 "Photo: Chris VanKat")
The stat sheet was downright ugly for any defensive coordinator.
Nebraska gave up 610 total offensive yards, including 422 passing yards, in squeaking out a 41-40 home win over Ball State on Saturday.
"It starts with me," NU defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove said. "I've got to look at it, and we've just got to do a better job."
The Cardinals scored more points against the Cornhuskers than they did against any of their first three opponents, and it came one week after Southern California hung 49 on the Huskers.
It marked the first time since 1990 that Nebraska had allowed 40 or more points two weeks in a row, and Ball State's 610 yards of offense were the fourth-most ever against the Huskers.
Against the Trojans one week before, the Huskers had given up 313 rushing yards to hurt their chances. The Cardinals punished NU's defense a different way, using quarterback Nate Davis' strong arm and the speed of wide receiver Dante Love and tight end Darius Hill to torch Nebraska through the air.
"I'm concerned because we've yet to show what we can really do," NU senior linebacker Bo Ruud said. "This defense is a lot better than what we're showing right now."
After trailing 14-10 at halftime, Ball State scored 21 points in the third quarter, with touchdowns on three of its five drives to take a 31-28 lead into the fourth.
Davis went 8-of-11 passing for 171 yards in the third quarter. His favorite target in the third was the 5-foot-10, 176-pound Love, who caught four passes for 108 yards and a touchdown in the quarter.
"You can't flinch," Cosgrove said. "You can't panic, and I didn't want the kids to ever get an indication of that. You've got to keep your poise and just keep on coaching."
The Cardinals scored another touchdown on their first drive of the fourth quarter to take a 37-28 lead.
The Blackshirts finally managed to halt Ball State's momentum on the Cardinals' next drive when Ruud intercepted a Davis pass in Cardinal territory and returned it 34 yards for a touchdown to pull the Huskers within 37-35.
"We've been needing a big play for a while now," Ruud said. "It's been a few games and we haven't had one. I think it just gave everyone a little more confidence and maybe changed the momentum."
Still, big defensive plays were few and far between on Saturday. The Husker offense rolled up 552 total yards and shouldered most of the load in the victory.
"I don't expect anybody to really score 40 points on us," NU junior defensive end Barry Turner said. "But if the defense is not doing it, then the offense has got to complement it. It's a team effort."
NU Coach Bill Callahan and Cosgrove both credited the Cardinals, especially Davis and his favorite receiving targets, for making big plays throughout the game.
But no one was arguing that the Blackshirts still have plenty of room for improvement.
"It goes both ways," Turner said. "They were stepping up and making plays, and our defense at times wasn't making plays."
BENGOULDSMITH@DAILYNEBRASKAN.COM
