Profizer’s Pigskin Preview: Nebraska vs UCLA

Each week, the Profizer sits down to read the tarot cards. Dip his toes into the Sea of Red. And put his fingers on the pulse of college football. Though his glasses may be dangerously rose colored and he continues to drive with an open container of Rhule-aid, he can see clearly what must be done each week. This is the Pigskin Preview: Nebraska vs UCLA.

Nebraska vs UCLA

Black was a fitting color for what happened in Memorial Stadium last Saturday night. By nights close, it felt somewhat like a funeral. Thousands of fans, clad in black, filed solemnly out of Memorial Stadium after the Trojans delivered the final blow to any CFP dreams. And although it wasn’t known at the time, we were all mourning the loss of our gladiator. Our leader. A broken leg to go along with our broken hearts. The season cut short. A thought of what could have been.

The night started alright. It almost seemed as if the stars had finally aligned. That it may finally be our time. Husker Nation showed up and showed out for the blackout. The stadium looked incredible. Bravo to all those that made it happen, from the athletic department to all the fans that wore black. Not only did Husker Nation answer the call for action; they had that stadium rocking, even as USC was continually running the ball down the Blackshirt’s throats. But thanks to Lincoln Riley’s constant need to overcomplicate things, we went into halftime with a 14-6 lead. Seemingly in control. The pass defense was suffocating and showing no signs of letting up. Even after Raiola went down, it felt like the game was in reach. Like we would finally get that monkey off our backs. That we would slay the ranked dragon. Then, the flea flicker heard around the state. Arguably the best throw of the night from Maiava, and a crushing blow to all of Husker Nation, leading to USC’s go-ahead touchdown.

For as porous as the run defense was on Saturday, the pass defense was better. Holding Maiava to a career low 39% completion percentage and only 135 yards. Ceyair Wright, Andrew Marshall and Donovan Jones clamped down some of the best and most athletic receivers they have seen all year long, including holding Makai Lemon to only 18 yards on two catches. I don’t think that we can call it a stellar performance by the defense when getting gashed for 202 yards on the ground, but it was one of the more impressive pass defense games in recent memory. And when you hold an explosive offense like that of USC to only 21 points, in all honesty, it should have been enough to win. But, in true Husker fashion, we literally trip over ourselves to end the game. Now let's get one thing straight before moving on. Was EJ the one that tripped and fell on 4^th & 1. Yes. But EJ continues to play his ass off for this team. He is leaving everything out there on the field each and every time he takes it. He has already eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark on the season and still has three games left. He is the heartbeat of that offense right now, and the Huskers will need him more than ever during this final quarter of the season.

The face of the program is down and out. A leg break heard round the state. Salt in the wound. But there is still an opportunity out there for this team. Three games left to prove what this team is made of. We will soon figure out if this team made a jump from last year? Can they rally around the true freshman TJ Lateef and scarp out some big wins for the program? Only time will tell, and it all starts when toe meets leather this Saturday at 8pm in the Rose Bowl. The good news is that I have put in the work. The tarot deck has been reshuffled. The stars have been reinterpreted. The path to victory is clear. And luckily, I know just what needs to be done. This is the Pigskin Preview. Nebraska vs UCLA.

1.      Slow and Steady – TJ Lateef has shown us glimpses of what he is capable of. Each time he has stepped on the field, his mobility and threat to run the ball have been evident. His ability to throw the deep ball has been on display. But UCLA is a step up in competition. UCLA is going to try and speed him up as much as possible. When you speed up a young QB, that is when they make mistakes. I imagine UCLA will heat him up early and often. So, this somewhat patchworked offensive line is going to have to work hard to keep TJ clean. Dana and this offense are going to have to slow the game down for TJ as much as they can. The young man is making his first start, and he is back home in front of all his friends and family. It will be super important to get TJ into an early rhythm with easy completions. Quick passes. Continue to let EJ eat. Control the ball. Utilize the new skills that TJ brings to the table and see what this offense can do.

2.      Contain, Contain, Contain – Nico Iamaleava is yet another mobile quarterback that plans to be a thorn in the side of this defense. Everyone who watched college football last year knows that he is capable of a high level of football. People forget that Iamaleava is only a year removed from leading Tennessee to a CFP appearance. He has a big arm and can make the throws that will hurt you. He can extend plays when he wants to and can scramble for first downs. That’s not even mentioning how he will have designed run plays called for him as he is the team’s leading rusher on the season. Iamaleava and the entire UCLA offense have found new life under Jerry Neuheisel and it’s no longer going to be the pushover they may have looked like after their first three games of the season. The Blackshirts are going to have their hands full come Saturday night. And their ability to keep Nico boxed in the pocket and not allow him to get loose will ultimately dictate the outcome of the game. If he does get out of the pocket, the Blackshirts must get him to the ground. Getting off the field on third downs will be paramount. No wiggling out of tackles. No long scrambles. The Blackshirts cannot let Iamaleava beat them with his legs. Forcing him to be one-dimensional, having to throw the ball into the strength of this defense could be exactly what this Profizer’s dreams are made of.

3.      Believe – To steal Ted Lasso’s slogan, this team needs to believe. Strong belief in each other. Strong belief in the game plan. Strong belief in their preparation. The coaching staff needs to have firm belief in their young signal caller. As much as these players can’t play with fear, this staff must call a game and make decisions without being afraid of the inexperience. Let them go out and play freely. If this team can focus on doing their job, they will be successful. As Coach Rhule always says, trust the training. Stay within yourself and let the warrior be the weapon. The Huskers don’t need hero ball out there on Saturday night. Sure, UCLA is an improved team, but as Scott Frost infamously said...it’s a winnable game.

This team finds itself in an odd spot after the Raiola injury. There aren’t many expectations outside of the haters that think this team will lose their final three games. There is nothing else to lose. Cut it loose. Let it all hang out. Believe.

Remember, UCLA came into Lincoln last year and waxed that ass. It was a low point in Rhule’s second year. So, you know this game has been circled on the schedule for a while. The team shouldn’t need any extra motivation outside of avenging the loss in Lincoln last year. But it's also a chance for this team to prove the doubters wrong. Prove that this team can overcome the ultimate adversity of losing a starting QB. Husker nation, the time for mourning has come and gone. It’s now time to gaze into that crystal ball and catch a glimpse of the future. There is talent waiting in the wings, and we get a little sneak peek on Saturday night. I’ve seen the road ahead, and the path will not always be smooth. So, buckle up for this final quarter of the season. Pray that your flights to LA aren’t cancelled, and don’t overthink it. Just win, baby!

Nebraska 31 – UCLA 20