These 3 Nebraska Football Position Groups Need to Step Up Now

The Huskers have one final game before the month of November. Nebraska football has a chance to go into the last four games with a record of 6-2.

With winnable games against Washington, Illinois, and Rutgers, the Huskers have a great shot at being 8-2 when Ohio State comes to Lincoln. Nebraska would need to beat the Buckeyes to have a realistic chance of reaching the College Football Playoff, but we saw how the Indiana game went.

It’s a winnable game even if Julian Sayin ends up playing.

Nebraska needs to get past Washington, though. The Huskers also need to be consistently better in certain areas. They need to do a better job of finishing off games. Certain players and even position groups need to step up.

Here are three that have to be better after the bye week.

Running backs

If you take out Anthony Colandrea’s rushing numbers, the Huskers are averaging just 3.3 yards per attempt during Big Ten play. Isaiah Mozee is the only back averaging over four yards per attempt (4.1). Mekhi Nelson’s average is 3.3. Jamal Rule is getting just 2.8.

Rule has missed time against Michigan State, Maryland and Oregon due to injury. He needs to get healthy. Nelson needs to step up, too, along with Mozee, if he can get back on the field. He was practicing in pads this week, so maybe he will be back for the Washington game.

The Huskies are 11th in the Big Ten in run defense, so it feels like a perfect opportunity for the backs to get back on track after a couple of rough games.

Offensive line

The offensive line is 17th out of 18 teams in sacks allowed during Big Ten play. Indiana and Oregon have great defensive lines, but that still has to improve.

Part of that is Anthony Colandrea. Part of it is that they need to block better. There have been injuries, but every team is banged up. It feels like this Washington game is one that will be won in the trenches.

That’s November football. Nebraska football has struggled in those situations. Getting better play from the offensive line will help.

Special teams

Nebraska has taken a step back on special teams. The Huskers had a bad snap on a missed field goal against Indiana and a punt where Archie Wilson caught it with his knee on the ground, leading to three points for Oregon.

Nebraska could have used those three points in both games. Punting has been good overall. The coverage has been solid, too, but the return game has done next to nothing, outside of putting the Huskers inside their own 20.

There has been a gaffe in almost every Big Ten game. A penalty saved Nebraska from a blocked punt against Michigan State. This team is too good to have these mistakes, so hopefully, they are cleaned up down the stretch.

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