Post game thoughts

We stopped live blogging the action in the second half, because we were afraid our initial foray into live blogging the action was Jinxing the mighty Huskers.

Maybe the whole “live blogging idea” wasn’t such a great idea after all, because look what happened when we stopped. The second half delivered exactly what we called for at halftime. Namely, big special teams plays and turnovers.

The momentum shifting play of the second half was the 85-yard TD kickoff return by Niles Paul that put Nebraska up 21-12. However, the true turning point came on the very next play, when the Cornhuskers Zach Potter and Philip Dillard took down San Jose State QB Kyle Reed and knocked him out of the game with a concussion.

Potter was a monster all game, with an interception, a tipped pass that led to an interception return for a touchdown, and then the joint sack that knocked the Spartans starting quarterback Reed out of the contest.

The penalties are turning into an absolute nightmare for Nebraska, with the Huskers racking up a whopping 12 penalties for 103 yards. The focus and discipline must improve dramatically before Big Red enters the Big XII conference schedule. Heck, it better clear up dramatically before New Mexico State gets here next weeks. These are penalty numbers you’d expect from the 1980’s Oakland Raiders or Miami Hurricanes, not the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

The Nebraska offense sputtered all afternoon. Joe Ganz failed to throw a TD pass for the first time in five career starts, and managed just 216 yards through the air.

The post-game notes from Huskers.com show that the 49 yard interception return for a touchdown by Ndamukong in the 1st half was the first TD by a Nebraska defensive player since Bo Rudd picked one off against Iowa State and took it to the house back on September 27, 2007.

But, the defensive effort today was encouraging, especially in the second half. Very concerned with the way Nebraska played in the first half. The offense needs some serious work. Racking up three penalties in a row on offense is inexcusable, especially when the third penalty is a delay of game penalty!

PLAYERS OF THE GAME:

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Defense: Zach Potter

Special Teams: Niels Paul

Offense: Roy Helu, Jr.

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