The Nebraska football team did exactly what its fan base hoped it would do in easily dispatching the overmatched Minnesota Gophers 41-14 on Saturday in the Great Lakes State.
The Huskers led 34-0 at halftime and could have easily scored 70 if they wanted to but what good would that do against a lousy Minnesota team? Anyhow, Nebraska (6-1 overall, 2-1 Big Ten) entered the week rated No. 13 in the Associated Press poll but also had serious questions as to how good the team is. Keep in mind, the Huskers had that ugly 48-17 loss to Wisconsin and that Jeckyl and Hyde 34-27 win over Ohio State in which they trailed 27-6 midway through the third period.
So what did Nebraska's win over Minnesota show us as the team was fresh off a bye week?
The cynic would say that Minnesota is God aweful. Well, that statement is not false as the Gophers are now 1-6 overall and 0-3 in Big Ten. Minnesota has also been outscored 144-31 in its last three games and if the Huskers hadn't called off the dogs in the second half that margin would be even greater.
Again, seeing Nebraska go after a lesser club and take control is encouraging but given Minnesota's lack of collective talent, the quality of this win has to be taken with a grain of salt. The truth of the matter is, no more teams are left on the schedule of Minnesota's quality -- or lack thereof.
Nebraska's offense assembled 515 yards of total offense and it did so without quarterback Taylor Martinez having a drop dead, awesome day. Remember last season? The Husker offense was not the same without a healthy Martinez. The sophomore quarterback put up solid but not spectacular numbers in completing 13-of-22 for 162 yards and a touchdown. He also had 10 carries for 60 yards. Those numbers are not great but when you have a running back like Rex Burkhead rushing 24 times for 113 yards and a score, Martinez does not need to be great. ABC had a well-timed graphic in the first quarter stateing that 39 percent of Burkhead's carries have either gone for a first down or touchdown. Yes, statistics can convince you of anything but that graphic strongly suggests that if No. 22 has the rock in his hands, there's a good chance the chain won't be sitting still.
It’s not that Martinez isn’t a special offensive threat—clearly, he is. But when Nebraska’s offense is more than just the T-Magic show, and Martinez doesn’t help the opposition (like he did against Wisconsin), Nebraska’s offense can be formidable.
Defensively Nebraska was solid but not great. This group has sarcastically been label an extension of the 2007 Kevin Cosrove led group that ranked 114th in otal defense. Please, give those comparisons a rest people. The 2007 team let even the worst offenses move up and down the field at will. This Minnesota offense is terrible and produced just 260 yards of total offense and no points when the game matter. Please, no more Cosgrove references. OK.
The fact that the Gophers coverted 7 of 15 third down conversions was a little disturbing but four of those successes came after the Huskers built a 34-0 halftime lead. However, the Huskers will face a far more formible offense next week when Michigan State comes to Lincoln.
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