Nebraska’s offense struggling
OU football
By Jake Trotter
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Published: November 4, 2009
NORMAN — Of five teams in college football allowing fewer than 11.5 points a game, four already have eight wins.
The team that doesn’t?
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OU at Nebraska
→When: 7 p.m. Saturday
→Where: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Neb.
→TV: ABC (Cox 8)
→Radio: KRXO-FM 107.7
Oklahoma’s opponent Saturday, the
Nebraska Cornhuskers.
The Blackshirts are back in Lincoln with a championship-caliber defense. But an anemic offense has left Nebraska reeling at 5-3. Despite possessing the
Big 12’s best statistical defense, the Huskers have lost two of their last three, including their last two games at home.
At times, OU has had its own issues putting up points. But Nebraska’s offensive struggles have reached another level.
In four conference games, the Huskers are averaging just 295 yards and 16 points, both ranking 11th in the league.
"We haven’t put it all together,” Nebraska coach
Bo Pelini said Tuesday. "We have been mixing and matching a decent amount trying to find the right combinations where we’re limited in some areas as far as having other options. We just have to execute more consistently. That will be even more magnified against a group like (Oklahoma).”
Part of the problem has been turnovers. The Huskers committed eight of them during an embarrassing 9-7 loss at home to
Iowa State. Nebraska is now last in the Big 12 in turnover margin.
Another problem has been erratic quarterback play.
Pelini tried to ignite his offense by making a change at quarterback last week, inserting freshman
Cody Green in for
Zac Lee, who was picked off three times by Iowa State. But with Green, the Husker offense still sputtered, managing only 273 yards and one touchdown at
Baylor.
Said Pelini: "The offense needs a spark.”
What could spark the Huskers is the resurrection of a run game that’s suddenly gone dormant the last month.
Running back
Roy Helu rushed for 169 yards in a heartbreaking loss at
Virginia Tech earlier this season. But two weeks later, during an impressive win at
Missouri, Helu injured his shoulder, which has hampered him ever since. The last three games combined, he has only been able to handle 28 carries, and the running game has dissipated as a result. Helu did shed his no-contact green jersey in practice this week, a sign the shoulder is beginning to feel better.
Regardless, OU defensive tackle
Gerald McCoy said the Sooner defense won’t be taking Nebraska’s offense lightly.
After all, it was only last month people were pointing out the struggles of OU’s offense following a 13-point effort against
Texas.
Then, the
Sooners scored 35 at
Kansas, followed by 42 last weekend against
Kansas State.
"You can’t worry about what’s happened in the past,” McCoy said. "There have been times our offense has struggled, then come out and handled their business.
"Just because their offense hasn’t played well two weeks straight, it doesn’t mean they can’t play well this week.”
Text "SOONER” to 65360 for your chance to a $100 gift card from O’Connells. OU news text updates from NewsOK sponsored by Dunkin’ Donuts.
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