As you can imagine, Nebraska fans and stories out of Lincoln are not exactly heralding the game as a major accomplishment. Oh, there are some with the Pollyana outlook — well, no. Not really. When even former Husker greats like Tommie Frazier are being critical of the team, there are problems.
For the most part there is, at best, a reaction that they’ll take the win and hope to get much better soon.
I have to agree with this point from a Husker blog talking about the game:
Prevent defense? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Worst sin of the day. 1-pt game, we’ve hammered the QB all day, and we go to 3-man rush and surrender the one thing that this QB needs to succeed – time to deliver. That may have been the stupidest coaching move I have ever seen. Seriously.
He’s right. It’s like the dark side of NFL coaching experience. Dropping into prevent. In Pitt’s opening possession, Nebraska’s secondary was immediately exposed as being weak and not good against Pitt’s receivers. A 21 yard pass to Lee, an 18 yard completion to Strong. Finally, Nebraska came with the pressure and that forced Palko to throw away on 3d and 5. Before that blitz, Palko had started 3-4 with 44 yards. Then the defensive pressure on the line and blitzing became the standard and Palko went 5-17 and 108 yards (73 coming on one pass) until the final drive of the game. At that point, the prevent allowed him to go 3-6 for 38 yards and a FG attempt. Not a lot for either team to be excessively proud of.
Pitt’s D-line brought some actual pressure in the game, in part because of extra motivation by a public diss from the Nebraska offensive lines coach.
Yet, on the day of the game, Cornhuskers offensive line coach Dennis Wagner openly ripped the Panthers’ defensive line. He was especially critical of their defensive tackles.
“They’re really struggling,” Wagner told the Lincoln Journal Star. “They’ve had to use seven guys at those two positions — not because they don’t have depth, but because they can’t find an answer as to who they want to play there.
“We really feel like our inside three guys are going to have a great game and push those big guys around. Pitt’s guys like to play like trees — they stand up and look around.”
A photocopy of that newspaper story was passed around the Pitt locker room shortly before the opening kickoff.
“I personally read that one, and I took offense to it,” defensive end Charles Sallet said later.
“I think it was disrespectful,” defensive tackle Thomas Smith said, his eyes blazing. “This was the classiest city and the classiest fans that I’ve ever been around. I wouldn’t expect anybody to throw dirt in the paper like that, especially a coach.
“I think it was childish and disrespectful. I’m just sad I don’t get another year to play them again.”
It also seemed to be a stone coming from a glass house given Nebraska’s O-line issues.
In Taylor’s defense, he plays behind a line that’s been shaky. He never complains. He’s a strong leader, a great kid, a gamer. But this offense needs powerful, agile, pocket-protecting tackles. And last week we learned beyond a shadow of a doubt that Nebraska’s tackle play has been suspect at best. Indeed, offensive line coach Dennis Wagner essentially called out Seppo Evwaraye and Cornealius Fuamatu-Thomas, saying they weren’t getting the job done.
So, you get the impression that Wagner might be a little too eager to talk to the press.
The offensive line was succeeding at providing some holes for the running game — vastly aided by LaRod Stephens-Howling’s speed and elusiveness. Not to mention Ray Kirkley providing the change of pace.
Nebraska fans, won’t be forgetting Stephens-Howling — the scariest player Nebraska saw.
The main problem is, the pass protection from the line is still non-existent. As the opening and final drive showed, Palko is not that different a passer from last year. When given a chance to set and step into his throws they are strong and accurate. He just isn’t been getting much time. He was sacked 4 times and hit numerous other times.
If Pitt can’t throw the ball effectively, the offense will still be useless. Remember, the goal was a balanced offense.
2 blocked field goals and a botched snap. With Pitt’s offense struggling mightily, any special teams mistake gets magnified. Pitt can’t afford them.
