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WEBVTT
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Well, Keith, Nebraska's three and oh.
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Three and oh.
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I'm not sure what we're supposed to do with ourselves.
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Well, I think we're supposed to enjoy it.
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Although, judging by Husker fans online, I'm pretty sure we're legally required to find at least six things to complain about first.
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Absolutely.
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Nebraska wins 34-7.
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Old North Dakota to seven points.
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And somewhere, somebody is still furious about a third and six in the second quarter.
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And listen, was it perfect?
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No.
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But the Huskers handled business under the lights.
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Moved to 3-0.
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North Dakota came into Memorial Stadium looking for an upset.
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And they left with a seven-point participation trophy.
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34-7.
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Another win.
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Another week of undefeated Nebraska football.
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And now things are gonna start getting a little more interesting.
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Oh yeah.
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Because the party is next.
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So enjoy the win, Addict.
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We'll be playing responsibly.
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We're gonna hand out some grades, talk about what we like, and what made us nervous.
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And then it's time to bring on Michigan's Day.
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What's going on, addicts?
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Welcome back to another episode of Addicted to Corn because Big Red is a habit.
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I'm Josh, that's Keith, and Nebraska is officially 3-0 after taking care of the North Dakota Fighting Hawks 34-7 under the lights in Lincoln.
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I think this is one of those games where the final score tells you Nebraska was clearly the better football team, but there's still plenty of things for us to talk about.
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There were moments we liked, probably a few moments where all of Husker Nation collectively yelled at the TV, and most importantly, Nebraska did exactly what it needed to do.
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They won the football game.
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Today we're breaking down the win, handing out our position grades, talking about who stood out, what needs cleaned up, and then we're turning the page because Nebraska's next challenge is waiting.
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Michigan State.
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And yes, before we get out of here, the predictions are coming.
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But first, let's get into this 34-7 win
Load full transcript
over North Dakota.
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Keith, before we get into anything specific, Nebraska wins 34-7.
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What was your immediate reaction when that clock hit zero?
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I was thankful to see that we came out and we what we talked about last week on the podcast was our three keys to the game.
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I thought we executed those three keys pretty well.
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And we started fast.
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Right at the beginning of the game, we elected to take the ball rather than kick because we won the toss.
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And that turned out to be a good move because we marched down the field and scored right away.
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So we set the tone early, just like we wanted to do.
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And we scored again.
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We was 14-0 in the first quarter.
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Things were going great.
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Defense was playing great.
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I thought the overall flow of the offense was pretty good.
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It kind of stalled out a little bit in the second quarter.
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Started to pick things back up in the third quarter a little bit.
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And the defense I thought played really well.
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Held them to 205 yards total offense.
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Yes, there's no turnovers, but I thought the tackling was really good.
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Special teams, I mean, special teams needs work.
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They need a lot of work.
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A couple stupid penalties again.
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I thought the penalties were better this game.
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Yeah.
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I mean, overall we only had, what was it, four?
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Four for 45.
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Four for 45, which is an improvement from the previous two games.
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So I thought that was good, but there were still a couple penalties that in key situations that hurt us, especially in like field position and then giving North Dakota life.
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And then they ended up scoring on that late hit out of bounds.
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So still some things to clean up.
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I think most importantly, we need to work on our special teams in all aspects.
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Kicking game, we missed the field goal, the long field goal.
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He had a couple that he made, but one of them was really close.
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It was just it hugged the post there.
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It was right over the top of that bar.
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So yeah, and then you know, the punt returns, Jacori had that big one,
and it was called back by the holding from Keelan Smith.
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I thought there was some areas where JaCori should have ran up and caught the ball instead of letting it bounce.
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That cost us some big field position.
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The kickoff out of bounds from Hole, that killed us a little bit.
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It's just stuff like that, you know.
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And we said it last week on the pod.
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Special teams, if you're gonna do that against good teams, especially against big Big Ten teams, it's gonna hurt you.
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I mean, you can get away with it the first three games of the year, you know.
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But when you're going up against Big Ten talent, you can't be doing stuff like that.
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So I hope this next week, preparing for Michigan State, the special teams works on what they need to work on.
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So I would agree.
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Yeah, special teams I think is a top priority going into next week.
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Overall, I felt I felt pretty good coming out of the game.
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The offense looked really, really locked in in that first quarter.
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I think when I looked up the scoreboard at the end of the first quarter, they had a 112 yards rushing, which take that every week.
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Second quarter felt like maybe North Dakota was able to make some adjustments on us, started filling the run gaps a little bit better, which just go goes to show how good North Dakota is.
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Because we went from having 189 yards in the first quarter, I think we had maybe 30, 40 yards total in the second quarter running and stuff.
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It wasn't much.
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It wasn't much.
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I mean, they made a lot of smart changes, and I they really put the clamp down on us.
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Defensive wise, we came out just as aggressive.
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I loved our front four play.
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Thought the front four had their best game of the year.
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They kind of had the quarterback running for his life a few times.
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Linebacking crew looked good.
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There was never, I know the score to a lot of people only being 34-7.
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There's probably going to be some people out there going, oh, what happened?
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Nebraska didn't play as well.
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Why couldn't we have put away an FCS team a little bit better?
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That's a really good North Dakota team out there, and that might be one of their only one or two losses on the season for them.
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Yep.
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I mean, people forget last year they took Kansas State to the brink, lost by less than a touchdown or something like that.
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They're gonna be in the discussion for that FCS national championship, I think.
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So by far our toughest test to date, and I'm very, very happy with how we came out of it.
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Came out pretty healthy as well.
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The one injury to Carter Nelson, which we don't really know anything about that yet.
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We'll probably find out more about that later in the week.
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It looks scary on the field, couldn't put a lot of weight on that knee, and then when we we actually just got done rewatching the game, and it didn't look any better on TV either.
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So outside of Carter Nelson, we came away really healthy, got a lot of playing time for the backups, which I think is big.
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Yep.
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It was kind of shocking to see TJ come in that early in the fourth quarter.
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I remember sitting in the stands and the guy next to me said, Oh, look, TJ's in.
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I was just like, now.
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No, no, no, no, no, no.
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You're just not reading a number right.
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Can't be.
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And yep, sure, sure as heck he's in there.
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And then even Danny Kay got in for a series there, you know.
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So we were able to maybe get some rest for those starters.
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But it is, it's time, it's time for big boy football now.
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We're heading into Big Ten play.
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Keith, just a little fun question here for you.
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On a scale of completely relaxed to old school husk or panic, were you nervous at any point during the game?
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No.
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I thought the flow of the game, like, I didn't at any point, yeah, I got frustrated a couple times, but I never felt like we were in trouble.
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No.
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I mean, our defense just they were shut and North Dakota's got a good offense.
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They do.
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Like they were put I know they played in components that are not as good as them.
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And they put up a lot of points those first three games, but they can score points and move the ball.
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I thought our defense just shut them down completely.
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Yeah.
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I mean everything they wanted to do.
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They didn't
have a run game.
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No, they couldn't run.
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They had under 100 yards rushing all the way to the end of the game.
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I mean That was the thing that impressed me the most about the defense this week was just our ability to plug the middle.
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Yeah, they just couldn't do anything, you know.
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One yard gain, two yard gains, you know.
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And then our secondary is skilled enough to shut down their receivers.
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I mean, yeah, they scored us, scored on us on the slant play that he just put a really good move on Marshall that just made him look kind of stupid out there.
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But had Marshall just grabbing it.
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And the only reason they even scored at all was because of the penalty.
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Because the ding-dong penalty on Victor Evans.
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Yeah, so I mean the defense played flawless football, I thought.
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You know, it was well everybody contributed.
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There was a lot, tackles were spread out between the players, and so no, I was not nervous at any point.
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No, there was never a point where I was nervous either.
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You you could just see it.
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I mean, you could tell that the goal for the team was to come out fast and on both sides of the ball.
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And they they had up they had a job to do, they knew what the job was, they went out and got it done, and it was a very workmanlike game for me.
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I mean, you could just tell they were focused, they knew what needed to be done, they knew knew what they were what their goal was, and they went out and achieved it.
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So let's get into our grades for the offense here.
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We'll let I'll let you go first, Keith.
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We'll cover the quarterbacks first.
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Give me your breakdown of the quarterback play, and then give me your final grade for him.
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Kalandria was doing Kalandria things.
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You know, I mean he he was very efficient.
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He went 15 of 21, just under 200 yards of passing.
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And there was a couple balls where I thought he underthrew maybe just behind the receiver a little bit that led to drops.
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Otherwise, like he had what one rushing touchdown, one passing touchdown.
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Yep.
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So two total touchdowns, which is good.
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No penalty.
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I mean, no turnovers.
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So that's always nice to see.
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Through three games, he's got no turnovers.
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So no, he's got one.
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He threw a pick last week.
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Did he?
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Okay, he's got one turnover.
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I'm trying to remember that one, and I can't remember it.
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It was early in the game.
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It was I can't even remember how to explain it.
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But he he threw a pick in the first half against Bowling Green.
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It was Yeah, I I'm drawing a blank on it, but yeah, you're probably right.
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You're you're 100% probably right.
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So but only one turnover through three games, I thought that's pretty good.
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I mean, going into this season, everybody thought Calandria was gonna be, you know, kind of a wild guy.
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Yeah.
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Like he was gonna make some he was gonna make big plays, but he was also gonna make some mistakes.
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Yeah, you were just gonna have to live with the mistakes that he had had made.
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And I don't feel like we've experienced any of that yet.
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So oh yeah, I do remember the turnover now, the interception.
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It was one that was completely not his fault because Jacori Barney mishandled the catch.
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Yeah.
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And it got rolled.
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The ball got rolled up.
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Yeah, he rolled through, yeah.
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The ball got rolled up on the bowling green guy and he came out with it.
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Yes, I remember that.
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Give us enough time, folks, and we will we'll be able to put it all together.
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It was hard for me to remember that for a minute, but and then there was just that weird handoff play with Jamal Rule that I don't know whose fault it was for sure.
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If you were at the game, it looked like it was Jamal Rule's fault.
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If you were watching the game on the TV, it looked like it was Anthony Kalandria's fault.
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So yeah, we we talked about it.
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I said, oh no.
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At the game, you could see Kalandria get up, he slammed that ball down, he was talking.
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It was he was mad at Rule.
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Then you watch the game and you see Rule chewing out Kalandria.
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And Klandria just lowers his head and kind of just cuts his tail a little bit, taps his helmet a little bit.
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I I think it was his fault just watching the TV, but whoever's fault it was, it was just uh a mistake that didn't really hurt too much.
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But other than that, I thought his play was really good.
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There was nothing he didn't do anything stupid or his I mean a couple of the throws he were making were right on the money.
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He threaded the needle with the big throw to Lyndon Meyer, the dart to Quinn Clark at the back of the end zone for his touchdown.
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The dimed uh so I mean overall I thought he was great, but I'm just I'm gonna give him a B plus just a little short of his A from last week, just because you know last week he had four total touchdowns and he was really good.
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And this week he had a couple throws I thought he could have been better at and the botched handoff thing.
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So I'm gonna give him a B plus.
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Yep.
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Yeah, my thoughts.
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He was just very steady.
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He was it was not one of those games where I think there was ever any time where we were gonna have to lean on Kalandria to win this game.
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I think we kind of knew coming in that we were gonna be able to flex our muscles and run the ball.
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So Kalandri just had to be kind of almost more of a game manager this game.
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15 of 21, got nothing to complain about there.
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There was the one throw to Luke where he might have been a little bit behind him, and he just throws an absolute rocket of a ball on some of them crossing patterns.
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Yeah.
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Maybe take a little bit off of those, give your receiver, especially a tight end like Luke, a better chance to make a play on that.
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The handoff, I don't know, chalk that up just to still early season.
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New guy, new offense, freshman running back, just a miscommunication, probably there.
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Had the one running touchdown where he just flat outran two defenders to the corner.
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Yep.
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The one play that really stands out to me, and it was really early on the first drive.
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It might have even been the third or fourth play where he had the scramble to left.
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It was only like a three-yard carry, but he just absolutely lowered his shoulder and ran over that cornerback.
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And you see Matt Rule running from 10, 15 yards down the sideline, just fired, getting in Calandria's face, you know.
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The dude's a leader.
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Yeah.
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He's a gamer, he's a leader.
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And if he can continue to protect the ball like the way he has and pick and choose his spots where he wants to run.
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Sky's the limit this year with this team on offense, I think.
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I'm gonna go B just because I'd like to see him maybe show a little bit more touch on some of those crossing patterns or whatever.
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Yeah, otherwise B for me.
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The running game.
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Oh, one I also want to talk about it was nice to see TJ get in there and throw the ball a little bit.
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There was the one throw down the sideline to Keelan Smith, where if he would have been able to just put that ball maybe a little bit further to Keelan's outside shoulder, there would have been a play there.
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Yeah.
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TJ needs to work on his deep ball a little bit better.
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Danny Kay got in for a series, did lead him down for a score.
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Not a lot to say there, it was kind of mop-up time.
00:16:23.759 --> 00:16:24.000
Yep.
00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:27.279
Just good to see the backups get in there because you never know when you might need them.
00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:30.720
So overall grades for the quarterbacks, I'm gonna give him a B.
00:16:31.440 --> 00:16:33.759
Looking at the number asking running backs.
00:16:34.559 --> 00:16:38.559
Still the three-headed monster out there with Rule, Nelson, Mosey.
00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:41.440
Nelson technically got the start today.
00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:48.879
He ended up with nine carries, the least of the three running backs for 54 yards.
00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:52.480
Mosey hanging the ball ten times for 40.
00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:58.159
And then Jamal Rule, 15 carries for 119 yards and two touchdowns.
00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:10.960
On my way home from the game, they put a stat out on the radio that I thought was very interesting and kind of shows what kind of a player Jamal Rule is already.
00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:19.839
He is the first freshman running back, Keith, since 2002 to have multiple hundred-yard games.
00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:22.720
Since David Horn.
00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:23.920
David Horn.
00:17:24.319 --> 00:17:25.519
Since David Horn, yep.
00:17:25.759 --> 00:17:30.160
I promise you, David Horn was not on my bingo card for any stat deals.
00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:33.279
And I consider myself a pretty good addict.
00:17:33.440 --> 00:17:35.920
I don't remember a lot of David Horn at running back.
00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:40.319
I vaguely remember a little bit of him, but he was good for a while.
00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:42.640
But it's not he wasn't, he didn't last very long.
00:17:43.039 --> 00:17:46.960
David Horn wasn't one of them guys that you just were like, if you think former Husker running backs.
00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:47.680
Yeah, he doesn't.
00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:49.599
David Horn is not the guy you're thinking about.
00:17:49.920 --> 00:17:54.559
No, so it's so it's very cool to see Jamal have that tied to him.
00:17:54.799 --> 00:17:58.960
I predict quite a couple more hundred-yard games before the end of this year.
00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:04.799
And he's I just get more and more impressed with him every time I watch him.
00:18:05.359 --> 00:18:14.880
And overall, I'm impressed with the entire running back room because it's another game out there where the ball security looks fantastic.
00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:20.480
You see them runners hitting them inside lanes hard, and they are protecting that ball.
00:18:21.359 --> 00:18:24.240
The ball never dropped and hit the ground this week.
00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:31.039
There was never outside of that one fluky play, there wasn't any botched handoffs or anything.
00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:38.240
The pass protection, I love the way these running backs pass protect and are willing to step up and pick up linebackers for Kalandria.
00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:45.440
Small rule for being a young kid can catch the ball really well out of the backfield once again today, yesterday.
00:18:45.680 --> 00:18:50.720
He had a couple long catches where he's able to break off after a short pass.
00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:54.559
To me, the running back room was an A.
00:18:54.880 --> 00:18:58.000
I honestly have nothing to complain about with the running backs.
00:18:58.240 --> 00:18:59.440
What do you think?
00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:06.319
Yeah, I mean the running back room was about what I expected.
00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:07.519
We ran the ball.
00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:10.799
We had 277 yards rushing, something like that.
00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:12.240
Yep, 277.
00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:15.200
A lot of carries from everybody.
00:19:15.359 --> 00:19:17.200
I mean, there was 45 total carries.
00:19:17.359 --> 00:19:17.599
Yeah.
00:19:17.759 --> 00:19:22.880
I mean, the bulk came from Jamal Rule, Mosey, and Nelson, obviously.
00:19:23.119 --> 00:19:24.799
I mean, Rule did his thing again.
00:19:24.880 --> 00:19:27.119
Another 100-yard game, two touchdowns.
00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:31.920
He averaged 7.9 yards per carry.
00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:33.519
Nelson was very efficient.
00:19:33.680 --> 00:19:37.440
He averaged six per carry, and Mosey averaged four.
00:19:37.599 --> 00:19:40.640
So I think all three of them did their thing pretty well.
00:19:40.880 --> 00:19:44.880
I think still think that the offense flows better when Jamal Rule's in the game.
00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:49.599
I mean, it just whenever he's in, it just feels like the offense is more explosive.
00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:51.359
And it makes sense.
00:19:51.680 --> 00:19:55.200
But overall, I think they did really well.
00:19:55.279 --> 00:19:56.640
They, I mean, no penalty.
00:19:56.799 --> 00:20:00.000
I mean, no penalties from
the running backs, no turnovers from the running backs.
00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:01.599
They were just efficient.
00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:06.799
Clandry added to the rushing with his rushing touchdown.
00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:10.559
He had four carries for almost 20, so almost five yards carry there.
00:20:10.640 --> 00:20:13.680
So shout out Quentin Ives with his one carry for 30 yards.
00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:14.960
I mean, big Quentin, yeah.
00:20:15.039 --> 00:20:16.480
I mean mop up time at the end.
00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:19.440
He had a big long run in there for 30 yards along the sidelines.
00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:22.640
So any chance we get a give a shout out to Ives.
00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:25.920
We're gonna do it just to drive our friends nut a little bit.
00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:26.960
Drive our friends nuts.
00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:28.160
Stride ives.
00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:29.599
Yeah, baby.
00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:33.519
So yeah, the running back room was impressive to me.
00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:39.519
They do a good job these first three games against non-conference opponents, they've been good.
00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:41.119
So I'm gonna give them an A.
00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:44.799
Receiving core.
00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:47.599
Give me your thoughts on the receivers and tight ends.
00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:53.119
If you look at the stat line, I mean the receiving numbers aren't great.
00:20:53.359 --> 00:20:53.519
No.
00:20:53.920 --> 00:20:56.799
But we didn't really have to pass a lot in this game.
00:20:57.119 --> 00:21:01.279
I mean, the passing game was not exactly something we needed to depend on.
00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:04.000
We didn't have to go for explosive plays.
00:21:04.400 --> 00:21:08.960
We didn't need to depend on Kalandria and his arm to find his wide receivers.
00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:13.680
The game plan was clearly running backs this week, I think.
00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:20.799
So the stat line's not gonna look great on the wide receivers, but I mean, just looking at some of them.
00:21:20.880 --> 00:21:24.160
I mean, Quasi did his thing, he had 342.
00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:28.319
Corey had that nice catch along the sideline that Anthony threw him.
00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:34.799
Luke had a big catch from a dart from Kalandria that threaded a couple defenders.
00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:35.119
Yeah.
00:21:35.359 --> 00:21:38.720
I think people were excited to broke a couple tackles.
00:21:38.880 --> 00:21:40.160
And I was excited to see that.
00:21:40.240 --> 00:21:43.680
I like to see when Linden Meyer is involved in the passing game more.
00:21:43.839 --> 00:21:49.119
I know he only had the one catch, but it would have been two, but the one catch he did have was impact.
00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:50.079
It was nice.
00:21:50.160 --> 00:21:59.759
So yeah, and you heard you you hear Holgerson say that Luke's you know, one of the best tight ends he's ever coached, and he's he's actively said that he.
00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:02.720
He's
trying to figure out ways to get Luke the ball more.
00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:07.839
It's just within the scope of the game, it's not needed at certain points, you know.
00:22:07.920 --> 00:22:12.880
And Luke is such a value commodity value blocking.
00:22:13.039 --> 00:22:16.000
It's hard to find ways to get him out there.
00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:20.079
I think speaking of blocking, I think that was the best part of the wide receivers of the whole game.
00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:25.279
I mean, that long run that Rule had and the way Quasi was just pushing his guy.
00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:27.680
I give Quasi a sticker for that one.
00:22:27.920 --> 00:22:28.720
All the way down the field.
00:22:28.799 --> 00:22:29.519
He was just pushing him.
00:22:29.920 --> 00:22:31.359
I mean, he came clear across the field.
00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:37.519
He ran 30, 40 yards to be able to make that block and then push the guy 30, 40 yards down the end zone.
00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:39.200
I mean, that guy didn't even touch them all.
00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:41.359
So you'd love to see that.
00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:46.400
So the perimeter blocking from the wide receivers, the blocking from the tight ends.
00:22:46.480 --> 00:22:49.680
I mean, that was probably the best part of the whole game for them.
00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:59.680
So, I mean, yes, we could have seen a little more flash, and because we didn't see any flash, I mean, their grade's not going to be as high, but I think they did a very good job overall.
00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:02.000
So, I mean, I'm just gonna give them a B.
00:23:02.160 --> 00:23:03.920
They don't deserve anything less.
00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:05.680
They just were solid.
00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:13.359
Yeah, I I know it it sounds repetitive these last three weeks, but I really can't disagree with you on that.
00:23:13.599 --> 00:23:19.440
I mean, I kind of went into this game knowing that we probably weren't gonna chuck the ball all over the field.
00:23:19.759 --> 00:23:28.400
So honestly, I was watching more of what the receivers were doing in the run game because it was gonna it was such an important part of the game.
00:23:28.640 --> 00:23:31.279
They made the catches when they needed to make them.
00:23:31.359 --> 00:23:39.279
There was a couple third downs that, you know, there was a hitch play to Jakori that he was able to make a move and get upfield.
00:23:39.359 --> 00:23:45.599
There was the jet sweep on fourth down that counts as a pass, and he made a play on fourth down.
00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:47.680
Nizaya made a couple plays.
00:23:47.759 --> 00:23:51.759
It'd be nice to see Nizaya kind of settle more into a role.
00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:55.279
I don't know if they really know what to do with Nizaia quite yet.
00:23:55.599 --> 00:24:00.240
Quasi still looks like Klandier's number one target.
00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:08.960
Luke Lindemeyer, we've said it before, he's slowly becoming more a part of the offensive passing plan.
00:24:09.119
--> 00:24:14.799
I think as we get into Big Ten play, you'll probably we hopefully will see him get more touches.
00:24:14.880 --> 00:24:19.279
I'd like to see him get at least three to four catches a game, you know.
00:24:21.359 --> 00:24:24.079
Running backs look good receiving the ball.
00:24:24.480 --> 00:24:37.119
Carter Nelson, he had the one catch, went down late in the fourth quarter, really wishing him the best, hoping he comes back, and then it's not as bad as what it looked like on TV.
00:24:37.839 --> 00:24:42.480
Quinn Clark got himself a touchdown in the red zone.
00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:46.880
I think he could play a really big part going forward with his size.
00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:55.200
He just straight up beat that safety on that route, and Galandria put a nice ball right into the back of the end zone for him.
00:24:57.759 --> 00:25:07.599
I think it's safe to say that with the game plan for the week, definitely can't give the receivers anything more than a B.
00:25:09.119 --> 00:25:12.240
If we were going strictly off of the run blocking A plus.
00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:13.039
Yeah.
00:25:13.440 --> 00:25:16.160
But with the rest of the game, give them a B.
00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:20.400
Look for them to play a big part, though, next week coming into Michigan State.
00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:22.480
Offensive line.
00:25:23.200 --> 00:25:26.079
I I like the way the offensive line played.
00:25:26.319 --> 00:25:31.759
From the first snap of the game, they were manhandling North Dakota up front.
00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:35.039
They were opening up lanes in that first quarter.
00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:37.759
Second quarter, I thought they took a little bit of a step back.
00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:40.559
North Dakota kind of changed up their scheme a little bit.
00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:43.279
They started bringing more pressure up the middle.
00:25:43.680 --> 00:25:45.920
We weren't quite getting as big a push.
00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:52.799
Came out in the second half, third quarter, we kind of started to push back again.
00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:57.119
We made some changes again, and you could see it off on the offensive line.
00:26:00.319 --> 00:26:04.400
Basically had the same group out there.
00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:08.319
You had four four guys that all had fift 56 snaps.
00:26:08.480 --> 00:26:11.039
Catella, Evans, Black, Mbangah.
00:26:11.359 --> 00:26:14.480
Pritcha had 46, and Bob Lod had 19.
00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:18.400
So they're kind of rotating in and out a little bit.
00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:21.599
Tyler Knock, Kanak had 11.
00:26:21.920 --> 00:26:25.039
Then late in the game, the backups got in.
00:26:26.640 --> 00:26:27.680
Really, yeah.
00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:34.960
I just felt like our offensive line was able to throw their weight around a little bit and were able to maintain their blocks.
00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:37.039
Look good in pass pro too.
00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:48.079
There was maybe two, three instances where I felt like
Kalandria was really under pressure, and that might have been just because North Dakota was bringing more than what we had to block.
00:26:49.039 --> 00:27:05.279
I'm gonna go B with the offensive line just because of what that what we kind of looked like in the second quarter, where North Dakota was able to make some changes, and we didn't react quite as fast as I'd like to see us.
00:27:05.440 --> 00:27:14.880
We started instead of getting those 10, 15 yard runs, we were really getting relegated to two, three, and even had some tackles for losses in that second quarter.
00:27:15.039 --> 00:27:25.359
I mean, you go from having 120 yards rushing in the first quarter to 25-30 yards in the second quarter, and I'm pretty sure 12 of it was on a calendar run, anyways.
00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:28.319
It kind of makes you question how things are going there.
00:27:28.559 --> 00:27:31.680
But with the second half performance, I'm gonna give him a B.
00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:33.519
Yeah.
00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:35.599
I mean, the offensive line.
00:27:37.279 --> 00:27:40.079
The running backs had 277 yards rushing.
00:27:40.880 --> 00:27:42.160
Quarterback too.
00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:47.200
So obviously they were run blocking pretty damn good.
00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:50.240
Yes, the second quarter was a little whatever.
00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:52.319
But overall, it was kind of like a huh?
00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:59.759
Yeah, 277 rushing yards, a lot of that credit to the offensive line and the wide receivers.
00:28:00.640 --> 00:28:02.319
We didn't give up any sacks.
00:28:02.480 --> 00:28:03.279
Nope.
00:28:03.519 --> 00:28:04.640
So clean game there.
00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:07.119
I mean, Calandry had plenty of time to do his thing.
00:28:07.599 --> 00:28:10.240
There was pretty clean pockets the whole game.
00:28:10.319 --> 00:28:17.039
Like there was no I didn't feel like he was running for his life ever in that game.
00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:22.799
So there was one play in particular in the first half that we had a long run on.
00:28:23.039 --> 00:28:27.599
I think Mackay had the ball.
00:28:27.839 --> 00:28:40.160
And it was kind of a pulp pull play where Pritchett pulled, and Pritchett ran down the field in front of Mackay, and Pritchett just pancaked the living crap out of this guy.
00:28:40.240 --> 00:28:40.480
Yeah.
00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:44.079
He went flying backwards, and I I loved it.
00:28:44.160 --> 00:28:52.319
I started hollering and cheering at the TV at home because I was the only one that saw it because I wasn't watching Mackay, I was watching Pritchett on that play.
00:28:52.480 --> 00:28:52.799
Yeah, yeah.
00:28:53.039 --> 00:28:54.720
Just because I wanted to see what he was gonna do.
00:28:54.799 --> 00:28:55.039
Uh-huh.
00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:57.519
And he's just running full speed at this linebacker.
00:28:57.759 --> 00:29:00.720
It was the safety, maybe, and he just plowed him.
00:29:00.880 --> 00:29:06.480
Just and that's those are the
type of plays where you're like, yeah, that's that's what you love from an offensive line.
00:29:06.559 --> 00:29:10.079
And the way Pritchett's been playing, he might be playing on Sundays.
00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:12.880
Like he he's big, he's he can run.
00:29:13.119 --> 00:29:13.839
Yeah, he's quick.
00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:17.440
He's been he's been really good this year so far through three games.
00:29:17.680 --> 00:29:26.000
So, I mean, if you look at the pass protection too, there wasn't the guys look all five of them looked good, you know.
00:29:26.400 --> 00:29:32.799
And yeah, Brendan Black kind of had a couple plays where he kind of got burned, especially in that second quarter.
00:29:33.440 --> 00:29:37.920
You know, they had like six tackles for loss on the whole game.
00:29:38.160 --> 00:29:38.400
Yep.
00:29:38.559 --> 00:29:40.880
So they were getting into our backfield a little bit.
00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:45.359
So that was kind of frustrating, but I thought overall I thought they were really good.
00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:49.519
You know, I just I didn't I was very impressed with the offensive line.
00:29:49.599 --> 00:29:56.240
Not like years past where teams were just blowing our tackles on the edges and getting to our quarterback.
00:29:57.200 --> 00:30:02.000
A lot of that is credit to us having a mobile quarterback now who can kind of run away from that stuff.
00:30:02.319 --> 00:30:03.759
Takes a lot of pressure off the offensive line.
00:30:04.079 --> 00:30:04.480
It does.
00:30:04.640 --> 00:30:08.480
But I thought over and nobody was really getting to Calandry at all yesterday.
00:30:08.640 --> 00:30:13.680
You know, like there was no he never I don't know if he even got hit in the backfield.
00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:15.759
Not that I can think of.
00:30:16.160 --> 00:30:19.839
No, I don't no, he never got hit in the backfield, no.
00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:22.240
Any hit that he took was on around the edges.
00:30:22.400 --> 00:30:26.640
So I think overall, I was very impressed with the offensive line, so I'm gonna give him an A.
00:30:29.440 --> 00:30:33.759
The offense looked good against North Dakota, obviously.
00:30:34.400 --> 00:30:36.079
Was this performance good enough?
00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:42.640
Or will was this good performance good enough in your mind going into Big Ten play?
00:30:42.960 --> 00:30:46.960
Like if we have this performance next week, or is that good enough to win, you think?
00:30:48.880 --> 00:30:54.240
I think if we take care of the football, like we have been taking care of the football, I think we'll be fine.
00:30:54.799 --> 00:30:56.720
Our running game looks good.
00:30:57.680 --> 00:31:02.720
If we can just continue running the football and our offensive line keeps doing their thing.
00:31:03.119 --> 00:31:09.279
I think the kind of offense we ran against North Dakota would be good enough to beat Michigan State.
00:31:11.599 --> 00:31:13.759
It's gonna be more of a challenge though, you know.
00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:15.920
Michigan State's nothing to goff at.
00:31:16.079 --> 00:31:16.400
No.
00:31:16.720 --> 00:31:18.480
Especially the way they played against Notre Dame.
00:31:18.640 --> 00:31:20.480
Yeah, they looked pretty good against Notre Dame for a week.
00:31:20.720 --> 00:31:25.759
We'll get into that a little bit later, but yeah, I mean they were they were good.
00:31:25.839 --> 00:31:28.640
I mean, the offense was nothing they didn't do anything wrong.
00:31:28.720 --> 00:31:30.480
There was nothing bad about the offense.
00:31:30.640 --> 00:31:40.240
They just ran the game plan to perfection, you know, like rule and blood drawing blank on our offensive coordinator.
00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:40.880
Holgerson.
00:31:41.119 --> 00:31:44.880
Holgerson came up with a game plan and the boys executed it.
00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:45.279
Yeah.
00:31:45.440 --> 00:31:56.079
So I mean, the game plan was clearly let's run the ball down their throats, let's burn the clock, let's let's take the energy out of them a little bit.
00:31:56.240 --> 00:32:01.279
And I felt that's exactly what we did because I didn't see any energy from the North Dakota side.
00:32:01.440 --> 00:32:03.200
No, throughout the whole game.
00:32:03.519 --> 00:32:11.759
What you just said, I think, is the most important thing so far when we're talking about if this performance is good enough to win in the Big Ten.
00:32:13.359 --> 00:32:16.559
We had a game plan and we executed the game plan.
00:32:17.680 --> 00:32:27.599
Nine times out of ten, if you can do that week to week, get a game plan in place, execute that game plan to the fullest of its abilities, you're probably gonna walk off that field a winner.
00:32:28.079 --> 00:32:31.599
So I think that's we're I think that was an important statement right there by you.
00:32:32.880 --> 00:32:38.240
That being said, my final grade for the offense, I'm gonna give them an A minus.
00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:40.720
Yeah, I'm going A.
00:32:40.880 --> 00:32:44.319
I thought they did what exactly what they needed to do.
00:32:44.480 --> 00:32:48.160
And what they were asked to do, they did it, in my opinion.
00:32:48.480 --> 00:32:51.680
Running back play to the quarterback play to the offensive line.
00:32:51.839 --> 00:32:53.680
I thought it was all very good.
00:32:53.839 --> 00:33:00.559
I mean, I just felt they ran a smooth offense the whole game for three hours.
00:33:00.799 --> 00:33:03.200
So I think an A is appropriate for me.
00:33:03.440 --> 00:33:08.400
Okay, A and A minus for us, and that was our great offensive grades.
00:33:08.480 --> 00:33:09.519
We're gonna take a quick break.
00:33:09.680 --> 00:33:13.680
When we come back, we're talking about a Nebraska defense that allowed just seven points.
00:33:14.400 --> 00:33:16.240
And then we're gonna pick our players of the game.
00:33:16.480 --> 00:33:17.759
So stick with us, Addict.
00:33:36.319 --> 00:33:38.079
All right, welcome back, Addicts.
00:33:38.240
--> 00:33:44.640
We are getting ready to break down the defensive play from Saturday's 34-7 win over the North Dakota Fighting Hawks.
00:33:44.960 --> 00:33:47.039
Keith, why don't you get start us off?
00:33:47.200 --> 00:33:49.519
Give us your grade for the defensive line.
00:33:51.680 --> 00:33:53.200
Defensive line.
00:33:54.000 --> 00:33:55.359
I think they look pretty good.
00:33:57.440 --> 00:34:04.000
The run the run stopping from the defensive line was pretty damn good.
00:34:04.400 --> 00:34:08.719
I mean, we were stuffing the middle pretty much the whole game.
00:34:10.400 --> 00:34:18.079
Give credit to Whittington and the Studemeers and Van Poppels and how those guys handled their business up front.
00:34:20.880 --> 00:34:30.400
There were a few plays where we were pushing their offensive line backwards and we were getting some tackles for losses and or no gains from the running backs.
00:34:30.559 --> 00:34:41.679
I there was a few times where I looked and was watching, and you could see the frustration just mounting on the North Dakota running backs like they were just not pleased.
00:34:42.480 --> 00:34:48.639
And you know, I don't blame them because their offensive line was getting whooped on the running game there for a while.
00:34:49.440 --> 00:34:51.280
Mainly for the whole game.
00:34:52.320 --> 00:34:54.000
We moved to the defensive ends.
00:34:54.159 --> 00:34:56.639
I mean, yeah, I thought they played pretty good.
00:34:57.119 --> 00:35:02.320
You're not gonna see any stats for William Winere, but I thought he played a very good game.
00:35:03.440 --> 00:35:05.679
He was bullying his guy pretty good.
00:35:05.760 --> 00:35:12.079
He was getting around his guy, but they kept running the play on the other side away from Williams Winneri most of the time.
00:35:12.639 --> 00:35:18.000
But he made a couple moves where that's something I've been wanting to see.
00:35:18.079 --> 00:35:28.000
I've been wanting to see the ends get a little bit more aggressive and try to get the quarterback themselves without any help from the linebackers.
00:35:28.239 --> 00:35:31.440
But I thought they played a better game this week.
00:35:33.039 --> 00:35:39.599
Yeah, I mean, the defensive line had like two total tackle two total sacks between all of them.
00:35:40.800 --> 00:35:42.559
So I thought the defensive line was good.
00:35:42.639 --> 00:35:44.719
I'm gonna give them a B plus.
00:35:45.679 --> 00:35:46.320
Yeah.
00:35:47.519 --> 00:35:50.000
I really don't have a whole lot different than what you were saying.
00:35:50.159 --> 00:35:58.159
Like you said with Williams and Winary, didn't really didn't register a tackle or anything, but he he changed some things in that game.
00:35:58.320 --> 00:36:05.920
There was a couple plays on the right side where he was just bullying that left tackle and watching the game over.
00:36:06.559 --> 00:36:10.559
The the announces on TV, they were they had high praise for that left tackle.
00:36:10.639 --> 00:36:14.400
They were talking about how he's an NFL body, he's gonna get some NFL looks.
00:36:14.480 --> 00:36:25.199
And there was a couple times where Williams was just straight up bull rushing him, extending his left arm, getting up under that guy's shoulder, and he was he was causing problems in that pocket.
00:36:25.280 --> 00:36:27.840
I mean, the quarterback knew where he was at the entire time.
00:36:27.920 --> 00:36:28.159
Right.
00:36:28.400 --> 00:36:37.199
Cam Lenhart one didn't doesn't once again doesn't fill up the stat sheet, made one nice tackle for loss in the game.
00:36:37.760 --> 00:36:46.079
I think where we made our most bread on the defensive line was those interior players with Studmeyer, Jesse or Whittington.
00:36:47.039 --> 00:36:52.880
Them guys, and Riley Van Popel played a really well good game, too, coming out in with the second group.
00:36:53.039 --> 00:36:54.559
He got the one sack.
00:36:55.199 --> 00:37:03.599
Those guys, to me, it is a completely different look on the interior than it was last year.
00:37:03.920 --> 00:37:12.800
I don't feel like there was no there was no point in that game where I saw any of our interior linemen getting pushed back into the linebacking crew.
00:37:13.119 --> 00:37:20.239
And last year, that's all we saw was D tackles three, four yards deep into that linebacking space.
00:37:20.719 --> 00:37:25.519
It is, it's made it made our defensive line play is just night and day.
00:37:26.480 --> 00:37:29.840
I'm easily gonna go on A-minus on the D line.
00:37:30.239 --> 00:37:40.239
Linebackers, you finally start, I think you finally saw Owen Chambliss really feeling comfortable on the field with everybody else.
00:37:40.480 --> 00:37:44.800
Made the really nice play in the backfield, got the half sack that he shared with Studmire.
00:37:46.320 --> 00:37:49.760
Foster looks really good at linebacker.
00:37:50.079 --> 00:37:54.800
Vincent Shavers played a lot of snaps, has a high grade according to PFF.
00:37:55.039 --> 00:37:59.119
I didn't feel like he was a game changer in the game, but he's just real steady.
00:37:59.280 --> 00:38:05.280
He's one of those guys where you just you may not hear his name, but you know he's not making any mistakes either.
00:38:05.360 --> 00:38:07.039
He's where he needs to be all the time.
00:38:07.199 --> 00:38:07.840
Yep.
00:38:08.239 --> 00:38:09.519
Dawson Merritt.
00:38:09.760 --> 00:38:13.280
Oh man, that sack he had, it looks so good.
00:38:13.840 --> 00:38:19.760
I mean, I know he was untouched and he was unblocked, but he made a B-line for that quarterback.
00:38:19.840 --> 00:38:28.880
And in years past, you would have seen a guy where the quarterback maybe would have been able to sidestep or duck under and step up, and he would have flew right boo right by the quarterback.
00:38:29.519 --> 00:38:31.840
Dawson just made a damn good play there.
00:38:32.079 --> 00:38:35.440
Really happy for him to see that sack for Dawson Merritt.
00:38:36.800 --> 00:38:39.679
Coverage-wise, can't really complain about anything.
00:38:39.760 --> 00:38:46.400
There wasn't any linebackers getting burned by running backs on wheel routes or anything like that.
00:38:47.440 --> 00:38:51.519
A minus, again, I think it was just a pretty flawless gameplay for the linebackers.
00:38:52.320 --> 00:38:55.199
Yeah, I mean, I was just impressed with the linebackers for sure.
00:38:55.360 --> 00:38:58.480
I mean, Owen Chamless kind of did his thing all day.
00:38:58.719 --> 00:39:09.360
I mean, he was all over the field, I felt like all over the field, and you know, he he was you can just watching him a little bit, you know, he's telling guys where they need to go, what adjustments they need to make.
00:39:09.599 --> 00:39:11.519
So just having him in the game.
00:39:11.679 --> 00:39:17.360
We didn't have him the first game, but you can just having him there is helping the entire defense.
00:39:17.519 --> 00:39:24.320
And you can just tell by you can just see how important he is to this defense by looking at the snap count with the linebackers.
00:39:24.559 --> 00:39:26.800
Chamblis had 44 total snaps.
00:39:26.960 --> 00:39:30.800
The next closest guy was Shavers and Foster with 29 and 28.
00:39:30.960 --> 00:39:32.159
Those guys are coming off the field.
00:39:32.239 --> 00:39:37.440
You know, they're rotating in with Dawson Merritt and Derek Wacker and stuff like that.
00:39:38.079 --> 00:39:40.639
Chambliss, not coming off the field.
00:39:40.960 --> 00:39:45.440
He he is not coming off the field unless something is absolutely necessary.
00:39:45.760 --> 00:39:47.840
He is the captain on the defense.
00:39:48.079 --> 00:39:54.960
Yeah, I mean, look, I don't think North Dakota even ran 45 to 50 total plays on the day.
00:39:55.519 --> 00:39:59.760
So you're not gonna see a ton of recorded tackles when that happens, you know.
00:40:00.159 --> 00:40:03.840
And the linebacker grew, I mean Chambliss was great.
00:40:03.920 --> 00:40:07.599
Dawson Merritt with the the blitz up the middle, got the sack.
00:40:07.840 --> 00:40:15.840
We saw Shavers a little bit, you know, he was kind of a quiet game for Shavers, but he didn't do anything to where we were like, Vincent, what are you doing?
00:40:16.000 --> 00:40:18.639
You know, like we didn't see any of that from the linebackers.
00:40:18.719 --> 00:40:29.119
I thought Foster made an awesome play in the backfield where he was kind of covering a guy that was kind of floating at the sideline, but he kind of just shoved him out of the way so he can run to the quarterback.
00:40:29.199 --> 00:40:31.280
Yeah, that was an awesome play.
00:40:31.599 --> 00:40:32.960
That was that was real impressive.
00:40:33.199 --> 00:40:35.199
I kind of like, ooh, Derek Foster's a man.
00:40:35.280 --> 00:40:39.599
Yeah, and Derek Foster's now playing a natural position with Owen Chambless in the game.
00:40:39.679 --> 00:40:42.400
He doesn't have to worry about running Owen's
spot.
00:40:42.639 --> 00:40:44.079
So that's just gonna help him.
00:40:44.239 --> 00:40:46.800
And you know, I thought our I think our linebackers are real solid.
00:40:46.880 --> 00:40:49.280
I think we're fast, I think we can get to the sidelines.
00:40:49.760 --> 00:40:56.079
Chambless can kind of help stuff that middle a little bit, like he's been doing with the defensive line.
00:40:56.320 --> 00:41:01.679
So I think we got speed, we got anything we want at linebackers, as long as we can stay healthy, we'll be fine there.
00:41:01.760 --> 00:41:03.599
And I think we got a little bit of depth too.
00:41:03.760 --> 00:41:07.679
I mean, we got Dawson Merritt sitting right there if we need him.
00:41:07.840 --> 00:41:08.800
So, yeah.
00:41:09.039 --> 00:41:11.119
Overall, I thought the linebacker play was really good.
00:41:11.199 --> 00:41:12.159
I'll give him an A.
00:41:13.760 --> 00:41:14.880
Secondary.
00:41:17.039 --> 00:41:18.079
They look good.
00:41:18.400 --> 00:41:20.719
Andrew Marshall does Andrew Marshall things.
00:41:20.960 --> 00:41:24.239
He did get burned on that touchdown in the second half.
00:41:24.400 --> 00:41:26.559
That receiver, we were just watching it.
00:41:26.719 --> 00:41:33.519
You know, he does that little double move on the in the slot and then buffs inside, gave up the one touchdown.
00:41:33.679 --> 00:41:45.760
There was the one play in the first in the first quarter where we got kind of burned again on an inside slant with that number two receiver that ended up going for 30, 30 yards or whatever.
00:41:46.079 --> 00:41:52.480
I wish we could play a little bit maybe tighter press coverage in those slot situations.
00:41:52.639 --> 00:42:00.480
I feel like teams, I can't remember a time where we were able to like bust up a slant route.
00:42:00.559 --> 00:42:08.079
I feel like we're always playing a little bit too deep on those things, and we get burned on that outside move, then come back inside.
00:42:08.159 --> 00:42:11.760
So I'd like to see us maybe change up something there.
00:42:12.079 --> 00:42:13.920
I'm leave that to the coaches, though.
00:42:14.000 --> 00:42:15.760
They're way smarter than I am.
00:42:16.480 --> 00:42:18.880
So, like you said, Andrew Marshall on the one side.
00:42:19.039 --> 00:42:24.480
The other side, once again, it was kind of a split between Victor Evans and Danny Odom.
00:42:25.039 --> 00:42:31.039
I wouldn't be surprised if it just stays that way for the first couple weeks of Big Ten play.
00:42:31.360 --> 00:42:33.280
They both looked pretty good out there.
00:42:33.360 --> 00:42:39.199
There was the one play Danny Odom could have had a sack on a corner blitz, but the quarterback pumped him.
00:42:39.519 --> 00:42:44.480
He jumped probably eight foot in the air to try and knock it down, and then just miss the quarterback.
00:42:44.800 --> 00:42:48.079
Like to see him maybe stay on his feet for that a little bit, get the sack.
00:42:48.320 --> 00:42:57.280
Victor Evans had the bonehead play on that touchdown drive on a play that would have killed the drive.
00:42:57.760 --> 00:43:11.119
Kind of boneheadedly decided he needed to lower his shoulder, tap that quarterback, and give North Dakota's quarterback credit for a great Oscar-winning acting job over there to really sell it.
00:43:11.360 --> 00:43:16.400
But 15 yards later, they're continuing their drive, and then they score a touchdown a couple minutes later.
00:43:18.000 --> 00:43:19.199
Safeties.
00:43:20.880 --> 00:43:22.079
They're steady.
00:43:22.239 --> 00:43:28.480
I mean, there was I don't feel like McDougal had much of had much of anything to do in the game.
00:43:29.679 --> 00:43:35.920
Donovan Jones still love the way he comes up and plays and run defense.
00:43:36.000 --> 00:43:37.440
He had the one sack.
00:43:37.760 --> 00:43:42.239
Jameer Khan, he's PFF.
00:43:42.400 --> 00:43:46.480
I'm I'm gonna be honest, I don't really quite understand PFF's grading system.
00:43:47.119 --> 00:43:50.400
He seems really low at a 55.5 on an overall grade.
00:43:50.480 --> 00:43:53.039
I thought he played just fine.
00:43:53.440 --> 00:43:55.760
No m no big mistakes or anything.
00:43:58.320 --> 00:43:59.679
It's just it's
00:44:00.159 --> 00:44:06.320
Is one of those games where North Dakota didn't push the ball downfield at all on us.
00:44:06.639 --> 00:44:11.440
Mainly because we were getting so much pressure up front, the quarterback didn't have time for that.
00:44:11.760 --> 00:44:22.559
I think three of the sacks that we did get on North Dakota, you could call them coverage sacks because we were playing so well in coverage down the field.
00:44:23.280 --> 00:44:28.159
So with that all together, I'm gonna give the secondary an A.
00:44:32.320 --> 00:44:35.599
It's pretty clear, you know, Andrew Marshall's Andrew Marshall.
00:44:35.679 --> 00:44:37.440
He's gonna be in it in the game all the time.
00:44:37.519 --> 00:44:40.000
He's gonna be covering their number one most of the time.
00:44:40.320 --> 00:44:45.519
Other side of the field's gonna be Victor Evans, looks like a little mix of Danny Odom.
00:44:45.840 --> 00:44:47.119
Yeah, they split their plays.
00:44:47.199 --> 00:44:51.599
I mean, if you look at their put snap counts, Victor Evans 27, Danny Odom, 25.
00:44:51.679 --> 00:44:52.000
Yeah.
00:44:52.239 --> 00:44:59.360
So those two are gonna cover the other side of the field, and it kind of looks like old Jeremiah is just the guy sitting on the bench, you know?
00:44:59.599 --> 00:45:04.159
It is crazy how fast he fell out of that rotation.
00:45:04.400 --> 00:45:05.920
Yeah, I don't know what happened.
00:45:06.000 --> 00:45:10.320
It can't just be because of the one play, because everybody makes mistakes and has a bonehead and move once.
00:45:10.559 --> 00:45:12.239
He must just not practice well.
00:45:12.480 --> 00:45:14.719
But he just must be getting beat out.
00:45:14.880 --> 00:45:22.000
I think we're just Danny Otom's just that
good, and Victor Evans is just a solid player too as a senior transfer.
00:45:22.159 --> 00:45:30.719
I mean Jeremiah, he was he was he looked pretty good running down the field on special teams and stuff like that, but I think I think that's just what he's gonna be, is just that special teams player.
00:45:30.960 --> 00:45:35.840
Barring injuries, he's probably not gonna see much time on the field.
00:45:36.079 --> 00:45:41.840
I mean, Caleb Benning had more snaps than J2 Drippy.
00:45:42.079 --> 00:45:42.320
Yeah.
00:45:42.559 --> 00:45:50.000
And you know, everybody was saying Jeremiah is gonna be the starter, and he was the first game of the I mean, against Ohio, he was the starter.
00:45:50.079 --> 00:45:50.480
Yeah.
00:45:50.719 --> 00:45:57.440
But ever since that one play where he kind of froze, we just have not seen much of Jeremiah Charles.
00:45:57.840 --> 00:45:58.800
It really is shocking to me.
00:45:58.880 --> 00:45:59.920
Yeah, it really is.
00:46:00.159 --> 00:46:05.440
Anyway, getting back to this North Dakota game, Marshall played his he played flawless again.
00:46:05.519 --> 00:46:08.079
I guess he gave up the touchdown on the little slant.
00:46:08.159 --> 00:46:13.119
He just got juped out like crazy on that move that that wide receiver made.
00:46:13.360 --> 00:46:25.760
And you know, it was a slant, and he was playing tight coverage, and I don't know if that's the reason why we don't run more tight coverage, because if our best guy's getting burned on a slant that bad.
00:46:26.000 --> 00:46:28.000
Maybe we're just zone defenders.
00:46:28.320 --> 00:46:32.079
I mean he got he got it was embarrassing.
00:46:32.239 --> 00:46:35.920
He made he got looked like a fool on that, if we're being honest.
00:46:36.079 --> 00:46:37.599
He looked pretty bad.
00:46:38.320 --> 00:46:41.599
Otherwise, you know, Evans he looked okay throughout the game.
00:46:41.679 --> 00:46:44.320
He's only only had 109 yards passing.
00:46:44.400 --> 00:46:46.480
So I mean, how nitpicky can you be?
00:46:46.719 --> 00:46:49.360
I thought the coverage was pretty good the whole game.
00:46:49.440 --> 00:46:56.719
You know, Evans had the stupid penalty on the sideline where you late hit the quarterback that ended up costing us their only score of the game.
00:46:56.880 --> 00:47:00.079
Seven points they scored on that drive because it got extended.
00:47:00.239 --> 00:47:04.480
If he doesn't do that, it's fourth and long and they're punting.
00:47:05.440 --> 00:47:09.840
So that was probably the difference between a shutout and the seven points that they got.
00:47:12.320 --> 00:47:19.679
Otherwise, you know, I just don't have much to say about the DBs because I thought they played pretty good the whole game, you know.
00:47:20.079 --> 00:47:25.920
There's a couple situations where I thought they I thought Donovan Jones played pretty good.
00:47:26.320 --> 00:47:28.559
He made some open field tackles that were really nice.
00:47:28.880 --> 00:47:29.760
Whiffed on that one.
00:47:30.159 --> 00:47:31.519
He whiffed on one, yes.
00:47:31.679 --> 00:47:41.199
But he he did make some plays, and he made even a stick on one guy where he just the guy caught the ball and Donovan just slammed him down right away.
00:47:41.280 --> 00:47:43.599
Uh McDougal led the team in tackles again.
00:47:43.679 --> 00:47:45.679
I think he led the tackles last week as well.
00:47:45.920 --> 00:47:48.719
So McDougal's still flying around the ball, you know.
00:47:48.800 --> 00:47:55.760
He had seven total tackles, four of them solo, so I think they're making their open field tackles for the most part.
00:47:56.239 --> 00:48:01.280
He has one or two that we noticed that they didn't make, but I was pretty happy with the secondary.
00:48:01.519 --> 00:48:08.480
I wouldn't say I was impressed thoroughly, but I think they were good.
00:48:08.960 --> 00:48:11.199
I'm gonna give them a B on this one.
00:48:11.760 --> 00:48:19.199
I will I just want to point out one other player that played a lot in the first couple games and then all of a sudden was gone.
00:48:20.320 --> 00:48:21.440
Rex Guthrie.
00:48:21.840 --> 00:48:22.000
Yeah.
00:48:22.320 --> 00:48:24.800
He has he's he's the same as Drippy.
00:48:25.440 --> 00:48:28.400
Got the start in the first game, you know, he started over McDougal.
00:48:29.440 --> 00:48:33.840
And I said what I said about Rex, I'll leave it at that.
00:48:34.159 --> 00:48:37.840
And his snap count has slowly gone down over the past two weeks.
00:48:38.159 --> 00:48:40.800
He had three snaps on Saturday.
00:48:42.400 --> 00:48:47.920
And I think that that's I think he deserves only three snaps because he just hasn't been good.
00:48:48.239 --> 00:48:52.320
Look at the guys who got more snaps than him on Saturday, and tell me if you would have expected that though.
00:48:52.480 --> 00:48:54.719
Rowdy Bauer, four snaps.
00:48:55.039 --> 00:48:57.119
Mario Buford, four snaps.
00:48:57.599 --> 00:49:00.239
Jason Shiggs, four snaps.
00:49:00.639 --> 00:49:02.400
Strippy, six.
00:49:03.280 --> 00:49:08.079
I mean, that's that is that's really getting knocked down some bags.
00:49:08.320 --> 00:49:14.079
Well, when you're getting burned by three non-conference teams, like Rex Guthrie's been getting burned.
00:49:15.039 --> 00:49:15.920
It's not gonna fly.
00:49:16.159 --> 00:49:17.119
It's not gonna fly anymore.
00:49:17.360 --> 00:49:17.599
No.
00:49:17.840 --> 00:49:19.920
But like there, we don't have room for that anymore.
00:49:20.000 --> 00:49:21.599
We're now going into Big Ten team.
00:49:21.760 --> 00:49:30.320
We can't have Rex Guthrie's out there getting fooled by wide receivers, missing tackles, or whatever the hell the LC's been doing the first three games, you know?
00:49:30.480 --> 00:49:31.360
Yeah, agree.
00:49:31.519 --> 00:49:36.960
So what was your what would you say your overall grade then for the defenses as a collective?
00:49:37.280 --> 00:49:47.360
Only 200 and some 205, 206
total yards of offense for North North Dakota against an offense everybody thought was gonna be challenging for us this week.
00:49:47.519 --> 00:49:47.920
Yeah.
00:49:48.400 --> 00:49:49.760
I thought they did their thing.
00:49:49.840 --> 00:49:56.320
I mean everything was pretty I I wasn't I wasn't mad at the defense, let's just say that.
00:49:56.480 --> 00:49:58.719
Like I was I loved the run defense.
00:49:59.760 --> 00:50:01.199
I was very impressed with that.
00:50:02.159 --> 00:50:08.480
Compared to last year, it's just a complete one complete 360, you know, 180 or whatever you want to call it.
00:50:09.519 --> 00:50:10.800
It's night and day different.
00:50:10.960 --> 00:50:15.679
And I think that's gonna be very beneficial moving into Big Ten play.
00:50:15.840 --> 00:50:19.280
Having a defense that can stop the run, obviously, in the Big Ten.
00:50:19.760 --> 00:50:23.199
You're gonna have to go against some offenses who can really run the football.
00:50:24.159 --> 00:50:32.480
And having a defense this year that looks like it's a lot better than it was last year, I think that's gonna help us tremendously.
00:50:32.719 --> 00:50:36.719
Overall, against North Dakota, I think the defense was a B plus.
00:50:37.360 --> 00:50:38.800
Yeah, I don't have a problem with that.
00:50:38.880 --> 00:50:40.239
I'm gonna give them a little bit higher grade.
00:50:40.320 --> 00:50:42.159
I'm just gonna go in A minus overall.
00:50:42.400 --> 00:50:50.559
Mainly because I'm gonna do base migraine kind of over the fact that from week one to now, there has been a lot of improvement.
00:50:50.719 --> 00:50:54.400
You've seen players really starting to settle into their roles.
00:50:55.360 --> 00:51:03.599
If we can keep improving at the rate we are, I think our defense could be a really strong point for our team.
00:51:03.679 --> 00:51:05.840
I think we could lean on them a little bit.
00:51:06.239 --> 00:51:08.880
So yeah, I'm gonna go an A- overall for the D.
00:51:11.360 --> 00:51:16.559
Was this the type of defensive performance though that you expected for the North Dakota game?
00:51:18.079 --> 00:51:24.159
I think it was a little bit I mean, I know I gave him a B plus, but I think it was just a little bit better than I expected.
00:51:24.320 --> 00:51:26.320
Just we only held him to seven points.
00:51:26.559 --> 00:51:31.119
You know, that's my score prediction was 45-17.
00:51:31.280 --> 00:51:39.519
So I thought they were gonna score a little bit more, maybe give us fans a little bit of worry there for a while.
00:51:40.480 --> 00:51:44.159
But I never felt worry from the defense on Saturday, you know.
00:51:44.239 --> 00:51:48.480
They they just did their thing, you know.
00:51:48.639 --> 00:51:51.599
I thought they would be able to like pass the ball a little bit better on us.
00:51:51.679 --> 00:52:00.639
Like I was expecting them to like have that like spread option a little bit more, you know, that you know, I thought they were gonna be
like gunslinging all over the field.
00:52:00.880 --> 00:52:06.639
And you looked at their stats from their previous games, because I they had been throwing the ball all over the field.
00:52:06.719 --> 00:52:12.480
They had the one receiver that that number two who had 200 and something yards receiving the week before.
00:52:12.559 --> 00:52:15.119
I mean, you kind of just you thought that was what it was gonna be.
00:52:15.199 --> 00:52:19.679
I thought it I thought there was gonna be a lot of pressure on our DBs, and there just never was.
00:52:20.000 --> 00:52:27.760
Yeah, I I thought they were gonna run with the quarterback a little bit more because you know, on film we've had trouble defending the quarterback run a little bit.
00:52:28.000 --> 00:52:35.119
And honestly, there was a couple times during the game where he was able to take the ball up the middle and get a get some yardage.
00:52:35.199 --> 00:52:38.480
So, I mean that still is a valid concern, I think.
00:52:38.719 --> 00:52:40.000
Yeah, it's still a concern.
00:52:40.159 --> 00:52:46.960
I mean, there's there's definitely some quarterbacks in the Big Ten that can run all over the field, so that's something to look at.
00:52:47.199 --> 00:52:49.920
But North Dakota didn't really do that against us.
00:52:50.079 --> 00:52:55.360
So I think I think their performance was a little bit better than I expected.
00:52:55.599 --> 00:53:00.960
What was the biggest thing from this defense that gives you confidence heading into the tougher competition?
00:53:01.599 --> 00:53:07.679
I think it's the defensive line, especially that interior defensive line.
00:53:08.000 --> 00:53:11.119
We've we've talked about it a bunch in this last segment.
00:53:11.519 --> 00:53:15.519
It is a night and day difference from what we saw last year.
00:53:15.599 --> 00:53:15.840
Yeah.
00:53:16.000 --> 00:53:23.760
Granted, we've played who we've played, you know, they're lower end Division I schools in an FCS team.
00:53:24.559 --> 00:53:31.599
But I don't if you would have had the same defensive line that we had last year going up against these teams, I think you would have seen three completely different games.
00:53:31.920 --> 00:53:40.239
There was there's never been once in these in these first three games where I looked at our defensive front and went, yeah, they just don't look good.
00:53:40.480 --> 00:53:40.800
Right.
00:53:40.880 --> 00:53:41.119
Yeah.
00:53:41.280 --> 00:53:44.400
Oh man, God, why are they why are they getting pushed back so far?
00:53:44.480 --> 00:53:46.239
Why can't we get any push?
00:53:46.400 --> 00:53:50.320
I mean, it is well, I'm not, I don't have any of those complaints right now.
00:53:50.639 --> 00:54:04.079
We are our interior defensive linemen, they're getting pushes, they're opening things up for the linebackers, and I think you're gonna see a lot more of Dawson Merritt being able to get free through the middle and Scambus getting free, and you're gonna see Shavers starting to make some plays, too.
00:54:04.239 --> 00:54:11.199
The more confidence that the defensive line can continue to take into the following weeks, the better it is gonna be for the entire defense.
00:54:11.599 --> 00:54:13.599
I think they're gonna they they really set the tone.
00:54:13.760 --> 00:54:17.440
And right now, I think that's what we can hang our hat on that we've improved the most on.
00:54:17.519 --> 00:54:20.639
Yeah, well, they got confidence, and confidence goes a long way.
00:54:20.880 --> 00:54:25.119
You know, these first three games, the guys have got to be feeling pretty damn good on both sides of the ball.
00:54:25.280 --> 00:54:25.920
Yeah.
00:54:26.480 --> 00:54:30.480
Other than the I don't know how they're feeling on special teams, but we're gonna get to that.
00:54:31.119 --> 00:54:38.000
This this next segment, I am very interested to hear what my partner has to say because we are gonna cover the special teams.
00:54:38.079 --> 00:54:38.480
Yep.
00:54:39.119 --> 00:54:43.760
We're not gonna spend a whole lot of time on it because in the end it didn't play a huge role.
00:54:43.840 --> 00:54:51.760
But Keith, give me your overall kind of all-in-one grade for the special teams, and I'm just gonna sit back and let you go on your rant here.
00:54:51.840 --> 00:54:52.159
Okay.
00:54:56.719 --> 00:54:57.039
No.
00:54:57.440 --> 00:55:01.119
But there's the stupid penalty from John Hole on one of the kickoffs.
00:55:01.280 --> 00:55:02.639
Like, you can't do that shit.
00:55:02.880 --> 00:55:03.519
I'm sorry.
00:55:03.679 --> 00:55:04.719
You just can't.
00:55:05.039 --> 00:55:08.719
That I don't even know how it happens.
00:55:08.960 --> 00:55:10.639
I hate the kickoff out of bounds.
00:55:10.719 --> 00:55:13.039
I just cannot stand the kickoff out of bounds.
00:55:13.199 --> 00:55:17.599
But I'm gonna play devil's advocate and say it was very windy in the stadium last night.
00:55:17.760 --> 00:55:18.079
Okay.
00:55:18.639 --> 00:55:19.360
Alright.
00:55:19.679 --> 00:55:21.679
But like in golf, play the wind.
00:55:21.840 --> 00:55:22.320
Yeah, no.
00:55:22.559 --> 00:55:22.719
Okay.
00:55:22.880 --> 00:55:23.679
I don't disagree with you.
00:55:23.760 --> 00:55:24.719
I'm not disagreeing.
00:55:24.800 --> 00:55:26.800
Just wanted to play a little devil's advocate there.
00:55:26.960 --> 00:55:27.599
I understand.
00:55:27.679 --> 00:55:28.719
But you know, it's like, okay.
00:55:28.880 --> 00:55:31.840
So instead of the 25, they get the ball to 35 or 40 now.
00:55:32.159 --> 00:55:33.679
You know, that's just stuff like that.
00:55:33.760 --> 00:55:36.239
That just really ticks me off.
00:55:36.559 --> 00:55:37.199
Punting.
00:55:37.760 --> 00:55:38.079
Okay.
00:55:39.679 --> 00:55:42.960
I have not been a fan of Archie Wilson at all this year.
00:55:43.119 --> 00:55:44.400
He had a 50-yard punt.
00:55:44.719 --> 00:55:45.039
I know.
00:55:45.199 --> 00:55:48.000
He had a 51 or 49 yarder.
00:55:48.239 -->
00:55:48.719
Awesome.
00:55:48.880 --> 00:55:50.239
I'm happy for the kid.
00:55:50.719 --> 00:55:53.119
Nine yards better than his average.
00:55:53.440 --> 00:55:54.400
It could have been longer.
00:55:54.639 --> 00:55:57.280
Drippy didn't catch it right away on the back or just bounce.
00:55:57.599 --> 00:55:58.719
Heck of a punt, man.
00:55:58.880 --> 00:55:59.760
I mean.
00:56:01.440 --> 00:56:03.440
The ball bounced.
00:56:03.679 --> 00:56:06.079
It was actually probably a 40 yarder in the air.
00:56:06.320 --> 00:56:11.519
It rolled 10 yards forward and then it came back two yards.
00:56:11.840 --> 00:56:13.440
But okay, that one was fine.
00:56:13.679 --> 00:56:15.519
He had two other punts on the day.
00:56:15.679 --> 00:56:16.880
I think he had.
00:56:17.119 --> 00:56:23.519
And one was kind of short-fielded punt, so really he was just trying to pin him deep inside the 10.
00:56:23.679 --> 00:56:24.000
Yeah.
00:56:24.239 --> 00:56:24.880
And he did.
00:56:24.960 --> 00:56:26.960
He got it to the nine or whatever it was.
00:56:27.119 --> 00:56:32.000
And then he had one other punt that was just his average, like 40 yards or whatever.
00:56:32.239 --> 00:56:36.559
So I guess the punting game really didn't hurt us that much on field position this week.
00:56:36.719 --> 00:56:37.840
It just doesn't feel impressive.
00:56:37.920 --> 00:56:39.199
It just wasn't impressive.
00:56:39.360 --> 00:56:42.000
You know, I was still waiting for a big boom.
00:56:42.159 --> 00:56:44.159
The fans love Archie, though.
00:56:44.320 --> 00:56:45.679
I think they loved him last year.
00:56:45.920 --> 00:56:51.920
Oh, dude, no, I I tell you what, inside the stadium, when they announce his name with the starters, they go crazy.
00:56:52.159 --> 00:56:54.079
I guess I'm just not one of the lovers.
00:56:54.480 --> 00:56:56.239
Don't love the thunder from downhill.
00:56:56.480 --> 00:56:58.000
I am not a lover.
00:56:58.400 --> 00:57:00.400
Uh let's see, kick coverage.
00:57:00.639 --> 00:57:01.199
Yeah.
00:57:02.000 --> 00:57:09.920
So we had to going into this game, we kind of had they were saying we kind of had to watch out for their explosive plays on the special teams.
00:57:10.159 --> 00:57:16.000
Just because they have some guys that can make things happen on punt returns and kickoff returns, but we didn't see any of that.
00:57:18.320 --> 00:57:19.440
I think we did a good job.
00:57:19.599 --> 00:57:21.119
I mean, that's the one thing with Archie.
00:57:21.840 --> 00:57:26.400
Outside the kickoff out of bounds, though, Hole was booting it through the end zone every other time.
00:57:26.480 --> 00:57:31.760
I mean, he had the one bonehead kickoff, or but other than that, he was kicking it out of the end zone.
00:57:31.920 --> 00:57:33.199
That's the one thing with Archie.
00:57:33.280 --> 00:57:38.320
Yeah, he's not going to kick it very far, but at least he gives our guys time to get down to the ball.
00:57:38.480 --> 00:57:40.400
And at least he kicks it to the right side of the field.
00:57:40.559 --> 00:57:40.880
Correct.
00:57:40.960 --> 00:57:43.280
And we yeah, I mean, we don't want to bring up Michigan State.
00:57:43.440 --> 00:57:44.719
You know, they're talking about Michigan State.
00:57:44.800 --> 00:57:45.760
How can you forget about that?
00:57:46.079 --> 00:57:50.000
A few years ago that kind of completely lost us the game.
00:57:50.159 --> 00:57:54.719
But anyway, the return game, we didn't have any kickoff returns, did we?
00:57:54.880 --> 00:57:55.039
No.
00:57:55.199 --> 00:57:57.920
Well, they only kicked us uh Well, they only scored seven points.
00:57:58.079 --> 00:57:58.639
Yeah, that's cool.
00:57:58.719 --> 00:58:03.119
They had the one kickoff at halftime or at the beginning of the game, and we didn't return it.
00:58:03.199 --> 00:58:05.280
And then after the touchdown, we didn't return it.
00:58:05.440 --> 00:58:05.760
Yeah.
00:58:06.079 --> 00:58:09.199
So kickoff returns, can't really talk much about that.
00:58:09.440 --> 00:58:16.880
If we're gonna talk about punt returns, you know, there's Corey made the really good punt return that got called back on the holding.
00:58:17.039 --> 00:58:17.599
Keelan Smith.
00:58:17.920 --> 00:58:22.239
Another dumb penalty that killed in an explosive play for the best special teams, you know.
00:58:22.320 --> 00:58:28.800
It's one of those deals where you tell Keelan, yeah, we're really happy that you're engaging that block and you're holding on to that block.
00:58:28.880 --> 00:58:30.719
But if you're going to the ground, you gotta let him go.
00:58:30.880 --> 00:58:31.119
Yeah.
00:58:31.280 --> 00:58:33.360
You can't pull the player but down on top of you.
00:58:33.519 --> 00:58:36.960
I mean, it wasn't one of those holding calls that was just clear cut.
00:58:37.199 --> 00:58:38.960
You know, it was it was judgmental.
00:58:39.280 --> 00:58:41.440
But Keelan's gotta be smarter, you gotta let him go.
00:58:41.519 --> 00:58:42.480
You can't pull a guy to the ground.
00:58:42.800 --> 00:58:43.519
You can't hook a guy.
00:58:43.679 --> 00:58:43.920
No.
00:58:44.079 --> 00:58:45.119
And they're gonna call that.
00:58:45.199 --> 00:58:46.400
If they see it, they're calling it.
00:58:47.440 --> 00:58:52.000
I thought Jakori also made a couple plays that were just like, what are you doing?
00:58:52.159 --> 00:58:56.400
Like there was one punt where he should have ran up to catch it, but he didn't.
00:58:56.480 --> 00:58:57.360
He let it go.
00:58:57.519 --> 00:59:01.119
And the ball ended up rolling all the way down to the 10, you know.
00:59:01.360 --> 00:59:06.079
And that was that was right after the punt where he got absolutely stoned at the five.
00:59:06.559 --> 00:59:09.679
And I wonder if that didn't carry over a little bit into the next one.
00:59:10.000 --> 00:59:17.920
So that play there, he gave up 15-20 yards of field position just because he let that ball go, and he shouldn't have let it go.
00:59:18.239 -->
00:59:22.719
There was one punt that they had that Jacori could do nothing about.
00:59:22.800 --> 00:59:25.840
It was just kicked literally 25 yards in front of him.
00:59:26.159 --> 00:59:27.679
But the ball ended up rolling all the way.
00:59:29.119 --> 00:59:31.599
All the way by him, and he couldn't do anything about that.
00:59:31.840 --> 00:59:33.760
I thought the return game could have been better.
00:59:34.000 --> 00:59:36.320
Field position, we were fine all game.
00:59:36.559 --> 00:59:37.039
I mean.
00:59:37.280 --> 00:59:42.559
Yeah, other than the one where he got stoned at the five, but we still drove the ball 95 yards and scored a touchdown.
00:59:42.639 --> 00:59:45.039
So we were kind of pinned on a few drives.
00:59:45.119 --> 00:59:52.079
Like we were down to our own 10 a few times, a couple times at least, and then the holding penalty that brought us back to the 20.
00:59:53.280 --> 00:59:55.760
We just we can definitely improve.
00:59:56.000 --> 01:00:01.280
We just can't have that type of bonehead penalty in Big Ten play.
01:00:01.599 --> 01:00:09.039
Because flipping a field like that, because he had returned that ball to the plus side of the field, I think.
01:00:09.119 --> 01:00:10.639
He was on North Dakota territory.
01:00:12.960 --> 01:00:21.760
So then when the play when that penalty gets called and it's 10 yards from the spot of the foul, Keelan Smith's holding at the 20, that takes us all the way back to the 10.
01:00:21.920 --> 01:00:22.159
Yeah.
01:00:22.320 --> 01:00:24.400
I mean, that can't happen in league play.
01:00:24.559 --> 01:00:30.159
No, because that's 50 yards of field position that we're losing right there, just because of his holding call.
01:00:30.480 --> 01:00:33.039
So I've that it's a teaching moment for Keelan.
01:00:33.199 --> 01:00:47.760
He's a young kid yet, but we little bonehead mistakes really affects things in special teams, especially when special teams in a game like that may not have as big of part in the game, I guess.
01:00:47.920 --> 01:00:50.639
You you can't you can't you just can't give up yardage like that.
01:00:50.880 --> 01:00:53.360
I guess I just wanted to see in these first three games.
01:00:53.440 --> 01:00:58.320
I we didn't know what the special teams was going to be like this year with our coach leaving for USC.
01:00:58.880 --> 01:01:01.519
Brett Maher comes in and it's a different special team.
01:01:01.679 --> 01:01:08.880
I just wanted to see continuance improvement from game one to all the way to game three in these first non-conference three non-conference games.
01:01:09.119 --> 01:01:10.400
I haven't seen any yet.
01:01:10.639 --> 01:01:11.760
And it's frustrating.
01:01:11.920 --> 01:01:15.119
So I can tell you, we haven't even talked about it yet.
01:01:16.079 --> 01:01:19.039
My trust level in John Cunanen.
01:01:19.440 --> 01:01:21.360
Kyle Kennedy, sorry.
01:01:21.599 --> 01:01:24.639
John Holt is wavering a little bit.
01:01:25.840 --> 01:01:31.039
First of all, I don't like the decision to kick a 54-yard field goal, even with the wind at our back.
01:01:33.360 --> 01:01:34.400
He doesn't have that leg.
01:01:34.559 --> 01:01:36.880
He showed you against Bowling Green, he doesn't have that leg.
01:01:36.960 --> 01:01:38.000
He does not have that leg.
01:01:38.639 --> 01:01:40.000
Second field goal.
01:01:41.840 --> 01:01:44.400
From where I was sitting in the stance, it looked like he missed it.
01:01:44.559 --> 01:01:45.679
It was pretty much a chip shot.
01:01:45.760 --> 01:01:45.920
Yeah.
01:01:46.000 --> 01:01:47.039
It was all that 30-yarder.
01:01:47.280 --> 01:01:48.159
30 yarder yarder.
01:01:48.320 --> 01:01:53.519
30 yarder from the left hash should be an easy kick for a right-handed, right-footed kicker.
01:01:53.760 --> 01:02:02.320
And he, watching the replay on the game from the end zone, that ball was inches from being outside that goal.
01:02:02.960 --> 01:02:10.159
It was we haven't, I don't know what it is about our field goal kickers, but it's been a long time since I've been confident in a field goal kicker.
01:02:10.320 --> 01:02:10.639
Yeah.
01:02:10.880 --> 01:02:16.880
And I had had had a lot of faith in Kuhnan, and maybe it was just an off game.
01:02:16.960 --> 01:02:20.159
Like I said earlier, it was very windy in that stadium.
01:02:20.400 --> 01:02:22.480
Maybe it was just an off game.
01:02:22.800 --> 01:02:26.159
Maybe it's nothing to worry about, but it's something to watch going forward.
01:02:26.320 --> 01:02:26.559
Yeah.
01:02:27.199 --> 01:02:32.000
Can we or can we not trust our kicker to go out there and get us three points when we need three points?
01:02:32.239 --> 01:02:33.920
Well, especially 40 yards and in.
01:02:34.079 --> 01:02:34.320
Yeah.
01:02:34.480 --> 01:02:35.280
We better be making those.
01:02:35.599 --> 01:02:36.880
You better be making everything.
01:02:37.119 --> 01:02:40.239
45 yards and in, okay, maybe.
01:02:40.480 --> 01:02:44.880
50 yards and over, we shouldn't even be trying unless you're gonna throw John Hole out there.
01:02:45.920 --> 01:02:47.039
He's got the bigger leg.
01:02:47.440 --> 01:02:51.119
Why not give Hull a chance to kick some of those, but I don't know.
01:02:51.280 --> 01:02:52.079
I don't know either.
01:02:52.239 --> 01:02:59.760
I mean, I get there's times where if it's fourth and fifteen from the 36, can't really go for it.
01:02:59.840 --> 01:03:03.360
It's kind of a tough task to get 15 yards.
01:03:03.519 --> 01:03:03.920
Yeah.
01:03:04.239 --> 01:03:05.760
But punt the ball.
01:03:05.920 --> 01:03:07.360
Try to pin them deep or something.
01:03:07.599 --> 01:03:09.760
I mean, just depending on the situation, you know?
01:03:09.920 --> 01:03:10.239
Yeah.
01:03:10.400 --> 01:03:19.440
Like, I just don't want to see very many more 55 and up attempts from Kyle Canaan because it he's shown us twice now that he can't do it.
01:03:19.679 --> 01:03:20.719
So let's just not.
01:03:20.800 --> 01:03:21.039
Yeah.
01:03:21.280 --> 01:03:22.320
As long as 52.
01:03:22.559 --> 01:03:24.559
I'd rather pooch kick, a punt down there.
01:03:24.800 --> 01:03:27.440
I mean, Archie, he ain't gonna kick it through the end zone anyways.
01:03:27.519 --> 01:03:29.039
He can't get the ball there, according to you.
01:03:29.199 --> 01:03:29.519
Yeah.
01:03:29.840 --> 01:03:30.639
No, he can't.
01:03:30.960 --> 01:03:32.159
He absolutely can't.
01:03:32.400 --> 01:03:34.559
I would love for Archie just to prove me wrong.
01:03:34.719 --> 01:03:37.280
Yeah, just boom at 70 yards from one end of the field.
01:03:37.519 --> 01:03:39.119
Just like Keith, haha.
01:03:39.280 --> 01:03:40.320
You know, look at that.
01:03:40.400 --> 01:03:42.159
And I'll be like, I'll I will clap.
01:03:42.400 --> 01:03:43.440
I will applaud the kids.
01:03:43.599 --> 01:03:44.079
Right.
01:03:44.639 --> 01:03:48.079
I mean, against North Dakota overall, I did not like the special teams.
01:03:48.159 --> 01:03:50.960
I just I didn't feel any improvements from the previous two games.
01:03:51.119 --> 01:03:53.760
I thought it was a step back from the previous two.
01:03:54.159 --> 01:04:00.639
Uh they just have so much work to do, and I that's gotta be a big emphasis with the coaching staff going into Big Ten play.
01:04:00.719 --> 01:04:02.480
Like, we gotta get something figured out here.
01:04:02.559 --> 01:04:02.880
Yeah.
01:04:03.039 --> 01:04:04.960
They gotta be better because they're gonna screw us.
01:04:05.199 --> 01:04:06.480
Luckily, they haven't hurt us yet.
01:04:06.559 --> 01:04:08.559
Like point-wise, point-wise.
01:04:08.639 --> 01:04:11.440
Yeah, but against good teams, it they're gonna hurt us.
01:04:11.519 --> 01:04:11.840
Oh, yeah.
01:04:12.000 --> 01:04:14.159
Especially if they play the way they play the first three games.
01:04:14.239 --> 01:04:15.760
So I'm giving them a C plus.
01:04:15.920 --> 01:04:16.639
I'm going D.
01:04:16.800 --> 01:04:17.440
Oh, geez.
01:04:18.800 --> 01:04:20.079
I am going D.
01:04:20.480 --> 01:04:22.239
Just man, I feel bad for Brandon.
01:04:22.559 --> 01:04:26.719
The only reason they're at D is because our kicker made two field goals.
01:04:26.880 --> 01:04:27.119
Yeah.
01:04:27.280 --> 01:04:29.679
If they he wouldn't have made those, they would learn F.
01:04:30.320 --> 01:04:32.239
I mean, they just have not been good.
01:04:32.480 --> 01:04:34.480
I want them to be good, but they haven't been good.
01:04:34.880 --> 01:04:36.000
We need them to be good.
01:04:36.239 --> 01:04:41.599
So, players of the games, I'm gonna go Jamal Rule on the offensive player of the game.
01:04:41.679 --> 01:04:43.679
I think that's a pretty simple one for me.
01:04:44.079 --> 01:04:48.000
15 carries, 119 yards, two more touchdowns.
01:04:48.320 --> 01:04:55.440
Two out of the three games we've played so far, he's had over a hundred yards rushing, like we said earlier, first time since 2002, that it's happened.
01:04:55.599 --> 01:05:00.000
I don't know how you could pick anybody else out of him outside of him.
01:05:00.320 --> 01:05:02.400
Jamal Rule, offensive MVP.
01:05:02.559 --> 01:05:03.519
Who's yours?
01:05:03.760 --> 01:05:04.960
That's Jamal Rule.
01:05:05.360 --> 01:05:09.440
I mean, he's just the guy for me.
01:05:09.760 --> 01:05:12.880
And he's a difference maker whenever he's in the game.
01:05:13.519 --> 01:05:17.199
He just makes plays, you know, catching the ball, running the ball.
01:05:17.519 --> 01:05:22.239
People pay attention when he's in the game, and our offense runs better when he's in the game.
01:05:22.400 --> 01:05:24.719
So I think he was the MVP.
01:05:24.800 --> 01:05:28.960
He had 10 carries, he had 119 yards, he had two touchdowns.
01:05:29.920 --> 01:05:31.440
He was the guy for me.
01:05:31.679 --> 01:05:36.400
And then he you don't forget the fact that he chips in 35 yards receiving, too.
01:05:36.639 --> 01:05:38.400
I mean, he means he makes a difference everywhere.
01:05:38.559 --> 01:05:38.880
Yeah.
01:05:39.119 --> 01:05:43.039
And to be doing this as a true freshman is just all more impressive.
01:05:43.199 --> 01:05:44.800
You know, he's gonna be a star.
01:05:44.960 --> 01:05:47.519
I hope we just have to make sure he stays.
01:05:47.760 --> 01:05:48.960
Yeah, we're gonna have to pay him.
01:05:49.039 --> 01:05:52.159
I hope we see a lot more of the uh bowling celebration in the end zone.
01:05:52.320 --> 01:05:52.960
Yeah, that was nice.
01:05:53.119 --> 01:05:53.679
Nice little touch.
01:05:53.840 --> 01:05:59.360
If it will if it wouldn't be a fifteen yard penalty, I'd like to see a couple of the other offensive players line up as like bowling pins and have him fall down.
01:05:59.440 --> 01:06:02.400
But I I don't think Rule wants to give up 15 yards on something like that.
01:06:02.880 --> 01:06:06.800
If you don't know what the bowling celebration is, he likes to bowl.
01:06:06.960 --> 01:06:07.199
Yeah.
01:06:07.360 --> 01:06:08.880
So that's kind of his thing.
01:06:09.119 --> 01:06:10.079
It's his new hobby.
01:06:10.159 --> 01:06:11.280
He says he's fallen in love with it.
01:06:11.440 --> 01:06:11.840
His hobby.
01:06:12.159 --> 01:06:14.159
The family bowling after the game, one win.
01:06:14.400 --> 01:06:22.000
I saw in the post-game interview they asked Matt Rule was like, hey, if if Jamal keeps having games like this, you're going to have to go bowling with him.
01:06:22.079 --> 01:06:24.000
And he goes, nah, I'm not a bowler.
01:06:27.760 --> 01:06:31.280
I want to ask one question before we go into the defensive player of the game.
01:06:31.519 --> 01:06:34.880
We're both in agreement that Jamal Rule is probably the guy.
01:06:35.039 --> 01:06:44.800
But out of that three-headed monster, if if Rule starts getting more carries, out of the other two of Mosey and Nelson, who do you think is going to get cut on the carries?
01:06:44.880 --> 01:06:46.239
Who's going to lose some carries?
01:06:46.480 --> 01:06:47.039
Mosey.
01:06:47.119
--> 01:06:49.039
I think Mosey's that guy out there too.
01:06:49.199 --> 01:06:51.599
I mean, Makkay still is a good running back.
01:06:51.840 --> 01:06:52.239
Very good.
01:06:52.800 --> 01:06:54.000
He's been running great the first time.
01:06:54.320 --> 01:06:54.960
He runs hard.
01:06:55.199 --> 01:06:55.440
I mean.
01:06:55.679 --> 01:06:56.559
He's got speed.
01:06:56.639 --> 01:06:59.119
He he he's been doing he's been doing really good too.
01:06:59.280 --> 01:07:02.559
I mean, just and it's not that Mosey hasn't been doing well.
01:07:02.800 --> 01:07:05.519
He just hasn't been as explosive as the other two.
01:07:05.679 --> 01:07:06.000
No.
01:07:06.239 --> 01:07:06.960
And that's fine.
01:07:07.039 --> 01:07:11.360
I mean, Mosey's a s just a solid guy that he's been doing fine.
01:07:11.519 --> 01:07:16.079
But other than I think Rule and Makai are your two explosive backs.
01:07:16.159 --> 01:07:19.840
And those your explosive backs are going to get the most attention.
01:07:20.000 --> 01:07:22.719
They're going to get the more carries and they're going to be in the game more.
01:07:23.360 --> 01:07:26.639
And I think as we get into Big Ten play, we're going to see that a little bit more.
01:07:26.800 --> 01:07:26.960
Yeah.
01:07:27.199 --> 01:07:31.039
I think Mosey's production is going to go down a little bit, and you're going to see those two uptick.
01:07:31.199 --> 01:07:35.679
And he's but you got Mosey's got to stay ready though, because the carries, the carries will be there at some point.
01:07:36.079 --> 01:07:37.440
One injury away, he's right there.
01:07:37.599 --> 01:07:37.840
Yep.
01:07:38.239 --> 01:07:40.320
And we hope there's no injuries, but yeah.
01:07:40.480 --> 01:07:43.760
I just wanted to get that question out there because I think it's an important thing going forward.
01:07:43.840 --> 01:07:44.000
Yeah.
01:07:44.159 --> 01:07:46.000
That if Rule does get those carries.
01:07:46.239 --> 01:07:48.639
Defensive player of the game, I'm going Owen Chambliss.
01:07:51.760 --> 01:08:05.440
Looked like he, like I said earlier, he looked like he's finally 100% healthy, really comfortable out there, had the most snaps played on the defense, was the second leading tackler in the game, had the half sack.
01:08:06.239 --> 01:08:08.079
He just looks like a captain to me.
01:08:08.719 --> 01:08:10.320
He's my defensive player of the game.
01:08:10.480 --> 01:08:15.280
Yours It's hard to go against him, but just to pick somebody different.
01:08:15.760 --> 01:08:17.279
I'm gonna say Donovan Jones.
01:08:18.000 --> 01:08:22.720
I thought he when I was watching the game, I just like the way he played on Saturday.
01:08:23.199 --> 01:08:27.279
The growth he's had from year one to year two has been pretty crazy.
01:08:27.600 --> 01:08:32.319
Plus, he had he had a sack and he had a tackle for loss all by himself.
01:08:32.479 --> 01:08:32.720
Yeah.
01:08:33.199 --> 01:08:38.239
So yeah, he only had like four tackles or whatever, but he looked good to me on Saturday.
01:08:38.319 --> 01:08:41.119
I thought he played really good and he had some explosive plays on defense.
01:08:41.199 --> 01:08:42.800
So he's gonna be my player of the game.
01:08:43.279 --> 01:08:45.760
Who's your unsung unsung hero?
01:08:48.319 --> 01:08:49.680
Unsung hero.
01:08:49.920 --> 01:08:53.520
Well it's not gonna be anybody on the special teams.
01:08:53.600 --> 01:08:55.039
I can tell you that, Josh.
01:08:56.640 --> 01:08:57.760
Poor special teams.
01:08:57.920 --> 01:08:59.600
I mean that there really wasn't it.
01:08:59.680 --> 01:09:03.279
I mean, Jamal Rule's a hero, obviously.
01:09:04.079 --> 01:09:07.760
I think Calandria, if I had to say somebody else, it's gonna be him.
01:09:08.560 --> 01:09:15.039
He just played not an explosive game by any means, but he was just that guy that was Mr.
01:09:15.199 --> 01:09:16.399
Consistent on Saturday.
01:09:16.560 --> 01:09:22.399
He made he didn't make any mistakes, he just played his type of football that they asked him to play.
01:09:22.880 --> 01:09:25.600
He made the plays when he needed to make them.
01:09:25.920 --> 01:09:27.359
Didn't do anything crazy.
01:09:27.680 --> 01:09:29.359
He just played a solid game of football.
01:09:29.520 --> 01:09:29.920
Yep.
01:09:30.640 --> 01:09:33.039
My unsung hero is gonna be Luke Linemeyer.
01:09:34.800 --> 01:09:44.560
He is I think he's way more talented than any stat line or anything that you could anybody could tell you.
01:09:45.520 --> 01:09:46.479
I just love the guy.
01:09:46.560 --> 01:09:47.920
He's a lunch pail guy.
01:09:48.000 --> 01:09:52.479
He does not complain about how many touches he gets, how many targets he gets.
01:09:52.800 --> 01:09:56.720
He loves getting his hands dirty in the run game.
01:09:56.800 --> 01:09:59.279
He's love he loves blowing up linebackers.
01:09:59.439 --> 01:10:02.560
When he gets his opportunities, he makes the most of them.
01:10:02.880 --> 01:10:03.520
I think.
01:10:05.039 --> 01:10:12.479
I mean, Horgerson talks about him all the time, about how he's week one played the best game he's ever seen a tight end play, and he had one catch.
01:10:12.800 --> 01:10:14.960
Week two just continues on.
01:10:15.039 --> 01:10:16.000
He's consistent.
01:10:16.159 --> 01:10:18.479
One of those guys you never have to worry about.
01:10:18.800 --> 01:10:23.119
I think his role in the offense is gonna get bigger as we get into Big Ten play.
01:10:23.359 --> 01:10:25.680
Luke Lindemeyer, easily my unsung hero.
01:10:25.840 --> 01:10:26.640
Let me change mine.
01:10:26.720 --> 01:10:26.880
Okay.
01:10:27.119 --> 01:10:27.920
I'm changing mine.
01:10:28.079 --> 01:10:28.399
Okay.
01:10:28.560 --> 01:10:30.000
One quasi-gilmer.
01:10:30.239 --> 01:10:30.720
Ooh.
01:10:31.840 --> 01:10:36.239
I think just the loan that block that he had for Jamal Rules touchdown.
01:10:36.319 --> 01:10:36.479
Yeah.
01:10:36.720 --> 01:10:38.960
Earns him the unsung hero for me.
01:10:39.359 --> 01:10:41.119
He just plays freaking hard, man.
01:10:41.199 --> 01:10:42.640
And he's been playing really good this year.
01:10:42.720 --> 01:10:43.279
I didn't know.
01:10:43.439 --> 01:10:47.039
I don't know if anybody really expected him to do this when he came in.
01:10:47.199 --> 01:10:49.039
Ah, to me, he was gonna be a number three receiver.
01:10:49.199 --> 01:10:51.520
Yeah, everybody kind of just thought, oh, he's just a plug-in guy.
01:10:51.680 --> 01:10:54.159
Like he's just gonna be another whatever.
01:10:54.399 --> 01:10:56.960
To me, he was another Dane Key type player.
01:10:57.279 --> 01:10:58.560
But he looks really good.
01:10:59.359 --> 01:11:01.119
And he looks like Kalandria's number one guy.
01:11:01.279 --> 01:11:02.319
Yeah, that's what I was just gonna say.
01:11:02.399 --> 01:11:02.560
Yeah.
01:11:02.720 --> 01:11:05.760
Like if he needs to make a play on offense, he's looking at quasi first.
01:11:06.000 --> 01:11:13.680
I mean, outside of Kalandria, he's through the first three games, easily the best transfer that we've that has played on the field.
01:11:14.239 --> 01:11:14.800
I would agree.
01:11:14.960 --> 01:11:26.720
But I thought the way he played on Saturday against North Dakota, even when he wasn't involved with the football offensively, he was still playing hard and doing his thing and throwing blocks.
01:11:26.800 --> 01:11:28.720
And he's my unsung hero.
01:11:28.880 --> 01:11:29.600
I'm changing it.
01:11:29.760 --> 01:11:30.479
I love it.
01:11:30.640 --> 01:11:31.199
I really do.
01:11:31.439 --> 01:11:32.720
Nebraska is 3-0.
01:11:32.960 --> 01:11:37.119
North Dakota is behind us, and now the schedule starts getting a little more serious.
01:11:37.359 --> 01:11:40.319
When we come back, we're gonna turn our attention to Michigan State.
01:11:40.479 --> 01:11:41.600
Bring on the spark.
01:11:53.520 --> 01:11:55.920
Alright, welcome back, corn addicts.
01:11:56.399 --> 01:11:59.840
Here in this section, we're gonna say what did we learn?
01:12:00.000 --> 01:12:04.239
Let's go with Josh's three things we learned about the game on Saturday.
01:12:04.560 --> 01:12:07.680
Three things I think we learned from Saturday's game.
01:12:07.920 --> 01:12:12.960
Number one, the defenses look better each week that we've played.
01:12:13.279 --> 01:12:15.840
Week one, there were some rough patches.
01:12:15.920 --> 01:12:21.279
There was a lot of questions, I think, going out of that game, even though we ended up winning by a sizable margin.
01:12:21.600 --> 01:12:25.119
Week two, we came in, played an inferior opponent in bowling green.
01:12:25.359 --> 01:12:26.399
Defense looked a lot better.
01:12:26.479 --> 01:12:32.000
It looked like maybe we'd fixed some of the problems that had shown up in game one.
01:12:32.880 --> 01:12:38.159
Came into week three against North Dakota, who I would say was easily the best team we played so far in the year.
01:12:38.319 --> 01:12:41.119
And the defense just
looked real solid.
01:12:41.680 --> 01:12:46.079
I just keep I wanna you wanna keep seeing incremental growth every week.
01:12:46.159 --> 01:12:47.520
You don't want to see them flatline.
01:12:47.840 --> 01:12:51.199
And from what I've seen, I think the defense is improving each and every week.
01:12:51.279 --> 01:12:54.000
They're getting more and more comfortable under Rob Orich's defense.
01:12:54.079 --> 01:12:54.399
Yeah.
01:12:54.640 --> 01:13:02.239
Number two, I think the running back room has answered all of the questions that any of us would have had coming into the season.
01:13:02.399 --> 01:13:10.000
I can't tell you how many times you and me talked about at work asking each other who was gonna carry the ball for us.
01:13:10.560 --> 01:13:11.840
It was a very much an unknown.
01:13:12.000 --> 01:13:18.960
Makai Nelson had a very uninspiring season last year, which anybody outside of Emmett Johnson did.
01:13:19.119 --> 01:13:23.439
He had the bowl game where he looked good, but you just didn't know if that was really what Makai Nelson was gonna have.
01:13:23.600 --> 01:13:27.600
Then he ran into his offseason problems and stuff, and you just didn't even know if he was gonna be available.
01:13:27.840 --> 01:13:29.600
He's come out and played really well.
01:13:29.840 --> 01:13:41.359
Isaiah Mosey was wide receiver, true freshman last year, who got switched to running back late in camp, played, but wasn't really a difference maker.
01:13:41.520 --> 01:13:44.960
Didn't you could just tell he wasn't comfortable as a running back yet?
01:13:45.119 --> 01:13:50.560
And then you had Jamal Rule, which the coaches were all telling us that he was he's a stud, he's a stud.
01:13:50.640 --> 01:13:55.359
He's gonna really shock everybody, but he's I mean, he's an 18-year-old three-star quarter running back.
01:13:55.520 --> 01:13:56.399
You just don't know.
01:13:56.479 --> 01:13:58.960
I mean, a lot of questions coming into the deal.
01:13:59.119 --> 01:14:00.000
For sure.
01:14:00.720 --> 01:14:07.920
And then with in the Ohio game, the bowling ring game, and then the North Dakota game, they've just answered the call every time.
01:14:08.239 --> 01:14:10.880
No one has taken a step back out of that running back room.
01:14:11.039 --> 01:14:15.039
I mean, I know Mosey doesn't put up the greatest stats in the world, but he's just steady.
01:14:15.119 --> 01:14:17.039
I mean, he he had 10 carries for 40 yards.
01:14:17.119 --> 01:14:18.319
That's four yards a carry.
01:14:18.399 --> 01:14:20.399
I mean, you you want that out of a running back.
01:14:20.479 --> 01:14:23.279
Yeah, Makai Nelson looks explosive.
01:14:23.439 --> 01:14:24.880
He looks, he runs hard.
01:14:24.960 --> 01:14:26.399
He wants to run people over.
01:14:26.560 --> 01:14:31.520
And Jamal Rule is he's the greatest thing since sliced bread right now.
01:14:31.680 --> 01:14:37.359
I mean, everybody in that stadium is just yelling every time the guy touches the ball, yeah.
01:14:37.520 --> 01:14:41.359
Whether it's for a yard, 10 yards, 20 yards, he's got big playability.
01:14:41.439 --> 01:14:45.840
He's busting off 50-yard touchdown runs, he's busting off 40-yard catches over here.
01:14:46.479 --> 01:14:54.880
I mean, if if I don't know anybody that can, with a serious face, look at either one of us and go, they're not happy with the running back room.
01:14:55.039 --> 01:15:00.880
So that's my number two thing that we learned is that our running back room, that's something that we don't have to worry about going forward.
01:15:01.600 --> 01:15:05.680
The third thing is that key penalties are still a big concern for me.
01:15:07.439 --> 01:15:10.159
Week one, we had the penalty problems.
01:15:10.239 --> 01:15:11.600
I think we had nine of them.
01:15:11.840 --> 01:15:16.319
Week two, we still had six or seven penalties for sixty-some yards.
01:15:16.640 --> 01:15:26.239
This week we we were able to cut the number of penalties down, but it was the key penalties in key situations that are the worrisome part right now.
01:15:26.560 --> 01:15:30.960
The late hit out of bounds on a quarterback that didn't need to happen.
01:15:31.359 --> 01:15:37.680
A dumb holding call on a penal on a punt return because you're going down and you're just not smart enough to let go.
01:15:37.920 --> 01:15:43.600
A kicker not being able to kick keep the ball inside the the field of play.
01:15:43.920 --> 01:15:49.439
I mean, outside of that, I think there was one holding call on an offensive lineman, maybe.
01:15:49.600 --> 01:15:51.920
Or maybe it was an I think it might have been an offsides call, actually.
01:15:52.159 --> 01:15:53.439
I think it was what it was.
01:15:55.760 --> 01:15:58.880
It's not the number of penalties that are concerning to me.
01:15:59.039 --> 01:16:04.800
It's the penalties in spots that shouldn't happen.
01:16:05.119 --> 01:16:12.159
You take away the late hit out of bounds, they're punting the ball, we possibly get a shutout.
01:16:12.800 --> 01:16:21.840
You take away the holding call on Keelan Smith, we're getting the ball at the North North Dakota 45 instead of our 10-yard line.
01:16:22.640 --> 01:16:30.319
Going into next week against Michigan State, we can't have that because those type of plays will end up costing us the game.
01:16:30.560 --> 01:16:32.479
So those are my three things there.
01:16:32.720 --> 01:16:34.239
Defense looks better each week.
01:16:34.479 --> 01:16:36.399
Running backs have answered all my questions.
01:16:36.560 --> 01:16:38.880
Gotta fix the penalties in key situations.
01:16:39.119 --> 01:16:40.800
What are your three things?
01:16:41.600 --> 01:16:49.279
Uh, number one, I think we learned from that game that Kalandria and Rule are s gonna be stars.
01:16:49.359 --> 01:16:51.039
I mean, they're stars on our team.
01:16:51.279 --> 01:16:55.680
I think we learned that Jamal Rule is going to be the guy going forward.
01:16:56.079 --> 01:16:56.640
I think.
01:16:56.960
--> 01:17:02.800
I think these first three games the coaches did experiments with the running back room.
01:17:03.199 --> 01:17:14.479
I think against non-conference teams, they wanted to find out which running back runs the hardest, does the things that they need to do when they're not carrying the football.
01:17:14.720 --> 01:17:21.039
I think Jamal Rule has answered that he can run the football, that he can catch the football, and that he can block.
01:17:21.279 --> 01:17:25.920
I think he is by far the best running back out of the three that we've seen consistently.
01:17:26.560 --> 01:17:37.119
So I think going forward into Big Ten play, I do believe we're gonna see Jamal Rule instead of carrying the ball ten times a game, fifteen times a game, he might be hit 15 to 20.
01:17:37.279 --> 01:17:40.399
I think against better teams, you want your better players out there more.
01:17:40.640 --> 01:17:43.279
Jamal Rule is the best running back on our team right now.
01:17:43.439 --> 01:17:48.640
I think he's going to see a lot more offensive plays in his future.
01:17:48.960 --> 01:17:51.760
Number two, I think the defense was dominant.
01:17:52.079 --> 01:17:55.119
I think we learned that our defense is much better than it was last year.
01:17:55.359 --> 01:17:57.279
Not to say that they were bad last year.
01:17:57.680 --> 01:18:01.199
I think our run defense especially is a lot better than it was.
01:18:03.760 --> 01:18:05.680
That's going to be key going forward.
01:18:06.319 --> 01:18:12.079
Especially it makes me feel better knowing that we have a better run defense going into Big Ten play, you know?
01:18:12.720 --> 01:18:19.119
So I think we learned a lot from the defense these first three games and against North Dakota that we have the ability to stop the run.
01:18:19.279 --> 01:18:19.600
Yeah.
01:18:19.840 --> 01:18:31.840
I mean, yes, they were lesser teams than we what we will be playing, but it's gotta give you any Husker fan confidence knowing that we have a defense now that can stop the run.
01:18:32.079 --> 01:18:32.880
Yeah, definitely.
01:18:32.960 --> 01:18:33.199
Oh.
01:18:33.520 --> 01:18:36.479
And it just makes you feel better going into Big Ten play.
01:18:36.560 --> 01:18:44.239
So after seeing what we've seen those the first three games, I feel a lot better going into Big Ten play knowing that our defense can do that.
01:18:44.720 --> 01:18:45.840
Most definitely, most definitely.
01:18:46.079 --> 01:18:53.359
You and I, and all of us, were just frustrated as hell last year because our defensive line was just getting pushed backwards in the linebackers all the time.
01:18:53.439 --> 01:18:56.720
You know, like Van Poppel just had a rough year last year.
01:18:56.800 --> 01:18:57.760
And he looks completely different.
01:18:58.079 --> 01:18:58.800
And he looks different.
01:18:58.880 --> 01:19:00.880
He looks stronger, bigger, I don't know.
01:19:01.039 --> 01:19:04.079
He just looks like he took a step ahead, step up a
little bit.
01:19:05.279 --> 01:19:07.439
So that's my second thing that I learned.
01:19:07.520 --> 01:19:10.560
I thought the defense has continued to be dominant.
01:19:10.880 --> 01:19:14.560
My third thing, special teams still needs a lot of work.
01:19:15.199 --> 01:19:18.560
I learned that our special teams is just not good right now.
01:19:18.720 --> 01:19:24.319
They got so many things, and I think it's fixable things that they can improve on.
01:19:24.960 --> 01:19:28.159
They just gotta stop with the unnecessary penalties.
01:19:28.880 --> 01:19:32.720
They gotta they gotta work on situational football a lot more.
01:19:32.880 --> 01:19:38.960
I mean, there are situations like on Saturday, we had to burn a timeout because we couldn't even get the right personnel in the damn game.
01:19:39.520 --> 01:19:43.119
You know, that's that those are types of things that should not happen.
01:19:43.439 --> 01:19:49.600
And then the special teams needs to tune up a lot of aspects of the game.
01:19:50.319 --> 01:19:59.760
When it comes to punting, when it comes to coverage, when it comes to penalties, the kicking game, I hope we see an improvement from the kicker.
01:20:00.079 --> 01:20:07.279
Like I just don't want to get into the middle of the season and be nervous over a 35-yard field goal attempt.
01:20:07.520 --> 01:20:09.760
Because I've felt that way the last four years.
01:20:09.920 --> 01:20:10.159
Yeah.
01:20:10.319 --> 01:20:12.560
You know, it's just oh great, here we go.
01:20:12.720 --> 01:20:15.039
You know, the kickers in the game, are we gonna make it?
01:20:15.119 --> 01:20:15.520
I don't know.
01:20:15.680 --> 01:20:18.800
You're cover you're covering your eyes, peeking through your fingers and stuff.
01:20:19.119 --> 01:20:23.680
Or I'm just looking the other way and just hoping that he makes it because it's a 50-50 shot.
01:20:24.000 --> 01:20:25.920
That's how it felt in the past, you know.
01:20:26.079 --> 01:20:32.399
So my three things that I've learned from the game running back, quarterback play is elite.
01:20:32.560 --> 01:20:39.199
The defense has continued to be dominant, and we still need to work a hell of a lot harder on special teams.
01:20:39.439 --> 01:20:40.880
Definitely, definitely.
01:20:41.119 --> 01:20:47.439
Well, that was our look back over the last over Saturday's game, and now we can officially say it.
01:20:47.680 --> 01:20:49.279
Bringing on the Spartans.
01:20:50.399 --> 01:20:51.039
All right.
01:20:51.199 --> 01:20:54.479
Nebraska, like we said, entering this matchup 3-0.
01:20:54.640 --> 01:20:58.239
There's gonna be a step up in competition now because we're into the Big Ten play, Keith.
01:20:58.640 --> 01:21:04.640
Michigan State, they had a game yesterday against Notre Dame, the number three team in the country.
01:21:04.720 --> 01:21:04.960
Yep.
01:21:05.039 --> 01:21:07.840
They played them really close for most of the game.
01:21:08.159 --> 01:21:11.600
I believe it was 17-10 going in at
half.
01:21:11.760 --> 01:21:12.399
Yeah.
01:21:12.880 --> 01:21:19.760
Then Notre Dame kind of flexed their muscles a little bit, put up 10 more points, ended up winning that game 27-10.
01:21:20.239 --> 01:21:28.880
But from the from the look of it, this team already, this Michigan State team already has the marks of a Patrick Fitzgerald team.
01:21:29.039 --> 01:21:29.359
Yeah.
01:21:29.520 --> 01:21:33.039
They're not gonna probably wow you with their throwing stats.
01:21:33.199 --> 01:21:38.159
I think their quarterback was 9 of 17 for a buck 23, did have two picks.
01:21:39.840 --> 01:21:41.840
They're not gonna be flashy throwing the ball.
01:21:41.920 --> 01:21:45.920
They're gonna be a consistent running team, but they're gonna hang their hand on their defense.
01:21:46.239 --> 01:21:54.079
So I think this is gonna be a big step up for our offense and our offensive line going into this game.
01:21:54.319 --> 01:21:58.800
I think Pat Fitzgerald defenses have always scared me.
01:21:59.760 --> 01:22:03.359
Even from his time at Northwestern, you just knew it was gonna be a dog fight.
01:22:03.439 --> 01:22:08.640
Yeah, you knew we weren't probably gonna put up 42 points, 35 points, or something like that.
01:22:09.279 --> 01:22:23.279
So it'll be interesting for me to see Kalandria, the running backs going up against a good I think I think it's safe to call Mick Michigan State a good team.
01:22:24.239 --> 01:22:26.399
Not a great team, not a poor team.
01:22:26.720 --> 01:22:29.039
You just know Patrick Fitzgerald's gonna have them ready.
01:22:29.279 --> 01:22:32.560
And it's in it's up in East East Lansley, too.
01:22:32.800 --> 01:22:34.079
First road game of the year.
01:22:34.399 --> 01:22:44.239
So that's that's it's gonna be interesting to see how the team handles the first road trip of the year, you know, getting on the plane, flying up to East Lansing, staying in a hotel, trying to get all that stuff down.
01:22:45.039 --> 01:22:48.159
Yeah, I mean, we're we're stepping up to the big boy league now.
01:22:48.239 --> 01:22:50.319
You know, we're getting into Big Ten play.
01:22:50.479 --> 01:22:52.560
Everything's gonna be tougher from here on out.
01:22:52.880 --> 01:22:57.039
So, I mean, what is what does Pat Fitzgerald do well?
01:22:57.279 --> 01:22:58.239
He runs the football.
01:22:58.720 --> 01:23:00.479
He's got good defense.
01:23:00.720 --> 01:23:03.359
He's his teams don't make a lot of mistakes.
01:23:03.600 --> 01:23:05.920
No, no, they they force mistakes.
01:23:06.079 --> 01:23:08.479
And yes, this is his first year at Michigan State.
01:23:08.560 --> 01:23:16.560
I mean, he probably doesn't have his footing completely stuck to the ground, but expect Michigan State to come out and play hard.
01:23:16.720 --> 01:23:25.920
I mean, they started 2-0, they lost, they were a 29-point underdog to Notre Dame, and they only lost by 19, 17, 17 points.
01:23:26.000 --> 01:23:27.760
So they played a good game.
01:23:27.920 -->
01:23:36.079
They pressed Notre Dame until Notre Dame showed that they're just a better football team with more elite athletes and everything else.
01:23:36.319 --> 01:23:39.279
So they're they're not gonna be a very tough.
01:23:40.079 --> 01:23:41.840
They're gonna be a tough team, I should say.
01:23:41.920 --> 01:23:42.479
Let's just say that.
01:23:42.640 --> 01:23:49.039
Yeah, I would definitely say Michigan State's biggest strengths going into this game against us is just gonna be their the hard-nosed edge.
01:23:49.119 --> 01:23:55.439
The the mindset of their coach, you know, that we're we're just gonna make this a knockdown, drag out, dogfight.
01:23:55.520 --> 01:24:06.880
We're gonna try and just wear you down until A, our defense can make a big play, or our special teams can make a big play, or we can pop something big maybe on offense.
01:24:06.960 --> 01:24:09.760
They're gonna they're not gonna try and put up 40 on us.
01:24:09.840 --> 01:24:14.479
They're gonna try and beat us 21, 17, 17, 10, something like that.
01:24:14.640 --> 01:24:16.640
That's the game that Fitzgerald wants.
01:24:16.800 --> 01:24:17.199
100%.
01:24:18.000 --> 01:24:22.640
What would you say is Nebraska's biggest advantage going into this game?
01:24:23.840 --> 01:24:29.039
It's I think our biggest advantage is knowing Matt Rule is in, what is this, his fourth full year?
01:24:29.199 --> 01:24:29.680
Yep.
01:24:30.079 --> 01:24:35.840
This is his fourth full year, and I think we sh I think this is his best team so far.
01:24:36.000 --> 01:24:36.479
I think.
01:24:36.640 --> 01:24:39.840
I think we're we have depth at a lot of positions.
01:24:40.159 --> 01:24:45.199
We have three running backs who are more than capable of running the ball if they need to.
01:24:45.359 --> 01:24:49.439
We have a quarterback transfer that seems to be elite.
01:24:49.520 --> 01:24:55.520
He's an offensive, he's a leader, he's fiery, he's limited his mistakes so far in the first three games.
01:24:55.680 --> 01:24:56.000
Yep.
01:24:56.239 --> 01:25:01.760
And just having a guy who can make the throws he can make, and he's mobile.
01:25:02.000 --> 01:25:05.039
I think we have an edge at quarterback for sure.
01:25:05.359 --> 01:25:14.079
I don't know much about the Michigan State rushers a whole lot, if I'm being honest, but I think we have a rush, an edge there as well.
01:25:14.239 --> 01:25:19.199
I think Jamal Rule is better than the three the guys that they're throwing out there.
01:25:19.279 --> 01:25:20.079
Let's just say that.
01:25:20.560 --> 01:25:26.239
I really don't know what to I'm just expecting Michigan State to be tough nose on defense.
01:25:26.399 --> 01:25:26.560
Yeah.
01:25:26.720 --> 01:25:28.800
Just because it's a Pat Fitzgerald team, you know.
01:25:28.880 --> 01:25:29.039
Yeah.
01:25:29.199 --> 01:25:32.479
And they only they only gave up 27 points to Notre Dame.
01:25:32.640 --> 01:25:37.359
So I think we have an advantage on the offensive side of the
ball for sure.
01:25:37.680 --> 01:25:40.479
Defense, I still don't know for sure.
01:25:40.640 --> 01:25:43.199
I think we may, I do think we're the better team.
01:25:43.279 --> 01:25:44.800
I don't know what the early point spread is.
01:25:45.119 --> 01:25:47.600
I saw it this morning that it was Nebraska by five and a half.
01:25:47.760 --> 01:25:48.479
Five and a half points.
01:25:48.560 --> 01:25:53.840
So Which is a pretty big spread for first road game of the year traveling up the Eastland.
01:25:54.239 --> 01:25:56.159
Five and a half point favorites on the road.
01:25:56.319 --> 01:25:58.479
That's I was surprised by it.
01:25:58.640 --> 01:25:59.680
I think we're the better team.
01:25:59.760 --> 01:26:03.920
If we were at home, I think we'd be like 10 point favorites, ten and a half point favorites.
01:26:04.640 --> 01:26:06.640
So take that with a grain of salt.
01:26:06.800 --> 01:26:08.640
I do think we're the better football team.
01:26:08.800 --> 01:26:14.560
They might have the edge on us in special teams because there's the there ain't much of a comparison.
01:26:14.720 --> 01:26:17.039
I think we're pretty bad on special teams right now.
01:26:17.279 --> 01:26:22.960
So overall, I think we have the edge on almost every aspect.
01:26:23.199 --> 01:26:28.800
Yeah, no, I wouldn't disagree just looking at the stats from the Michigan State Notre Dame game.
01:26:30.479 --> 01:26:32.640
Notre Dame was able to throw the ball around a little bit.
01:26:33.359 --> 01:26:36.079
CJ Carr threw for 234 yards.
01:26:36.159 --> 01:26:40.000
They had a receiver with eight catches for 170 yards.
01:26:40.159 --> 01:26:47.840
So there is there is the opportunity out there that to me that tells me there's a soft spot somewhere in that secondary of Michigan State.
01:26:47.920 --> 01:26:52.960
So maybe Quasi can have a game, maybe Jacori can bust one open, something like that.
01:26:53.359 --> 01:26:58.000
Notre Dame, their running back that Nolan James ran for 121 yards.
01:26:58.319 --> 01:27:03.359
Anayas Williams had a touchdown, and then CJ Card ran for a touchdown.
01:27:03.520 --> 01:27:06.399
To me, that also just says the same thing as what you were saying.
01:27:06.560 --> 01:27:16.319
I think our running back room is gonna be talented enough to make plays when needed against this Michigan State defense.
01:27:16.960 --> 01:27:20.000
Like you said earlier, I'm not a Michigan State expert.
01:27:20.239 --> 01:27:24.880
I don't know a lot of the players that Pat has up there.
01:27:25.039 --> 01:27:30.560
I'm just going off of the fact that Pat Fitzgerald is a hell of a football coach and he's gonna have that team ready.
01:27:30.640 --> 01:27:31.279
Yeah.
01:27:31.520 --> 01:27:33.039
So just expect it.
01:27:33.279 --> 01:27:34.720
Just expect it, yeah.
01:27:35.680 --> 01:27:38.720
We've kind of already touched on it a little bit, the biggest matchup to watch.
01:27:38.800 --> 01:27:46.319
To me, it's gonna be kind of mundane, but what does our front seven do against their defensive front?
01:27:46.640 --> 01:27:53.760
Do our offensive linemen get that push to be able to open up holes for Rule and Nelson to go and make plays?
01:27:53.920 --> 01:27:59.520
Can they protect Calandria when we do need to drop back in a third and long situation?
01:28:01.279 --> 01:28:05.039
We have to win the upfront battle.
01:28:05.279 --> 01:28:08.800
And to me, that's the thing to watch going into Saturday.
01:28:09.279 --> 01:28:11.279
I think you were copying off my paper.
01:28:12.000 --> 01:28:14.479
Well, we did get accused of that in high school a couple times.
01:28:14.880 --> 01:28:15.840
That's true, I remember that.
01:28:16.079 --> 01:28:19.439
Um, yeah, I mean, I think it's the battle of the trenches on Saturday.
01:28:19.600 --> 01:28:22.159
Which which big boys are better?
01:28:22.319 --> 01:28:26.560
I mean, our offensive line has been great the first three games.
01:28:26.800 --> 01:28:30.640
I mean, there ain't a whole lot we I mean, we just nitpicked the first three weeks, you know?
01:28:30.720 --> 01:28:32.159
Like they've been good.
01:28:32.399 --> 01:28:32.560
Yeah.
01:28:32.800 --> 01:28:36.079
There hasn't been anything major to even talk about with them.
01:28:36.159 --> 01:28:38.319
We've just been nitpicking little things here and there.
01:28:38.560 --> 01:28:43.520
But it's gonna be interesting to see how our offensive line performs against their defensive defensive front.
01:28:43.600 --> 01:28:43.920
Yeah.
01:28:44.159 --> 01:28:45.840
And same thing on the other side.
01:28:45.920 --> 01:28:49.039
How does our defensive front respond to their offensive linemen?
01:28:49.199 --> 01:28:54.319
Are the are we gonna see what we saw last year where they're just bullying us, pushing us backwards?
01:28:54.479 --> 01:29:06.079
Or are we gonna see the same aggressiveness we've seen in the first three games where we're stuffing the run and forcing them to pass and letting our athletes in the secondary kind of take over and shut stuff down?
01:29:06.239 --> 01:29:10.000
So I think the battle of the trenches is the thing to watch the most on Saturday.
01:29:10.239 --> 01:29:11.039
Definitely, definitely.
01:29:11.199 --> 01:29:14.159
I mean, we also kind of already talked about offensive keys.
01:29:14.239 --> 01:29:16.479
I think we got to get the running game started.
01:29:16.640 --> 01:29:19.920
I think we we run the ball to set up the pass.
01:29:20.239 --> 01:29:29.199
Whether it's pounding the ball up the middle with Rule, Nelson, Mosey, and then every once in a while getting Calandria outside for a couple carries here or there.
01:29:29.359 --> 01:29:42.239
I think if we can really soften up the middle of that defense, force their DBs to come up and play closer to the line of scrimmage, that's where Kalandria then can make them deeper throws, hit Quasi over the top, hit Dracori over the top.
01:29:43.520 --> 01:29:49.359
We gotta pick and choose when we make
those decisions, but when we do it, we gotta be able to hit on them.
01:29:49.680 --> 01:29:51.840
Offensively, that's what I think our key is.
01:29:52.000 --> 01:29:55.760
Defensively, we gotta win the turnover battle.
01:29:56.159 --> 01:30:02.239
This last week, there were we didn't get any turnovers, but we didn't give up any turnovers.
01:30:02.479 --> 01:30:04.560
Offense needs to stay right in that zone.
01:30:04.720 --> 01:30:05.359
Stay there.
01:30:05.520 --> 01:30:07.359
We've been really good about protecting the ball.
01:30:07.520 --> 01:30:08.319
Continue that.
01:30:08.479 --> 01:30:10.640
Defense, keep slamming it.
01:30:11.119 --> 01:30:12.560
We saw it a lot in the game.
01:30:12.720 --> 01:30:14.640
Them defenders, they're smacking at that ball.
01:30:14.720 --> 01:30:17.119
They're trying to beat that ball out of the running back's hands.
01:30:17.279 --> 01:30:18.079
Keep doing it.
01:30:18.239 --> 01:30:22.960
We're gonna at sooner or later, someone's gonna make a mistake and they're gonna get dropped the ball.
01:30:23.199 --> 01:30:28.640
DBs, it'd be nice to be able to see them make some plays because I think Michigan State's gonna take some shots.
01:30:28.720 --> 01:30:37.520
They're gonna have to take some shots against us to try and loosen us up because I have a feeling Orich is gonna be bringing linebackers in tight too, because we know they're gonna want to run the ball on us.
01:30:37.760 --> 01:30:45.119
So it'll be nice to see the DBs make some plays over the top, win the turnover battle, nine times out of ten, you're gonna win the game.
01:30:46.079 --> 01:30:48.399
Yeah, I think it's uh offensive key.
01:30:48.479 --> 01:30:54.640
I think we're I think we're gonna see Jamal Rule kind of just take over the offense a little bit in the running back position.
01:30:54.800 --> 01:30:57.039
I think we're gonna see an uptick in carries.
01:30:57.119 --> 01:31:06.880
I think we're gonna see him instead of this three alternate possession thing that we've been doing with the running backs, I think you're gonna see a lot more Jamal Rule out there.
01:31:07.119 --> 01:31:11.199
I think we're also gonna see Holgerson open up the playbook a little bit more.
01:31:11.439 --> 01:31:14.319
I think the first three games he we haven't seen a whole lot.
01:31:14.560 --> 01:31:16.079
I mean, it's just basic stuff.
01:31:16.319 --> 01:31:16.640
Yeah.
01:31:17.119 --> 01:31:23.920
Yeah, we've seen some screens, we've seen, but we haven't seen anything explosive in the passing game or anything like that.
01:31:24.079 --> 01:31:27.520
Just I think we've I think we mentioned it last week.
01:31:27.680 --> 01:31:35.359
I think maybe they're just running a 25 plays at one sheet of 25 plays, and they're just kind of rotating through it, you know.
01:31:35.680 --> 01:31:44.000
So I think the offensive key is gonna be giving our playmakers the ball, you know, give Jamal Rule the ball more.
01:31:44.159 --> 01:31:50.000
And then when we do open up the playbook, we gotta take advantage and we need to make explosive plays happen.
01:31:50.479 --> 01:31:55.119
Defensive key is just gonna be I think we gotta stuff we shut down their running game.
01:31:55.199 --> 01:31:58.319
I think that's going to make the game a whole lot easier.
01:31:58.640 --> 01:31:59.359
Make them one dimensional.
01:31:59.520 --> 01:32:04.319
Make them one dimensional, make them until the point where they have to pass, and I think we'll be just fine.
01:32:04.479 --> 01:32:13.600
If we're out there guessing or if we're letting them run all over us, that's gonna be a problem because then they can open up the play action game and pass over the top of our guys, and it's just gonna be a mess.
01:32:13.760 --> 01:32:19.520
Yeah, it could get exactly we need to continue stopping the run very well.
01:32:19.680 --> 01:32:20.000
Yeah.
01:32:20.239 --> 01:32:23.520
So all right, addicts.
01:32:24.239 --> 01:32:26.880
We've kind of gone over what our think our keys of the game is.
01:32:27.279 --> 01:32:28.720
You know what time it is now.
01:32:29.439 --> 01:32:30.960
It is prediction time.
01:32:31.279 --> 01:32:35.359
Although I think one of us might have lost his fancy title after last week.
01:32:35.600 --> 01:32:37.119
Don't worry, we'll get to that.
01:32:37.600 --> 01:32:40.880
Keith, you're up first, Nebraska versus Michigan State.
01:32:41.039 --> 01:32:43.600
How does it go down and what's your final score?
01:32:44.479 --> 01:32:47.039
First game, first Big Ten game.
01:32:48.399 --> 01:32:53.920
I think you're gonna see a lot of continuance of what Nebraska's been doing.
01:32:54.159 --> 01:32:56.000
I think we're gonna establish the run.
01:32:56.640 --> 01:32:59.039
We're gonna see a lot more Jamal Rule, I think.
01:32:59.199 --> 01:33:00.239
I'm hoping at least.
01:33:00.319 --> 01:33:03.199
And we're gonna see a healthy dose of Makai Nelson as well.
01:33:04.079 --> 01:33:07.760
But I think we are gonna control the game the way we need to control it.
01:33:08.800 --> 01:33:11.279
I do think we can protect the football.
01:33:11.840 --> 01:33:16.640
There's nothing in the first three games that we played that makes me worry about ball protection.
01:33:17.279 --> 01:33:20.479
I think we've done a good job of that, and I think that carries over.
01:33:20.800 --> 01:33:27.920
I think Matt Rule has settled in, he's ready to go, he's ready to show us that this is probably his gonna be his best team.
01:33:29.199 --> 01:33:38.479
So we're gonna set the tone for Big Ten play, and we're going to give Nebraska 24, Michigan State 17.
01:33:40.239 --> 01:33:41.840
So a touchdown game.
01:33:43.039 --> 01:33:47.600
It's gonna be close for the most part, for most four quarters.
01:33:47.680 --> 01:33:50.880
I mean, Pat Fitzgerald team always scares me.
01:33:50.960 --> 01:33:52.079
We talked about that earlier.
01:33:52.319 --> 01:33:54.960
He's just he just always runs a very good football team.
01:33:55.119 -->
01:33:58.000
So 24-17, we win by a touchdown.
01:33:58.239 --> 01:33:58.960
Alright, Josh.
01:33:59.119 --> 01:34:02.640
Normally, right about here, I'd introduce you as the cornfield prophet.
01:34:03.039 --> 01:34:03.600
Normally?
01:34:04.319 --> 01:34:04.880
Normally.
01:34:05.520 --> 01:34:09.199
But after last week, I think that title is currently under review.
01:34:09.359 --> 01:34:10.560
Oh, whoa, whoa.
01:34:10.720 --> 01:34:13.520
One bad prediction, and suddenly there's an investigation?
01:34:14.399 --> 01:34:20.720
You called your shot prophet, then North Dakota went out there and made you look like you were reading the wrong cornfield.
01:34:20.880 --> 01:34:22.159
Alright, that's fair.
01:34:23.039 --> 01:34:27.920
So no crystal ball, no mystical corn stocks, no prophecy this week.
01:34:28.159 --> 01:34:29.039
So what am I?
01:34:29.680 --> 01:34:30.640
You're Josh.
01:34:30.880 --> 01:34:31.760
That hurts.
01:34:32.560 --> 01:34:34.640
You want the cornfield profit title back?
01:34:34.800 --> 01:34:35.920
You're gonna have to earn it.
01:34:36.159 --> 01:34:36.640
Fine.
01:34:36.720 --> 01:34:40.239
Apparently the cornfield profit has been demoted to the cornfield intern.
01:34:42.479 --> 01:34:43.199
Even worse.
01:34:43.920 --> 01:34:47.680
Get this Michigan State prediction right and we'll discuss reinstatement.
01:34:48.000 --> 01:34:48.479
Alright.
01:34:48.720 --> 01:34:52.159
No magic, no prophecy, just a man, some corn, and a dream.
01:34:52.319 --> 01:34:53.760
Oh, this oughta go well.
01:34:54.640 --> 01:34:56.720
Alright, my prediction.
01:34:57.920 --> 01:35:03.199
This is gonna be obviously our first real test of the year.
01:35:03.520 --> 01:35:06.319
I think the travel to East Lansing.
01:35:06.800 --> 01:35:11.600
It's gonna be interesting to see how this team handles the travel for the first time.
01:35:12.000 --> 01:35:15.119
Sleeping in not their own beds, having to get up.
01:35:15.279 --> 01:35:18.319
The kickoff is a 4.15 kickoff this week.
01:35:18.479 --> 01:35:19.199
Yeah, 4-15.
01:35:19.439 --> 01:35:21.279
So that's kind of a weird kickoff time.
01:35:21.439 --> 01:35:24.960
Kind of you don't really have all day to watch other games.
01:35:25.199 --> 01:35:30.079
You kind of gotta get up, get your stuff in that mindset.
01:35:30.239 --> 01:35:32.800
So that'll be an interesting part of it.
01:35:33.119 --> 01:35:36.000
Pat Fitzgerald makes me nervous.
01:35:36.159 --> 01:35:39.279
We've we spent years with him at Northwestern.
01:35:39.600 --> 01:35:54.079
No matter how good of a team we had under the Bo Polini years or the Mike Riley years, it seemed like it was always coming down to a Ron Kellogg, Hail Mary, or kick at the end of the game or something.
01:35:54.239 --> 01:35:57.920
So I feel like you almost have to expect it here, too.
01:35:58.079 --> 01:36:05.920
Even though Pat Fistero comes into a team that he doesn't have his hand prints all over yet, they're gonna play hard for their coach.
01:36:06.000 --> 01:36:08.239
So I think that's something to watch.
01:36:09.119 --> 01:36:11.279
I feel the same way that you do.
01:36:11.600 --> 01:36:20.319
The biggest key is gonna be our offensive line getting off to a fast start and kind of throwing their weight around and opening holes up for the running backs.
01:36:20.479 --> 01:36:33.279
If the running backs can hit the holes and bust off some runs, even in the 7 to 10 yard range, you know, and then keep chipping away, wear them down, that's gonna open up the passing game for us.
01:36:33.520 --> 01:36:41.279
Calandria continues to protect the ball, doesn't put ourselves in bad spots, doesn't give it up give up bad sacks.
01:36:42.479 --> 01:36:45.039
I think the sky's the limit of this game.
01:36:45.359 --> 01:36:53.600
Defensively, can we do to their offensive line what we've done the past couple weeks?
01:36:53.760 --> 01:36:56.640
Can we get five plus sacks in a game?
01:36:56.880 --> 01:37:01.520
Can our linebackers roam freely and make plays on the edge?
01:37:01.680 --> 01:37:09.279
Can our DBs keep the ball in front of them and nothing deep behind them, make big plays when the opportunity arises?
01:37:09.760 --> 01:37:14.000
Those are all things that are really important to this game.
01:37:15.279 --> 01:37:18.560
To me, Nebraska still comes out on top.
01:37:18.800 --> 01:37:24.079
It's gonna be 28-13, in my opinion, Nebraska over Michigan State.
01:37:24.399 --> 01:37:34.800
A little closer, not as high of scoring, but if I'm gonna earn that cornfield pro profit title back, I might as well put something bold on the line as well, Keith.
01:37:35.199 --> 01:37:40.640
I am gonna say out of the 28 points that we score, one of those is gonna be a defensive touchdown.
01:37:40.880 --> 01:37:42.159
One defensive score.
01:37:42.399 --> 01:37:56.960
Whether it's a fumble scooping score or an Andrew Marshall pick six, defense is gonna put some points on the board, and I think it's it'll be the the thing that breaks the back.
01:37:57.039 --> 01:38:04.239
I mean, this game could be, you know, 14-13 at one point, and if we get that defensive score, that's it for them.
01:38:04.479 --> 01:38:05.520
That would pump me up.
01:38:05.760 --> 01:38:07.840
If we get a defensive score, I don't know I'd love that.
01:38:08.000 --> 01:38:08.960
I'd love to see it.
01:38:09.119 --> 01:38:10.399
We haven't seen one yet this year.
01:38:10.880 --> 01:38:11.600
No, we haven't.
01:38:13.439 --> 01:38:14.239
No, we haven't.
01:38:14.319 --> 01:38:17.279
No you're thinking of the one Airy one from last year, I think.
01:38:17.600 --> 01:38:18.720
Yeah, yeah, you're right.
01:38:18.880 --> 01:38:18.960
Yeah.
01:38:19.439 --> 01:38:24.079
I was thinking, for some reason, I was thinking Rex Guthrie took his interception for a touchdown, but he didn't.
01:38:24.239 --> 01:38:25.039
No, he came close.
01:38:25.199 --> 01:38:25.680
Came close.
01:38:25.840 --> 01:38:26.239
Came close.
01:38:26.399 -->
01:38:27.199
Took it within the 10.
01:38:27.359 --> 01:38:29.199
All right, so no defensive touchdowns yet.
01:38:29.439 --> 01:38:29.920
No this year.
01:38:30.159 --> 01:38:33.680
But I guarantee you, if it does happen, the profit will return.
01:38:35.279 --> 01:38:35.840
All right.
01:38:36.479 --> 01:38:43.760
Going into the locks of the game, what is the one thing that you feel the most strongly about going into this Michigan State game?
01:38:45.039 --> 01:38:48.000
I think I feel the strongest.
01:38:48.159 --> 01:38:53.920
I think Jamal Rule is going to establish him being the top back in this offense.
01:38:54.319 --> 01:38:56.880
I think you stole I stole off of you earlier.
01:38:56.960 --> 01:38:59.920
You literally just read everything I just wrote down on my paper.
01:39:00.159 --> 01:39:04.319
So I think you're going to see the increase in carries that I've been predicting.
01:39:04.479 --> 01:39:06.880
I think he's going to continue to dominate.
01:39:07.039 --> 01:39:16.000
I think you give him the ball 20 times a game, 20-25 games, 20 to 25 carries a game, and you're going to see good results.
01:39:16.239 --> 01:39:18.079
I think he's just that good of a player.
01:39:18.319 --> 01:39:27.359
And you can't keep a guy of his caliber on the sidelines to keep changing these running backs out every possession.
01:39:27.600 --> 01:39:33.680
Now that we're done with the first three games of the year, we're getting into Big Ten team, Big Ten play.
01:39:33.840 --> 01:39:36.880
It's it's it's go time, you know.
01:39:37.039 --> 01:39:43.119
So the lock of my game is you're gonna see Jamal Rule being the primary ball carrier for this offense.
01:39:44.000 --> 01:39:45.840
I went a little bit more vague with mine.
01:39:46.000 --> 01:39:47.920
I'm gonna disagree with you a little bit.
01:39:48.560 --> 01:39:53.439
Mine is that the running game stays strong, but I still think it's gonna be a running back by committee.
01:39:53.520 --> 01:39:56.479
I think maybe two running backs maybe will separate themselves.
01:39:56.560 --> 01:40:10.720
I think Makai and Jamal will get the bulk of the carries where Jamal gets maybe in that 15 to 17 range, Makai gets 10 to 13, then Mosey will fill in there a little bit at the where he's needed.
01:40:10.960 --> 01:40:17.439
To me, as much as I love Jamal Rule, I still he's an 18-year-old kid.
01:40:17.600 --> 01:40:22.880
I don't know if throwing 20 to 25 carries on him a game is the right decision right now.
01:40:23.039 --> 01:40:27.920
Especially when you have a back of Makai Nelson's calibre who is playing as well as he is.
01:40:28.560 --> 01:40:37.760
Now, does that mean if Jamal Rule's got the hot hand, do I say don't give him the ball that many times on Saturday?
01:40:38.000 --> 01:40:38.319
No.
01:40:39.600 --> 01:40:41.920
If he's got the hot hand, let Jamal cook.
01:40:42.079 --> 01:40:50.159
But I think the running back room will just is is just gonna stay strong with the two running backs
kind of separating themselves from the three.
01:40:50.479 --> 01:40:58.159
Normally I would agree with you, but I just haven't seen anything from Jamal Rule yet that has made me go, ooh, maybe we shouldn't be giving him the ball this much.
01:40:58.239 --> 01:40:59.600
You know, no, and I haven't either.
01:41:00.239 --> 01:41:06.319
I'm basing my my comments just completely out of the fact that he's still just an 18-year-old true freshman.
01:41:06.560 --> 01:41:09.920
Six months ago, he was running around with his girlfriend at the prom.
01:41:10.079 --> 01:41:13.520
You know, I mean, that's that's the only thing I'm basing my stuff on.
01:41:13.600 --> 01:41:19.279
And we've seen it before with freshman running backs that come in and start out really hot and then kind of taper off at the end.
01:41:19.359 --> 01:41:31.920
I'd rather see maybe in by the time we get to Ohio State or something, maybe then by then Rule will be at that 20 to 25 carry mark once we get deeper into the season.
01:41:32.159 --> 01:41:33.600
Yeah, I mean, we'll see what happens.
01:41:33.680 --> 01:41:45.920
I mean, I I have no idea what they're thinking, what they're gonna do on offense, but I just feel like when we get into a Big Ten play like this, we have to give the ball to the best players on our offense.
01:41:46.159 --> 01:41:50.720
And I think Jamal Rule is probably the best player on our offense right now.
01:41:50.880 --> 01:41:58.880
So, and that's not to say Makkay is not gonna get carries because he needs carries too, because he's been an explosive running back as well.
01:41:58.960 --> 01:42:01.279
Yeah, like I'm not shaming Makkay at all.
01:42:01.359 --> 01:42:02.399
He needs the ball as well.
01:42:02.560 --> 01:42:08.319
And when Jamal comes off the game, he needs to step up and just do continue what Jamal's been doing.
01:42:08.479 --> 01:42:10.640
Yeah, there can't be a there can't be any sort of drop-off.
01:42:10.880 --> 01:42:14.640
And and he's he's shown that he's running the ball really well this year.
01:42:14.880 --> 01:42:16.720
So I really don't have any worry.
01:42:16.800 --> 01:42:23.119
If Jamal comes out of the game, I think Makkay can step right up and kind of continue what uh they've been doing all year.
01:42:23.279 --> 01:42:23.520
Yeah.
01:42:24.319 --> 01:42:29.520
Give me one player who is gonna completely change this game and be an X factor.
01:42:30.640 --> 01:42:32.159
I'm gonna go Jakori Barney.
01:42:33.840 --> 01:42:38.000
If Jakori Barney can I you you and I both agree.
01:42:38.479 --> 01:42:40.479
We think he's gonna take one house this year.
01:42:40.880 --> 01:42:43.039
It just feels like it just feels like it.
01:42:43.119 --> 01:42:47.039
Like he's just getting ready to uh just take one, you know.
01:42:47.199 --> 01:42:47.520
Yeah.
01:42:49.760 --> 01:42:55.680
If he does, if he then I will be happy because that means I don't have to give the special teams a D again.
01:42:55.840 --> 01:42:56.079
Right.
01:42:56.319 --> 01:42:59.760
You know, so I think Jacori Barney is gonna be my X Factor.
01:42:59.920 --> 01:43:12.319
If he can continue to do what he does on offense, you're probably gonna see a lot of sweeps and screens and he makes catches like he made last week on the sideline that Klander threw up to him.
01:43:12.479 --> 01:43:14.079
I think he's the X factor of the game.
01:43:14.159 --> 01:43:16.560
If he plays well and has a good game, I think we're gonna be fine.
01:43:16.720 --> 01:43:18.560
Yeah, I would have no problem with that.
01:43:18.720 --> 01:43:22.000
Um, my X factor, I'm gonna go tight end Luke Linemeyer.
01:43:22.319 --> 01:43:27.119
I think you've seen him become a little bit more involved in the offense over the past couple weeks.
01:43:27.439 --> 01:43:31.119
I think this week you could see him maybe get in the end zone.
01:43:31.199 --> 01:43:31.439
Okay.
01:43:32.000 --> 01:43:38.159
I think he's gonna put he I think he will play in a very important role in the red zone.
01:43:38.479 --> 01:43:46.079
We haven't had a defense yet this year that we've come up against that has come close to stuffing us in the red zone.
01:43:46.319 --> 01:43:56.159
If we get into a third, third and goal from the three or four-yard line, Michigan State's gonna have the players to stack up against us where we can't just pound it in.
01:43:56.319 --> 01:44:01.119
We're gonna need to be able to slip Luke out to the corner in the flats, something.
01:44:01.439 --> 01:44:03.199
Give me Luke Lindemeyer a touchdown.
01:44:03.279 --> 01:44:05.039
He's my X Factor for Saturday's game.
01:44:05.199 --> 01:44:06.000
Love it.
01:44:06.319 --> 01:44:08.079
Alright, we're getting into the final word.
01:44:08.159 --> 01:44:09.680
We've officially put it on tape.
01:44:09.920 --> 01:44:11.359
No changing it.
01:44:11.760 --> 01:44:15.119
No deleting clips, no pretending we said something different.
01:44:15.359 --> 01:44:19.279
And Josh has officially started his Cornfield Profit Redemption Tour.
01:44:19.439 --> 01:44:20.960
One game at a time, baby.
01:44:21.119 --> 01:44:23.680
And if you miss again, we're gonna retire the segment.
01:44:23.920 --> 01:44:24.640
No chance.
01:44:24.800 --> 01:44:26.880
It'll be way funnier if we keep it.
01:44:27.520 --> 01:44:30.880
Alright, Keith, for the final segment, we're gonna do our attic check.
01:44:30.960 --> 01:44:33.199
I'm gonna quick fire some questions at you.
01:44:33.279 --> 01:44:35.680
I want quick answers right off the top of your head.
01:44:35.840 --> 01:44:36.239
You ready?
01:44:36.319 --> 01:44:36.720
Yep.
01:44:37.039 --> 01:44:39.119
Through three games, Nebraska's biggest strength.
01:44:39.359 --> 01:44:40.159
Quarterback play.
01:44:40.479 --> 01:44:41.359
Biggest concerns.
01:44:41.680 --> 01:44:42.720
Special teams.
01:44:43.039 --> 01:44:44.640
Most surprising player.
01:44:45.279 --> 01:44:46.079
Jamal Rule.
01:44:46.640 --> 01:44:47.760
Player you want to see more?
01:44:48.079 -->
01:44:49.199
Luke Lindenmeyer.
01:44:49.600 --> 01:44:52.319
One thing Nebraska absolutely has to fix against Michigan State.
01:44:52.560 --> 01:44:53.600
Special teams.
01:44:54.960 --> 01:44:55.760
Alright, Josh.
01:44:55.920 --> 01:44:56.560
Now it's your turn.
01:44:56.640 --> 01:44:57.119
Oh god.
01:44:57.199 --> 01:44:57.520
Here we go.
01:44:57.680 --> 01:44:58.239
Quick fire.
01:44:58.399 --> 01:45:00.560
Through three games, Nebraska's biggest strength.
01:45:00.880 --> 01:45:01.840
Offensive line.
01:45:02.399 --> 01:45:03.920
Your biggest concern.
01:45:04.880 --> 01:45:05.920
Special teams.
01:45:06.239 --> 01:45:07.840
Your most surprising player.
01:45:08.640 --> 01:45:09.439
Corey Barney.
01:45:10.560 --> 01:45:12.079
Player you want to see more from.
01:45:13.039 --> 01:45:14.079
Isaiah Hunter.
01:45:15.039 --> 01:45:19.039
One thing Nebraska absolutely has to fix against Michigan State.
01:45:19.279 --> 01:45:21.119
Stupid penalties and key spots.
01:45:21.760 --> 01:45:23.279
Alright, I think that's good.
01:45:23.439 --> 01:45:24.560
Alright, man.
01:45:24.880 --> 01:45:29.199
Well, corn addicts, that's gonna do it for episode four of Addicted to Corn.
01:45:29.439 --> 01:45:32.000
Nebraska takes care of North Dakota 34-7.
01:45:32.479 --> 01:45:33.840
Oscars are 3-0.
01:45:35.199 --> 01:45:36.640
Another one in the win column.
01:45:36.800 --> 01:45:41.119
The Hawks are behind us, the Spartans are in front of us, and the grades are in.
01:45:41.279 --> 01:45:44.960
We put our predictions for the Michigan State game on the record.
01:45:45.279 --> 01:45:48.800
Apparently, I'm on Cornfield Profit probation until next week.
01:45:48.960 --> 01:45:50.960
Hopefully we can I can earn that title back.
01:45:51.039 --> 01:45:58.319
But more importantly, we're about to find out a lot more about this Nebraska football team, Keith, because the Spartans are next.
01:45:58.800 --> 01:46:00.399
Please make sure you follow us.
01:46:01.279 --> 01:46:05.199
Share the show with any other husker addict that you know out there.
01:46:05.359 --> 01:46:11.520
Watch our pages this week for Keith's prediction and my prediction graphics.
01:46:11.840 --> 01:46:15.680
We had a lot of people again throw out their predictions.
01:46:15.840 --> 01:46:18.239
Gotta give a shout out to my old man Gary.
01:46:18.479 --> 01:46:20.880
He came real close to getting that profit.
01:46:21.680 --> 01:46:23.920
I mean, take away a field goal at a touchdown.
01:46:24.000 --> 01:46:24.560
He's right there.
01:46:25.359 --> 01:46:27.279
Runs in the jeans a little bit, maybe.
01:46:27.520 --> 01:46:28.479
I don't know.
01:46:28.880 --> 01:46:29.119
Maybe.
01:46:29.359 --> 01:46:33.520
But hey, all you addicts out there, keep throwing your predictions out to us.
01:46:33.600 --> 01:46:38.720
And if you do get it, we will give you a shout-out, and we'll you might even be called the next porn profit.
01:46:38.880 --> 01:46:39.840
Absolutely.
01:46:40.159 --> 01:46:44.640
So, Nebraska, Reno, McKee, I'm Josh.
01:46:44.960 --> 01:46:46.960
Bring on the spark's next Saturday.
01:46:47.039 --> 01:46:49.600
And always remember because big red.