ThotDoc’s Brain Droppings on the Colorado Game

Huskers bobble balls to ballyhooed buffs as abundant breaks get you blown out

Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

On a picture-perfect gorgeous morning in Boulder, the #22 ranked Colorado Buffaloes accepted multiple gifts from the Nebraska Cornhuskers and eventually exploited their guests fully to win 36-14. It was Nebraska’s 22nd straight loss to an AP top-25 team (Oregon 2016) and 16th loss in a row to a ranked opponent on the road (2011 Penn State).

The game was determined by the dramatic contrast between the two starting quarterbacks. Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders was 31 for 42 for 393 yards and two touchdowns despite being sacked 7 times. He kept relentless pressure on the defense without yielding a turnover. In contrast, Nebraska’s Jeff Sims accounted for four turnovers (3 fumbles and a pick) that likely cost the Huskers between 6 and 14 points and resulted in 16 points for the opponents. The quarterback doesn’t have to win the game all by himself, but he shouldn’t be responsible for losing it either. No turnovers and Nebraska is likely up at half and it is a battle to the end. Even though he represented a different style of ball, I can’t help but wonder if Nebraska would be 2-0 now with Casey Thompson at the helm. Eight turnovers in two games and no matter how well you play defense, you will end up winless. How do you bench Anthony Grant for one fumble, and Sims continues to play after seven miscues? And yet in his post-game presser, HC Rhule said there was never any discussion about relieving Sims.

The Nebraska defense had held Colorado to 64 yards of offense with 5:32 left in the first half. At that point, two turnovers led directly to 10 Colorado points and a failure by Sims to stay in bounds allowed the Buffs to kick a field goal (on the second try) to lead 13-0 at half. The end of the first half was a mirror of the end of last week’s game against Minnesota. Five minutes to go with the ball and turn the ball over twice. The average starting field position for Colorado in the first half was its own 49 while Nebraska's was its own 21 and yet Nebraska held them to 134 passing yards and just 16 rushing yards.

Nebraska even cut the lead to 13-7 with 9:50 left in the third quarter on a 57-yard quarterback draw for a touchdown by Sims. But on Colorado’s next possession, the Buffaloes converted a 3rd and 10 from their own 37-yd-line, for a 41-yd completion where Tommi Hill was beaten badly. That seemed like the turning point for Colorado as they seized the momentum for the rest of the contest. That touchdown drive of 75-yards was Colorado’s longest of the game, and what followed were scoring drives of 55, 65 and 55 yards. The Buffs netted 263 yards in offense in the last 24:10 of the game. With no offensive consistency by Nebraska, the defense wore down under the pressure. With no turnovers and even a mediocre Nebraska offense, it’s likely a close game.

But the Nebraska offense has to improve dramatically to get up to mediocre. Undisciplined pre-snap penalties continued to hurt. A false start flag on Ethan Piper. A delay of game on third-and-7. A false start by Rahmir Johnson. Oh, and another snap malfunction that hit Luke Lindenmeyer while in motion that foiled a third down play at the CU 25-yd line and resulted in a longer field goal attempt of 45-yards by Tristan Alvano that hit the right upright.

Jeff Sims finished the day completing 9-of-15 passes for 106 yards and an interception, while Heinrich Haarberg completed 2-of-6 attempts for 13 yards and a late score for the Huskers. His last second 9-yd touchdown pass to Thomas Fidone (2 catches for 13 yds) marked the first career score for both. After being shut out last week, Billy Kemp IV led all Nebraska receivers with five catches for 57 yards. Nate Boerkircher also added two catches for 33 yards but had 15 of those yards after the catch. Getting more balls to these tight ends will help the offensive production.

The Huskers rushed for 222 yards averaging 5.4 yards per attempt. They were led by Gabe Ervin who netted a career-high 74 yards on 17 attempts and Rahmir Johnson who added 66 yards on 11 carries. Jeff Sims netted just 10 positive yards beyond his long run after losing 23 yards on two sacks.

The PAC-12 officials did not determine the outcome of the game, but apparently holding is not called in that conference. Our defenders were mugged on almost every snap. You can also take a free shot on a punter and not have it called, and if a player gets in your face on your own sideline and if you push his arm away, that will be a personal foul. Puzzling, but bad things typically happen to bad teams. We have to get better.

Isaac Gifford led all defenders with eight stops, but the pressure up front was impressive resulting in 8 sacks and a forced fumble. Luke Reimer (5 tackles), Cam Lenhardt (3 tackles), Nick Heinrich (3 tackles), Jimari Butler (2 tackles), Tamon Lynum (1 tackle), and Riley Van Poppel (1 tackle) all contributed to at least one sack with Lenhardt’s (2) and Van Poppel (1) getting their first career sacks. Lenhardt was a beast and represents the youthful hope for the Blackshirts future. The defense totaled 11 tackles for loss and 4 QB hurries. Now all they need to do is start scoring at least two touchdowns a game to outscore our anemic offense.

Special teams weren’t as special this week as punter Brian Buschini had an off day averaging just 31.3 punts in the first half and just 35.0 for the game on 4 boots. The bounces repeatedly went the wrong direction. Tristan Alvano boinked his 45-yard field goal attempt off the right upright that would've given Nebraska an early lead. Kickers on both teams consistently had touchbacks on kickoffs, with just one returned by Rahmir Johnson for 23 yards.

How does one summarize Nebraska football? Check out these cherry-picked stats. Colorado was sacked 8 times, averaged 1.8 yards per carry, allowed 5.4 yards per carry, had 9 penalties for 80 yds and yet won by 22 points. Go figure!! This is where we are as the Huskers head back to Lincoln for their home opener next week against Northern Illinois who beat Boston College last week and fell 14-11 today to Southern Illinois. It will not be a gimme. There are no gimmes on the schedule. Unfortunately, unless something dramatically changes on the offensive side of the ball, every game will be a dogfight. Matt Rhule said it was a process. I guess it’s a painful process that requires a plethora of patience . Go Big Red!!