LINCOLN \u2014 Nebraska\u2019s offense stuck to its plan in a 20-17 win over Cincinnati. Don\u2019t force it against what quarterback Dylan Raiola called the Bearcats\u2019 \u201cprevent style\u201d defense. Get the ball in play to backs, tight ends and receivers. Those things happened.<\/p>\n
NU just didn\u2019t do enough with those opportunities, according to offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen, who pulled no punches assessing what his offense did well \u2014 running back Emmett Johnson was the \u201cMVP,\u201d the OC said \u2014 and where it fell short.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe yards per play isn\u2019t what I expect, the explosive plays isn\u2019t what I expect,\u201d Holgorsen said of an offense that averaged 4.53 yards per play \u2014 104th nationally after one week \u2014 and had just one plays of 20 yards or longer. \u201cWe\u2019re going to keep harping on that. Unfortunately, I didn\u2019t see that out there again today.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Holgorsen meant Tuesday\u2019s practice in preparation for Akron, which lost 10-0 in its season opener to Wyoming. Offensive skill players fell down in the open field during practice much the same way they did in Kansas City. That, along with blocking struggles, affected NU\u2019s output.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got to do a better job of blocking downfield, we have to do a better job of staying on our feet and making people miss,\u201d Holgorsen said. \u201cWe made people miss six times in 64 times they had to tackle us. We\u2019re going to work hard on that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The OC, calling his fifth overall game for the Huskers, liked the offensive line\u2019s blocking and the decision-making of quarterback Dylan Raiola, who completed 79% of his passes and threw two touchdowns inside Cincinnati\u2019s 10 \u2014 one each to Nyziah Hunter and Dane Key.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe punched it in twice in man-to-man situations, which, we didn\u2019t do that last year,\u201d Holgorsen said. \u201c(Hunter and Key) have the ability to win one-on-ones.\u201d<\/p>\n
Raiola managed the game well against Cincinnati, Holgorsen said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe did what we asked him to do \u2014 I didn\u2019t want him to start forcing things downfield into eight people covering,\u201d Holgorsen said. \u201cThat was the gameplan.\u201d<\/p>\n
The first part of it, anyway. The second part was getting more yards once the ball was put in play. Cincinnati\u2019s defense, Holgorsen said, successfully got Huskers to the ground, even if one of the tackles, that left slot receiver Janiran Bonner with a season-ending injury, seemed unnecessarily low on Bonner\u2019s leg.<\/p>\n
“That’s the lowest-tackling team I’ve seen in a long time,\u201d Holgorsen said.<\/p>\n
Holgorsen said the false start that helped hold a second quarter drive to a field goal had been \u201caddressed\u201d with left tackle Elijah Pritchett, but NU still had first-and-goal from the Cincy 6.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve got three plays to be able to punch that thing in,\u201d Holgorsen said. Otherwise, NU\u2019s red zone production was good.<\/p>\n
Holgorsen simply wants Nebraska to get to the red zone more often.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to become more explosive,\u201d Holgorsen said. \u201cAnd right now we\u2019re just not.\u201d<\/p>\n