The Huskers' Big Loss in the Big House to Michigan

Take your choice between Nebraska's offensive line and special teams play; which was worse?  Frankly, I can't as both were horrible against the Michigan Wolverines. Michigan's defensive line had their way at the line of scrimmage, especially defensive tackle Mike Martin, who pretty much ate Mike Caputo alive at times.  Absolutely no running room up the middle, and not much more on the perimeter.  That put Nebraska into third-and-long situations all afternoon...and Nebraska's receivers couldn't catch a cold.

The Blackshirts had several opportunities early on to take control of this game, as the Huskers must have had a hand on at least three Denard Robinson passes in the first quarter...and Nebraska really should have intercepted a couple of them.  If Ciante Evans picks off Robinson on that first drive of the game, who knows where this game winds up.  Robinson gained confidence from that point on and played one of his better games of this season.

The front seven did play a pretty good game.  Baker Steinkuhler started the game by nailing Fitz Toussaint for a four yard loss.  Terrence Moore tipped and intercepted a Robinson pass, but probably shouldn't have tried to lateral the ball to Alfonzo Dennard.  It almost was an illegal forward pass..and risked giving the ball back to Michigan.  Cameron Meredith also seemed to be playing fairly well.

Then there are the linebackers. Lavonte David had a huge game, trying to keep the Huskers in the mix.  In the third quarter, Will Compton also made a few huge stops as well.  All told, it was a great performance up front.  The secondary had a few miscues, and that might have been the the final straw for the Huskers.  Let's start with Robinson's 45 yard pass completion to Roy Roundtree that set up Michigan's first touchdown of the afternoon.

Or maybe not.  I'm still trying to figure out how that wasn't offensive pass interference on Roundtree, who threw Dennard to the ground to make the catch.  That might be excused if that was the worst call of the game, but the officials were just getting started there.  A missed pass interference call on Kenny Demens on a third down led to yet another Nebraska punt.  Heck, even when the officials had a chance to think about a call, they still came out with a muddled explanation.  ("Snap violation?")

Any chance Nebraska had to come back ended when the officals decided to call a personal foul on that attempted blocked kick.  My first take was that it was a great acting job by the Michigan punter, but the instant replay showed he was tapped on the foot.  Five yard penalty? Absolutely.  15 yards?  Good grief. Bo Pelini will probably getting a reprimand for telling the media after the game that it was a bad call, but the fact is:  that was a horrible call.

While that ended any chances Nebraska had to come back, the horrible officiating was not the reason why Nebraska lost this game.  Michigan's defense dominated the Huskers on Saturday, and it started up front.  No room to run whatsoever meant Nebraska needed to throw the ball...and the receivers pretty much sucked all day long.  Make a catch, keep a drive alive...maybe something happens for the Huskers.

And we can't go into this review without bringing up special teams:  two fumbled kickoffs?  A blocked punt?  These errors turned a 10 point loss into a 28 point trip behind the woodshed.  It was the final straw that made this game way too ugly.

I probably shouldn't be listening to people vent on the radio or read their tweets after this one.  Husker fans should be disappointed...and angry.  That's not the point...the point is hitting the panic button and making irrational statements that you'll probably regret later on.  A loss like this certainly raises valid questions, but looking around college football on "F-Bomb Saturday" (thanks Lee Corso!), a lot of teams suffered massive suckage. (Hello Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Clemson, etc...)  I have those same questions myself, and they need an answer.  But not this weekend.  The wounds are still too raw, and there is another game to play for in six days.

Iowa is one of those opponents that plays up -- and down -- to every opponent.  They know all about disappointing losses; they underwhelm on a regular basis. But they also rebound nicely and upsets a team they have no business beating.  And that should be the focus this week, because if you think Squawkeye fans are annoying now, just wait until they manage to pull off an upset in Lincoln.