Connect with us

FOOTBALL

3 reasons Nebraska football can beat Colorado

Published

on

Nebraska football
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Colorado is the college football darling right now, but here are three reasons why Nebraska football can beat the Buffaloes.

Colorado has captured the college football world’s attention with its 45-42 win over TCU last week. On the other hand, Nebraska football looked like the same old Huskers in a 13-10 loss to Minnesota.

That’s not entirely fair. For much of the game, Nebraska football looked much better than it did during the Frost era. The tackling was better; the special teams were outstanding, and there was a different physicality to the Huskers.

It looked and felt different. Only the final score wasn’t. That and the performance from Colorado have the Huskers as a 3.5-point underdog, although with the way some are talking about Colorado, that spread might as well be three touchdowns like it was for CU last week against TCU.

This is a winnable game for Nebraska football and here are three reasons why the Huskers can leave Boulder with their first win over a top-25 team since 2016. 

Ground and pound

Nebraska football rushed for 181 yards last season and averaged 4.8 yards per carry against a pretty stout Minnesota defense. I guarantee that defense is better against the run than Colorado, which allowed 262 yards on the ground to TCU.

Jeff Sims will probably be heavily involved again. Gabe Ervin needs more carries and Rahmir Johnson also needs more touches — whether rushing or receiving.

Hopefully, Anthony Grant can put that fumble behind him, because he’s a talented runner. Regardless, I see Nebraska rushing for over 200 yards on Saturday and that’s one reason they can win.

A better matchup for Colorado

TCU possessed the ball for 27 minutes against Colorado. If that’s the case for the Huskers, they’ll leave Boulder 0-2. They are the team that needs to control the ball and they’ll do a much better job than TCU which wants to run as many plays as possible.

Matt Rhule isn’t going to play that way. Nebraska ran 56 plays last week and if there are fewer than 120 total that will play right into the Huskers’ hands.

Colorado has some dynamic playmakers. There’s no question about that. But Nebraska looked like a really good tackling team last week. The Huskers have two good corners and a defensive line that should be able to win consistently.

Colorado allowed four sacks and seven tackles for loss last week. The Buffaloes also didn’t notch a single sack and allowed more than seven yards per rush, including a 74-yard run.

The win over TCU was impressive, but it wasn’t without warts and Nebraska should be able to take advantage of some of the things the Buffs didn’t do well in Week 1.

Tony White’s defense

What Colorado did against TCU was impressive. But let’s be honest, the Horned Frogs stink on defense. Even when they had some NFL talent last season, they allowed 30 points or more seven times and ranked 91st in scoring defense. 

Nebraska is a much better defense than that. Based on what I saw against Minnesota, it looks like a top-25 scoring defense in my opinion.

That will be a much different animal for Colorado. Poor tackling and missed assignments doomed TCU. While the Huskers were really good in those areas. Tony White is a rising star and he’ll have a good gameplan.

White will have to find ways to confuse Shedeur Sanders and also pressure him. College quarterbacks are like NFL passers nowadays. If they know what’s coming, they’ll tear you up.

That’s why I loved the hire of White. He’s known for the 3-3-5 but he ran a bunch of different formations last week and will have some things dialed up just for Buffs.

We’ll see if it works, but this Blackshirts’ defense reminds me of the 2021 defense and that unit always gave the Huskers a chance. This one will do the same on Saturday.

For More Nebraska content, follow us on Twitter, like our Facebook Page, and Subscribe to the Husker Big Red YouTube Channel. You can also find our podcast on Apple or Spotify.

 

FOOTBALL

Nebraska Football could utilize two QBs vs. Michigan

Published

on

Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska football head coach Matt Rhule gave an update in his press conference on Thursday with regards to the quarterback position. Rhule indicated that Jeff Sims is not 100%, but he has practiced all throughout the week. Heinrich Haarberg, who was also battling injuries following the last weekend’s game, practiced this week as well.

This is certainly encouraging as it relates to the health of the quarterbacks. For one, Sims is apparently progressing. It also means that Haarberg is at a point where he is not too bothered by his injury. This is reassuring, given that he has been a key part of the offense of the last couple weeks.

Nebraska football as a team is going to need both to be healthy on Saturday. Haarberg is the presumed starter, but it would be nice to add Sims in for his running ability in certain situations.

I certainly wouldn’t be opposed to the program using both quarterbacks. As a matter of fact, I think it’s a very smart play. It gives Nebraska football versatility at the position, and allows two explosive athletes to get their shot on the field.

Nebraska football will need to have all hands-on deck against a rushing defense that is second in the conference with 80.5 yards allowed per game. They also have allowed only one rushing touchdown on the season. They rank second behind Nebraska with 2.8 yards allowed per carry. The bottom line is, Nebraska football is going to have their work cut out for them.

It will be interesting to see what happens with the quarterback situation on Saturday. Will we see both quarterbacks? Time will tell, but at least the room itself is restocked and somewhat healthy again. The Huskers have depth at the quarterback position and that is never a bad thing. How they utilize it will be interesting, as they look to get above. 500.

Continue Reading

FOOTBALL

3 keys to an upset win for Nebraska football vs. Michigan

Published

on

Nebraska football
Dylan Widger-US

Is an upset possible for Nebraska football on Saturday? Here are three keys to pulling it off.

After a pair of confidence-building wins, Nebraska football will welcome No. 2 Michigan to Lincoln Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

It’s going to be a huge test. It’s also a major opportunity for Matt Rhule and company to score a defining win. I can’t even remember the last time Nebraska beat a team as good as Michigan. Probably since Eric Crouch caught that touchdown pass to beat Oklahoma.

Nebraska football has its work cut out for it. The Huskers are 17-point underdogs and this Michigan team is a juggernaut that’s won 16 consecutive Big Ten games.

J.J. McCarthy (QB) and Blake Corum, the running back, are Heisman candidates. Plus, the defense has only surrendered 23 points in four games leading all of college football in scoring defense.

It’s going to be a huge challenge but Nebraska isn’t a pushover. It’s the toughest game for Michigan so far and the Wolverines’ first road game.

If Nebraska wants to pull the upset, here are three keys to making it happen.

Contain Michigan’s run game

You might think that’s not possible, but in three of four games this season, Michigan has rushed for 200 yards or less. One reason for that is more throwing with McCarthy. The pass offense is better and games are also going quicker especially if you use a pace like Michigan or Nebraska.

Blake Corum is the bell cow but Donovan Edwards is dangerous. He had over 200 yards in the win against Ohio State last November.

Michigan’s offensive line has used a few different combinations and hasn’t been quite as good. Nebraska football also leads the Big Ten in rushing yards allowed. The Blackshirts surrender just 1.8 yards per rush and if they can limit Michigan’s ground game (150 yards or less), an upset becomes much more likely.

Nebraska football must win the turnover battle

You could list this as a key for just about every single game in college football this week. But Nebraska is at a disadvantage talent-wise compared to Michigan.

That’s nothing to be ashamed of. The Wolverines have about 20 players that could get drafted this April. Nebraska is a team with talent too — it actually ranks 26th in terms of blue-chip players (4-star recruits or higher) being on the roster.

But the Huskers are going to need some short fields or maybe even some points from the defense to pull this one off. A big return, some kind of play like that will need to happen.

McCarthy didn’t throw an interception in three of the four games for Michigan. Yet, against Bowling Green, he tossed three and if the Huskers could get 1-2, you’d have to like their chances of pulling the upset.

Heinrich Haarberg needs 100 yards rushing

Michigan hasn’t allowed a single team to run for 100 yards. Their run defense is spectacular but Haarberg will need to break a big run or two if the Huskers are going to have a shot.

That touchdown run against Louisiana Tech reminded me a little of T-Magic. Haarberg also has been fine throwing the ball. His arm isn’t elite. He also hasn’t thrown any interceptions.

Nebraska has been using more option principles and running QBs have given Michigan some struggles over the years. Haarberg isn’t a statue. He’s also a gamer and after two starts, he’s improving.

We’ll see if he can deliver on Saturday, but if Haarberg can run the way he did in his first two starts (a very big ask) Nebraska should have a shot to win on Saturday.

For More Nebraska content, follow us on Twitter, like our Facebook Page, and Subscribe to the Husker Big Red YouTube Channel. You can also find our podcast on Apple or Spotify.

 

 

 

Continue Reading

FB RECRUITING

Nebraska Football flips local TE Eric Ingwerson after long pursuit

Published

on

Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Nebraska football landed a commitment from 2024 tight end Eric Ingwerson on Wednesday, according to multiple media reports.

Ingwerson is the 128th overall athlete in the 2024 class, and the ninth overall player in the class from the state of Nebraska per the 247Sports composite rankings. He has a numerical rating of 86 overall.

This is a solid commitment for several reasons. For one, Nebraska football has been interested in him for quite a while. He received an offer from the program on April 11, and had him and for an official visit on June 16.

Ingwerson joins a tight end room that is already in good hands for 2024. Carter Nelson headlines the room, with Ian Flynt also part of the room as well.

It is also worth noting that Ingwerson played on the defensive side of football as a defensive lineman for Papillion-LaVista. He could definitely play the position for Nebraska, as he measures in at six-foot-seven, 235 pounds. There is the chance that he could play a different position other than tight end. However, his size makes him an intriguing option at the position itself.

There can also be the possibility that Nebraska football could be looking at him as an offensive lineman. The size is there. This staff knows how to develop offensive lineman. Ingwerson could fit well in the positional group.

Currently, the 2024 Nebraska football recruiting class ranks 23rd overall in the country per the 247Sports rankings. This class has a solid high school group, and Ingwerson certainly adds to that. The 2024 class has the potential to be a cornerstone class of Matt Rhule’s tenure.

Ingwerson will be an asset to Nebraska football, no matter what position he plays. Furthermore, this is a great flip by the program. Once again, they have shown the ability to identify a prospect they want, and pursue him until they land him. The staff has done a good job of being able to flip recruits. Ingwerson is certainly a part of that distinction.

Continue Reading

Trending