The finger pointing is already beginning in Lincoln, a mere 6 games into the Mike Riley era.
A gut-wrenching Hail-Mary to BYU. A heart-breaking overtime loss at the hands of Miami. A last-minute pass to Illinois. A game-winning field goal to Wisconsin in the final seconds. The 2015 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team is handing out victories the way Santa Claus hands out presents on Christmas morning. The seventh chapter of the Huskers’ dramatic novel will unfold Oct. 17 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Here’s more on the Gophers next opponent:
Wanted: Defensive Secondary Help
The Cornhuskers will enter TCF Bank Stadium on Saturday with the worst passing defense in nation. Yes, you read that right. 128th out of 128 FBS teams. Nebraska is allowing an average of 348.5 passing yards per game to opponents. Can the Minnesota offense, which is averaging just 176.5 passing yards per game, take advantage of their opponent’s weak defensive secondary? On paper, this looks to be an opportunistic matchup for offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover and his players.
Tommy Touchdown?
Look out for #4. Junior quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. will lead the Husker offense. He currently ranks second among Big Ten quarterbacks in passing yards per game, with 250. He is tied for the lead among Big Ten quarterbacks in touchdown passes, with 12. Need more? The man can run. Armstrong Jr. is averaging over 34 rushing yards per game. Despite his impressive athleticism as a dual-threat quarterback, Armstrong Jr. does have one liability: tossing the football to the wrong team. Through six games he has thrown six interceptions, with four coming on the road. Armstrong Jr. will surely provide entertainment on Saturday. The question remains whether that entertainment will be through helping his offense or throwing interceptions.
Wide Receiver Threats
Armstrong Jr. will look to deliver the football to two better-than-average wideouts: junior Jordan Westerkamp and junior Brandon Reilly. To the casual fan, the speedy Westerkamp is especially fun to watch. He features soft hands and already has compiled four touchdowns on the season. In nine starts in 2014, Westerkamp tallied five touchdowns.
Rough Stretch for Riley
It’s only been one half of a season, and Nebraska head coach Mike Riley may already be hearing some disapproval (well, at least from the passionate fan base). At this time one year ago, Riley was leading an Oregon State squad that boasted a 4-1 record. Fast-forward one year, and Riley finds himself in Lincoln with a 2-4 mark. Considering the sluggish start, just salvaging a bowl game appearance may be viewed as a success. That is flat out depressing for a Nebraska team that had hopes of representing the Big Ten West Division in Indianapolis. Of the Huskers’ four losses, one was in overtime. In each of the other three games, Nebraska was winning with 15 seconds remaining in regulation.
Where’s the Discipline?
Nebraska is the most penalized team in the Big Ten conference. The Huskers are averaging over nine penalties per game for an average of 82.8 yards per contest. In comparison, Minnesota is averaging only 50.2 yards per game in penalties. Could the un-disciplinary actions of Nebraska prove to be costly on Saturday?
By Lincoln standards, the 2015 Nebraska football season has been a nightmare so far. I’ll never forget sitting in the bleachers and viewing the faces of the Husker faithful at Memorial Stadium in 2007 following an embarrassing 45-14 loss to Oklahoma State. My father and I were both shocked by how personally each fan seemed to take that defeat. Nebraska, then a member of the Big 12 conference, finished that season with a 2-6 conference record. A loss to Minnesota on Saturday would move Nebraska to 0-3 in Big Ten play and would likely serve as a déjà vu to Husker fans.
The Golden Gophers will face a Nebraska team that is probably more talented than their disappointing record indicates. Their agile quarterback leads an offense that can put points on the scoreboard in a hurry, but Nebraska’s horrendous passing defense serves as a huge liability. The Huskers’ inability to win close games is undoubtedly affecting the collective psyche of the program. Regardless of the outcome, the well-represented, red-clad Husker fans should provide another festive environment at TCF Bank Stadium on Saturday.