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Let's say December rolls around and this team is 5-7, 6-6, or 7-5. What do you think will be the problem that never allowed them to get over the hump? Here are my thoughts:
1. The kicker is still a problem. Cunahan and Hohl combine to finish around 9 of 20 on the season, and the team makes nothing longer than 45 yards. There were elite kickers available this Winter in the portal. Their desire to ignore a major impact transfer at that position could come back to haunt the team for the 2nd straight season.
2. Jack position proves largely ineffective. Dasan McCullough hasn't played a full season without injury since 2022. Ochoa and McGahee also don't really scare opposing coaches. Nebraska really needs that position to push for 6+ sacks and 10+ hurries.
3. Money is the root of all evil. Players like Prince U and Gbayor created a lot of issues inside the locker room last season as they bitched about wanting to get paid. In Prince's situation, I think it even distracted himself from focusing on his role at hand. It is fairly obvious that Nebraska has some 2nd year dudes who could really be in line for a payday going into year 3. Will Nebraska be able to keep that "immediate desire for more" in check? If its Mid October and you have 500 yards receiving with 6 TDs, but you're earning 250k while somebody else with less production is earning 750k, are you going to continue to step foot out there and compete? Will you be able to avoid pointing fingers?
4. Prolonged QB injury. This seems like low hanging fruit and kind of a "no shit" comment. But if Raiola were to go down for an extended amount of time, I think the offense will once again be limited. Outside of D-tackle, I think Nebraska is primed to absorb injuries in a lot of spots more easily than in the past, but not at QB.
5. Defense still can't stop RPO. The numbers from last season are insane. The Huskers finished with a top 25 defense, and something like 72% of the total yardage allowed was on only 35% of the plays. Indiana just scored again. Nebraska looked absolutely clueless against the RPO action. Illinois, Indiana, UCLA, USC, and Wisconsin all exploited the hell out of Nebraska with RPO. I really think Bielema and his staff noticed something on film or during the game vs. the Huskers and then allowed it to ignite their comeback in the 4th quarter. Coach Google me then ran a coaching clinic on Coach White. It was like they knew every single time Nebraska was going to use a scrape exchange. They knew exactly when Nebraska's linemen might give up gap identity. They knew exactly when Nebraska was going to be in man or zone before the snap. They also seemed completely unfazed by any attempt that the linebackers are safeties made to bait Rourke into a mistake. Either Connor Stallions was working for the Hoosiers or White became way too predictable. That has to change this season. If there is one thing Big Ten coaches do better than other league, they adapt and spend hours in the offseason preparing for opponents. A lot of teams watched Coach White's defense, and it was out of respect. Guess what, now its up to Butler and Snow to counter.
1. The kicker is still a problem. Cunahan and Hohl combine to finish around 9 of 20 on the season, and the team makes nothing longer than 45 yards. There were elite kickers available this Winter in the portal. Their desire to ignore a major impact transfer at that position could come back to haunt the team for the 2nd straight season.
2. Jack position proves largely ineffective. Dasan McCullough hasn't played a full season without injury since 2022. Ochoa and McGahee also don't really scare opposing coaches. Nebraska really needs that position to push for 6+ sacks and 10+ hurries.
3. Money is the root of all evil. Players like Prince U and Gbayor created a lot of issues inside the locker room last season as they bitched about wanting to get paid. In Prince's situation, I think it even distracted himself from focusing on his role at hand. It is fairly obvious that Nebraska has some 2nd year dudes who could really be in line for a payday going into year 3. Will Nebraska be able to keep that "immediate desire for more" in check? If its Mid October and you have 500 yards receiving with 6 TDs, but you're earning 250k while somebody else with less production is earning 750k, are you going to continue to step foot out there and compete? Will you be able to avoid pointing fingers?
4. Prolonged QB injury. This seems like low hanging fruit and kind of a "no shit" comment. But if Raiola were to go down for an extended amount of time, I think the offense will once again be limited. Outside of D-tackle, I think Nebraska is primed to absorb injuries in a lot of spots more easily than in the past, but not at QB.
5. Defense still can't stop RPO. The numbers from last season are insane. The Huskers finished with a top 25 defense, and something like 72% of the total yardage allowed was on only 35% of the plays. Indiana just scored again. Nebraska looked absolutely clueless against the RPO action. Illinois, Indiana, UCLA, USC, and Wisconsin all exploited the hell out of Nebraska with RPO. I really think Bielema and his staff noticed something on film or during the game vs. the Huskers and then allowed it to ignite their comeback in the 4th quarter. Coach Google me then ran a coaching clinic on Coach White. It was like they knew every single time Nebraska was going to use a scrape exchange. They knew exactly when Nebraska's linemen might give up gap identity. They knew exactly when Nebraska was going to be in man or zone before the snap. They also seemed completely unfazed by any attempt that the linebackers are safeties made to bait Rourke into a mistake. Either Connor Stallions was working for the Hoosiers or White became way too predictable. That has to change this season. If there is one thing Big Ten coaches do better than other league, they adapt and spend hours in the offseason preparing for opponents. A lot of teams watched Coach White's defense, and it was out of respect. Guess what, now its up to Butler and Snow to counter.
