The Nebraska football team's offense has been pretty to very good. This Saturday, the Big Ten schedule begins. Offensive Coordinator Dana Holgorsen took to the podium to talk about this week's opponent, the Michigan Wolverines. Here are 3 things that stood out.
Dana Holgorsen knows what it means to face a Big Ten defense
The "pre-season" portion of Nebraska's schedule is over. Now comes the Big Ten Conference for the remainder of the regular season. Coach Holgorsen has only coached in the Big Ten for 3 games, but he already has a respect for the conference as far as defensive play goes.
"Toughness, physicality, you know, it's typically low-scoring games." He then had a slight jab at the former conference he had coached in for many years. "Opposite of the Big 12, so to speak." He went on to say, "It's week in and week out, everybody's gonna have a solid, physical defense that is sound and well coached, with good players, just really excited for the opportunity, man."
Holgorsen 'not worried' about Dylan Raiola heading into a big game Nebraska football game
Dana was asked about the kind of atmosphere this week's game is going to be like and if he'd talked to Nebraska's quarterback Dylan Raiola about it. Coach said, "he told me, he's seen it a lot more than I have. I look back at the last 2 weeks, and I'm like WOW, this is incredible. Game 1 at Cincinnati was incredible with our fanbase.
Then the night game was something that I hadn't experienced here. And you turn around and go Whoa, what's this gonna look like at 11 o'clock? I've been in that situation, where it's been great, it's been great, then 11 am, it's hot, and it's kind of...DUH...you know what I mean? And that didn't exist here." Coach Holgorsen went on to say that he expected greatness. "I know he's looking forward to it, I know I am, I know Coach Rhule is. We know who our opponent is, and it's our job to know everything about 'em, man! Dana then said that on Saturday, they were going to have to adjust what "we think they're gonna do, with what they are doing.
Holgorsen wants more from his offense inside the 10-yard line
One of the things that has been troubling in the first 3 games is the offense sometimes stalling out inside the opponent's 10-yard line. Coach was asked what could be done to improve that part of the game. "Can't waste plays", Holgorsen said that the team was 66, 66, and 64 percent on touchdown efficiency, and he mentioned that the 4 Big Ten teams that made it to the College Football Playoff last season were all above 70%.
He did say that the team was in the 40's as far as percentage last year, "which is a lot better than last year, and so we have took a step in that direction. We've worked it, we gotta continue to work it, but uh, we just wasted a couple of plays out there. Dana mentioned that last week, there was a play on 3rd and 5 where the receivers didn't get the check, "that's just flat-out unacceptable!" He did say that it's improved from last year, but it's not quite where it needs to be for what the team's goal is.
Coach Holgorsen definitely respects Michigan coming into the game on Saturday. But there also seems to be a quiet confidence when he speaks about the offense. I, like most Husker fans, hope that the offense continues to get better & show up on Saturday afternoon. If they play like they have the last 2 weeks, it could be a long day for the Wolverines!