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First Conference Game

Uenth

Uenth

Coaching Legend
Nov 12, 2017
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3-0 Illinois versus 3-0 Huskers.

First real test, IMO. I'm not denigrating our victory over sCUm but I'm just not convinced that they are that great so I feel our first Conference Game is our first huge test.

We've already proven that we won't fold if the going gets a bit rough or if the officiating sucks. Now we will see how things are going to stack up in the conference.

In other words, gut check time. I confess to having major butterflies at the moment. Plus it's Friday night in the lights so there's a lot of pressure. Too early in the week for me to have any real feelings one way or another.

But, we're halfway to a bowl game fellow Husker Freaks! We are bowling this year! Early feelings?

GO BIG RED!!!
 
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A few quick notes; statistically, Nebraska is 5th in the conference in total defense (4.19 yds per play), Illinois is 8th (4.55 yds per play). Offensively, Nebraska is 9th in the conference at 6.45 yds per play, and Illinois is 12th at 6.04 yds per play. (I prefer to measure teams on yds per play as it is more indicative than yds per game.)

Both teams schedule to date is pretty comparable, when ranking their opponents. (Massey Rankings: Massey Ratings - College Football Rankings.

A few notes on players Illinois lost from graduation: DT Jer'Zhan Newton, 2nd round draft pick, DL Keith Randolph Jr. currently a FA with the Chicago Bears. Isaiah Williams WR 1st team All-B1G WR in 2023, now with the Lions as an FA, Casey Washington WR, 6th round choice by the Atlanta Falcons, OL Isaiah Adams (3rd round, Arizona), TE Tip Reiman (3rd round, Arizona),OL Julian Pearl FA Baltimore Ravens.

I bring these players up to you to remind you that we beat the Illini at their home last year with these players.

Their offensive strength is primarily in 3 players; their QB who is definitely an upper 1/2 of the conference QB. Luke Altmyer cfbstats.com - Luke Altmyer 2024 Player Statistics - Illinois Fighting Illini

Their RB So.Kaden Feagin cfbstats.com - Kaden Feagin 2024 Player Statistics - Illinois Fighting Illini
Their WR Sr. Pat Bryant cfbstats.com - Pat Bryant 2024 Player Statistics - Illinois Fighting Illini

Player to watch for on offense is So. WR Malik Elzy who has the talent to be a upper level WR.

On defense Illini return most of their LBers and DBs, which is the strength of their defense.

Massey's Matchup Tool has Nebraska favored in this game with a 62% win probability using their tool. Massey Ratings Matchup Tool
 
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UNI pushed us around on both sides of the line for for big chunks of the game. I am assuming Illinois is better than UNI so we will need to get tougher and stronger. This is where the game is won with somewhat evenly matched teams. Tackling needs to be better also.
 
kmillz said:
UNI pushed us around on both sides of the line for for big chunks of the game. I am assuming Illinois is better than UNI so we will need to get tougher and stronger. This is where the game is won with somewhat evenly matched teams. Tackling needs to be better also.
Click to expand...

The part in red is a bit of an exaggeration. They went 6-16 on 3rd down and scored 3 points.
 
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Husker99 said:
The part in red is a bit of an exaggeration. They went 6-16 on 3rd down and scored 3 points.
Click to expand...
In addition, NU had more yard rushing, more yards passing and averaged 8.8 yard per play to NIU's 4.2 yards per play. Kmillz will need to explain how that equals getting pushed around for big chunks.
 
Wow! A lil Abner reference!
Next Hunchie will be admitting he gets his malapropisms from Walt Kelly's POGO!
 
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Uenth said:
He's our resident Joe Btfsplk. I can almost see the dark cloud over his head some posts.
Click to expand...

Something like this?



People16-Depression.jpg
 
kmillz said:
UNI pushed us around on both sides of the line for for big chunks of the game. I am assuming Illinois is better than UNI so we will need to get tougher and stronger. This is where the game is won with somewhat evenly matched teams. Tackling needs to be better also.
Click to expand...
We took better angles to the ball as the game went on.
 
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Husker99 said:
The part in red is a bit of an exaggeration. They went 6-16 on 3rd down and scored 3 points.
Click to expand...

It’s certainly not an exaggeration as most people are noting. As the competition gets tougher we need to clean that up.
 
kmillz said:
It’s certainly not an exaggeration as most people are noting. As the competition gets tougher we need to clean that up.
Click to expand...

You're the only one here saying that, so 1 person is not most people. And I follow several #Husker accounts on social media no one is saying what you're saying. Now I acknowledge the sample size I reference is small, but it is exponentially bigger than your single dubious claim.

And for the record, there were plays where the UNI offense beat our defense, but that's football; sometimes the other guys win. If your claim was accurate, the game would have been much closer or we might have lost. We didn't. Instead, we cruised to a 31 point win and we were in control of the game from pretty much the first play to the last. Our 2nd and even 3rd team defense held their offense out of the end zone.

Dude, just admit you over-stated your point. It isn't a big deal, no one is going to hold it against you. As fans who care so much about this program, sometimes we say things in the heat of a moment where maybe our emotions are a little too wrapped up in the game--it can happen to anyone.
 
Husker99 said:
You're the only one here saying that, so 1 person is not most people. And I follow several #Husker accounts on social media no one is saying what you're saying. Now I acknowledge the sample size I reference is small, but it is exponentially bigger than your single dubious claim.

And for the record, there were plays where the UNI offense beat our defense, but that's football; sometimes the other guys win. If your claim was accurate, the game would have been much closer or we might have lost. We didn't. Instead, we cruised to a 31 point win and we were in control of the game from pretty much the first play to the last. Our 2nd and even 3rd team defense held their offense out of the end zone.

Dude, just admit you over-stated your point. It isn't a big deal, no one is going to hold it against you. As fans who care so much about this program, sometimes we say things in the heat of a moment where maybe our emotions are a little too wrapped up in the game--it can happen to anyone.
Click to expand...
kmillz’s original comment echoed a lot of posts from the live chat at various points of the game, so he’s hardly alone.

And I don’t think that his point and yours are mutually exclusive. Sure, UNI didn’t get a lot of points, but they had possessions where they moved it too easily. Their first possession of each half for instance. Were it not for an overthrow that got picked, they likely would’ve scored to open the second half.

I’m happy that we’re 3-0, and yet there’s a lot to clean up. That’s what the coach is telling the team, or at least what he’s saying to the media, and I believe him.
 
Saw the first half then had to go to a community event. At 21-3 I was feeling very confident. When I got home the game was over with the final score of 34-3. So with a 31 point victory I slept like a baby.
 
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Husker99 said:
You're the only one here saying that, so 1 person is not most people. And I follow several #Husker accounts on social media no one is saying what you're saying. Now I acknowledge the sample size I reference is small, but it is exponentially bigger than your single dubious claim.

And for the record, there were plays where the UNI offense beat our defense, but that's football; sometimes the other guys win. If your claim was accurate, the game would have been much closer or we might have lost. We didn't. Instead, we cruised to a 31 point win and we were in control of the game from pretty much the first play to the last. Our 2nd and even 3rd team defense held their offense out of the end zone.

Dude, just admit you over-stated your point. It isn't a big deal, no one is going to hold it against you. As fans who care so much about this program, sometimes we say things in the heat of a moment where maybe our emotions are a little too wrapped up in the game--it can happen to anyone.
Click to expand...

Take a deep breath, nothing was overstated, the defense was pushed around more than anyone expected. 10 minute drive to start the game, yards after contact. No one saw all that coming. You better be glad they had 100 yards of penalties. Read the game page comments from the pundits on HM. My point is we’re lucky it was UNI with a lot of sloppy penalties and not Illinois, Indiana, Iowa or Rutgers. The schedule gets exponentially more difficult going forward and we need to be tougher and stronger along the line of scrimmage and certainly we need to tackle better to limit YAC against much better competition to come.
 
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Valid points are being made all around. The one thought that I had earlier this morning is that this was a 31 point win. Over the recent seasons our teams would not have even been close to winning by that much. Two steps forward, one step back...

We got this.
 
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