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Nebraska game thoughts

RockyTopRowdy58

Well-Known Member
Nov 8, 2006
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Kongbo played really well on the interior. Love his effort. Made a ton of plays, but got pushed around a little bit when he let his pad level get high. Good performance overall though.

TK to LB needs to happen... schematic changes going into next season? Full time move isn't impossible but a hybrid role perhaps more likely. It's obvious that Kelly is a good player with a nose for the ball, just not quite enough range to play safety full time.

DK is a difference maker when healthy. That's obvious.

Pressures were better called/executed in this game.

I'll be very interested how Kongbo and Phillips develop their bodies going into next season. One of them needs to start at DE, in my opinion. Both are too talented, and we have a little bit of a talent deficit at DE compared to DT...

Good luck to 12 or 2 on being as good as Dobbs was this season. Perhaps one of those guys has a higher ceiling, but unlikely we see that next season... I dread the growing pains of having a 1st year starter. I don't anticipate a nightmare, but Dobbs was a stat sheet stuffer and no one is better when things break down.

Stephen Griffin stops his feet when he tackles. He's consistent with this issue... I'm shocked that Warrior isn't better than him. 18 must have some real issues with understanding the scheme for the coaches to trust 26 more than him.

Defending the deep ball continued to be an issue. Safe to say there is a strong possibility of a change at their position coach this off season.

George earned more PT at WR. Interesting to see him play more than Callaway or Johnson. -- Did Callaway play? If so, he finished the game in street clothes.

Theme of the day... Tennessee answers. Nothing Nebraska could do that Tennessee didn't answer. The game was never in question and we should have won by more than 14. (Fumbled KOR and a few big drops)

Why did the defense look better? It wasn't anything magical in terms of scheme. Perhaps we played more zone coverage underneath... We definitely played harder, tackled better. As the Volquest staff wrote, it helps that Nebraska is average athletically... But coming off 3 historically bad performances, I'm encouraged by their showing in Nashville.

Going forward, on defense I expect at least 1 staff change, maybe more. I also anticipate Shoop putting more of his thumb print on the defense. Mathews discussed this on BOS, next year's defense looks like it will have plenty of good players but not a ton of playmakers... Fans should still expect improvement overall and don't be surprised by some noticeable schematic changes. A few playmakers emerge and it could a decisively better unit next season.
 
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