Rohr’s Four: Four reactions, impressions, reflections, concerns and questions after Nebraska’s 59-7 win over Houston Christian (and looking ahead to No. 21 Michigan).
1-Mission accomplished, mostly
The top goals for the non-conference portion of Nebraska’s season were to win all three games, look good and complete while doing it, all while not sustaining injuries. By most rubrics, mission (mostly) accomplished. True, the Cincinnati game was a little closer than maybe some had hoped. But even then, the Cornhuskers showed uncommon grit to hold off a late charge by the Bearcats, while making a clutch play to finish off the game, the Malcolm Hartzog interception.
The Nebraska offense has looked almost complete, moving the ball well both running it and throwing it. Dylan Raiola has been efficient and steady while running the Nebraska offense. Emmett Johnson has emerged as a steady contributor, both as a rusher and a receiver. Dane Key, Nyziah Hunter and Jacory Barney, Jr., have all emerged as productive targets for Raiola. Meanwhile, the defense has emerged as one of the toughest against the pass, led by an airtight secondary. And the special teams, for the better part of a decade a black hole of despair, have looked efficient and reliable the rare moments they’ve been called upon to punt and kick field goals. The return game has been occasionally dangerous. And kick coverage has been solid as well.
Facing two clearly inferior opponents, Nebraska never let either Akron or HCU up for air. If not for one broken tackle in the backfield by Huskies running back Xai’Shaun Edwards, the Huskers would be working on a two-game shutout streak. Over 100 players got into both games, with Raiola having to quarterback only one second-half series between the two games. Only one major injury has been sustained, though it was a costly one: the season-ending knee injury to wide receiver Janiran Bonner in the Cincinnati game.
So, for the most part, nothing that happened in the first three games has dampened any of the preseason dreams fueled by last year’s bowl trip and the third-year jump that Matt Rhule has authored in his first two stops as a head coach.
2-Flies in the ointment
I keep qualifying my good feelings for the Husker team, “mostly”, “almost”, etc., which feels bizarre after two wins by a combined 127-7. There are two key areas that have me worried moving forward: red-zone offense and defensive-line play. Nebraska pushed past the HCU 20 eight times Saturday. The Huskers scored touchdowns only in five of them, disturbing against a physically-overmatched team like HCU. For the season, the Huskers have converted 65 percent of their 20 trips into the red zone for a touchdown. That rate has to pick up if Nebraska is to take that jump all Huskers fans are desperate for them to make. Big plays are few and far between in Big Ten play. Long successful drives have to result in seven points, not three. So those close-in opportunities have to be converted if Nebraska is to win.
It feels like the red-zone offense can be fixed through practice, slightly more polished execution, and the emergence of another weapon or two (Kwinten Ives, perhaps?). But the second issue, I worry, can’t be solved with time this year.
There were plenty of questions about the retooled defensive line coming into the season. After all, a strength for last year’s team lost its three starters. So far, the defensive line has not generated a pass rush, and has been at least a little susceptible to the running attack. Opponents have gained four yards per carry. Husker defensive linemen have combined for just 2.5 sacks through three games.
Are Williams Nwaneri, Riley Van Poppel and Cameron Lenhardt ready for prime time? Justice Haynes averages nearly eight yards per carry and 129 yards per game. The Blackshirts’ front must be active in slowing down the Wolverines on the ground, or else this will be another disappointing day at Memorial Stadium.
3-Get after the freshman
Nebraska knows all about handing the keys of the program to a highly talented freshman. Last year, Raiola took over the offense and showed flashes of greatness, especially in non-conference play, as opposing defenses had little information to work on. But in the second half of the Illinois game, the Illini blitzed Raiola, hindering his effectiveness for games to come.
Michigan has handed the program to Bryce Underwood, a highly talented true freshman quarterback. He has had his moments of brilliance. But he was also 9-for-24 for 142 yards at Oklahoma. And the Nebraska defensive backfield has proven itself as one of the best in the country, as the Huskers lead the NCAA in pass defense. And Underwood will be playing just his fourth college game, and just his second in a hostile environment. Overall, he’s completed just 57.5 percent of his passes for 628 yards.
It would seem a perfect opportunity for the Blackshirts to flex their muscle. Leave Nebraska’s defensive backs in man coverage against Michigan’s good, but not outstanding, receivers. Blitz, especially early, to allow the Huskers to build an early lead, which would force the Wolverines to abandon, or at least dial back, their solid run game. As the Huskers get pressure, continue to try to confuse and frustrate the freshman as the situation of the game gets tougher and tougher.
Underwood may well end up being a great quarterback at the college level. He’s just not there yet, and the Huskers need to take advantage of it.
4-Here’s your chance
When’s the last time you felt like this going into a Nebraska football game? Was it 2016 Oregon? 2014 Michigan State? 2012 Ohio State or Michigan? Even further back? When’s the last time you felt like Nebraska was going into a helmet game, against a ranked opponent, and thought the Huskers would win?
Matt Rhule has done his best to keep this game in proper perspective for this season. Every conference game matters. But this program hasn’t beaten a nationally-ranked foe since that 2016 Oregon game, and that Ducks team ended the year 4-8. There’s the added value of Michigan, a blueblood like Nebraska with recent success to boot. There’s the extra week to savor the victory, if it happens.
This is an immense opportunity for Nebraska football. With a win, the Huskers go into October with highly realistic aspirations of the College Football Playoff. With the setup of the schedule, Nebraska likely enters the money month of November still very much in the Big Ten and CFP race. It’s been a long, long time since those big dreams have been within reach for this program. A win Saturday gives the Huskers and Nebraska fans permission to dream in a way they have not in more than 10 years. It’s the best chance the Huskers have had to be the national program they’ve long desired to be since the Bo Pelini days. Let’s hope they take advantage.