Husker Football: McNeese State Report Card

Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports

I-Backs B

Everyone saw Ameer Abdullah’s brilliance, but the Heisman contender only touched the ball eight times in the second half.

That is asinine for a team with obvious quarterback inconsistency.

He picked up only 17 carries for 54 yards and a touchdown with the other backs mostly non-factors. “He’s our best football player,” Pelini said of Abdullah during his weekly press conference. “We have to make sure we get the ball in his hands.”

It was the game-winning catch and run by Abdullah that saved the I-Backs’ grade. He put on a few moves and broke so many tackles, we have to take off our shoes to count them. It was a spectacular play by an even more spectacular player.

That wasn’t his only catch of the game, either. A few middle screens also proved fruitful for the offense, though they seemed random.

That said, there are no excuses for the Homewood, AL native to not be more active in the offense.

During the aforementioned press conference when Pelini was asked if he should have been on the headset with offensive coordinator Tim Beck demanding Abdullah get more touches. He replied, “Exactly what I’m saying.”