NEBRASKA CITY – Former Husker Damon Benning said coaches’ comments in the days following a 24-6 loss to Minnesota call attention to mindset and a heavier dose of running back Emmett Johnson.

Benning told his Big Red Buzz Audience at Valentino’s in Nebraska City that there were pre-game rumblings that Minnesota might change starters on its offensive line, but the Gophers actually just re-arranged which positions the starters were playing.

A Sports Illustrated article credits the move for Minnesota’s 5.3 yards per carry, which is the team’s highest against an FBS opponent this year.

Benning said his pre-game sentiment was that line-up changes would be like re-arranging the chairs on the Titanic, but the sentiment eroded even before kickoff as it seemed that the game was more important to Minnesota.

Benning: “I think the narrative got a little messy with the ‘you haven’t earned the right to overlook anybody.’ I don’t think it’s that linear. I think when they got into a fight they couldn’t match it. I don’t think they could match how badly Minnesota wanted to play well in that game.”

He said he understands Defense Coordinator John Butler’s reaction to Minnesota’s 71-yard touchdown run because linebacker Vincent Shavers was out with injury and the lingering expectation that Nebraska could hold up to helmet-on-helmet play.

 

 

He also commended Head Coach Matt Rhule for his self-assessment at the Monday press conference. Coach Rhule said was “pissed off” at himself and his coaches for not having the team prepared for the physicality of the opponent.

Benning: “I don’t think you can be really, really be good overseeing anybody if you don’t have three qualities. You have to be a good communicator, you have to be highly competitive and you have to have self-awareness.

“…You can not give yourself a chance unless you are self-aware enough to know where you are not good. I think he’s (Rhule) real-time processing when he says I couldn’t get my coaches to (fill in the ) blank, right?

He’s not saying that to tell on the staff. He’s saying that because he is processing in real time what he feels like he had control of and he didn’t take control of.”

Benning gave a four-plank prescription for the offense.

  1. More touches for running back Emmett Johnson
  2. Quick offensive game
  3. Fewer run/pass options
  4. Physical running game

Benning: “For as doomy and gloomy we want to make it, I’m telling you, they are not near as far away as you might think, warts and all. Warts and all.”

Prediction: Nebraska 27, Northwestern 17

GBR