Nebraska came out firing on all cylinders on offense, but driving the length of the field on the opening drive has come to be expected. It’s also come to be expected that not a whole lot happens afterward, especially in the second half of the the season. Today has been no exception, although to be fair, they did drive the length of the field a second time as well. Mekhi Nelson’s 38-yard dash for six was first and was followed by Jacory Barney as his jet sweep was brought out of mothballs for an 8-yard scoring
run. Since then?
9 plays. 9 yards. Three 3-and-outs. Go ahead add in a meaningless 3-yard gain before the half.
Despite talk of Matt Rhule’s backwards cap, Mike Ekeler’s fire and Rob Aurich’s addition, nothing much has appeared to have changed defensively in the weeks since the Penn State and Iowa disasters. Nebraska hung in offensively those two drives, but when Utah moved a couple more people into the box, the game started turning into what everyone was expecting.
The Utes offense gashed the Blackshirts from the start scoring on four of five drives (the one stop assisted by an 11-yard loss on an unassisted fumbled pitch) and rolling up 300 yards, most of it courtesy of QB Devin Dampier who has thrown for 210 and run for another 62.
The Huskers and T.J. Lateef? Looking about as ineffective as in the Iowa game. 7-9 for 78 yards passing, most of it in those opening drives. His speed? 4 carries for -2 yards as the Utes contained him with ease. The Huskers have run on first down every series, and will have to open things up if they want to stay in this. If they stick with what feels like Matt Rhule’s ultra-conservative approach hovering over things with no deep threats at all?
This final score will be exactly as originally expected.
