After Nebraska's 37-10 loss to Penn State, there was plenty of blame to go around for the defeat. However, a closer look at how each unit performed makes it clear where the most significant failures existed. PFF grades and other statistics indicate that the blame lies where the blame has lain most of the season, on both the offensive and defensive lines.
The offensive line has come under fire plenty this year. It's had problems protecting the quarterback often. And last night was no different.
Nebraska's offensive front was charged with 11 QB pressures. Those pressures led to only two sacks and one QB hurry on 45 drop backs, but the issue was more on how little Penn State's offense line was moved off the ball.
Penn State only brought more than four rushers nine times in the game, and created pressure on 18 of 45 dropbacks. Against the Nittany Lions' rush defense, Emmett Johnson and the Huskers got off to a good start, including a 50-yard run that looked like it was setting up a 7-0 lead for NU.
Nebraska fronts lead to big loss against Penn State
After the first quarter, the Huskers had just 23 rushes for 57 yards.
On the defensive front, the line has been a real problem for Nebraska all year. There have been far too many times when an opposing rusher got to the second level in the blink of an eye. That happened on Penn State's first possession, which started on the two-yard line.
Kaytron Allen busted a 50-yard run of his own that allowed the Nittany Lions to get out of the shadow of their own endzone and finish a 98-yard touchdown drive.
On the night, Penn State rushed for a total of 231 yards. But it wasn't just the run defense that was the problem for Nebraska. The Huskers only recorded four quarterback pressures, and three of those were from blitzes from the secondary.
While there's plenty of blame to go around for the linebackers as well, Nebraska's run defense continues to be a massive Achilles heel. Near the bottom of college football, the Cornhuskers are allowing 167.5 yards per game against the rush.
Nebraska likely won't fix either of these problems this year with just one more regular season to go. But there needs to be a focus this offseason.