Damn I can't believe that it is already Thursday and I did not submit my game assessment of the win this past Saturday against the Cyclones 35 to 17. So shoot me if you must, but I will combine the game review and preview of the upcoming contest against the Missouri Tigers.

First off things started very shaky for the Huskers against Iowa State as turnovers and penalties kept jumping up and biting them on the Ass. Keller and company seemed to be able to move the ball just fine when they had it. However keeping it was a struggle and then stopping the Cyclones turned out to be a high demand as they ran over 100 plays for the game, but still lost by 18 points. The Huskers were determined to get a fast start in this game and put the Cyclones away early, so what happened? Well mid-way through the second quarter the Huskers trailed 10-0 and were not looking very good,

The Huskers had three turnovers on its first eight offensive snaps - one on the Iowa State goal line and two others in Cyclone territory. It also kept alive the first two ISU drives with penalties on punts - one for roughing and one for jumping off sides. But right after the Cyclones second score, Cortney Grixby retuned the kick-off 51 yards to set-up their first touchdown. On the second one Sam Keller looked like a surgeon running the 2-minute offense for their second score and a led that was never relinquished.

The second half allowed the much maligned Blackshirt defense a chance to redeem themselves and they did, as Bo Ruud had a 93-yard interception return for a touchdown, the second in as many games and Grixby added a 41 yard interception and the Huskers never looked back, cruising to the victory. Marlon Lucky added his second straight 100-yard rushing effort in addition to throwing a 20-yard option pass for a touch down. Next up on the agenda is the "show-down" in the "show me" state of Missouri and their vaunted "no-huddle" offense. Here's a Preview of that game.

The Huskers are preparing for the first road trip in a month Saturday, traveling all the way down to Columbia Missouri to face the undefeated and 17^th ranked Tigers in their own den. This is a "Must game" for the Tigers, more so than the Huskers as they are the higher ranked team, they are favorites to win, and are desperate for some Big Time recognition, both in the Big 12, as well as nationally. Since the retirement of Dr. Tom, and the firing of Frank Solich, many of the teams that went 15-20 plus years unable to beat the Huskers are now salivating at the thought of finally getting the monkey off of their backs and paying the Huskers back for all those years of humiliating defeats. Basically there is but one thing wrong with those thoughts. Those players and coaches are no longer there, so it really doe not have the same meaning to the current players and coaches at NU, nor should it.

Yes Mizzou is loaded on the offensive side of the ball, with Chase Daniel running basically the same offense that he ran at South Lake Carroll while winning 2 Texas 5A state championships, they without a doubt have the horses capable of beating this years Huskers, the only question is, do the Tigers have the defense capable of stopping the Huskers offense to make this dream of theirs a reality? The one thing that the Huskers will have to do above all other things is to play keep a way with the Missouri offense. Bill Callahan's game plan should be for Sam Keller and company to pound the ball on the ground for 40 plus plays. Sustaining long time consuming 8-10 play drives taking 6 plus minutes each off the clock. DO NOT turn the ball over, DO NOT commit stupid penalties or turnovers. Use Marlon Lucky, Cody Glenn, Quentin Castille and company to pound and pound the ball. Then when a drive does stall, punt the ball deep into the Tigers territory, making them have to drive the ball 70 plus yards each time.

On paper this game looks like a "no contest". The Huskers, allowing 408.6 yards per game, have struggled to prevent the big plays on which Mizzou thrives. Five opponents have produced 28 gains (13 rushing, 15 passing) of 20 yards or more against Nebraska. Missouri, meanwhile, uses its fast-paced offense to score 42 points per game and average 544.2 yards, a figure that ranks No. 5 nationally. On the defensive side of the ball Nebraska (4-1, 1-0 Big 12) currently ranks 77th nationally in total defense, Missouri (4-0, 0-0), 93rd. Yet when it is all said and done it will be the defense that is able to make the most stands whose team is going to emerge as the victor this Saturday night in Columbia, in fact because of all the offense and unless the Huskers can control the ball on the ground, it would not surprise this writer in the least if the game actually ends on Sunday morning, what with an 8:15 PM start time.

Bottom line, I just don't think that the Huskers can maintain enough consistency on offense to be able to keep the pressure on the Tigers, as hard as it is for me to say, I believe that the game will go the Tigers way 38 to 24. I hope to Hell I am wrong, GBR!

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