[Husker] UT-NU Observations from the Press Box

[Jeff Volk]

Greetings,

I have finally returned to Minneapolis and have skimmed through the
emails regarding the UT game. Luckily I got to view the game from the
cozy confines of the press box and got to miss the cold, damp stands,
and here are my thoughts, observations on the game as well as comments
on some of the posts here. 

1. Terrance Nunn: It was unfortunate to see Terrance have such a poor
game since he has been so solid for the team during the Callahan era.
His decisions not to run up and field the first 3 punts of the game were
huge momentum changers in the first half. He did bounce back and make
some big catches before the fumble, which still has my stomach
wrenching. 

2. Special Teams: Coach Busch needs to get these units whipped into
shape. While UT's special teams got most of the notice for the missed
kicks, our special teams play might have been worse. Allowing UT to open
the game with a long return totally sapped the energy of the crowd and
in my mind the punt that was not fielded that rolled to the 1 yard line
near the top of the 2nd quarter was 1 of the top 3 or 4 critical errors
in the game. Prior to that we had the crowd really into the game, the
defense was playing very well and we were winning the field position
battle. Having our first possession of the game into the wind starting
at our own 1 was a killer. It totally changed the play calling on
offense as well as any momentum we did have in the game and after the 3
and out UT used the short field and punched it in for a TD. We really
need to shore up the special teams if we want to go much further this
season. 

3. Defensive Backs: It can be pretty easily stated that the loss of
Bowman before the season has had as big of an impact as anything that
has happened this season as it relates to performance on the field.
Jones is decent and just got beat by a more athletic player on the long
TD to Sweed, who will be coming to an NFL stadium near you very shortly.
I give Grixby all the credit in the world for making a position switch
and for playing as well as he has, but he is a nickel corner at best on
a good Blackshirt D. Having Bowman and Jones starting would have made
our defense exponentially better and would have probably led to a closer
game at USC and a win against UT. 

4. The Pass Call on 3rd & 3: In my book this was a great call. We hadn't
done any type of sustained running and a run between the tackles is a
predictable call there. The play call did exactly what it was designed
to - it created a 1 on 1 match-up on the edge and had easily gained
enough yards to gain the 1st down and lock up the game. Unfortunately
the DB made a play on the ball, Nunn fumbled and the rest is history. I
stand in the camp that would make that same call every time. What
guarantee is there that Glenn/Jackson/Lucky doesn't fumble a run between
the tackles? 

5. The Field Goal/Hail Mary Debate: Again here I think we made the right
call. That same kicker everyone wanted to try a FG started the game with
a kickoff that barely travelled 50 years with that same wind, so it is
absurd to think that a 62-yard field goal attempt had any shot of being
anywhere close. Conversely, you can see how things can work out when you
run the hail mary by the roughing the passer penalty that came on the
first play. When you chuck the ball down to the end zone and you have
all those hands and all those bodies going after it who knows what can
happen. Conversely a 62-yard field goal attempt would have likely made
it to the goal line at best, but you can't catch that for a game winning
TD when it falls short. 

6. The Polls: To suggest that we shouldn't drop in the polls no matter
how tough we played UT is ridiculous. If people can't figure that out on
their own I don't know how to even begin explaining it other than if you
win you typically move up whereas if you lose you typically move down. 

7. Zack Taylor: I know it has been said before, but that is one tough
S.O.B.! The hits that kid takes and continually gets up from are mind
boggling. I shudder to think of where the program would be without him. 

8. The Rest of the Season: At this point I think the season lines up
pretty well for us. OSU is better and we are on the road, but we still
have superior talent and should win the game - same goes for the game
against Texas A&M. Colorado is always dangerous, but they are not a good
team and should be an easy win. People who use their game against
Georgia as a barometer should take a look at how bad Georgia really is
too. That leaves Mizzou - who is the real deal and who will provide a
tough game. Chase Daniel is a good player - period. Given the problems
we have in the secondary our front 7 will have to be great and our
offense control the ball and limit miscues in order to win. My gut tells
me that we win all 4 of these games, but who knows. 

9. The B12 Championship Game: I have seen it predicted on the list
already that if we were to play UT again in the B12 Championship that we
will somehow get destroyed but I just don't see that as the case. UT is
not a substantially better team than NU and could have easily lost the
game. I would say overall they are a more athletic team than we are from
top to bottom, but I also think that we match up pretty well against
them. The difference between teams in the top 25 has never been smaller
than it is currently in college football and I just don't see UT coming
back to hang a 30 point loss on us should we meet again.  

10. The Husker Program Overall: In year 3 of the Callahan Era I think we
are realistically about where I expected we would be. I think that we
are a legitimate Top 12 or 15 to 25 team that will struggle against the
nation's elite, which this year I really only consider to be OSU,
Michigan and USC. In year 3 we are a legit B12 North Champ and if we win
the north a team with a 35/65 shot at getting into a BCS game by winning
our conference championship. Given the new facilities, the new
enthusiasm and the renewed energy surrounding the program I think we are
right on track. I can't remember the last time I head Memorial Stadium
as loud as it was at the start of the game Saturday and certainly after
the go ahead touchdown to Swift. It was LOUD and the crowd was
definitely into it.  

In other miscellaneous news that I don't think has been posted yet, the
Missouri game has been selected by ABC for television although they will
use their 6-day window to determine an 11 am or 7 pm start time. 

And throwing a bone to those who care, Solich's Ohio team crushed Gill's
Buffalo squad on Saturday and in what was almost a huge upset,
especially living here in Minnesota, Craig Bohl's 1-AA North Dakota
State Bison nearly beat Minnesota on Saturday - losing 10-9 after having
their game winning FG try blocked by the Gophers to end the game. 

Take care, have a great day and GO BIG RED!

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Volk