Run the damn ball.
Northwestern has, averaging 190.1 rushing yards per game, while Nebraska football hasn’t to the degree it probably needs to, though Emmett Johnson ranks 11th nationally, averaging 101.2 yards rushing per game.
Johnson ranks fifth nationally in yards from scrimmage, averaging 125.7 per game, and is just the third Husker running back with 75 career receptions. Only a junior, he needs 1 yard to become the seventh running back in Nebraska history with 500 career receiving yards.
One thing’s for certain, Northwestern’s defense will have its hands full with Johnson when the Wildcats (5-2) come to Memorial Stadium for an 11 a.m. game Saturday — televised by FS1.
Another thing’s for certain. The Husker offense will have its hands full with Northwestern’s veteran defense. “It’s going to be a challenge for us,” offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen said.
Not just running the ball, of course. But Big Ten football requires an emphasis on physicality, which begins with “defending the run, running the football,” defensive coordinator John Butler said.
The defense will have to contain the Wildcat running game, led by redshirt sophomore Caleb Komolafe, who’s expected to play despite leaving last Saturday’s Purdue victory in the third quarter with an upper-body injury. Komolafe has rushed for 483 yards and four touchdowns.
Dashun Reeder has rushed for 222 yards on 22 carries, an average of 10.1 yards per carry.
Northwestern quarterback Preston Stone, a senior, has completed 111-of-187 passes for 1,213 yards and 10 touchdowns, with seven interceptions. Numbers indicate he’s not a runner.
The Wildcats’ leading receiver, Griffin Wilde, is “a legit dude,” said Butler. The junior transfer from South Dakota State has 36 receptions, for 516 yards and four touchdowns.
The Wildcats have allowed 10 sacks for 69 yards in losses. Nebraska has allowed 25 sacks for 167 yards, including a record nine for 63 yards against Minnesota. “Nine sacks is not good enough,” Matt Rhule said Monday, pointing out the obvious. He wasn’t placing all the blame on the offensive line, however.
“I think three were on the running back,” he said. “It’s just all around. The ball needs to get out faster, we have to protect better, backs have to step up and win the one-on-one.
“But if you’re an offensive lineman, you can’t give up nine sacks.”
Apparently, his point is the linemen should handle the rusher before the back has to.
In any case, “we have to make him (Dylan Raiola) comfortable back there,” Holgorsen said.
Raiola said Tuesday “I put those (sacks) on me. I told the offensive line there’s no hatred, nothing towards them. It’s my job … we’re all taking the blame.”
Nebraska’s offensive line was without two starters in the second half against Minnesota. Guard Rocco Spindler suffered a hand injury in the first quarter while tackle Elijah Pritchett was ejected for targeting with 5:05 remaining in the second quarter. Spindler had surgery Sunday, Rhule said, so whether he plays against Northwestern depends on “pain tolerance. He is cleared to play this week.”
“Having him back out there (in practice) is cool,” said Raiola.
“We’re better when he’s in there,” Holgorsen said.
Nebraska needs to be more physical, no surprise there. And when the Huskers get punched in the mouth, they need to punch back, even harder, something Butler admitted not doing after Minnesota’s Darius Taylor broke loose for a 71-yard run to set up the first touchdown early in the second quarter.
He didn’t punch back, Butler said. “I didn’t call the game as aggressively as I can.”
Everyone took responsibility for the Huskers’ unexpected second loss of the season. Nebraska “got out-played, out-coached,” Holgorsen said. “They beat us everywhere.”
Everyone, including Rhule. “It starts with me,” he said. “I preach ownership, and I didn’t have the team prepared to be the more physical team.”
More physical and don’t forget … run the damn ball.
