Week 4 v Biff's Butthole Surfers - Saturday, September 20: Game Notes, Depth Chart, Etc

[Dawgsauce]

I’m a big Pate fan

Great guy for college football and his show and social media have a lot of reach.

Josh Pate is phenomenal. We need a bounce back in the ramen noodle express with week! But Pate with the Bussin Boys is going to be a hell of a show

I watched him from back in Columbus TV days, and knew of his Bama fandom. I wish he would've just ripped that band aid off when he started the OG Late Kick in the TV studio. He isn't a homer, but the bias would come every once in awhile. Same for SEC stuff. He's gotten better with that while getting worse at fence riding dealing with coaches. When he starts talking smack about coaches, he knows that the end is near. Clemson boosters and admin might be most recent because of how he is approaching Dabo. Went tamu fanbase was out on Jimbo people kept thinking end would come. I told dawg board not until Pate goes at him.
As far as National shows go it's the best imo. One other thing that wasn't in old shows that he does now that I tune out is anything with his looks, chali of supremecy, making things plural, ... And damn, over explanation of power rankings. Just let the idiots not get it at this point.

 

[vailhusker]

 

[Fargo Husker]

This is what NIL was supposed to be like.

De’Coldest walked so LL44 could run.

 

[HuskerDocCo]

@HuskerDocCo how does this make you feel

fella , let’s talk about what donut you want tomorrow at the co-op

 

[herbsinator]

Be careful calling any attention to Nebraska’s run defense statistics, guys. @kchusker1423 , @NorthWillRiseAgain, and @herbsinator will get their feelings hurt.

I’m dumb, maybe you can help me decipher what this stat means?

TOTAL DEFENSE
1. BYU - 106.0 ypg
2. Minnesota - 177.7
3. Cockeye - 178.0
4. Oklahoma - 181.0
5. Missouri - 200.7
6. Nebraska - 202.0
7. James Madison - 206.0
8. Louisville - 206.5
9. Indiana - 220.7
10. Arizona - 222.3

 

[Blakejc]

I’m dumb, maybe you can help me decipher what this stat means?

TOTAL DEFENSE
1. BYU - 106.0 ypg
2. Minnesota - 177.7
3. Cockeye - 178.0
4. Oklahoma - 181.0
5. Missouri - 200.7
6. Nebraska - 202.0
7. James Madison - 206.0
8. Louisville - 206.5
9. Indiana - 220.7
10. Arizona - 222.3

The stats Mike'l Severe shared show a below average run defense against a very soft SOR. That worries me going into conference play. Our total defense -- bolstered largely by the best pass defense in the country -- is great, but you're showcasing that to prove we don't have to worry about run defense? Are you really just oblivious to issues on run D? Or you just don't believe it's an issue?

 

[Quint]

The stats Mike'l Severe shared show a below average run defense against a very soft SOR. That worries me going into conference play. Our total defense -- bolstered largely by the best pass defense in the country -- is great, but you're showcasing that to prove we don't have to worry about run defense? Are you really just oblivious to issues on run D? Or you just don't believe it's an issue?

I think we can say both there is and should be some trepidation about the run defense while simultaneously acknowledging we’ve been about as basic in that regard as this defense can. I don’t suspect we’ll see the same vanilla line and back 8 play on Saturday. I suspect we’ll see more of what White used to run against run heavy teams, which looks a lot like the 46 defense the Bears had years ago. More 4 man front looks, more twists, stunts and run blitzes.

I suspect it’ll look different, and it has to. Biff's Butthole Surfers has what none of our first three opponents had and that is a legit P4 O line. We also can’t miss tackles. The long run by HCU should have been a loss. Our 270lb DE has to be able to bring down that 175lb back. Every time.

Looking at the overall defense, I’m excited to see how we play on Saturday, because the back 8 have done some pretty good things that helped us get to 3-0. Need to see more out of the line, and I don’t think there is any sugar coating that.

 

[herbsinator]

The stats Mike'l Severe shared show a below average run defense against a very soft SOR. That worries me going into conference play. Our total defense -- bolstered largely by the best pass defense in the country -- is great, but you're showcasing that to prove we don't have to worry about run defense? Are you really just oblivious to issues on run D? Or you just don't believe it's an issue?

No, I think a certain subset of the fan base has been trained at this point to pick up on any negative facts and use that as a basis for pessimism no matter what.

Of course I think our run defense is going to be worse than it was last year. We had a top 10 run defense last year and lost multiple key players in the front 7.

But at the same time there were a lot of teams that won a lot of games last year that had worse run defenses (or defenses overall) than we did. We also were torn up through the air multiple times last year. And at the end of the day, I’d still rather give up a 10 yard run vs a 30 yard completion.

We’ll obviously all see how it plays out on Saturday and then we can all quit debating about it, but I think it’s a bit silly to just cherry pick certain stats to fit your narrative without considering the whole context.

 

[whoboppin]

The concern about the rush defense is so overblown, you would think Nebraska gave up 350 rushing yards to Cincinnati.

If this was 2023 Biff's Butthole Surfers or classic Bama team Id understand the concern, but 2025 Biff's Butthole Surfers is glorified Cockeye this year. They arent that good. They will get some rushing yards, but they aren't dropping 400 rushing yards on Nebraska and moving the ball at will. Limit big running plays and we should be okay.

Real key to the game is Nebraska's offense vs Biff's Butthole Surfers defense. Can Nebraska keep a relatively clean pocket for Raiola? Can the run game help supplement the pass game? If so, I think we are golden. If Raiola time and he will find open receivers. At that point, Nebraska just needs to be efficient in the redzone and score touchdowns. Do that and I don't think Biff's Butthole Surfers's offense is good enough to keep up. Hopefully we can go up early so they have to chase.

 

[cwessel76]

 

[Blakejc]

No, I think a certain subset of the fan base has been trained at this point to pick up on any negative facts and use that as a basis for pessimism no matter what.

Of course I think our run defense is going to be worse than it was last year. We had a top 10 run defense last year and lost multiple key players in the front 7.

But at the same time there were a lot of teams that won a lot of games last year that had worse run defenses (or defenses overall) than we did. We also were torn up through the air multiple times last year. And at the end of the day, I’d still rather give up a 10 yard run vs a 30 yard completion.

We’ll obviously all see how it plays out on Saturday and then we can all quit debating about it, but I think it’s a bit silly to just cherry pick certain stats to fit your narrative without considering the whole context.

Agree about defending run vs. pass, and i give them grace on the stats because it’s obviously a product of a philosophical shift.

The thing id push back on is presenting stats isn’t indicative of trying to fit a narrative. For me at least, it’s trying to parse through where we’re deficient.

So ya, run defense doesn’t look awful on paper. What are we, like 130ypg? If we finish the year with that we’re in the CFP.

Dig a little deeper and you see every starting RB we’ve faced has gone for 5+ypc. Tawee Walker was 7.6, Sean Patrick 5.3, Xai’Shaun Edward’s 6.3. Yes you can nitpick a long run or against the #2 defense or none of those guys did it for 18+ carries. I’ll listen to that for a bit, but ultimately we’re seeing a trend of RBs getting what they want.

I’m curious what’s gonna happen when a B10 RB with a B10 line commits to the run. We probably won’t figure it out with just Biff's Butthole Surfers, but the dude might be the best RB in the conference. It’s a really tough test.

 

[herbsinator]

Agree about defending run vs. pass, and i give them grace on the stats because it’s obviously a product of a philosophical shift.

The thing id push back on is presenting stats isn’t indicative of trying to fit a narrative. For me at least, it’s trying to parse through where we’re deficient.

So ya, run defense doesn’t look awful on paper. What are we, like 130ypg? If we finish the year with that we’re in the CFP.

Dig a little deeper and you see every starting RB we’ve faced has gone for 5+ypc. Tawee Walker was 7.6, Sean Patrick 5.3, Xai’Shaun Edward’s 6.3. Yes you can nitpick a long run or against the #2 defense or none of those guys did it for 18+ carries. I’ll listen to that for a bit, but ultimately we’re seeing a trend of RBs getting what they want.

I’m curious what’s gonna happen when a B10 RB with a B10 line commits to the run. We probably won’t figure it out with just Biff's Butthole Surfers, but the dude might be the best RB in the conference. It’s a really tough test.

I don’t think you understood what I wrote. I’ve already conceded that run defense is likely worse this year, but it needs to be viewed in the overall context of the team. If we give up 200 yards rushing and 3 rushing TDs, then that looks bad. But if we only give up 100 yards passing with no TDs and 2 Ints along with it, then I’d say we have a pretty good shot at winning the game. Not saying that’s how it’s going to go on Saturday, but my point is that you can’t just zoom in one facet and ignore everything else (including our ability to score more points than last year).

 

[djw004]

SIAP - I believe part of Sherrone's suspension is he cannot have contact with the team this week - it's not just sitting out the game.

How the FUCK is that enforced? I want someone posted up at their facility 24/7 ensuring he's not arriving.

 

[herbsinator]

SIAP - I believe part of Sherrone's suspension is he cannot have contact with the team this week - it's not just sitting out the game.

How the FUCK is that enforced? I want someone posted up at their facility 24/7 ensuring he's not arriving.

Or texting, zoom calls, etc. We already know about Biff's Butthole Surfers’s propensity to destroy evidence…

 

[DrinkItIn]

I don’t think you understood what I wrote. I’ve already conceded that run defense is likely worse this year, but it needs to be viewed in the overall context of the team. If we give up 200 yards rushing and 3 rushing TDs, then that looks bad. But if we only give up 100 yards passing with no TDs and 2 Ints along with it, then I’d say we have a pretty good shot at winning the game. Not saying that’s how it’s going to go on Saturday, but my point is that you can’t just zoom in one facet and ignore everything else (including our ability to score more points than last year).

Or consider the improvement of special teams and the offense. It gets exhausting when the focus is solely on one area that might not be as strong as last year, without recognizing that the team could be significantly better in other aspects. Football is about the full picture, not just one facet.

 

[herbsinator]

Or consider the improvement of special teams and the offense. It gets exhausting when the focus is solely on one area that might not be as strong as last year, without recognizing that the team could be significantly better in other aspects. Football is about the full picture, not just one facet.

WELL SAID. If we were seriously chasing a national championship this year, then yeah we would need to be elite or near elite in every facet. But every other team in the nation is going to have some deficiencies in certain areas and the good teams can overcome those.

 

[djw004]

Or texting, zoom calls, etc. We already know about Biff's Butthole Surfers’s propensity to destroy evidence…

I nominate this for Auto Correct of the week. Biff = Butthole Surfer

 

[whoboppin]

I don't see how Nebraska doesnt have 2-3 picks this game unless the prophecies are true and Nebraska is giving up 400 rushing yards and Underwood only throws the ball like 12 times.

 

[Quint]

I don't see how Nebraska doesnt have 2-3 picks this game unless the prophecies are true and Nebraska is giving up 400 rushing yards and Underwood only throws the ball like 12 times.

Not great video, but the two plays I could tell he had a read on, he read wrong. Plenty of arm strength, but his accuracy is suspect.

OU did pressure him pretty well, so that has a lot to do with it.

I think they’ll try to live on that little swing pass. It’s open on us quite a bit, so we’ll have to make the tackle and avoid YAC.

He also had maybe half of his dropbacks that he could have taken off and gotten a first down at minimum. That’s not good.

 

[Blakejc]

I don’t think you understood what I wrote. I’ve already conceded that run defense is likely worse this year, but it needs to be viewed in the overall context of the team. If we give up 200 yards rushing and 3 rushing TDs, then that looks bad. But if we only give up 100 yards passing with no TDs and 2 Ints along with it, then I’d say we have a pretty good shot at winning the game. Not saying that’s how it’s going to go on Saturday, but my point is that you can’t just zoom in one facet and ignore everything else (including our ability to score more points than last year).

I think you’re assuming that I compare stats to last year, when in reality I’m comparing them to recent history/national averages. I’ve long been a believer that if you’re top 40 in everything you’ll be in the hunt for the CFP every year. If you can also be elite in a few areas then you’re a conference/National title contender.

top 40 in rush defense is 145ypg. That to me is the goal for this year. Round up to 150 if you’d like. Top 40 in total yards is 350. I feel pretty good that our pass defense is going to be below a 200ypg average, so we’re tracking pretty well right now. From 2022-24 160passing ypg allowed is tops in the nation. So let’s not think we’re gonna keep people to 100 yards passing forever. We’ve got a shot at being an elite pass d this year, but we’re still going to give up yards.

What gives me pause is the percent increase in rushing yards from non-con to conference play.

2023 non-con rushing yards allowed: 43.3ypg
2023 conference rushing yards allowed: 109.4ypg (154% increase)

2024 non-con rushing yards allowed: 70.3ypg
2024 conference rushing yards allowed: 117.5ypg (65% increase)

That’s with a defense designed to stop the run. As you and I agree, we’ve shifted off that and are trying to make up for it by stopping the pass.

2025 non-con rushing yards allowed: 136ypg

A 50% increase means 204ypg allowed
A 25% increase means 170ypg

204ypg would be 110th in the country
170ypg would be 80th or so in the country.

We’re going to give up more rushing yards in conference play, yet we’re already close to our ceiling in what we want to give up rushing. If we give up 175ypg rushing then we NEED to be elite at pass D. We might be, but I don’t like needing to be. I’d love to have some cushion.