Nebraska defense reacts to substandard performance

Against Illinois, the Huskers surrendered 31 in an overtime loss — and its defensive leaders immediately recognized after the fact that their performance wasn’t good enough to get the job done.

“It felt like we weren’t playing up to our standard of play as a whole defense,” defensive back Marques Buford said. “We’ve just got to be better.”

Nebraska allowed 381 yards of offense in the loss as Illinois averaged 4.3 yards per carry and its quarterback, Luke Altmyer, carved up the NU defense for four passing touchdowns.

“When we don’t play up to our standard, and we don’t play with physicality and we don’t execute how we’re supposed to, stuff like that happens,” Buford said.

The Huskers’ usually effective pass rush was neutralized by the Illinois offensive line as NU recorded just two sacks and struggled to get through to Altmyer. Despite both teams running a similar number of plays, the three touchdowns allowed by the Huskers after halftime loomed large.

“It hurts because we really just kind of beat ourselves, especially on defense,” Ty Robinson said.

Both Buford and Robinson agreed on one thing — it takes 11 to beat a team like Illinois. Following the disjointed performance the Husker defense turned in on Friday night, the veteran Blackshirts are hopeful the loss will simply be a one-week blip in Nebraska’s season journey.

“Our roster as a whole is very talented, very physical and all that different stuff, but when we all are on the same page and everybody is doing exactly what they’ve been coached to do since we’ve been practicing in the spring, I feel like the sky’s the limit for this team,” Buford said.