Huskers go Back to Basics to Bash and Bully the Bruins in a Bay area Bowl Beat down
In its 52 game history of bowl games, Nebraska garnered its 26th victory with a 37-29 smashmouth domination of UCLA in the Foster Farms Bowl last night in Santa Clara, California. While failing to get to .500 on the season, the Huskers head into the offseason with hope that the coaching transitional year will create dividends going forward into 2016. Riley and Company may be understanding more about Husker tradition and designed a perfect gameplan against a rush defense vulnerable Pac12 squad that also got hammered on the ground against crosstown rival USC. But even the Trojans couldn’t match the Huskers ability to run the ball as the Big Red netted 326 rushing yards en route to 500 yards total.
A season of heartbreaks ended in a very heartening fashion. The team that played last night would have won at least four more on the season (BYU, Illinois, Purdue, and Wisconsin come to mind) and may have also gotten by Miami, Northwestern and Iowa. There were so many ridiculous losses this season as players and coaches out-mistaked each other in successive weeks. Too many lost opportunities led to too many losses. The Huskers managed to avoid an 8th loss (which hasn’t happened since 1957) and finished with only the third losing season since 1961. But finishing with a win, especially in the manner this one was accomplished, makes a Husker fan get excited about Signing Day in February and the Spring Game in April. We need more talent and more depth. We need to get a lot better, but many skill players return and a bruising win makes the off-season much more bearable.
The Huskers had their best rushing game of the year with 68 more yards than they had against South Alabama. The third quarter was especially telling as they outrushed the Bruins 151 to -5. The only drive in which we had more passes than runs was a three and out. The offensive line and lead blocker played with attitude and ferocity. They also made very few stupid mistakes, which was surprising given that most of the game was played with backup center Paul Thurston after Ryne Reeves broke his leg. I would have liked to have seen that kind of edge when we needed to just run out the clock earlier this season to secure wins.
The coaching staff helped Tommy Armstrong (12 for 19 for 174 yards and a TD pass and 10 carries for 76 yards and a TD) play to his strengths as he ran just enough to be dangerous and threw only when necessary or unexpected. Armstrong played so much better than in his previous fiasco against Iowa it was hard to discern it was the same player. No interceptions and no really bad throws, although he should have chucked one out of bounds instead of taking a late sack. There were minimal miscommunications and only a couple of drops. His passing yards brought his season total to 3,030, which is just the third time a Husker has thrown for 3K. He is now up to #2 on the career total offense list just two yards shy of 8,000. It is likely that Tommy will hold nearly all the quarterback records at this time next year should he prevail and stay healthy.
Imani Cross (15 carries for 55 yards and a TD) ran with the intensity he did against Michigan State and was a beast with the ball. He finished his career with 1,599 rushing yards as a Husker. Devine Ozigbo (21 carries for 87 yards) led all rushers and set career highs in carries and yards. This three star recruit will likely be the feature back heading into 2016 and he will be fun to watch as he develops. Andy Janovich (6 carries for 31 yards and a TD) will play next on Sunday and his leadership will be missed as he never seems to take a play off. In all, nine players carried the ball for the Huskers and I loved the 22 yard run by Jamal Turner and the game clinching 16 yard first down by Cethan Carter.
Stanley Morgan, Jr. (2 catches for 31 yards and a TD) had the only touchdown reception and his one-handed grab while his other arm was being held made the ESPN highlight reel. This young man has skills that will utilized at the next level, but I look forward to seeing him shine more as a Husker first. Brandon Reilly (3 catches for 38 yards) led all receivers but he dropped one that would have been for double those yards. Jordan Westerkamp (2 catches for 44 yards) finished the season with 918 receiving yards (3rd on the single season list) and now has 26 straight games with a catch.
On defense, the best tackle resulted in an ejection. Nate Gerry’s hit was textbook and the replay official should be jailed for robbing Gerry of the opportunity to play the second half. I understand the flag initially by the official who saw and heard a hard hit, but to not have this overturned makes a mockery of the rule. As I have mentioned in previous droppings, this rule must be revisited in the offseason. But even a better clarification won’t help if the replay official is still incompetent.
I really thought that Gerry’s ejection may doom the secondary but they only gave up one second half score. It’s like it ticked them off and they played with something to prove. The Huskers moved Antonio Reed (4 tackles) to Gerry's safety spot and he matched Gerry’s tackle total for the game. Aaron Williams (3 tackles with 1 for loss) stayed at nickel and these two freshman had a giant responsibility against the Bruin passing attack. Joshua Kalu (8 tackles with a pick and a breakup) led the Blackshirts with stops. Chris Jones (2 tackles) added the other interception with a very acrobatic catch at the end of the first half. He got burned deep, but Rosen has amazing touch with the ball and the guy he was guarding will also be playing on Sunday. Greg McMullen (2 tackles with 1 for loss and a QB hurry) had a monster game in the middle. Maliek Collins had two QB hurries but failed to record a tackle in his last game as a Husker. I always have mixed feelings about a player declaring early for the draft. I wish him well and a successful NFL career, but the selfish part of me hates to lose his skills for the Huskers. This defense may be much improved next year and improved incredibly this year in the last four games.
The special team play was somewhat suspect with Drew Brown missing an extra point and the defense going offside on nearly every point after kick. Brown also managed only one touchback in seven kickoffs but his third quarter field goal was his 11th straight without a miss. His 21 treys on the season marks the second most in school history. Sam Foltz averaged 41.7 yards on just 3 punts and both kickoff and punt coverage were solid. Stanley Morgan, Jr. also would have been far wiser to have kneeled on his second return attempt when he got dinged.
It always seems like football season flies by. At my age when it seems that birthdays occur every six months, time seems to move more swiftly than it should anyway. What a crazy wild ride. Who knew that we could lose so many games on the opponent’s last possession? Who also would have guessed when watching the run challenged effort against Illinois that we would close the season dominating on the ground against UCLA? Here’s hoping that Riley gets his players and gets it figured out, but even if we improve throwing the ball, I hope he will never forget that Nebraska is synonymous with power football. Go Big Red!!
In its 52 game history of bowl games, Nebraska garnered its 26th victory with a 37-29 smashmouth domination of UCLA in the Foster Farms Bowl last night in Santa Clara, California. While failing to get to .500 on the season, the Huskers head into the offseason with hope that the coaching transitional year will create dividends going forward into 2016. Riley and Company may be understanding more about Husker tradition and designed a perfect gameplan against a rush defense vulnerable Pac12 squad that also got hammered on the ground against crosstown rival USC. But even the Trojans couldn’t match the Huskers ability to run the ball as the Big Red netted 326 rushing yards en route to 500 yards total.
A season of heartbreaks ended in a very heartening fashion. The team that played last night would have won at least four more on the season (BYU, Illinois, Purdue, and Wisconsin come to mind) and may have also gotten by Miami, Northwestern and Iowa. There were so many ridiculous losses this season as players and coaches out-mistaked each other in successive weeks. Too many lost opportunities led to too many losses. The Huskers managed to avoid an 8th loss (which hasn’t happened since 1957) and finished with only the third losing season since 1961. But finishing with a win, especially in the manner this one was accomplished, makes a Husker fan get excited about Signing Day in February and the Spring Game in April. We need more talent and more depth. We need to get a lot better, but many skill players return and a bruising win makes the off-season much more bearable.
The Huskers had their best rushing game of the year with 68 more yards than they had against South Alabama. The third quarter was especially telling as they outrushed the Bruins 151 to -5. The only drive in which we had more passes than runs was a three and out. The offensive line and lead blocker played with attitude and ferocity. They also made very few stupid mistakes, which was surprising given that most of the game was played with backup center Paul Thurston after Ryne Reeves broke his leg. I would have liked to have seen that kind of edge when we needed to just run out the clock earlier this season to secure wins.
The coaching staff helped Tommy Armstrong (12 for 19 for 174 yards and a TD pass and 10 carries for 76 yards and a TD) play to his strengths as he ran just enough to be dangerous and threw only when necessary or unexpected. Armstrong played so much better than in his previous fiasco against Iowa it was hard to discern it was the same player. No interceptions and no really bad throws, although he should have chucked one out of bounds instead of taking a late sack. There were minimal miscommunications and only a couple of drops. His passing yards brought his season total to 3,030, which is just the third time a Husker has thrown for 3K. He is now up to #2 on the career total offense list just two yards shy of 8,000. It is likely that Tommy will hold nearly all the quarterback records at this time next year should he prevail and stay healthy.
Imani Cross (15 carries for 55 yards and a TD) ran with the intensity he did against Michigan State and was a beast with the ball. He finished his career with 1,599 rushing yards as a Husker. Devine Ozigbo (21 carries for 87 yards) led all rushers and set career highs in carries and yards. This three star recruit will likely be the feature back heading into 2016 and he will be fun to watch as he develops. Andy Janovich (6 carries for 31 yards and a TD) will play next on Sunday and his leadership will be missed as he never seems to take a play off. In all, nine players carried the ball for the Huskers and I loved the 22 yard run by Jamal Turner and the game clinching 16 yard first down by Cethan Carter.
Stanley Morgan, Jr. (2 catches for 31 yards and a TD) had the only touchdown reception and his one-handed grab while his other arm was being held made the ESPN highlight reel. This young man has skills that will utilized at the next level, but I look forward to seeing him shine more as a Husker first. Brandon Reilly (3 catches for 38 yards) led all receivers but he dropped one that would have been for double those yards. Jordan Westerkamp (2 catches for 44 yards) finished the season with 918 receiving yards (3rd on the single season list) and now has 26 straight games with a catch.
On defense, the best tackle resulted in an ejection. Nate Gerry’s hit was textbook and the replay official should be jailed for robbing Gerry of the opportunity to play the second half. I understand the flag initially by the official who saw and heard a hard hit, but to not have this overturned makes a mockery of the rule. As I have mentioned in previous droppings, this rule must be revisited in the offseason. But even a better clarification won’t help if the replay official is still incompetent.
I really thought that Gerry’s ejection may doom the secondary but they only gave up one second half score. It’s like it ticked them off and they played with something to prove. The Huskers moved Antonio Reed (4 tackles) to Gerry's safety spot and he matched Gerry’s tackle total for the game. Aaron Williams (3 tackles with 1 for loss) stayed at nickel and these two freshman had a giant responsibility against the Bruin passing attack. Joshua Kalu (8 tackles with a pick and a breakup) led the Blackshirts with stops. Chris Jones (2 tackles) added the other interception with a very acrobatic catch at the end of the first half. He got burned deep, but Rosen has amazing touch with the ball and the guy he was guarding will also be playing on Sunday. Greg McMullen (2 tackles with 1 for loss and a QB hurry) had a monster game in the middle. Maliek Collins had two QB hurries but failed to record a tackle in his last game as a Husker. I always have mixed feelings about a player declaring early for the draft. I wish him well and a successful NFL career, but the selfish part of me hates to lose his skills for the Huskers. This defense may be much improved next year and improved incredibly this year in the last four games.
The special team play was somewhat suspect with Drew Brown missing an extra point and the defense going offside on nearly every point after kick. Brown also managed only one touchback in seven kickoffs but his third quarter field goal was his 11th straight without a miss. His 21 treys on the season marks the second most in school history. Sam Foltz averaged 41.7 yards on just 3 punts and both kickoff and punt coverage were solid. Stanley Morgan, Jr. also would have been far wiser to have kneeled on his second return attempt when he got dinged.
It always seems like football season flies by. At my age when it seems that birthdays occur every six months, time seems to move more swiftly than it should anyway. What a crazy wild ride. Who knew that we could lose so many games on the opponent’s last possession? Who also would have guessed when watching the run challenged effort against Illinois that we would close the season dominating on the ground against UCLA? Here’s hoping that Riley gets his players and gets it figured out, but even if we improve throwing the ball, I hope he will never forget that Nebraska is synonymous with power football. Go Big Red!!
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