Before each Ohio State game, Eleven Warriors catches up with a media member who covers the opposing team to get his or her perspective on the Buckeyes' upcoming opponent.
With Nebraska set to host Ohio State this week, we welcome back Erin Sorensen, the deputy editor of Hail Varsity, for expert insight on the Cornhuskers, who haven’t lost a game by more than eight points this season yet are just 3-6 on the year.
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| NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS |
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3-6 (1-5 B1G) ROSTER / SCHEDULE |
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NOON – SATURDAY, NOV. 6 MEMORIAL STADIUM LINCOLN, NEBRASKA |
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FOX FOX SPORTS GO |
Why haven’t the Cornhuskers, whose only wins have been blowout wins over Fordham, Buffalo and Northwestern, been able to win any close games? With Nebraska just one loss away from yet another losing season, is Scott Frost on the hot seat? What are Adrian Martinez and Nebraska’s defense doing well, and could that give the Cornhuskers a chance to upset the Buckeyes on Saturday? Answers to all of those questions can be found below.
Six of Nebraska’s games have been decided by eight points or fewer this season, and the Cornhuskers have lost all six of them. What’s prevented the Cornhuskers from winning close games?
Sorensen: Tight ends coach Sean Beckton met with the media on Tuesday, and he was asked a question very similar to this one. His answer is worth reading:
“I think the biggest thing for us is we’ve just got to play just a little bit harder across the board, and we’ve got to focus in a little bit harder across the board on every single play. Our lapses have been killing us. Quarterback, running back, tight end, receivers, O-line –our lapses have caused us not to execute on plays that we could basically have scored on. I could count four or five every single week that if somebody plays a little bit harder or somebody has little bit more focus, we’re sitting here at 8-1, 7-2, a better season, particularly just on offense. I pride myself with the tight ends to really, really harp on those small details. If they’re not focused on a play, to me it’s a lack of attention to detail. That means you’re thinking about something else when you should be detailing everything up. The kids know when they screw up at the tight end position, as soon as that play is over, they know I’m right there in their ear and that’s one of the reasons those guys are playing at a high level because I’m constantly on those guys on the small details, lack of focus. When I sense it and I see it on the practice field, I’m going to address it right away.”
It was a really honest answer (and fair assessment), in my opinion. His follow-up is worth a read too:
“When you make mistakes, when you don’t step with the correct footwork on the offensive line, tight end, if you hit the wrong landmark as a running back when a hole is there and you should be downhill bouncing it, that’s a lack of focus and a lack of detail. Same thing with the quarterback, when we’re not reading things through and the ball’s not going to the right spot and we get a pick, that’s a lack of focus and a lack of detail. The receiver may have caused some of those interceptions just like Austin (Allen) did on one, but the lack of focus and lack of detail has cost us some plays to where we have to do a better job going forward. To beat Ohio State this week, we have to play with a lot of passion, we have to be focused on all the details, we have to play that much harder against this team that’s coming in and we’ll be successful.”
I share all of that because I tend to agree. I think what has prevented Nebraska from winning any of those close games is Nebraska. For any team facing the Huskers, the key right now to winning is to just wait and let them beat themselves. My managing editor wrote about this very thing following the loss to Purdue.
Whether or not Nebraska is or is not close to turning the "corner" that so many point to, it doesn't really matter if Nebraska can't stop making the mistakes that are far too costly. That doesn't fall on just one player or position group, either.
Unless Nebraska wins out, this will be the Cornhuskers’ fifth consecutive losing season and their fourth in a row since Scott Frost became head coach. Why haven’t the Cornhuskers been able to turn things around, and is Frost’s seat getting hot yet?
Sorensen: I think the answer to the first question exists within the answer above. You can't really turn a corner if you're still making the same mistakes over and over. Too many of the same mistakes have also plagued Nebraska for the entire Scott Frost tenure too, so it makes sense why things haven’t "turned around." Disciplined teams don't make the same mistakes over and over.
To answer the second question, I think it is. It's very warm, at least. Athletic director Trev Alberts has remained steady in his support of Frost and the football team in season (as most ADs do), but fan opinion is certainly split. There are plenty who want Frost gone yesterday, and plenty who want him back next year. I think that's inevitable. He's not just any coach either. He's the Nebraska-born, former quarterback of his alma mater. Everyone wanted this to work out, so I think that has just added a really hard layer to this whole thing.
Nebraska has allowed just 20.3 points per game, and the Cornhuskers have already held three top-10 teams (Oklahoma, Michigan State and Michigan) well below their season scoring averages. What has Nebraska’s defense done successfully to limit top offenses?
Sorensen: Nebraska's defense is currently ranked No. 27 nationally in team defense, having limited opponents to just under 350 total yards of offense per game. That isn't too bad. So, what's been the key to success? Well, this defense has been successful because it's been consistent. It plays a sound game. When it doesn't? It adjusts.
The Husker defense looked lethargic against Minnesota in the first half of that game. After halftime? They came out with a renewed sense of energy and played at a much higher level. That ability to adjust has been key for that group.
Time of possession is a killer for Nebraska's defense, though. Let's look at last week's loss to Purdue. While it wasn't the defense's best outing, the Boilermakers had the ball for 38:38. Nebraska had it for 21:22. That's a killer for a defense.
The key here is that the defense can do its job when it gets a little help. When it's not being expected to be on the field constantly, it can play pretty consistent from start to finish which ultimately helps limit those top offenses. Will that be the case against Ohio State? I'd like to think this defense will come out swinging, or adjust if it doesn't, but it really comes down to the kind of help it gets from the offense.
Aside from his four-interception game against Purdue last week, Adrian Martinez is having his best season statistically as Nebraska’s starting quarterback. How would you assess his improvement this season?
Sorensen: Adrian Martinez's biggest improvement each season has been his leadership. He's always been a leader on the team – and being a three-time captain certainly shows that – but 2021 has really highlighted that.
He's also improved in his play, which has been good enough in a number of instances this season to win games. And yet the Huskers haven't won those games. It can't be entirely blamed on Martinez, though. The offensive line hasn't exactly been a bright spot for Nebraska in 2021, whhich has made Martinez's job harder. Consistency with receivers has come and gone. The run game finds its moments to shine, but it's still mostly reliant on Martinez's legs. And then there's the special teams mishaps that only make things harder and harder, oftentimes leaving points on the field that then have to be made up. Martinez has a lot on his shoulders and he's not one to complain, but that can be a lot for any one person to handle. He's been asked to do a lot and he takes a lot on – sometimes even injured – which has led to the errors that just feel too monumental to overcome.
Frost said this week that he hopes for Martinez to have the game where he can lead Nebraska to that big win. It'd be nice for that to come to fruition, because Frost is right that Martinez deserves it. But he can't build on any of the areas he actually has improved on if he's continuously asked to be everything at all times.
Who are some of the other Nebraska players to watch in this game?
Sorensen: On offense, I would keep an eye on tight end Austin Allen. He's having one heck of a season individually, and may end up with one of the best tight end seasons in Nebraska history. He's also 6-foot-9, which is always brought up on every television broadcast. Wide receiver Samori Touré is also a fun player to watch.
On defense, I'd say inside linebackers Luke Reimer and Nick Henrich. They're second and third in total tackles on Nebraska's roster. Even more impressive, the duo are fourth and sixth in tackles per game in the Big Ten Conference. They're both pretty solid.
Ohio State is a 15.5-point favorite for Saturday’s game. How do you see it playing out?
Sorensen: It feels like a safe bet that Ohio State will leave Lincoln with a win on Saturday. I think Nebraska will find a little footing at some point, maybe even making things a little uncomfortable for a moment. However, Ohio State is dangerous and it feels like things could get dicey for Nebraska quick.
After all, Nebraska ranks 94th in turnover margin in 2021. Ohio State is ninth. That's not exactly a winning recipe for Frost and his team. It's especially troubling after Martinez's interceptions against Purdue.
I've seen a lot of people projecting a 45-20 Ohio State win (or something in that neighborhood), and that feels right to me.
