The DN’s soccer protection is offered by Celerion.
Quarterback: A-
Freshman Dylan Raiola was his normal environment friendly self, ending the sport with 257 passing yards and a landing with a 63% completion price.
The offense was shut out within the first half, however it’s onerous to pin that on Raiola. Nebraska’s incapacity to run the ball within the first half put all of the strain on Raiola to maneuver the ball. The Huskers’ working backs averaged just one.9 yards a carry within the first half, and at one level head coach Matt Rhule fully went away from the run sport.
As soon as Nebraska obtained the working sport going within the second half, issues opened up for Raiola downfield. It’s loopy to suppose that the freshman quarterback may be the one a part of this crew that followers don’t ever have to fret about.
Operating Backs: B-
Sophomore Emmett Johnson, welcome to the celebration.
After not recording a single carry final week in opposition to Illinois, Johnson was the go-to man within the second half. He completed the sport with 50 yards on eight carries together with three catches for 48 yards. It was the primary half for the Husker working backs holding again this grade.
Within the first two quarters, the working backs recorded solely 10 carries for a measly 19 yards. Sophomore Dante Dowdell was particularly inefficient, as he averaged solely 2.3 yards a carry within the sport, struggling to make gamers miss all sport.
Johnson was a breath of contemporary air for the Huskers within the second half, and he needs to be the go-to again shifting ahead whereas Dowdell will get regulated to short-yardage conditions.
Receivers: B+
Senior Jahmal Banks continues to drag away because the primary possibility for Raiola.
After recording eight catches for 94 yards in opposition to the Preventing Illini, Banks led the group as soon as once more with 5 receptions for 82 yards and a landing. Senior Isaiah Neyor was virtually a non-factor within the sport, hauling in just one catch for 14 yards.
Rhule positioned an emphasis on getting freshman Jacory Barney Jr. concerned early and sometimes. He obtained concerned within the run sport with some jet sweeps, recording 4 rushes for 66 yards and a landing to associate with his two catches for 28 yards. Perhaps better of all for Husker followers, nonetheless, was junior tight finish Thomas Fidone II getting concerned downfield with three catches for 39 yards.
The scale of Banks, Neyor and Fidone together with the pace of Barney and sophomore broad receiver Jaylen Lloyd will proceed to present Raiola lots to work with.
Offensive Line: C+
This sport was Nebraska’s likelihood to get its working sport going after a tough exhibiting final week, however it wasn’t an awesome exhibiting for the fellows up entrance.
The offensive line struggled to create holes all day, which is a bit regarding to see given how porous Purdue has been in opposition to the run over the past two weeks. Even on a few of Emmett Johnson’s huge runs, he needed to work for it. The intense aspect is that the cross safety was nice all night time, as Raiola was sacked just one time.
With the competitors forward solely getting harder, the Huskers can have an extended season if the offensive line can’t open up holes for the working backs.
Defensive Line: A-
The defensive position bounced again after getting pushed round a bit in opposition to Illinois. Purdue’s working backs had been largely ineffective in opposition to Nebraska’s entrance, averaging simply 3.2 yards per carry.
That is encouraging, given the truth that junior Devin Mockobee and senior Reggie Love II headed into the sport averaging a powerful 7.7 and 6.1 yards per carry, respectively. The Huskers are one in every of seven groups within the nation that haven’t allowed a dashing landing but this season.
The defensive position additionally obtained first rate strain on junior quarterback Hudson Card, headlined by sophomore defensive lineman James Williams recording two sacks on the day. It’s nonetheless but to be seen if the defensive position can replicate this in opposition to the highest groups within the Large Ten, however they are going to look to hold this momentum in opposition to a tricky Rutgers crew up entrance.
Linebackers: B+
The linebackers had one other strong outing in opposition to Purdue, making some huge time performs to maintain the Huskers within the sport when the offense was reeling.
Nobody man actually stood out, as juniors Mikai Gbayor and MJ Sherman together with senior John Bullock had productive outings. Sherman recorded 1.5 sacks whereas Bullock made the game-sealing pick-six within the fourth quarter to push the result in 28-3.
There have been a number of missed tackles by linebackers, with probably the most notable one being Bullock’s missed sack on 2nd and 15 that Card transformed right into a 14-yard completion to Mockbee. This later changed into a primary down after a two-yard run. Nonetheless, the linebackers had a strong day holding the working backs in verify, which was the principle goal heading into the sport.
Secondary: A-
After giving up 215 passing yards and 4 touchdowns on 21-for-27 passing to senior Luke Altmyer final week, the secondary helped preserve Card in verify.
Card recorded solely 174 passing yards on the day, though he did have a strong completion share of 72% (18-of-25). The secondary tackled pretty effectively on the perimeter, not permitting the Boilermakers’ working backs to get the sting.
Junior cornerback Ceyair Wright continued to play effectively instead of senior Tommi Hill, tallying a team-high 5 solo tackles and two cross breakups. He did get banged up within the second half, however he continued to play the remainder of the sport.
The secondary had lots of query marks following final week’s efficiency, and whereas Purdue isn’t an awesome passing crew, it was encouraging to see what the secondary was able to.
Particular Groups: F
If F- was a grade, I’d have given it to this group, particularly the kicking sport.
Nebraska didn’t down the ball on the one on the primary punt of the sport, resulting in a touchback for the Boilermakers. This wasn’t the worst half, nonetheless.
Freshman kicker John Hohl missed all three subject objective makes an attempt, with two of them being blocked by Purdue. The Huskers additionally struggled snapping the ball on kicks, a job that may proceed to be up for grabs heading into subsequent week.
It’s beginning to get to a degree the place Rhule can’t belief the kicker exterior of a 30-yard kick. On the brilliant aspect, Hohl did make all 4 additional factors he tried, however Nebraska wants sophomore kicker Tristian Alvano again badly.
sports activities@dailynebraskan.com