Husker defenders know they need to sharpen their focus
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BY BRIAN ROSENTHAL / Lincoln Journal Star
Credit Nebraska’s Anthony West for maintaining a glass half-full attitude as pass-happy Missouri comes to town.
About defending all those passes from the hand of Heisman Trophy candidate Chase Daniel?
“It’s just more opportunities to go up and get the ball,” said West, a sophomore cornerback. “That’s just the mind-set we have to have going in, that it’s an opportunity for us to go up and make plays.”
Virginia Tech, not known for having a stellar offense, had some success against Nebraska last weekend. Here’s a look at Virginia Tech’s game averages (before it played Nebraska) compared with Missouri’s. Keep in mind, the Hokies’ early schedule has been tougher than Missouri’s.
Statistic VT Mizzou
Points 21.5 53.8
Rushing yards 172.8 191.2
Passing yards 99.0 404.2
Total yards 271.8 595.5
Yards per play 4.5 8.2
Problem is, Missouri, with its spread offense, comes to Lincoln a week after a team not known for its passing proficiency had sufficient success against Nebraska’s growing defense.
Yes, Virginia Tech completed only nine passes (on 15 attempts) in Saturday’s 35-30 victory against the Huskers. Three, though, covered 17, 34 and 40 yards. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor overthrew wide-open receivers at least two other times in the first half.
“I don’t think it caught us off-guard, it was just a matter of some guys not doing their responsibilities sometimes,” Nebraska secondary coach Marvin Sanders said.
“If you don’t keep your eyes focused on the right things, those kinds of things happen. There may be a certain key they’re supposed to be looking at, and their eyes start to wonder and they lose focus a little bit.”
It’s the perfect lesson, perhaps, as No. 4 Missouri brings the nation’s second-ranked passing offense to Memorial Stadium for Saturday night’s Big 12 Conference opener.
“Yeah, it is,” West said. “A team with that much talent, you can’t give them anything.”
Nebraska, players say, gave too much to a Virginia Tech offense that entered the game ranked No. 114 nationally in passing offense and No. 112 in total offense.
“You’re covering somebody and you’re looking at them, and you turn and glance at the quarterback ... that’s all it takes,” senior cornerback Armando Murillo said. “You take your eyes off for a second, and it gives a guy a couple steps on you.”
Of course, the secondary wasn’t responsible for covering tight end Andre Smith, who roamed free for a 40-yard catch, one of his two receptions. That falls on the linebackers.
“We didn’t play that well. I didn’t play well at all,” said WILL linebacker Cody Glenn, despite his career-high 14 tackles. “I lost focus too many times. I wasn’t the same Cody that I’ve been, that I’m capable of being. That’s something that I’m definitely going to fix this week, and I’m never going to let happen again.”
Linebackers coach Mike Ekeler said the Huskers were able to “get away” with mistakes through their first three games.
“When you make mistakes against a very good football team,” Ekeler said, “you’re going to pay for them.”
It’s why attention to detail is being emphasized in practice even more this week.
“What we saw the last few weeks is nothing like Missouri,” Glenn said. “Preparation for this game is going to be a lot more intense, and there is going to be a lot more focus on our part.”
Daniel is completing 76 percent of his passes, and the Tigers are averaging 404 yards per game through the air. They’ve also got a running game that averages 191 yards.
“They’ve been in the system for a while, and they know what to do,” Glenn said. “It’s going to be a big test for us, and I feel like, really, our first true challenge, because in the Big 12, people like to pass it around. It’s a pass-happy conference.
“This is what matters. This is our conference. This is different. I think we’re focused more, and people know what’s ahead.”
Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.
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