Rush Off and Def

[Blakejc]

110 rush yards is the 6th worst rushing performance in the Rhule era.

202 rush yards allowed is the 3rd worst rush defense performance in the Rhule era.

A very good running QB has a lot to do with their yards. And their D played a certain style and tackled well that limited us. So I’m not saying we can’t get better. We will. But I also think your strengths and weaknesses are what they are in week 1 and it’s hard to change that.

If things go the way I think, we’re going to be an average rushing team and average rush D. Wouldn’t be shocked if at the end of the year we rush for 150ypg and allow 150rush ypg.

Can still meet all your goals if you do that, but it’s going to look different. Need to make up for it by being a borderline elite pass D (top 20 nationally or <190ypg) and a very good pass offense (top 25 nationally or >265ypg)

 

[Mavsker]

It's often said that to win in the Big Ten you have to be able to run the ball and stop the run

I really feel like the rushing offense will develop. I still think our OL and EJ are too good to not have a strong rushing attack.

The rushing defense is a little bit more concerning to me...some of their big runs were more assignment misses, but I still worry about the DL getting pushed around as much as they did. I thought we saw some flashes, but a lot of work to do to get ready for Michigan (whose fans, by the way, now seem to think they have the 9/20 matchup in the bag)

 

[Cornicator]

If they want to succeed with ball control and grind things out then they absolutely need to go for 150+ per game on the ground.

 

[Cash68847]

It's often said that to win in the Big Ten you have to be able to run the ball and stop the run

I really feel like the rushing offense will develop. I still think our OL and EJ are too good to not have a strong rushing attack.

The rushing defense is a little bit more concerning to me...some of their big runs were more assignment misses, but I still worry about the DL getting pushed around as much as they did. I thought we saw some flashes, but a lot of work to do to get ready for Michigan (whose fans, by the way, now seem to think they have the 9/20 matchup in the bag)

We are going to need a second back to step up in BIG play.

 

[Blakejc]

If they want to succeed with ball control and grind things out then they absolutely need to go for 150+ per game on the ground.

Agreed, and ideally that number is 175.

year over year goal would be 425+ total yards. That means you’re consistently a top 30 offense.

A balanced split would be 175 rushing/250 passing, but 150/275 doesn’t kill ya.

 

[Cornicator]

It's often said that to win in the Big Ten you have to be able to run the ball and stop the run

Oregon finished middle of the pack in run defense last season.

 

[Mavsker]

Oregon finished middle of the pack in run defense last season.

It's a general rule, not 100% in all cases with zero exceptions

 

[Blakejc]

Cool - it's a general rule, not 100% in all cases with zero exceptions

Our D may end up resembling those Pelini defenses post-Suh that were elite pass D and average run D.

2010 they gave up 150 rushing, but only allowed 150 passing.
2011 they gave up 160 rushing and 190 passing.
2012 they gave up 190 rushing (!!!) but only 170 passing.
2013 they gave up 155 rushing and 215 passing.

Tony White D gave up 93rypg in 2023 and 106rypg in 2024.

I would love if we could keep opponents to 130rush/180pass, but we can still win 9+ if we’re 150 rush/190 pass. our offense and special teams would need to compensate for the dropoff though.

Which gets back to the offense turning routine plays into explosive plays. Someone needs to consistently break a tackle, make a guy miss, win a one on one.

 

[Blakejc]

The more I think about it the more I think Thursday night was close to the floor for this offense. Not one person made a play. We took what was there all night but that was it. If you can turn two of those plays into big gainers, you get 80-100 more yards and 10-14 more points. Hunter doesn’t jump and fall down and Jacory actually breaks away, for example. Instead of 370 yards/20points it’s more like 450yard/32pts. Clean up the goal line penalty and it’s 36 points. Theres your 9-10 win team.

 

[betsch]

The more I think about it the more I think Thursday night was close to the floor for this offense. Not one person made a play. We took what was there all night but that was it. If you can turn two of those plays into big gainers, you get 80-100 more yards and 10-14 more points. Hunter doesn’t jump and fall down and Jacory actually breaks away, for example. Instead of 370 yards/20points it’s more like 450yard/32pts. Clean up the goal line penalty and it’s 36 points. Theres your 9-10 win team.

I still think that false start on the goal line was huge. We score a TD there and, it doesn't put the game away, but it definitely puts us in the driver's seat.

 

[doublewing]

They have to develop a running game. That means better perimeter blocking, another RB or 2, and it would be good to have a complimentary playaction passing attack when we're in typical run situations/sets. Kept hearing about how good our TE's are, let's try to hit them over the top.

 

[V-Doub]

It's often said that to win in the Big Ten you have to be able to run the ball and stop the run

I really feel like the rushing offense will develop. I still think our OL and EJ are too good to not have a strong rushing attack.

The rushing defense is a little bit more concerning to me...some of their big runs were more assignment misses, but I still worry about the DL getting pushed around as much as they did. I thought we saw some flashes, but a lot of work to do to get ready for Michigan (whose fans, by the way, now seem to think they have the 9/20 matchup in the bag)

Need to see how they do against a traditional power run offense. And that won’t happen until we play Michigan. I’m also very concerned that some B1G offenses, that can line up under center and run downhill will be able to over power us. Hope I’m wrong.

Like OP said if we do end up being very average to below average at stopping the run. We better be elite on the back end and elite on offense.

 

[HerbRedman]

Remember these game 1s are always a bit of a crapshoot bc you don't know what a new team w new players are going to do.

If we were playing that UC team in week 2 we would already know what they can/can't do. I don't think Butler knew that they were going to do literal zero passing. I think we knew they had some good WR threats etc. You had to gameplan for everything bc you never know in a game 1.

This stuff gets easier in a way bc you know exactly what teams can and can't do as the season goes on.


We're going a little overboard with the definitive season proclamations after just one game. It was an odd game 1 too: THURS game, vs a P4 team, at an NFL stadium, 8pm start, national TV...vs a HC who had been on the hot seat all offseason. This is different than sucking vs, say, South Alabama at Memorial Stadium in a 11am kickoff on BTN.

I'm not ready to make any definitive proclamations about this team positive or negative yet. That was just an extremely odd game scenario to start the season and I'm just happy we got a win.

 

[SoCal_Corn]

I said it 10x on here...the DL, without the 2 large men from last year (who dominated NC Ohio St) scares me a lot.

 

[V-Doub]

Remember these game 1s are always a bit of a crapshoot bc you don't know what a new team w new players are going to do.

If we were playing that UC team in week 2 we would already know what they can/can't do. I don't think Butler knew that they were going to do literal zero passing. I think we knew they had some good WR threats etc. You had to gameplan for everything bc you never know in a game 1.

This stuff gets easier in a way bc you know exactly what teams can and can't do as the season goes on.


We're going a little overboard with the definitive season proclamations after just one game. It was an odd game 1 too: THURS game, vs a P4 team, at an NFL stadium, 8pm start, national TV...vs a HC who had been on the hot seat all offseason. This is different than sucking vs, say, South Alabama at Memorial Stadium in a 11am kickoff on BTN.

I'm not ready to make any definitive proclamations about this team positive or negative yet. That was just an odd way to start the season and I'm fuckin ecstatic we got a win.

Some teams, the good ones, see where they’re deficient and get better. Most teams are what you see in the 1st few games. Game 1 can be a little iffy when drawing broader conclusions. But I’ve found over the years, after about 2-3 games, most teams show who they are, and most don’t improve much upon their deficiencies.

 

[HerbRedman]

Some teams, the good ones, see where they’re deficient and get better. Most teams are what you see in the 1st few games. Game 1 can be a little iffy when drawing broader conclusions. But I’ve found over the years, after about 2-3 games, most teams show who they are, and most don’t improve much upon their deficiencies.

I think you know a few things: we need a better backup RB. DBs are good. OL is pretty good. Could maybe use 1 more beefy DT to clog the middle. Stuff like that.


But to definitively say "the 2025 Nebraska Cornhuskers cannot stop the run"...I mean it's a little early for that. They can make adjustments etc. They may have games where the pass defense is bad and the run defense looks good. Just hard to say you know how the other 11 games are gonna go after a weird game like that. Also when we are the youngest team in the B1G there's always potential for improvement (but bad games too)

 

[Blakejc]

They have to develop a running game. That means better perimeter blocking, another RB or 2, and it would be good to have a complimentary playaction passing attack when we're in typical run situations/sets. Kept hearing about how good our TE's are, let's try to hit them over the top.

Couple of things. Dylan has to be willing to scramble when teams play man to man. You saw at Ohio St. last year how that threat immediately changed their D.

RPO would also help us a ton, but the QB has to be a legitimate threat for it to work. No one took our RPO seriously last year because Dylan was never going to run.

And you hardly need to show it for a coach to see it on film. If Dylan has 2-3 designed runs a game that’s plenty to keep teams honest. Throw in a couple well timed scrambles and our offense opens up a ton.

Look at it this way. Dylan rushed for -65 yards last year. If he can rush for 180 this year (15yds/game), that’s a net gain of 20 rushing yards/game. That would be HUGE.

 

[V-Doub]

I think you know a few things: we need a better backup RB. DBs are good. OL is pretty good. Could maybe use 1 more beefy DT to clog the middle. Stuff like that.


But to definitively say "the 2025 Nebraska Cornhuskers cannot stop the run"...I mean it's a little early for that. They can make adjustments etc. They may have games where the pass defense is bad and the run defense looks good. Just hard to say you know how the other 11 games are gonna go after a weird game like that. Also when we are the youngest team in the B1G there's always potential for improvement (but bad games too)

Oh I agree, it still a little early to say that. But if we look at all suspect against the run in the next two games, Michigan is probably gonna pummel us at the point of attack. Basically if we don’t show marked improvement in the next 2-3 games it’s pretty safe to say it’s a weakness that will be a problem throughout the season.

Also very possible we could improve at stopping the run and Michigan will still be able to run the ball.