[Husker] Nebraska vs Kansas stats (UNCLASSIFIED)

[Steve Reichenbach]

Last year, the NU coaches had an effective strategy to win games ---
play it safe on offense and count on the defense to win games.

This year they have an even more effective strategy to win games ---
don't give up big plays on defense and count on the offense to score
enough points to win.

There are always tradeoffs and balancing considerations in developing a
strategy.  You can't double cover every receiver, stack the box, blitz,
and have a spy on the QB (without penalties for illegal participation).

The defensive strategy this year has been very effective, as NU has
lost only one game and in the one loss (a) NU held the opponent to its
season low point total, (b) NU gave up only one drive longer than 40
yds, (c) an NU fumble led to a short drive for a TD, and (d) NU would
have won the game if the offense had been able to score 21 points
(which it would have done except for dropped passes).

Can the defense play better?  Sure.  That is always the case.  Has
the "not very good" defense (as it is tarred in the earlier post) been
good enough to win every game (which seems like the most important
goal)?  Sure enough.

Some people always find something to be unhappy about (and if you're
unhappy with this year's defense you're going to be unhappy much of the
time).  A view that is more based in fact (and is more conducive to
happiness) is to see that this is a very good defense that has some
things to do in order to be even better.


> Nebraska defense is
>   #73 against the rush
>       (which is a bit misleading; they are #54 in yrds/rush)
>    #4 in passing efficiency defense
>   #23 in total defense
>   #21 in scoring defense
> 
> Definitely better than 85th and in the top-25, but not by much primarily 
> due to the poor rush defense.  The defensive line has had much more of a 
> drop off with Suh's departure than anyone expected.
> 
> > I saw on one of the sites that the NU run defense was the 85th best in
> > college football.  That boys and girls is not very good no matter how we
> > spin it.  I watched BP's post game press conference and he reminded me of a
> > politician:  spin, spin, spin.  He said "they played well and they did some
> > good things".  I also listened to the "fifth quarter" discussion after the
> > press conference.  One of the commentators (name escapes me but he was an
> > All American OL) said Bo was just spinning and that he was seething inside
> > at the way his defense is playing this year.  The pass rush is
> > disappointing.  They don't seem to be able to get off blocks.  The QB's have
> > all day to throw.  I believe our problem is with the defensive ends.  I can
> > only recall one play where they mentioned Allen made a play.  The pass
> > defense hasn't been playing like the #1 best the last few games either. One
> > of the announcers made a semi sarcastic comment about how Prince A. was
> > getting burned. I can't remember exactly what he said but it was sort of
> > funny. If Dennard comes back this week, that will be good news.