[ad_1]
Prior to each Ohio State game each week, Eleven Warriors met with a member of the media who covers the opposing team to get his point of view on the next opponent of the Buckeyes.
As the Ohio State prepares for what should be its biggest test of the season in Nebraska on Saturday (7:30 pm, ABC), we are joined by Erin Sorensen, deputy editor of Hail Varsity, for his preview of the Cornhuskers 3-1, their best players and their biggest areas of concern and their chances of defeating the Buckeyes.
Has the unusual start of the Cornhuskers year lowered expectations in Lincoln, what ESPN's GameDay College spotlight means for Nebraska and what should it to happen so that the Cornhuskers have the chance to win?
Sorensen shares his answers to these questions and more in our Nebraska edition of Across The Field.
Q: Nebraska has entered the season as a popular choice to win the Big Ten West, but the national hype surrounding the Cornhuskers has faded since their loss to Colorado. How would you rate the start of the Nebraska season through four games and have you changed expectations in Lincoln?
Sorensen: Personally, I would rate the start of the Nebraska season as "unexpected". There was a lot of hype for this second year with Scott Frost, largely because of what he did between the first and second year of Central Florida. There were always more and more growth issues in Nebraska (and many more are yet to come), so we had to focus on the overall improvement of the team. Does that mean going 12-0? Of course not, but I think fans just want to see the team on an upward trajectory.
"This team could easily be 4-0 right now, could be easily 2-2," Frost said following Nebraska's 42-38 victory over Illinois.
And he's right. The margin of error is low for Nebraska right now, and expectations must follow.
So, have expectations changed? It probably depends on who you ask. There are always extremes in the spectrum of fans, but I think the majority of fans understand the work that remains to be done and are just looking for a season that will put Nebraska back on track. It means a bowl game and maybe the chance to compete for a Big Ten title (but certainly the West).
Q: In addition to his loss to Colorado, Nebraska struggled to get out of Illinois last weekend. What have been the biggest problems for Cornhuskers so far, that they need to improve?
Sorensen: Turnover. Illinois scored 21 points on the Huskers' four turnovers last Saturday. Nebraska now has 13 fumbles on the season, which is essentially the GIF "Not Great, Bob".
Another thing is kicking, but it's a totally different kind of story. The Huskers purse kicker is injured, his replacement is also injured at some point, and now there is a safety net that has already kicked Air Force, the starting Nebraska kicker and a new representative of the club football team. So, again, "Not great, Bob."
Q: Adrian Martinez draws attention to Nebraska. What are some of the other players that Ohio State and its fans need to know about Saturday?
Sorensen: In infraction? The wide receiver Wan Dale Robinson and the half-floor Maurice Washington. These two players each have a completely different level of play, which makes them hard to follow. Running back Dedrick Mills is also a bulldozer and seems to have found his rhythm.
On the defense? The defensive line. Darrion Daniels has become a force alongside Carlos and Khalil Davis. Will Honas, JoJo Domann and Mohamed Barry are exceptional linebackers. Barry has not yet reached his level of play. We know he can do it, but he's captain for a reason.
Q: On Saturday, Lincoln will be the first time Lincoln has been here since 2007. How important do you think the renaissance of Nebraska's reputation is and how will Nebraska want people to see the university this weekend? end beyond the game on the football field?
Sorensen: For starters, I'm just going to copy and paste this quote from Frost:
"It's special," he said Monday. "No matter what the game looks like, we'll do our best, I hope we can win, no matter how this game goes, the weather is special for Nebraska, there are great things to come this week. GameDay is not a good opportunity to showcase our program, the direction of it, the improvements we've made, the way we're going, it'll be great to get the attention national here in Lincoln.
"If we did not get better and we were going in a very good direction that was obvious to a lot of people, we would not have ESPN guys in town." It's special. must be able to operate and flourish in the midst of what the distraction brings with it. "
So, what he said. But in reality, if Nebraska can play a good game, it has a lot of potential to put the Huskers back in the spotlight in a very positive way.
As for what I think Nebraska wants people to see, I would say something other than cornfields. I think the Huskers will want people (but mostly recruits) to consider Lincoln as a place they could call home. Nebraska was still in the Big 12 the last time GameDay crossed the city. The Huskers are now in the Big Ten and have upgraded the stadium (with further improvements to upcoming installations?). Lincoln also has The Railyard now and Pinnacle Bank Arena (which hosts a huge basketball contract Friday night with Rick Ross). There are a lot of things to show and that will let Nebraska do it and more.
Saturday's game will be the second game under fire from the Ohio State Nebraska in the last three years.
Q: For those who make the trip to Lincoln this weekend, restaurants or other attractions that you recommend to visit in town?
Sorensen: Yes! In fact, I just posted an article about it. You can check the list to see Lincoln weekends start here.
Q: Ohio State is more than a two-touch favorite to win Saturday's game. What do you think Nebraska needs to do to have a chance to run away, and how do you see the game unfold?
Sorensen: Play an almost perfect game. This means that there is no turning, an excellent execution of the offense, keeping the defense far enough away to avoid running out … Yes. It's a big task.
Nebraska had nothing to lose in 2018. The Huskers played against the Ohio State so close. What would have happened if they had not done it? Nothing, no? It was a season when expectations were thrown out the window and everything that was going to happen happened.
Things are different one year later. Ohio State is better. Nebraska is too, but there is still a lot of question marks to be solved. Propagation is what it is for a reason. I do not remember the exact number, but I think that a two-shot favorite often wins 88% of his time. Thus, the chips are stacked against Nebraska. They know that. I know it. Most people know it. All we can ask is that the Huskers play a tight game and do not let themselves be defeated in prime time.
I'm still not confident enough to demand anger against Nebraska. But I could see the Huskers make this one interesting, especially at night at home. There are no moral victories (and Nebraska has absolutely no interest, so I speak for myself and not for the program), but does it show an improvement on national television in the face of many goals? recruitment? This is not a bad way for Saturday to leave.
[ad_2]
Source link