1 thing to hate: Anthony Colandrea's first 'interception' of the season
When Anthony Colandrea arrived at Nebraska, there were plenty of worries about how well he would protect the ball. Knowing that, Colandrea's first interception of the season wasn't frustrating because he made a bad decision or tried to do too much with the ball and got burned.
The first pick of the year for the Nebraska quarterback was annoying because it was just so dumb, and it was not Colandrea's fault at all. The gunslinger fired a pass to Jacory Barney that should have gone for a first down. However, Barney didn't secure the ball very well, and JoJo Johnson was able to strip the Husker wide receiver and force the turnover.
It's a rule technicality that the turnover was an interception and charged to Colandrea when it should have been a fumble by Barney. It was also very frustrating because so far in Nebraska's two games, it hasn't felt like the receivers have
1 thing to love: Anthony Colandrea's pocket presence for Nebraska
One of the things that seemingly held Dylan Raiola from really developing from his freshman to sophomore season is that when pressure came, he tended to look like a deer in headlights. He also looked like he was trying to be too careful not to make a mistake on throws it felt like he should have hit.
Anthony Colandrea, on the other hand, has a pocket presence the Huskers haven't seen in Lincoln since the days of Zac Taylor. When the pressure comes, Colandrea side-steps it and fires the ball out of there. When the receiver is running open by 20 yards way downfield, he hits him in stride. He did it often on Saturday night.
Colandrea was 17-of-20 for 184 yards and four touchdowns in the first half alone, and several of those throws were some of the best Nebraska fans have seen in over a decade. Even with that bogus interception, Colandrea was everything he was billed as over the offseason by Husker coaches against Bowling Green.
1 thing to hate: Nebraska's special team penalties
Penalties were a bit of an issue in Week 1 and while the Huskers seemingly ironed some of the issues out (at least in the first half) on offense and defense, it was another story for the Huskers' punt return unit. In the second quarter alone, the group was called for holding on three straight punt returns.
The third holding call against the return unit of the night had Rhule so livid the field mics were able to pick up at least part of what he was screaming. So far this year, the absence of Mike Ekeler has been evident, if for no other reason than simple technical follow through. The Huskers can afford dumb mistakes against the Ohios and Bowling Greens and North Dakotas of the world. They can't against the Indianas and Ohio States. Probably not even the Michigan States or Marylands.
1 thing to love: Nebraska's use of the 'Husker Hydra'
Coming into the season, the biggest question for the offense was "how do we replace Emmett Johnson?" The answer on Saturday night came in the form of not one player, but the same three-headed monster that showed up in Week 1.
None of Jamal Rule, Isaiah Mozee or Mekhi Nelson had double digit carries and none of them ran for over 100 yards. But combined, they carried 24 times, 191 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Husker Hydra (patent pending) added 3 catches for 38 yards.
Back in the day, Nebraska had the "We-Backs" with Derek Brown and Calvin Jones. So far this year, if you don't like the Husker Hydra, how about "The Three-Backs"? (Also patent pending)
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