QB--C-Minus
Zac Lee wasn't the reason NU lost. Still, he cannot make plays. Not one. Cody Green should have started. When Lee does have a man open, he misses them by five to six yards some times. Two of the INTs were because the balls were thrown behind the receiver and too high. Time for a change. The state of Nebraska doesn't hate you, Zac, they just want to win games.
RB--Incomplete
Roy Helu is hurt. It is not fair to keep running him out there. He has never had issues with fumbling before, and obviously the shoulder caused both drops today. Rest him until he's ready---keeping him in hurts both Helu and the team.
Dontrayevous Robinson looked like a nice power option, and the offensive line was ripping holes open for him before the strip inside the red zone. Keep hammering it. Patience is a must.
WR--C
Finally showed some consistency getting open, but too many drops. Also, catching some of Lee's misfires would be nice. However, if they have no idea where the ball is going, the timing is completely fucked. Just ask a catcher how fun it is catching a knuckleballer without any command of his pitches.
Offensive line--B-
Protected Lee decently today, and cut down on the penalties. Just when they started blowing some holes open for Robinson, he fumbled. Then Watson never established the power game again--not that ISU made it easy, as they controlled the clock with their Navy-esque offensive attack.
Tight End--Not Applicable
When NU started getting some traction with the power run game, PYB thought this would open up some play action....especially to the tight ends over the middle. A play that is ALWAYS open. Silly me.
Special Teams--D
The only thing preventing this from being an F is the blocked kicks. However, there is no threat on any of the following: punt returns, kick returns, punt block or punt coverage. How can Alfonzo Dennard look so great returning punts last season and not get a look once this season? When you let out a big sigh every time Niles Paul fair catches without a fumble, that can't be a good sign...
Defensive Line--A
This unit continues to pressure the QB with essentially no help from the blitz. Suh and Crick are purely dominant and run like defensive ends. The DEs, while not great, cover their assignments for the most part.
Linebackers--B
Phillip Dillard was everywhere today and looked like a man possessed. As far as other linebackers, do the Cornuskers have any? Sean Fisher looked like Mike Petko returning the blocked field goal.
Defensive Backs--C
While Dennard has quickly emerged as NU's second-best player, the rest of the DBs looked OK, not great. Eric Hagg got burned for the only ISU TD, and Prince Amukamara continued to give up catches despite being in the right position. PYB would like to see more plays made on the ball from these guys, who have the ability. Still, an above-average unit that is part of a very good defense.
Intangibles--F
Eight turnovers. Eight goddamn turnovers.... No toughness, no focus. Just when NU plugs one leak in the dam, another springs up. Dropped passes, holding penalties, fumbles, bad throws, misuse of timeouts....anything you can dream up happens just in time to thwart any momentum the Huskers have worked hard to gain.
Coaching--F
This team has surely set the record for most timeouts used while on defense. When it's 3rd and 4 early in the third quarter and the opponent has the ball at its own 30, you NEVER call timeout unless you're a man short. The stubborness this staff showed by not starting Green and refusing to insert him in the third quarter is absolutely unfathomable. It is sad, really. It caused a loss to Iowa State....who was without its starting QB and RB.
You can add John Papuchis to the list of those who deserve the axe at season's end. Pelini needs to get heavy-handed with Shawn Watson, and tell him to find an identity or find a new job. That is, assuming Pelini knows what he's doing. With each performance like this, fans have the right to wonder.
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