[Husker] Game Comments

[Steve Stone]

1) The Huskers scored one touchdown in the first quarter and then two 
more early in the second quarter, the latter with 11 minutes still 
unplayed. From then on, they didn't score again until the end of the 
fourth quarter with 20 seconds to go. On their first possession after 
stopping the Aggies cold after the kickoff, they had a good drive 
going until they got deep into A&M territory at which time on fourth 
and sixth their pass protection broke down and Zac was sacked to end 
the drive.

2) During the first half, the NU offense kept the defense off the 
field much of the time, so a fresh defense could turn the Aggie 
offense into shambles. In the second half, the offense seemed to 
slack off and ended up with a series of three and outs, so the 
defense was stuck on the field for a much longer time and eventually 
became a bit weary. As a result, the Aggie offense started clicking 
and managed to complete a large number of critical three and long 
plays, wearing down the NU defense even more.

3) As I wrote yesterday, it seems clear that the extreme youth of the 
O-line is the "culprit" here because boys simply don't have the 
stamina that men do. There is no cure for this situation this year, 
but it does bode well for next season and thereafter.

4) In addition to blocking the Aggie field goal, Turner played like 
the (freshman) All-American he was last year. Bo Ruud is a different 
sort of linebacker than his brother Barrett, and he's playing a 
different position in a different defense under a different coach. 
Even so, I think he compares favorably with his older brother.

5) Upon reviewing the game, I noticed a startling fact, namely, not 
one single pass was thrown to the Husker tight ends who until now 
have been the mainstay of the Husker passing attack. It would seem 
that A&M prepped to stop the tight ends, so Zac went to the wideouts. 
If memory serves, this is the first game in which Todd Peterson is 
the leading receiver. Oddly, Purify caught only two passes - - but 
one of them was relatively important.

6) At last, at long last, the majority of Husker kickoffs went into 
the end zone for touchbacks. Jake Wesch, it turns out, is a young man 
of many talents. His TD pass in the KSU game proved that.

Steve Stone