Gator Bowl 2014: 10 Things We Learned in Nebraska vs. Georgia
In the bowl rematch from last year, the Georgia Bulldogs fell to the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the 2014 Gator Bowl.
It was not a pretty game to say the least, but the Cornhuskers were able to capitalize on the Bulldogs' mistakes. And because of that, they end the season on a very positive note and are headed in the right direction.
As for Georgia, there's a lot to take away from this game, as well as this season. A lot of young players played, and they will be a better team because of it moving forward.
Here are 10 things we learned in the game.
Quincy Enunwa Was the Best Player on the Field
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This is not to take anything away from Todd Gurley, but Quincy Enunwa was the reason Nebraska won on New Year's Day.
With four receptions, 129 yards and two touchdowns, Enunwa was on another level, but he's been like that all season.
Nebraska is not known for throwing the ball, but Enunwa finished the regular season with 47 catches, 624 yards and 10 touchdowns.
If he was not on the field for the Gator Bowl, the Cornhuskers probably would not have won.
Ameer Abdullah Won the Running Back Battle
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Again, this is to not to take anything away from Gurley, but Ameer Abdullah was the better running back in the Gator Bowl.
Abdullah finished with 122 yards on 27 carries and one touchdown. He was able to wear down the defense in the latter part of the game and was effective despite the tough conditions.
The running game has been the strength for the Cornhuskers all year because the consistency of Abdullah. Cornhusker nation is hoping he returns for his senior season.
The Blackshirts Emerged
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It is not the same Nebraska defense that made plays during the '90s, but the defense came up big for the Cornhuskers in the win against Georgia.
Nebraska did give up 320 yards through the air, but the run defense was stout, giving up a shade under 100 yards.
Guys like Randy Gregory and Corey Cooper were all over the field either pressuring Hutson Mason or getting after Gurley.
Nobody would have thought the Cornhuskers could limit Georgia to 19 points.
The 99-Yard Touchdown Play Will Go Down as One of the Best in School History
4 of 10If there was one play that made the difference, it would be the 99-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter.
It was a third-down play, and it looked like the Cornhuskers were going to run it so they would have room to punt. But after a timeout by Georgia, the Cornhuskers changed their minds and went for the killshot, which no defender was expecting.
That play arguably won the game for the Cornhuskers. And it could save Bo Pelini's job.
Bo Pelini Is the Right Guy
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And speaking of Peilni, he proved that he's the right head coach for Nebraska.
That play call on the 99-yard touchdown pass was a bold move only a handful of coaches can make.
During his tenure, Pelini's teams have not lost more than four games in a season. And with the talent he has coming back, the Cornhuskers will be in position to win the Big Ten.
Pelini is outspoken and doesn't care what people think of him, but he has done a lot of good things in Lincoln.
Todd Gurley Is the Most Valuable Player
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Enunwa and Abdullah had (slightly) better numbers in the Gator Bowl. But no player on either roster means more to his team than Todd Gurley.
The sophomore running back ran for 86 yards but also had 97 yards receiving and one score.
He was not as explosive as he was to start the season because of an injured ankle. But he still was able to break tackles and blow past defenders when he needed to.
It will be fun to see him at 100 percent next season.
Hutson Mason Still Has a Lot to Learn
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Hutson Mason did a lot of good things in the game, throwing for 320 yards and one touchdown. But there are a few things he needs to work on during the offseason.
Having better pocket presence, being more mobile and going through all his receiver options are the three main things. He had trouble doing all those things in the Gator Bowl.
But this is only his second career start. All his flaws will be improved the more reps he sees.
The Bulldogs Miss Malcolm Mitchell and Justin Scott-Wesley
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The receivers and tight ends did not come though for the Bulldogs. They had four dropped passes in the final minutes.
If the Bulldogs had Malcolm Mitchell and Justin Scott-Wesley, it's not to say they would have fared better, but they could have stretched the field and taken pressure off of Mason and the entire receiving corps.
Michael Bennett and Chris Conley are fine receivers, but they have been battling injuries the majority of the season. It's almost amazing Mason was able to thrown for 320 yards, because he could not throw the ball downfield at all.
The Defense Did Improve
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It may be hard to believe, but the Bulldogs defense did have a strong performance.
Yes, the Bulldogs gave up the 99-yard touchdown pass and yes, they did give up 24 points. But 14 of those points were off turnovers, and the 99-yard score was possible because the wrong call was made on the field.
If the Bulldogs did not have the mistakes on offense, they would have won by 14 points because the Cornhuskers offense could not move the ball consistently.
This Was a Bad End to a Frustrating Season
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Winning the game for the Bulldogs would have done little for the fanbase, but it's still a sour way to end a disappointing season.
After beating South Carolina and LSU to start the year, the Bulldogs had tough losses to Vanderbilt, Missouri and Auburn.
The reason for the losses were youth on defense and injuries on offense, which is also the reason the Bulldogs lost the Gator Bowl.
But at the same time, this loss could be a good thing. It will give the young players a chance to see the mistakes they made. It will give them motivation to be better in 2014.
There is no telling what's going to happen next year, but the Bulldogs will be a much better team because of all the trials and tribulations they went through during the 2013 season.
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