Nebraska Coach Bill Callahan watched the tape of the Wake Forest game and saw the same thing fans did.
Too many mistakes. Too much room for improvement.
The Cornhuskers still escaped with a 20-17 win, but the coach said his team has much to learn from its struggles last Saturday - on both sides of the ball.
"We could have played a lot better," Callahan said in Monday's Big 12 teleconference. "We left a lot of yards on the field the other day. As we watched the film with the team, we were disappointed that we didn't play better. We just feel we can play better.
"That's the game of football. You get a whole week to improve yourself."
Callahan praised NU quarterback Sam Keller following the game despite the senior's multiple miscues during the game. Keller accounted for all three Nebraska turnovers and had several passes badly miss the mark. His third turnover of the afternoon gave Wake Forest the opportunity to take the lead late in the game.
"I was in the midst of pumping to get the ball out, and then just got hit in the back," Keller said. "In that case, I should tuck it and just eat it, but I was trying to get it out to Marlon (Lucky)."
The defensive side of the ball showed much room for improvement as well. The Demon Deacons appeared to move the ball at will against the Huskers in the second and third quarters of the game. The Nebraska defense finally clamped down in the fourth quarter, preserving the win.
NU defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove said the Blackshirts adjusted by "see-sawing" the safeties, a tactical maneuver that places better coverage on the outside receivers.
The decision helped limit the options of Wake Forest quarterback Brett Hodges and hold the Deacons scoreless in the final period. The Huskers were tormented by Wake's end-around rushing plays through three quarters but buckled down at the end of the game.
"Even though they didn't show it last week (at Boston College) we practiced it a lot," Cosgrove said of the end-arounds. "In practice you don't have a problem with it, and then in the speed of the game it changes."
Cosgrove said the Huskers didn't want to see-saw the safeties, but had no other option for stopping Wake Forest.
To the Blackshirts' credit, however, they came through when Keller's late turnover put their backs to the wall. Senior cornerback Zackary Bowman's interception in the end zone saved Nebraska's lead and, possibly, the game.
Both Keller and Callahan know those turnovers will be much more costly this weekend against top-ranked USC, but neither is making drastic changes in their planning and preparation. Consistency has been a big focus for Callahan, and it's too early in the season revamp anything so far.
"This is a big game because it's our next game," Callahan said. "We've been real consistent in that regard. That's our approach. That's how we've always approached each week's contest."
jonathancrowl@dailynebraskan.com
