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September 20, 2009
If I'm a Nebraska fan, I'm pretty fed up after Saturday's college football game against Virginia Tech.
Now I'm not saying NU fans should be all-out irate because the season is far from over. And it's not like Nebraska was going to play in the BCS Championship anyway.
But there's no reason the Cornhuskers should have lost, 16-15, at Virginia Tech. In fact, here's a variety of reasons why they should have won:
• The Huskers made the Hokies look anemic on offense. Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor looked lost early. The running game was OK, but the Hokies weren't exactly moving down the field at a blazing pace.
• Ndamukong Suh had eight tackles, four batted passes and half of a sack. He made Taylor look silly at times. I was only watching the game on TV, but it was still evident the Hokies' faithful were getting restless with Taylor's inability to put drives together early on.
• Roy Helu Jr. rushed for 169 yards. Ah yes, vintage Nebraska football. The Huskers pounded the ball and more than doubled up the Hokies in rushing yardage, 207-86.
• The Hokies managed only one yard in the third quarter. Since the Va. Tech offense struggled, the 15-10 lead Nebraska had with 4 minutes left in the game seemed enormous.
But out of nowhere, Taylor launched an 80-yard bomb to Danny Coale, then scrambled around in the backfield a la Todd Reesing for nine seconds before finding Dyrell Roberts on the game-winning touchdown.
Here's what did in Nebraska, even before the two big Taylor passes: field goals and penalties.
Nebraska kicker Alex Henery did his job. He connected on all five of his field goal attempts. When you put field goals on the board instead of touchdowns, though, you know what happens.
Virginia Tech was barely in Nebraska territory, but the few times the Hokies were down there, they came away with two touchdowns. Nebraska came away with five field goals and still lost.
Credit the Va. Tech fans for being loud when Nebraska had the ball. Many of the Huskers' nine penalties for 60 yards occurred on false starts and holding infractions on the O-line.
I finally had a good week picking some games. I'll take 10-1 for week 3. In the latest episode of ConferenceChatterTV, I offer my analysis on Saturday's action around the Big 12. It can be viewed here:
Onto the weekly awards from the third weekend of action in the Big 12:
Performer of the week: Landry Jones, Oklahoma
When you set a school record for passing touchdowns (six) and pass for 336 yards, it's a pretty good day. Jones has played well for OU, which hasn't had to rush back the injured Sam Bradford.
The Sooners are on a bye next week, then travel to Miami (Fla.) for what should be a fascinating battle on Oct. 3. I think Bradford will be back in time to face the Hurricanes. The initial prognosis had the Heisman Trophy winner missing 2-4 weeks. Oct. 3 will be four weeks.
Biggest surprise of the week: Oklahoma's defense
It's only three weeks into the season, but the Sooners shut out a Tulsa offense (45-0 victory) that ranked first in the country in total offense the past two seasons. Oklahoma, with two straight shutouts, now ranks first in the country in scoring defense with only 4.67 points given up per game.
Sleeper alert: Dan Buckner, Texas
Jordan Shipley will always attract attention at receiver. Sometimes, that leaves Buckner open underneath. Buckner has found a comfort zone with the Longhorns at flex tight end. He's steadily produced 16 receptions on the year and had a nice touchdown grab toward the back of the end zone against Texas Tech on Saturday night.
Malcolm Williams hasn't taken charge of being the No. 2 option in the UT passing game. So far, that's been Buckner's responsibility.
Most significant win of the week: No. 2 Texas 34, Texas Tech 24
Not in emphatic fashion like the line suggested (Texas was favored by 16 points), but Texas temporarily erased the memory of Tech's historic victory last season in Lubbock. UT is right where it needs to be at 3-0. In two weeks (home to UTEP, Colorado), it should be 5-0. Then, it's on to Red River to face Oklahoma in Dallas.
Here's the latest Sorrentino Scale to close this entry. The number in parentheses is what the team was ranked last week.
- 1 (1). Texas (3-0): Tre Newton (20 carries) emerging as go-to RB.
- 2 (2). Oklahoma (2-1): Jeremy Beal with three sacks against Tulsa to lead a scary defense.
- 3 (3). Oklahoma State (2-1): Defense still needs to play better.
- 4 (4). Kansas (3-0): For the second straight week, Max Onyegbule gets the comment here. The 48-yard INT return for a TD was brilliant.
- 5 (7). Missouri (3-0): Furman simply a tune-up for road test at Nevada on Friday.
- 6 (5). Nebraska (2-1): Shouldn't have a problem vs. Louisiana-Lafayette at home next week.
- 7 (6). Texas Tech (2-1): Taylor Potts' 46 completions against UT two shy of TTU school record.
- 8 (8). Baylor (1-1): Bears' rush defense must improve.
- 9 (9). Texas A&M (2-0): Terrible news: Aggies' No. 1 WR Jeff Fuller out 4-6 weeks with cracked fibula.
- 10 (12). Iowa State (2-1): RB Alexander Robinson (143 rushing yards) the spark in road win at Kent State.
- 11 (10). Kansas State (1-2): Maybe the worst offense in the conference. Defense more respectable so far.
- 12 (11). Colorado (1-2): Another tough one next week at West Virginia.
That should be all for now, friends. As always, discuss.
Comments
Brock (anonymous) says...
Nebraska found a way. Very resourceful, Huskers!
September 20, 2009 at 7:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
suttonku (anonymous) says...
Nebraska lost because they didn't capitalize on their drives...I thought their defense was pretty good, although VT offense is pretty bad...And Im pretty sure that Alex Henry had 5 field goals in that game.
September 20, 2009 at 9:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
esorrentino (Eric Sorrentino) says...
Hey sutton, I accidentally said 4 in the video, but yeah, like the blog says, Henery made 5 field goals. And I agree on them not capitalizing on drives. Clearly the difference.
September 20, 2009 at 9:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
suttonku (anonymous) says...
Oh sorry I only had time to watch the video...What are your thoughts on Zac Lee? I have watched him play in all three games...And despite putting up good numbers in the first two games I said that Lee wasn't really that good and I said he would struggle in this game versus virginia tech because they have a decent defense...From what I have seen he has a week arm and hes not the best decision maker, especially under pressure...He really does remind me of Chase Daniels only Lee doesn't make nearly as many plays as Daniels...Just like Daniels, Lee is terrible at throwing under pressure, he can run a little bit but I dont think he is any faster than reesing, And despite one good dump down in the game against VT he really isn't that good at throwing on the run.
September 20, 2009 at 11:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
PikesPeakSmitty (anonymous) says...
Scale isn't bad, but you're giving Mizzery too much credit. I don't know what they have or have proven to be ahead of TTU or NU. Man is the bottom of the Big 12 bad, did anyone besides me stay up to see how pathetic KSU's offense was against UCLA?
September 20, 2009 at 11:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
suttonku (anonymous) says...
I watched a little bit of the UCLA game just to watch them lose, which is what I wanted...I hate the pac 10 but I hate Snyder more...bottom of the Big 12 is absolutely terrible...But from what Ive seen, I think Mizzou will be NU in Columbia 2 weeks from saturday...I dont know what it is, I just think that Mizzou will put up a ton of points and they will just simply outscore NU...Helu is impressive but Lee is not and you cannot just rely on the running game...If Cody Green were to play against Mizzou then I might change my mind...I know its on the road but Green is incredible...Personally I think Green is the second most talented QB in the big 12 and he should be used...I have watched Green in practice and we got to see him in games and he throws way better than Lee does and he runs a 4.4 40...I think Bradford is a little better than Green right now but by the time Green is a junior he could be better than Bradford...I would say if NU loses to Mizzou on the road and Lee struggles I would not be surprised if Green gets some snaps.
September 20, 2009 at 11:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
waywardJay (anonymous) says...
Sutton helu's going to be a nub by middle of the conference.... Lee's not getting it done, period. Their receivers aren't getting it done either.
At this point, we can expect helo to get 30 touches a game, 200 APY until he eventually gets hurt, which could be soonish....
Giving up 80 yards to tyrod taylor passing is like giving up 250 to todd reesing....either way.. i think Nebraska is heading for a rude awakening come conference season.....
September 21, 2009 at 12:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
esorrentino (Eric Sorrentino) says...
Hey Sutton, I'm not too sure what to make of Lee yet. This was the first time I saw him play on TV. He looked OK at times, but you guys are right. I mean, 11 of 30 will not get it done, even if Va. Tech has a stout defense. Being on point against Arkansas State is one thing. I'll want to see how he does in the first few games of conference before calling him overrated like many people seem to be doing.
September 21, 2009 at 1:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
kunruh (anonymous) says...
I like Pelini, but he's been watching too many Ohio State games. Why do you punt on 4th and 1 from the opponents 38 yd line with only a 2ish minutes left? Your rb had been killing VT! Sneak or Dive, kill the clock (VT out of timeouts), and get the heck out of Dodge with a W!!! Last time I checked, the other team has a hard time scoring when they don't have the ball!
September 21, 2009 at 3:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hawkman1031 (anonymous) says...
Nebraska deserved to lose. On a late drive, it interefered with a receiver on 3rd down and then VT dropped the ball on 4th, if memory serves. Refs missed the interference.
I thought the game was over.
Texas Tech QB was the recipient of a head to head colision that knocked his helmet off. Nothing was called. This cost tech dearly. I think there was also an interference late that was not called.
These are examples of why refs are despised. Have the guts to make the call at crunch time.
It is good when nebraska loses. they are overrated. Like rugs, they should be taken out and beaten well and often.
Looking with great interest (and bad intent) toward meeting the corndogs.
I am especially looking toward the MU-NU game early... pretty great that one must lose at that time. Longtime hate for NU is driving the pick for that game, although it is always good to see misery lose.
This year intrigues between the 3 A's in the north. The 3 B's will provide more opps to hone our game. I'm not sure any of the 3 A's in the South look any easier than before.
September 21, 2009 at 6:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jayhawkinnebr (anonymous) says...
Living up here in corn cobb land, I was glad that Nu got beat. I like to see them get beat. The tears are running and the excuses are running faster.
September 21, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
knayte (anonymous) says...
I root for the Big 12 in inter-conference games.
September 21, 2009 at 12:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
suttonku (anonymous) says...
hahaha seriously jayhawkinnebr...I go to school at Nebraska and people here are oblivious to their football team...They make so many excuses but when it comes down to it, they had the game in the bag and they blew it on two plays...And VT is not a good offensive team...And really I don't think NU is either...Helu is good but he will ware down before too long because he is all they have at RB...Lee is awful, he played a decent defense and he looked terrible which is what I have been saying since the beginning of the season.
September 21, 2009 at 2:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
leikness (anonymous) says...
Sutton and innebr: I live up here as well. I was at a watch party Saturday (stayed up here simply because I wanted to watch them lose with NU fans) and I've never seen anything like it. The amount of despair and true deep rooted anger was intense. About an hour and a half after the game I just decided I had to get out of there. I was wearing my KU hat from watching our game earlier in the day and I thought there was some chance that I might get the heck beat out of me, and this was with a bunch of people I know very well.
September 21, 2009 at 4:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
PacificNWHawk (anonymous) says...
From what I have seen, I’m surprised that Tech dropped and is seventh on your list. Personally, Tech’s and Nebraska’s losses and how competitive they were on the road against top programs was more impressive to me than Missouri winning at home against Furman. The KU Halloween game at Lubbock looked a whole lot tougher after watching the way Tech, on the road, hung with a Texas team that had pay back on its mind from last years loss. I’m also looking forward to see how the much improved Blackshirts do on the road against Reesing and company after hearing about Nebraska performance at Virginia Tech– the analysis is much appreciated..
It seems tough to rank the Big XII so far, so don’t take this as some kind of complaint. Due to history and talent, I understand why #1 Texas and #2 Oklahoma were picked. The next 5 is where it gets tough. Looking just at Okie State and Texas Tech, I thought Tech looked much better on the road at Texas than the Oklahoma State win at home against Georgia. I know that comparing week 1 to week 3 can be quite the contrast however those are the two games I saw. I’m also grading O-State down for dropping the game the way they did at home against Houston. The way Tech was able to throw the ball on the road at Texas was impressive plus the Tech D was stout in the first half. I’ve got Tech looking better than Oklahoma State and you’ve got Tech at #7 and O-State at #3. The week 1 Georgia home win was solid for Oklahoma State though Tech still looks like the better team.
I’ve seen all three KU games, a little bit of both Nebraska and Missouri. Trying to rank the top three North teams along with the third and fourth South teams seems a bit of a reach for me to do myself since I haven’t seen enough of Nebraska and Missouri. Though from what I have seen, it does seem like those five schools are bunched together right now in their level of play and their potential upside. It will also be interesting to see if Baylor can pull off some upsets this year after their win at Wake. I am curious to know a bit more on why you have #3 through #7 ranked in the order you do. If you are going to move Missouri ahead of Tech and Nebraska based on the week #1 win at Illinois and the two other schools losses this past week, should KU be ahead of Oklahoma State due to KU’s emerging defense and three blow out wins with no losses? Who does KU have to beat to move ahead of the Cowboys?
After writing this up, the logic that I’m seeing in those rankings has O-State maintaining a lot of credibility based off of that Gerogia win which still off sets the Houston loss. Kansas and Missouri are undefeated so they get #4 and #5. Still, I like #7 Tech better than #3 O-State even though Tech’s only wins are against North Dakota and Rice.
September 21, 2009 at 6:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
PacificNWHawk (anonymous) says...
"Kansas State (1-2): Maybe the worst offense in the conference. Defense more respectable so far."
I watched the K-State game at UCLA. If the ‘Cats had a strong kicking unit for field goals and PAT’s, they would have won at Louisiana-Lafayette and been tied with the Bruins going into the 4th quarter. At that point I must say the Wildcats and Bruins had played the game evenly with the exception of the kicking game. K-State’s defense looked strong in the 2nd and 3rd quarters which gave them a chance. Daniel Thomas is looking like the only offensive weapon that the Wildcat’s have and once the Bruins figured that out they were able to hold K-State scoreless in the 4th quarter.
September 21, 2009 at 6:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
grandpa (anonymous) says...
I agree with hawkman. The refs looked the other way when Tech 's Potts was
hit hard head to head>Pott's helmet was knocked off and it was a miracle Potts was not knocked out and injured. The local Texas writers praised the hit by the Texas player. Potts does not run the ball much but I think he has a good future as he can throw the football like a baseball.
September 21, 2009 at 7:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pleiker (anonymous) says...
I like how one of the reasons why Nebraska should be upset is that they only gave up 1 yard to Va Tech in the 3rd quarter.
Well Nebraska had zero total yards in the first quarter...one drive with postive 1 yard and one drive with negative one yard.
Lets just call this one what it is, two offensive dogs playing two decent defenses.
September 21, 2009 at 9 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
suttonku (anonymous) says...
I think TTU is a pretty good team and they are better than 7th but NU didnt lose to a "top" team in VT...VT did not impress me and neither did Nebraska...Even VTs special teams play wasnt that good...I think NU is a team that is going to struggle on offense this season and I dont see that stopping as long Lee is still taking the snaps.
September 21, 2009 at 9:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rccoleon (anonymous) says...
E. Sor. The real embarrassment was Va Tech fans rushing the field after winning a game they were favored by 5 point in (at home too).
That's the ACC I guess.
September 22, 2009 at 8:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
esorrentino (Eric Sorrentino) says...
Hey pacific, thanks for your comments on the scale. Really, teams 3-7 can go any way you'd want right now. It's still super early, but that's just how I see it for now. Once conference play starts, we'll get a better idea.
Wow, the Va. Tech fans storming the field. That is pretty bad. Yeah, the victory was surprising, but like you said...5-point favorite, and it's not like Nebraska is Florida or anything. I mean, is there any situation where Virginia Tech should storm?
September 22, 2009 at 11:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )