Tweet
TL;DR: Low scoring game. Nebraska: 17-13. Good place to watch a game.
Memorial Stadium is a good place to watch a college football game. Not because of comfortable seats or excellent views but because Nebraska fans and fans of opposing teams travelling to the game care about football. Opposing fans are generally treated very well and with respect. Like most LDS, they seem to care what others think of them. And they take great pride in that - there is even an inscription in the stadium about being the best fans in college football. Win or lose: BYU players will be applauded when they exit the field. Tailgating might be better than BYU but not by much. But the game experience is usually excellent.
Nebraska will have five players out due to suspensions. No reasons given other than the typical "violation of team rules". One will be a defensive starter, probably in the secondary. No names have been announced.
With a new coaching staff in place, it's difficult to determine what to expect. HC Mike Riley and OC Mike Langsdorf want to run a pro offense like Riley did at Oregon St. and Langsdorf did with the NY Giants. They don't have a QB (yet) to run that kind of offense. So it will be interesting to see what kind of offense Nebraska will run. Riley has indicated he will play to QB Tommy Armstrong's (#4) strengths - but his strength is running the football. Armstrong has a strong arm but he struggles with reading coverages and with passing accuracy. Nebraska's top playmaker at WR got injured in Fall camp and will be out for the BYU game. Given those issues, Nebraska normally would resort to the run. But the OL is average at best. Nebraska graduated one of their best RBs in history and the RBs who will be playing are somewhat unproven. They are talented but it remains to be seen if they are in the same class as the past three RBs who are now in the NFL. I expect Nebraska will keep the option in its playbook.
On defense (Nebraska runs a 4-3), Nebraska has excellent DTs and OK DEs. DT Maliek Collins (#7) will have to be accounted for. The DEs are good against the run but not great pass rushing threats. The DEs might just be used to contain Taysom Hill and use the DTs to pressure him along with a blitzing LB. Nebraska's LBs look solid playing in a new defensive scheme - they had many issues last season. The secondary is deep with good talent at CB. The question is at the safety positions. Nate Gerry (#25) is good against the run and makes plays but can be beaten deep. The other safety is a somewhat of a question mark.
My take on the game.
BYU offense vs Nebraska defense:
BYU will have difficulty running the ball; especially without Jammal Williams. Not sure how much Anae will expose Taysom on designed QB runs. IMO, that's the best way to attack Nebraska's defense but also the quickest way to endanger BYU's season. Although Nebraska may not apply great pressure via the pass rush, the Huskers have a deep secondary and could easily go nickel or dime if Taysom starts throwing every play. I realize that the Blackshirts being tough against the run flies in the face of a team that last year gave up a record number of rushing yards to Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon by the 3rd quarter. Perhaps one of the many reasons Bo Pelini is now coaching at Youngstown St.
Nebraska offense vs BYU defense:
Given the Cougars struggles against the pass last season, I would throw first and run second against BYU. But Armstrong struggles with reading through progressions and passing accuracy. Strangely, he is effective on the deep pass. So I'm not sure how successful Nebraska will be through the air. As always, the key is turnovers - an area Armstrong has struggled. Bronco might be able to bait Armstrong into making a few. Pre-Riley, Nebraska and Armstrong were most successful by establishing the run and then exploiting the play-action pass. But running at BYU is playing to BYU's defensive strength.
My prediction is a low scoring game that might come down to field position and the punting game and who can kick FGs through the uprights. Nebraska has one of the better punters around; FG kicker is OK but young (Soph).
I'll go with 17-13 Nebraska.
Cannot attend the game due to work commitments.
You will hear that Nebraska has not lost a home opener since 1985 when they lost to FSU. But there have been few quality teams scheduled. In 2013, Nebraska (9-4) defeated Wyoming (5-7): 37-34.
Memorial Stadium is a good place to watch a college football game. Not because of comfortable seats or excellent views but because Nebraska fans and fans of opposing teams travelling to the game care about football. Opposing fans are generally treated very well and with respect. Like most LDS, they seem to care what others think of them. And they take great pride in that - there is even an inscription in the stadium about being the best fans in college football. Win or lose: BYU players will be applauded when they exit the field. Tailgating might be better than BYU but not by much. But the game experience is usually excellent.
Nebraska will have five players out due to suspensions. No reasons given other than the typical "violation of team rules". One will be a defensive starter, probably in the secondary. No names have been announced.
With a new coaching staff in place, it's difficult to determine what to expect. HC Mike Riley and OC Mike Langsdorf want to run a pro offense like Riley did at Oregon St. and Langsdorf did with the NY Giants. They don't have a QB (yet) to run that kind of offense. So it will be interesting to see what kind of offense Nebraska will run. Riley has indicated he will play to QB Tommy Armstrong's (#4) strengths - but his strength is running the football. Armstrong has a strong arm but he struggles with reading coverages and with passing accuracy. Nebraska's top playmaker at WR got injured in Fall camp and will be out for the BYU game. Given those issues, Nebraska normally would resort to the run. But the OL is average at best. Nebraska graduated one of their best RBs in history and the RBs who will be playing are somewhat unproven. They are talented but it remains to be seen if they are in the same class as the past three RBs who are now in the NFL. I expect Nebraska will keep the option in its playbook.
On defense (Nebraska runs a 4-3), Nebraska has excellent DTs and OK DEs. DT Maliek Collins (#7) will have to be accounted for. The DEs are good against the run but not great pass rushing threats. The DEs might just be used to contain Taysom Hill and use the DTs to pressure him along with a blitzing LB. Nebraska's LBs look solid playing in a new defensive scheme - they had many issues last season. The secondary is deep with good talent at CB. The question is at the safety positions. Nate Gerry (#25) is good against the run and makes plays but can be beaten deep. The other safety is a somewhat of a question mark.
My take on the game.
BYU offense vs Nebraska defense:
BYU will have difficulty running the ball; especially without Jammal Williams. Not sure how much Anae will expose Taysom on designed QB runs. IMO, that's the best way to attack Nebraska's defense but also the quickest way to endanger BYU's season. Although Nebraska may not apply great pressure via the pass rush, the Huskers have a deep secondary and could easily go nickel or dime if Taysom starts throwing every play. I realize that the Blackshirts being tough against the run flies in the face of a team that last year gave up a record number of rushing yards to Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon by the 3rd quarter. Perhaps one of the many reasons Bo Pelini is now coaching at Youngstown St.
Nebraska offense vs BYU defense:
Given the Cougars struggles against the pass last season, I would throw first and run second against BYU. But Armstrong struggles with reading through progressions and passing accuracy. Strangely, he is effective on the deep pass. So I'm not sure how successful Nebraska will be through the air. As always, the key is turnovers - an area Armstrong has struggled. Bronco might be able to bait Armstrong into making a few. Pre-Riley, Nebraska and Armstrong were most successful by establishing the run and then exploiting the play-action pass. But running at BYU is playing to BYU's defensive strength.
My prediction is a low scoring game that might come down to field position and the punting game and who can kick FGs through the uprights. Nebraska has one of the better punters around; FG kicker is OK but young (Soph).
I'll go with 17-13 Nebraska.
Cannot attend the game due to work commitments.
You will hear that Nebraska has not lost a home opener since 1985 when they lost to FSU. But there have been few quality teams scheduled. In 2013, Nebraska (9-4) defeated Wyoming (5-7): 37-34.
Comment