Five things we learned from Nebraska’s win over Illinois
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Behind an impressive defensive performance, Nebraska earned its first Big Ten win of the Matt Rhule era with a 20-7 victory at Illinois.
Here are five of our biggest takeaways from the game and what it means for the Huskers going forward…
Nebraska answered Rhule’s Sunday challenge
Coming off a dismal showing in last week’s home loss to No. 2 Michigan, Rhule took a gamble when Nebraska returned to work on Sunday.
Rather than ease into a short week with a light practice, the Huskers suited up in full pads and held their most physical session since Rhule’s arrival.
Rhule continued sending his message on Monday. During his weekly press conference, he challenged his team to step up and prove they were better than what they showed vs. the Wolverines.
Moves like that, especially this early in the year, could have gone one of two ways. The Huskers would either take them to heart and come out firing at Illinois, or they would lose and potentially have their season implode.
Nebraska rallied around their new coach and breathed life into their hopes for a bowl berth and, possibly, beyond.
The Blackshirts were as good as ever
Part of Rhule’s challenge to Nebraska this week was getting them to embrace the fact that they were “a defensive team.”
The Blackshirts have lived up to that billing at times this season, but no more than they did on Friday night.
Despite the offense turning it over on three of its final four possessions in what was still only a two-score game, NU’s defense rose to the occasion from start to finish. It began with a momentum-shifting goal-line stop on Illinois’ opening drive for a turnover on downs.
It followed with the Huskers racking up two interceptions, two sacks, six tackles for loss, and a season-high seven pass breakups. Nebraska also held the Fighting Illini to just 21 rushing yards on 19 carries. That marked the fifth time in six games it’s held an opponent under 60 yards on the ground.
The offense remains very much a hefty work in progress. But when the Huskers play defense like they did at Illinois, they will have a chance against anyone on their schedule.
Rhule calls out Illinois for disconcerting signals
Nebraska fans know about the rule against a defense making “disconcerting signals” before a snap as well as anyone. The Huskers have been flagged for it a few times over the years, including once this season at Minnesota.
That’s why Rhule was confused and frustrated that Illinois wasn’t penalized for what he felt was a similar infraction.
Nebraska committed a whopping five false start penalties on Friday night. After the game, Rhule said many of those were partially caused by the Illini shouting out calls before the snap.
“I was really, really upset with the officials tonight,” Rhule said. “I never talk about officiating, but I just want to defend my team. For the second week in a row, that team (Illinois) was just yelling ‘move’ and ‘stem.’ You’re not supposed to be able to do that. I called the league, and they said you couldn’t do that.
“So, we’re not a sloppy team. We’re not a sloppy team. That is not football to me. I’m not faulting Illinois for doing it. If they (the refs) say you can do it, you can do it. Now, after about the third or fourth time, I’ll say, ‘At what point are we going to figure out, guys, that every fourth and one they’re yelling move and go?
“Our guys are just trying to play football… I just want to make sure I defend my guys. So I’m not so much criticizing the officials as much as I’m saying we weren’t just jumping offsides.”
Marcus Washington’s injury looms large
With Nebraska backed up at its goal line early in the first quarter, quarterback Heinrich Haarberg delivered a 38-yard strike to Marcus Washington down the right sideline.
One snap later, the junior wide receiver was down on the turf, clutching his left knee. Team trainers helped him to the sideline, and Washington did not return for the remainder of the game.
Rhule said afterward that he wasn’t sure yet on the extent of Washington’s injury. He did confirm it was a knee injury and that the former Texas transfer was “in a lot of pain.” Washington will have an MRI on Sunday when the team returns to Lincoln.
True freshman Malachi Coleman took over in Washington’s place. The former Lincoln East standout played extensively the rest of the night and caught one of his two targets for five yards.
Fellow freshmen Jaylen Lloyd and Jaidyn Doss also traveled to Illinois. After recovering from a broken arm in fall camp, Doss saw his first action as a Husker. Neither recorded a catch, but Doss was targeted once.
Nebraska already lost starting wideout Isaiah Garcia-Castaneda to a season-ending knee injury at Minnesota. Potential starter Zavier Betts left the program during fall camp. Losing Washington would be another significant blow for a unit that needs as many playmakers as possible.
Numerous homegrown Huskers made their mark
Nebraska is a program that has always prided itself on in-state players helping lead the way on the field.
Friday night was as fine of an example of that as the Huskers have seen in a long time.
Play after play in all three phases, one local product after another came up with game-changing efforts. Haarberg (from Kearney) accounted for 236 total yards and a touchdown. Safety Isaac Gifford (Lincoln) led NU with eight tackles and three pass breakups.
Receiver Alex Bullock (Omaha) had two catches for 16 yards. His brother, linebacker John Bullock, added six tackles and a sack. Phalen Sanford (Benkelman) started at safety and had six tackles with a forced fumble.
Receiver Ty Hahn (Johnson) had a 21-yard catch on a third-and-10 in the second quarter that set up Nebraska’s first touchdown. Linebacker Grant Tagge (Omaha) recovered a live ball kickoff in the second quarter, leading to NU’s second TD.
It’s one thing to win, but it’s even better when homegrown players are the ones who help make it happen.
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