Huskers vs. Wisconsin 2018 Game Center

Numbers Statistics and Lies: Wisconsin Edition

Spielman is at it again, the run defense is not, and GRAPHS!

By ranchbabe@jill_heemstra Oct 9, 2018, 9:18pm CDT

This game went about as expected. The Huskers are not in the same place as Wisconsin right now. The good news? They fought hard, they showed that the Martinez-Spielman-Washington trio is going to be ffffffuuuuuunnnnn to watch for a couple years to come.

There were a few fugly plays in which the o-line was overwhelmed rapidly but there were also times when Martinez had time to do his homework AND look for the open receiver. We also learned that Cameron Jurgens indeed will soon play o-line. The former tight end recruit is taking practice reps on the interior. Eat some steaks young man.

Color Coded Pile of Numbers

We can officially complain about the run defense in addition to the the turnovers, penalties and special teams. I mean, this is Wisconsin, runningthedangball is what they do, but it was hard not to cringe at some of the holes Wiscy running backs had to choose from. The Huskers are the walking wounded at linebacker and I think the d-line is missing Mick Stoltenburg. Let’s hope there is a surprise LB emerging on the practice field and that the d-line is putting in some extra work.

Bonus chart

Starting field position has been dismal for Nebraska. It looks even worse when you see where Husker opponents are starting their drives. I just about put a “NSFW” warning over the Michigan game data.

If you weight each game equally (and really I should probably do a bit of an adjustment based on how many offensive drives each team has per game, but I won’t) the Huskers are starting in an 8.4 yard hole compared to their opponents. That is nearly an extra first down they need to gain on every drive compared to their opponents.

1000 Yard Watch

JD Spielman broke his own single game receiving record by racking up 209 yards against Wisconsin. He now has 461 yards on the season through five games. If he can average 77 yards/game the rest of the way, he will be Nebraska’s first 1000 yard receiver for a single season.

Stanley Morgan added 93 hard-fought yards of his own against Wisconsin to bring his season total to 362 yards. He needs 91 yards/game to reach the 1000 yard mark and 89 yards/game to equal his record-setting 2017 campaign. That will be a tall order, but I think most of Husker nation will be cheering for him to get there.

Remember that the game plan vs Wisconsin was all about taking advantage of their secondary and slinging it around the yard. I don’t think that will be the plan every week, but you never know.

No one is really on track for a 1000 yard rushing season. Devine Ozigbo has 289 yards this season and would need to average more than 100/game to reach that mark. Adrian Martinez is at 253 yards for the season. It certainly possible, so I will keep my eye on the numbers and let you know if those totals start to look more attainable.

Significant Digits

Sophomore receiver JD Spielman caught nine passes for 209 yards, including a 75‐yard touchdown in the third quarter. His 209 receiving yards are a Nebraska record, eclipsing Spielman’s 200 receiving yards last season vs. Ohio State. Spielman owns the only two 200‐yard receiving games in Nebraska history.

Freshman running back Maurice Washington accounted for a career‐high 115 all‐purpose yards, including a career‐high four receptions for a career‐high 53 yards, 27 rushing yards and a career‐high 35 kickoff return yards.

Nebraska senior linebacker Dedrick Young recorded seven tackles in the game and increased his career tackle total to 233 to move up three spots into a tie for 18th on the Nebraska career tackles list.

Junior punter Isaac Armstrong had his first two career punts in tonight’s game. His first career punt traveled 59 yards in the second quarter, marking the longest punt by a Husker in 2018.