A half without Ty Robinson is brutal for Nebraska football

Ty Robinson was outstanding for Nebraska football last Thursday until he was called for targeting.

College football changed some rules this offseason, but they forgot one — targeting. I’m fine with the call, but players like Nebraska football standout Ty Robinson shouldn’t be ejected from a game for a hit.

Because most of the time, the targeting calls just aren’t that egregious. Robinson was called for targeting in the second half of the Nebraska football loss to Minnesota. Did he deserve a roughing the passer call?

Yes. He was late. But it wasn’t a nasty hit or a dirty play. There was some helmet-to-helmet contact, but come on, Robinson was in no way trying to be flagrant. The refs even reviewed it and the call stood, which is insane to me, just like the Gabe Ervin touchdown that was missed.

Honestly, if you can’t get the call right after replay, what’s the point?

That’s another topic of Big Ten ineptitude for another day, but the league’s officiating is a joke and has been for years. The latest bad call means Nebraska football didn’t have Robinson for the second half against Minnesota, and that he’ll miss the first half against Colorado.

Nebraska will miss Ty Robinson dearly in the first half

Robinson was only the Huskers’ best pass rusher against Minnesota. Nebraska football had 17 pressures against the Golden Gophers and Robinson was responsible for five. He also had a team-high three quarterback hits and two hurries.

No other Nebraska football defender had more than three pressures and Robinson only played half the game. The good news is that the former four-star recruit is starting to play like the beast he was expected to be.

The bad news is that he’ll have to watch the first half. However, if the Huskers can keep it close, they’ll be able to unleash Robinson in the second half, and having your best pass rusher fresh off the bench in the second half of a close game, doesn’t sound terrible.

Coach Matt Rhule said Tuesday that when the second half starts, Robinson won’t be coming off the field.

“Ty was at a different level when he was playing…” Rhule said.”I told him, ‘You’re playing every play the second half when you get back there, so you better rest up.’”

Nebraska has to survive that first 30 minutes and my hope is that the running game will help with that. But on defense, pressuring Shedeur Sanders is the best chance the Huskers have of being successful.

And their best pass rusher has to sit on the sidelines for the first half because of a bad call and an even worse rule.

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