Matt Krohn - USA TODAY Sports
ThotDoc's Brain Droppings on the Minnesota Game
On a lovely late summer evening in Minneapolis, the Minnesota Golden Gophers scored 10 points in the final 2:32 to prevail over the Nebraska Cornhuskers 13-10. It was déjà vu all over again. The loss marks the fifth in a row to Minnesota, the last four by 7 points or less. The last win over Minnesota was Scott Frost’s first win at Nebraska in 2018 after starting the season 0-6. It was also the 4 th consecutive year that the Huskers have dropped their opener.
But how the Huskers lost is what is so galling. Unfortunately, Husker Nation is all too familiar with the scenario of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory and this outcome was a prime example. Nebraska held a 10-3 lead and the ball with 4:53 left in the game when Anthony Grant, who was fighting for more yards after a 9-yard gain, failed to protect the prize and was stripped of the ball giving the Gophers new life. Even after Minnesota tied the score on a spectacular toe-dragging catch from 13 yards out on a 4 th and 10, the Huskers had moved inside Minnesota territory with a chance to win it before Jeff Sims threw a pick with 58 ticks remaining, allowing Minnesota the opportunity to win with a walk off 47-yard field goal.
New coaching era, same ugly result, but everything is not really the same for the 2023 Huskers. There are 64 new players and 30 freshmen on Matt Rhule’s squad. This team is very young and actually quite talented. The defense and special teams seem up to the task and shined through most of the game Thursday night, while the offense remains a work in progress, is struggling to find an identity and seems centered around the success or failure of quarterback Jeff Sims.
Sims finished the night 11 for 19 passing for 114 yards with a touchdown and THREE interceptions. The nation’s leading turnover machine from Georgia Tech appeared to bring that skill set with him and it cost the team points on the field and then the game. Minnesota safety Tyler Nubin is a star and will eventually play on Sunday’s, but his two picks were the result of easily reading Sims’ eyes. The loss isn’t on Sims alone as even with the interceptions, the Huskers likely would have won without the fumble, or the two procedure penalties inside the 5-yard line, or the dropped interception the play before Minnesota’s tying score, or the 4 th down facemask penalty on Cam Lenhardt while he’s being held by an offensive lineman, or ….
Besides leading the team in interceptions, Sims also led the team in rushing with 91 yards on 19 carries despite losing 26 yards on three sacks. He truly is a dual threat QB in that he is a dangerous runner and passer, although the latter danger may be to the offense. His development will be key to th….e Husker success, if he can survive the pounding, as four other rushers only totaled 18 carries. Gabe Ervin had just 7 carries but averaged 7.9 yards a carry in totaling 55 yards. It’s puzzling why he wasn’t carrying the ball with 5 minutes to go, and I also think he scored prior to the half. Anthony Grant had 9 carries for 27 yards and is talented but must protect the pigskin. We have to see better distribution between Ervin, Grant and Rahmir Johnson going forward. The Jaylen Lloyd Betts-like jet sweep has promise as the kid has speed to burn.
The offensive line was better at times, especially in the second and third quarters and even early in the fourth, but the procedure penalties have to stop as Ethan Piper’s false start at the 1-yard line cost the team a touchdown. I thought Ben Scott was solid at center in his first start (no more high snaps). The tackle play is still a weak spot, although I think Benhart was better than Corcoran, and we really need Teddy Prochaska back next week.
In the third quarter, Sims was very tentative, and appeared to try to guide the ball as opposed to throwing it. I’m sure his confidence was shaken, and that is not a good thing for a QB1. His tendency to lock in on his primary receiver and not check down to alternatives is a flaw that must be addressed and would have resulted in a touchdown to Boerkircher instead of a pick. He did wing the ball into a couple of tight spots to Marcus Washington (3 catches for 31 yards) who was playing sick. Alex Bullock (3 catches for 56 yards) couldn’t have been more open on his 34-yard TD reception on the “Osborne” trick play at the beginning of the 3 rd quarter. These were his first career catches and TD as a Husker. QB Heinrich Haarberg’s debut as a receiver resulted in a 10-yard 3 rd down conversion. This guy is an athlete that needs to see the field and as a wildcat or H-back, he can be successful. This offense also has to include the tight ends. Fidone and Boerkircher blocked well on the corner, but you have to get them the ball. Boerkircher made a very nice one-handed grab on a 4-yard reception to the 4-yard line. If the WR’s aren’t stepping up or getting open, get it to these guys. How did Billy Kemp not get a catch?
What brings me hope going forward is the play of Tony White’s defensive unit. They held Minnesota to 251 total yards, including just 55 yards on the ground. The total yardage was the fewest yards allowed since limiting Maryland to 206 yards on Nov. 23, 2019. Prior to the 11-yard rush on the Gopher’s game-winning drive, the Blackshirts had allowed just 5 yards rushing in the second half. Despite allowing Minnesota to go 6 for 9 on 3 rd down conversions in the first half (yet only 3 points), they stiffened to allow only 2 for 8 after intermission. The tackling was much improved and even more violent. This defense will keep the Huskers in almost every game, until the offense figures out how to score.
Ty Robinson and Nash Hutmacher (4 tackles) were very disruptive in the middle, and I wonder how the end of the game would have gone had Robinson not gotten himself ejected for targeting. Robinson’s pressure may have made a difference. Even though there was helmet contact, the result was more of a push than a dangerous hit and should not result in a ejection. The rule is inequitable and too punitive. Cam Lenhardt ( 3 tackles) earned a start and was only the ninth Husker true freshman (excluding kickers) to start a season opener since freshmen regained eligibility in 1972. Omar Brown and DeShon Singleton led the team with seven stops each with Brown making a nice catch for a pick in the third quarter to end a Gopher scoring threat. The pick was the first of Brown’s Nebraska career and his ninth career interception. Hutmacher, Blaise Gunnerson (4 tackles) and Luke Reimer (5 tackles) all recorded sacks (the first career for the linemen). I thought John Bullock (3 tackles) also looked good at linebacker. Malcolm Hartzog (4 tackles and a PBU) got burned by Daniel Jackson on the 4 th down TD, but Jackson is also a future NFLer and ran an incredible route followed by an acrobatic catch. However, If Hartzog had help inside, he needed to guard the outside better to disrupt that catch.
Special teams were generally a highlight for the Huskers. Other than not fielding a punt that rolled to the 1-yd line on their initial possession, the coverage and return teams looked sharp. Rahmir Johnson had a 63-yard kickoff return to open the second half which was a career long for Johnson and the longest by a Husker since a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by JD Spielman against Arkansas State in 2017. It led to a score two plays later. Punter Brian Buschini had a 60-yard punt in the first quarter and averaged 47.7 yards on 3 punts. He now has 50 punts of 50 yards or more in his collegiate career. Tristan Alvano and Buschini took turns on kickoff duty and the Huskers held the Gophers to a long return of 19 yards. The freshman placekicker converted a 27-yard field goal and made his only extra point attempt. I like the aggressive approach to the return game and hope to see some decent punt returns going forward.
If Husker Nation hadn’t become so accustomed to all the ways we can give a game away, this game would be a very strange aberration of all the things that had to go wrong for the Huskers and right for the Gophers for the ultimate outcome to occur. It’s mind-boggling. What is key to me is how Matt Rhule handles this adversity with his team heading into Boulder next week. I believe that it will be a different result and not a Frost Follies redux. I waited until Friday to pen the droppings as my perspective is better today than it was last night after the contest. We were expected to lose that game on the road, even though it galls me we did. I am willing to believe that Rhule will get it fixed, but after losing 14 of 16 games the last three years by one score, it may take a few days to correct. Win the next three, and the Huskers will be halfway to bowl eligibility, a decent goal in year one. It starts by vexing the vermin next week in my backyard. Go Big Red!!
Related:
HuskerMax Game Page
Bulletin Board Discussion
