I’ve only seen one USC game and it was against Michigan. Trojan running back looked like a Heisman candidate that day. I expect Riley to run it til we stop it, and I don’t think we can. So this won’t be a 21-17 type game. We are going to have to put at least 40 on the board to have a chance.
Husker D-line vs USC run game
- Thread starter huskerdrb
- Start date
Need to have a game similar to Colorado last year where we jump out big early and hold on for dear life.
Only we didn't hold on for dear life against CU. It was 28-3 until the Buffs scored their only TD in the 4th quarter.
The second half of that game pissed me off because every time we made a big play on offense it was called back by penalty. Some were legit, others questionable.
For us to score 40, the stars are going to have to align. My take is all, or nearly all, of the following have to happen to get to close to 40:
- Have to get points every time we sniff the red zone (something we haven't been good at all year)
- Raiola can't fumble or throw a pick (I think has happened in only 1 conference game this year)
- OL has to have a decent game (if this is even possible)
- Have to win the turnover battle
- EJ can't get hurt
- Special teams has to create a big Husker field position advantage for much of the game
- Blackshirts have to get off the field at least occasionally on 3rd down
getting an extra week to figure out run plays and sack plays against us isn't going to help
I feel like usc’s style of play is more suited to what we do. Now that doesn’t account for their level of athletes. Two things can be true in that we match up better with their style and still won’t be competitive. I have no idea if usc is good enough to blow us out. They might be. But our team is more suited to a finesse, play in space, high possession game than we are to these low possession, put you in a phone booth and be patient field possession teams we played the last two weeks. We haven’t scored much because we only get the ball 3 or 4 times a half vs Minny and NW.
Blowout LOL USC blowing out anyone on the road, not happening. LR has won one road game in the Big10 and that was at Purdue. The other 7 have been last possession losses, including to Maryland and freaking Mike Lockley, blowing a 2 TD lead in the 4th quarter! In our other two 2025 road games, similiar to this one, at Illinois and at ND, have been disappointing performances.
USC lost it's two top rbs vs Michigan, one was amongest the leading rushers in the nation. While the O is still formative, it is not at the elite level anymore. The defense, while not the sieve of two years ago, is still not good. At times, the D looks decent and then gets gashed for a big play and always at the worst time.
One thing USC is, is they are fun to watch. You will enjoy #6 WR Makai Lemon, one of the best players in the nation. A pure football player. Also, the SC qb, Jayden Maivia, who has maturated into one of the best qbs in the country. Still prone to a wft was that mistake but can make terrific throw after terrific throw. One thing LR does, and he does it well, is protect and get great production from his qbs.
Should be a fun game between two historic programs. Our last visit to Lincoln, in 2007, was amazing, you people sure know how to treat your visitors. Now just treat us as well on the scoreboard like you did in 2007 LOL.
See you in Lincoln!
Fight On
So 2 of their 3 RBs haven't played since Michigan. Both expected to lose significant time. I expect the third kid is perfectly suitable but not as good. In my mind, their 3 RBs > EJ, but that math has changed. So now it is their passing strength vs. our strength defending the pass. Can we pull our head our of rear ends and put together consistent offensive drives that lead to points. I'd feel more comfortable putting a kicker out there for 3 if I know the opportunities to get back down to the red zone will be more numerous. In my mind, that is going to be Dana coming to terms that his most consistent offensive weapon is EJ. Use him. Make their safeties play the run.
Very. The administration is all in on LR, who is very well liked and is finding his way in this F ed up Big 10. It is taking little longer than hoped with these close losses. We see why you Huskers have complained about the bias scheduling and horrid officiating in this league. It’s a joke. The Big 10 is all about it’s original members.
That being said, USC is spending a ton of money on football now. They have a huge NIL budget, a brand new state of the art football facility, well paid coaches, and are recruiting like demons. SC has the top recruiting classes in both 2026 and 2027 coming. If LR cannot get it done now, it’s on him.
We scored zero TDs against an awful Minnesota defense ……. Let that sink in. 9 sacks. Zero TDs. That’s not just due to a low number of possessions. Thank God we didn’t have more possessions or we might have set the all time all football record for sacks allowed. Making this game a low snap phone booth game is maybe exactly what we should try to do.
My thoughts on the MN game are that the team was not mentally ready and then proceeded to play very poorly. So I zero it out. If we play that poorly against SC, NU is dead meat. Stat-wise, USC is not particularly apt at either rushing or passing defense. I think you run EJ heavy, maybe even give Mozee some run. Make them stop the run. Don't press in the pass game, but there will for sure be opportunties. This is a game where Rhule's mantra of next play applies Their top 2 RBs are on the shelf with injuries. They are going to be on the road at night in a very loud stadium. If our DBs can limit big plays from their WRs, I like our chances.
I read today that USC's top two backs are out, and that two O-linemen are questionable. So maybe there is a glimmer of hope....maybe. Plus, USC has lost two games in which they had to travel to the Midwest (albeit to two teams most likely better than NU). They also won at Purdue, but who hasn't.
Still, I expect that NU will struggle to handle USC's athleticism on both sides of the ball. They will likely convert 3rd down after 3rd down; they will likely have Raiola on his back, or running for his life. EJ will likely have to gain every yard on his own; and the all-black uniforms won't help.
Still, I expect that NU will struggle to handle USC's athleticism on both sides of the ball. They will likely convert 3rd down after 3rd down; they will likely have Raiola on his back, or running for his life. EJ will likely have to gain every yard on his own; and the all-black uniforms won't help.
Orgeron is available if Rhule wants to make a change at the DL coach position.
did you see our offensive line grades for last game? they were all in the 80's and up from what I heard...
we will matchup better with USC.. Matt Rhule and team were off on Minnesota game and overlooked them.
still won't be an easy game, but they are not some juggernaut with a massive talent edge.
we will matchup better with USC.. Matt Rhule and team were off on Minnesota game and overlooked them.
still won't be an easy game, but they are not some juggernaut with a massive talent edge.
Grades? Our OTs suck, and we aren’t a whole lot better in the middle.
And our DL ain’t nothing to write home about.
Not a good place to be in the Big Ten.
Goes to show it was not just in our minds when other new members to the big-10 are seeing/saying the same things. Always going to be a good ole boy network in this $hitty league!
This just in, Orgeron’s recruiting philosophy is now legal for everyone. Ed doesn’t bring anything to the table other than his connections to high school coaches in the SE.
Pritchett seems to be getting better and even Corc held up somewhat in the 4th quarter….against Northwestern…..
If USC is able to run the ball at will against this version of our defense then our offense will be sitting on the bench the majority of the game which doesn't equate to very many points.
I'll watch the 1st quarter but if/when it just becomes a practice to see how many USC players get playing time on offense I won't waste 3 hours watching the defense get bludgeoned.
Re Corcoran, we’ll just have to agree to disagree. I had a PTSD relapse when I saw him at RT.
Pritchett, the only OT in human history to be ejected for targeting, is … well … serviceable. There’s a reason no one at Bama was sad to see him go.
The only plus I see on the OL is Rocco—the RG who wouldn’t even have started at ND this year.
Someone(s) should immediately be fired for nine sacks in a single game against a mediocre opponent. And what E. Johnson achieves in spite of the crap OL has been amazing.