Offensive MVP: RB Rex Burkhead. He said he was feeling about 90% yesterday, but I think 60% would have been enough against the Bengals. 8 carries for 119 yards and two TDs is a good way to get back into the swing of things without overloading that soft knee. We'll need him next week, so let's hope that 90% continues to improve.
Defensive MVP: DE Eric Martin. Sure there's not a whole lot of pride to be had against such a weak team, but when all 5 of your tackles are sacks or TFLs that's a pretty darn good day. I really hope Martin can continue to assert himself as the season goes on.
Special Teams MVP: PR Ameer Abdullah. Let's ignore the defense it came against and just say that the 81 TD yard return in the third quarter was pretty dang sick. Abdullah showed agility, power, and speed on the return and reminded us all the type of returner he's capable of being.
Freshman MVP: RB Imani Cross. "Iron" Cross gets this award for the third time this season. Cross picked up another TD, and the first 100 yard game of his young career. Sure most of it came in garbage time of a garbage game, but Cross has made the most of his opportunities all season. We'll probably be seeing less of him as the games get tougher, so it's been good for him to get his production while he had a chance.
Assistant Coach of the Game:
Terry Joseph gets this award for the way his secondary shut down the Bengals yesterday. When a team is only good at one thing and you take that away from them, you're going to be successful. That's exactly what Joseph's crew did yesterday, and aside from Charles Jackson getting beat in the endzone in the 4th quarter, and a few questionable PIs, this secondary completely bullied and blanketed the Bengals WRs all game long.
Play of the Game: Rex's 61 yard TD run. The big question was whether he would be the same old Rex and Burkhead answered on his third carry showing his trademark agility, power, balance, and enough speed to get a new career long.
Play We Want Back: Surprisingly enough, there were plenty of ugly plays to choose from, but I'll take the lone Bengals TD in the fourth quarter. Charles Jackson needed to turn around and find the ball and never did, allowing the easy catch. Tough break for the true freshman, but there's probably not a better way to learn than by doing it late in a game that's been decided since the first quarter.
I want to see more...
*Offensive dominance. Sure there's no honor in smashing a bad FCS team, but I like the offense's focus in the rout. Good job by Tim Beck's bunch.
*Aggressive work in the secondary. Too many times last year, the Nebraska secondary played soft, and got beat. So far this year they've improved their physicality, culminating in 2 INTs, and 7 PBU's yesterday.
*Kenny Bell. Not just his 68 yard TD run/reception, but his attitude in going after an Idaho State defender who took a late shot at Ameer Abdullah on a punt return. This is one bad skinny dude, and he has the skills that Nebraska has always seemed to be missing at wide receiver.
*Games on the Big Ten Network. I missed most of the first half, but these were my favorite set of play by play announcers for any Nebraska game so far this year. Give credit to Damon Benning for some excellent sideline work as well.
*Andy Janovich. The true freshman walk-on FB is one beastly dude, and he looked good getting his first playing time of the year. I can't wait to see what he looks like with a whole offseason workout regimen.
*Josh Mitchell. If only he weren't so tiny, Mitchell would be getting some serious pub for his skills. He covers well, has decent ball skills, and even though he's a bit too light to make a tackle all by himself, he does a good job wrapping up and holding a guy until help arrives.
I want to see less...
*Bad FCS Opponents. I don't think either team really got better this week. I wouldn't go so far as to say that we should never play an FCS team, but if we're going to play one, it should be one with a pulse.
*Time for opposing QBs to throw. I know the secondary played lights out yesterday, but it still makes me nervous when the front four allows so much time to throw.
*Sloppy play. Sure there was a lot of mixing up the depth chart, but there were some plays on offense and defense that looked like straight doo-doo. The focuse was good for most of the game, but there were definitely some lapses.
*Bronson Marsh at QB. Sure he's used to running the scout team, but he looked downright bad on his two possessions. It was a nice gesture to let him have a shot at QB, but with Tommy Armstrong and Johnny Stanton available next year, he should probably move to safety as planned.
*Walk-ons playing on the offensive line. It's really great that the local kids are working hard and getting playing time, but it's kinda concerning that so many are getting into the top 2 or 3 spots on the depth chart. Is the local talent that underrated, or are our recruits not panning out?
Armchair head coach:
I think it was a great move by Bo to sit DT Chase Rome for this game. Whatever his issues were that made him quit the team for a week, it would be a bad precedent to set to just let him come back without any sort of disciplinary action. If Bo really wanted to make a statement, Rome would sit next week against Wisconsin as well.
Hit of the Game:
It wasn't particularly bone-crunching, but I loved seeing Jason Ankrah bullrush that offensive tackle on top of Bengal QB Kevin Yost in the third quarter. I think that play was a microcosm of the talent differential in this game.
Jennifer's Take (my wife doesn't know much about football, but she still has opinions)
"Babe, it's 66-0, let's watch something else."
Never. True fans watch every second, no matter how boring or painful.
Song of the Game
"It's So Easy" by Buddy Holly
"Seems so easy
So doggone easy
It seems so easy
Yeah where you're concerned
My heart can learn
It's so easy to fall in love
It's so easy to fall in love"
It will be a long time before the Huskers have it so easy again, but I think Buddy Holly would agree, it's not at all hard to fall in love with a performance like that.
Beer of the Game
Landshark Lager by Margaritaville Brewing Co, Jacksonville, FL
An easy beer for an easy game. As a rule, I generally stay away from lagers because I don't much appreciate their taste, or lack thereof. The exceptions to this rule are Landshark, Corona, Yuengling, and in a pinch, Coors Light. If you're looking for a cheaper microbrew that's easy to find, look for the dark blue fin, it won't let you down.
Best Commercial
I was never a fan of Deion Sanders as a player, but man is he a natural for advertising. I love this Directv spot with he and Eli Manning at the store. It's kinda old, but it makes me chuckle every time.
Last thought
There's no way to soften this, this was a boring game against a bad team. On the brightside, it's over and now we can finally focus on our revenge game against Wisconsin. The Big Ten has looked so bad the last few weeks, that it might be up to Nebraska to carry the League's torch, even with a one loss. We'll see how this week develops, but one thing is for sure, unlike SDSU in 2010, there will be nothing memorable about this FCS game, and that is a good. thing.
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