We lead off this week’s Mirror with some words we wrote last week. You can read that full edition right here. 

“But, away we go into this Friday night matchup with new, No. 25 Illinois (3-0) which has played just as well early this year under Bret Bilema, who usually brings out the worst in teams with his style of football. This Friday game is a “bigger thing” for Nebraska. A new test in a new Big Ten.

It’s time for the Matt Rhule, his staff and his team to see how they stack up.”

Folks, Friday night was not a good look in The Mirror’s untrained eyes. It was a tough one. There is much work to be done. In a game where Nebraska seemingly felt like the better team all night, they were out-physicaled, out-coached, out-smarted. You name it before we start turning this dang column into an episode of Survivor.

Thanks to our friends at South Central Chiropractic in Sutton this weekly prose is always free. We might need a visit this week after typing on the keyboard just a little bit harder than we should be.

Bullet Points

There are so many things to say about our Nebraska outfit from Friday night. The result makes you think about a lot of things. Way too many things to be honest. The Mirror can’t think of too many that are good, but we may try to find something — anything — before the end of this.

We’ll give it our best shot anyway. Let’s run down this 31-24 overtime loss to Bret and the Illini. Ugh. Didn’t want to type that.

PENALTIES FIRST: The way Nebraska played football on Friday night (especially in key defensive spots) should have been absolutely infuriating to the Cornhusker staff. And, Bud Crawford, right? For the past two weeks they “will get it fixed” we have heard. Not happening, friends.

To wit, Illinois scored five times on Friday night. On the three middle drives, the Nebraska defense committed five penalties for 64 yards. In total, eight for 89 in the game. Four of the five penalties were personal fouls of some sort. All of them ridiculous.

It sure makes you wonder what is going on in practice. Is this allowed? Is it corrected? What is the discipline for a personal foul penalty. Sure makes you wonder if ANYTHING is being done about it.

Winning teams make winning plays when they are supposed to make them. Nebraska’s defense kept an inferior opponent in the game with a mistake-filled defensive night. Giving a team yards is a recipe for disaster.

INABILITY TO CALL A RUN: It’s ironic to say that Nebraska’s offense kept them in this football game — it did — but the Huskers inability to call a running play is going to continue to rear it’s ugly head as this season comes along. The Mirror fails to understand why keeping possession of the football is a bad thing?

IT IS WHAT THE OPPONENT HAS DONE THE LAST TWO WEEKS.

As for Friday night, the Huskers called 42 passes and only 25 runs. It’s just not going to work. The data has NEVER, EVER been there. You can say that Illinois was daring Nebraska to throw the football (they were), but it’s becoming increasingly obvious that teams will just continue to crowd the box because the Husker offensive staff will just abandon the run for the big play if the box is loaded.

Nebraska ran the ball 14 times on first down in the game on Friday night. Gained 71 yards; that’s 5.07 yards a pop. Only was less than three yards on three occasions. We followed with ANOTHER run only five times and only had 12 total runs the REST OF THE GAME.

Look, winning (read: championship) football teams can run the ball when there are 7, 8, 9, 10 guys in the box. Not only that, they WANT TO run the football when that is happening. Nebraska doesn’t even think about it.

The running back ran the ball 24 times for 91 yards on Friday night. There is no quarterback run game in this offense. Illinois countered with 37 runs of their own for 175 yards (4.73 yards an attempt).

Nebraska was only in the football game because they have a super-talented quarterback. Think how much more fun he’d be with a run game that was getting him 4.5 yards per carry.

GROUP CHAT: Two things that came in group chats from Friday night and since.

FRIDAY EVENING 10:03 PM (Illinois had just tied the game at 24): “I have a feeling we know how this is going to end. Badly. Doesn’t this have that feel to it. We are not in control.”

That was in response to the “big fella” touchdown (same action, all night) from Illinois. The chat was right. Nebraska was not in control. Ever, it seemed.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON 12:13 PM: “Watched two NAIA kickers last night. (They) combined for 7-for-8 field goals; one from 55 yards.”

Championship teams do everything well. They execute when the game is on the line. They appreciate the moment. Nebraska didn’t on Friday. They haven’t for sometime. It might not be worth analyzing anymore.

Just cheer for the team, hope they do their best and live with the result. That’s about as bold as we can get anymore.

The Standard

I guess we’ll make grading the standard a weekly thing here. See how it goes.

1. Win the turnover battle. We guess Nebraska won the turnover battle here, 2-1 over the Illini who had two fumbles to Nebraska’s one interception. That said, Nebraska’s turnover — an interception in the end zone — is a 50-50 ball that should have (could have) been a touchdown. WINNING PLAYS. GRADE: B-. 

2. Most physical team in football. Not sure The Mirror has any good vibes going on with the last two weeks of physicality from Nebraska. It’s just not there. It’s gotta be fixed with work and commitment to play calling, which may lead to a fresher defense if they can figure it out, too. Illinois completely dominated both Nebraska lines. The Huskers season time of possession is 31:32 per game. As for Illinois? “We wanted to wear them down.” Ouch. GRADE: D.

3. Culture of execution. Too many penalties. Not a consistent enough running game. Special teams that are going the wrong way. It’s going to be a big few weeks for Nebraska. We’ll just leave it at that. GRADE: D.

We say it a lot. “Winners win.” Illinois might not have been the most talented team on the field Friday night. Nebraska — for long stretches — looked better. But, they didn’t make any winning plays. Illinois on the other hand, made plenty. Nebraska, it seems, is still chasing. What that is, we’ll let you decide.

Maybe a road game is good to re-focus for Nebraska. But from here forward it will take a lot more work for Matt Rhule and crew. Perfect work with winning plays and winning results. The people are there, they just have to believe they are doing it the right way. Remember The Mirror, always free thanks to our sponsor. But, be careful. You might get what you pay for.