Big Red Buzz: don't believe 'doom and gloom'

NEBRASKA CITY - Husker Radio Network Analyst Damon Benning checked on the pulse of fans attending the Big Red Buzz at Nebraska City's Valentino's Restaurant Thursday and explained his annoyance over post-game pathos about physicality and close-game futility.

Benning: “Don’t believe this ‘doom and gloom’ like Nebraska’s defensive is not who we thought they were.”

He referenced fan exuberance going into the 400th consecutive sellout at Memorial Stadium and the media narratives in the shadow of Nebraska’s 25^th consecutive loss to a ranked team and its 8 and 31 record in one-possession games since 2018.

Benning credits Illinois’ success rate on third downs to its 5.5 yards gained on first down rushes.

He countered the physicality narrative saying Illinois was not pushing Nebraska off the line of scrimmage. Perhaps, he said, there is enough film of Nebraska’s base run defense in Defensive Coordinator Tony White’s second year to give offensives good points of attack.

 

 

Benning said it is probably natural for coordinators to call base defenses on first down, but Nebraska will have to be more exotic.

Benning: “They have to start winning first down.”

He said Coach Matt Rhule can use these ‘soul-crushing defeats’ to get players, and fans, to understand that Nebraska is not good enough to take a day off.

Benning: “He wants you to win the day. Stop worrying about who you’re playing and be the best version of yourself. If you do that, it takes the guesswork out of it. So the narrative that I have is that Nebraska needs to learn how to handle success.”

He said the Huskers have a chance to win the day of travel as they head to Lafayette, Ind., before they’ll have a chance to win a game at Ross-Ade Stadium.

Nebraska 30, Purdue 17