to stopping a dual-threat passer. Nebraska by contrast will bring back all four starters from the contest a year ago. Add in the decided edge at running back and a group of receivers for the Big Red that some believe will be the Big Ten's best, and things look promising for a Nebraska victory.
Colter will need another stellar game and even that may not be enough. By contrast, there's a number of ways that the Big Red can win. They could ride Burkhead, Martinez, Bell the defensive line, or special teams. If it all comes together for the Huskers, it might be pretty one-sided.
That's the Nebraska way.
7/9/2012
(Repeat 1000 times) Are we there yet?
7/9/2012
Another nice theory. There is only one question in regard to Northwestern. Can we stop a mobile QB? Which is odd considering our defense faces a mobile QB everyday in practice. See our last game vs Texas. We should have won, but they took an inferior QB and started scrambling up the gut to victory. See Wisconsin. Mobile Russell shredded us. See Northwestern. We were doing fine until the mobile back-up came in. See Michigan. See Ohio State. Biggest comeback in school history only after knocking out the mobile QB who was replaced by the legless back-up. Otherwise we lose that game! I love Bo, but he hasn’t stopped a mobile QB since he lost Suh plugging up the middle.
7/9/2012
I’m interested in seeing how new Coach K affects the D-line’s performance. The D-Linemen must each hold their ground, not cave in to the middle or pushed too far out opening big holes. They don’t all need to be a Suh, but they do need to be cohesive and aggressive.
7/10/2012
Good article Steve.
This is not a theory. Those are facts about the circumstances involved. Why so negative? I find it amazing that fans are so distrought about us not being elite anymore. What do you think, it happens overnight? The only way that happens is if a program brings in an Urban Meyer or Nick Saben that has the power and clout to turn a program around immediantly. We chose differently. It’s a slower process but sometimes that’s better in the end.
Nebraska fans are wanting us to get back to the days of the mid 1990’s. Me too! But…and this is a huge but…that was the best 5 year span in college football history…that’s a tall order for a first time head coach. Lets climb back into the top 15, then the top 10, then the top 5 (all in one year of course!). And frankly, I have confidence we will, simply because the fan base will not rest until we do. We’re Nebraska. You can’t keep Nebraska down that long. We are heading in the right direction and the program is improving all the time. There will be setbacks, but I do believe they’re setting up to make a run at the tittle. And quite frankly, if things keep going the way things are, improving in all areas of weakness all the time, we might not be that far off. It’s almost like it’s a matter of seasoning…especially in regards to the coaching staff. They’re new so there have been a lot of mistakes, especially doing the little things, like false starts. So lets take what we have and build on that. And I believe they are. It’s like the old song says…“you have to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative”.
We are going to absolutely annialate Northwestern this year. Last year was a total fluke and everybody knows it.
7/10/2012
BTW…with the commitment of Johnny Stanton, we have 7 players in this years recruiting class that are listed by at least one service to be in the top 25 in their respective position groups.
7/11/2012
1st post here. Read the articles often and really enjoy them. Very serious Husker fan and have been for many years.
Anyways, regarding the piece, I believe NW will be one of our wins this year. I too feel last year was a fluke, and will not repeat this year.Some of our fans are far too irrational in their fear of Colter and NW, IMO. Personally feel that the best thing that happened to NW was Persa getting hurt, and our D wasn’t prepared for Colter…to an extent. Additionally, take away Rex’s 5 yard fumble (which was going to be a TD on that drive) and Enunwa’s fumble (which would have let to at least a FG) we probably would have won, barely, but a W nonetheless. On top of us playing lackadaisically. Consequently this would have reduced most concerns of this years game.
I can’t wait for the season! GBR
7/11/2012
I find it quite amusing that folks suggest losing to NU (not NW by the way) is always a fluke. The small school from Evanston has been “spoiling” seasons for well over a decade now… just ask Iowa who suffered more than their fair share of defeats to the Wildcats. What was surprising during that game last year is that the defensive line showed up big time to stop Rex Burkhead. And TM just couldn’t get it done against a so-so NU secondary. Another year under, Colter’s belt should make the Wildcats tougher this year. And arguably the defense should be better (could they be worse?). Regardless, I’m hoping for a competitive game in Evanston. And most importantly, I’m hoping that the Purple Faithful can return some of the wonderful hospitality we received in Lincoln last year. Good luck, Huskers!
7/11/2012
I’ll disagree with AMA above—sure you could take away those two Nebraska fumbles….but you’d also have to take away Colter’s fumble around the 35 yard-line of Nebraska (stopping a promising 9-play, 49 yard drive that otherwise would have maybe gotten a FG), a Persa interception in Northwestern territory (that lead directly to a Nebraska FG), and an INT Northwestern’s Trevor Siemien threw in Nebraska’s end zone (erasing what likely would have been 7 points for Northwestern).
And keep in mind, Colter is VERY similar to Persa—both are/were highly accurate passers (Colter hit 67% of his passes last year, and will only be better/more accurate this year in year 3 under OC Mick McCall, based on the track record of Bacher/Kafka/Persa) that can run very effectively (at least, Persa could before hurting his Achilles). Northwestern also had one of its best days rushing the football against Nebraska…..without having the benefit of a real proven running back (RB Mike Trumpy will be back from injury, and prospects are high for freshmen Malin Jones). As for the 2 DL Northwestern lost, trust me….they were decent guys on and off the field, but we’re confident our defensive line will be better this season than last.
I expect it to be a good, hard-fought game in Evanston this year. I’ll give the edge to Nebraska (having the bye week will help, and you should be favored), but I wouldn’t write off the Cats too quickly….
7/11/2012
These articles are always amusing. As a Northwestern fan, I’ve been reading them for years (usually, written by Iowa, sometimes Michigan State, a few times Wiscy and Michigan). Just keep telling yourselves that last year was a fluke. Those 13 straight run plays to put the game away in the 4th that the blackshirts couldn’t stop? I mean, I guess it was complete gimmick football running it between the tackles like that :). That said, I will return hospitality shown to ‘Cats fans in Lincoln at my tailgate and look forward to the game.
7/11/2012
Welcome AMA.
Last year, before the season, someone floated the notion that it could be orthwest that beats us surprisingly because thats kinda what they do…about once a year or so they beat someone who they shouldn’t. They’e known as a spoiler team. And that indeed did happen. They played like they’re lives depended on it and Nebraska took the day off essentially and got beat because of it. Blame it on our coaching staff.
But I think all NW fans would agree that if we played 10 games in a row, Nebraska would probably win 9 out of 10 or something like that.
Good to see good NW fans on here! And no we’re not giving up the NU moniker and we will be calling you guys NW - no offense meant.
I think once we get some things straightened out on our team, you won’t believe how good Nebraska can be. We’ve won more games over the last 50 years than any team in college football history. Been down for a while because of the wrong coach, but no one stays on top forever. We’ll be back.
GBR
Wakita, Oklahoma
7/12/2012
PE,
I’ve been hearing for years that the University of Oklahoma has won more games since WWII (67 years) than any other team in college football. I don’t know if it is true but that is what I hear.