NU report card

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BY BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star

PASSING GAME (D)

Everyone is at fault. The protection was poor. Zac Taylor didn’t step up and make plays when he could’ve. A horrible decision to lob the ball in the air while trying to avoid a sack. Taylor had two interceptions and a few more near-misses. The receivers dropped six passes, including two that would’ve converted third-and-long plays. And what could’ve been the biggest play of the game, the slant pass to Terrence Nunn on fourth down, turned into a fumble.

RUNNING GAME (F)

Non-existent. Sacks didn’t help the final figure, of course, but any time a Nebraska team runs for minus 2 yards for a game (the second-lowest mark in school history, by the way) something is wrong. And that against a Missouri defense that entered the game ranked 89th nationally against the run.

AGAINST THE PASS (D)

This could’ve been worse had Brad Smith not overthrown some wide-open receivers. The Huskers got four more sacks, thanks mostly to blitzing. One such blitz led to a turnover and eventual NU touchdown. But the Blackshirts let Missouri off the hook too many times in the second half, allowing conversions through the air on third and fourth down.

AGAINST THE RUN (F)

So much for having the nation’s No. 1 rushing defense. Smith simply tore the Huskers apart. Nebraska went with a four-linebacker look most of the game but could only slow Smith somewhat in the middle portion of the game. Big plays hurt Nebraska early, and 4- and 5-yard runs by Smith helped the Tigers chip away late in the game.

SPECIAL TEAMS (A)

For a while, it looked like Daniel Bullocks’ blocked punt that set up a touchdown would turn the game Nebraska’s way. Not so. Nunn had some decent returns on punts, and Marlon Lucky did the same on kickoff returns. Those pooch kicks Missouri tried can be tricky, but the Huskers fielded every one with not even a bobble.

GAME MANAGEMENT AND PENALTIES (F)

Where do we start? A holding penalty here, an illegal-formation flag there. Throw in a few false starts, and it’s easy to see why Nebraska had so many second-and-long plays … and third-and-even-longer. Even the offsides penalty on Missouri’s PAT cost the Huskers, as the Tigers made the second try after missing the initial kick. Twelve penalties in the sixth game of the year is a concern.

PLAY CALLING (C)

For whatever reason, the swing pass from Taylor, whether it be to Cory Ross or, in this case, Lucky, hasn’t been working. Was surprised the Huskers didn’t try to establish the run, especially on the first drive of the third quarter. Some of the third-and-long plays would’ve worked had NU receivers simply caught the ball.

OVERALL (D)

Is it still that big of a deal to beat Nebraska … especially when the Huskers play as horribly as they did Saturday? Evidently, it’s a big enough deal to again tear down the goal posts. You had the feeling momentum was on Nebraska’s side at halftime. Give NU credit for coming back in the first half. But the Huskers’ error-prone offense was as much, or more, to blame for this debacle as was the inability to defend Smith. We knew Missouri’s offense was good. We didn’t know its defense was.