The Hawks have had an awesome season so far, and that’ll be true no matter what happens from here on out. But if we lose the next 2 games, some of the bloom will be off the rose. I just hope we can finish what we started. I don’t want to hear the “I told you so’s†that will be spouted by ESPN and FOX pundits if we get thrashed by Nebraska.
The Hawks have been under increasing pressure over the past weeks, to the point where it is at an unprecedented level. Even so, I'm fairly confident that C.J. can keep the offense going against Nebraska, and against anyone we might face in Indy. But I'm really worried about how our defense will hold up. They already looks worn out, both physically and mentally, and they won’t have a chance to rest or recuperate until after both of these games are played. Nebraska, on the other hand, has had two weeks to get rested and healthy and to figure out how to attack the weaknesses in our defense.
Don’t get me wrong – I believe everyone on our defense has done a great job so far, without exception, and that they will give maximum effort in the next two games, but I also think they are running out of energy. Over the past several games, we seem to be going backward in defending both the run and the pass. Our vulnerabilities have been exposed, and teams are learning how to exploit them. Our small DE's (and to some extent our tackles) have not been as stout against the run as they were earlier in the season. Teams now are frequently getting the edge, for big gains. The DL doesn’t seem to have the energy to get a great push or to put much pressure on the QB. In pass defense, we seem to be regularly out of position and a step slow. Our opponents have learned there are two or three defenders they can consistently take advantage of. To its credit, the defense has done enough to keep things from getting out of hand, and the offense has come through with enough points to win every game so far. Will this ****** work against Nebraska?
No doubt Nebraska has identified the vulnerabilities in our defense and will try to exploit them. They are rested and confident, and are playing at home. I’m sure they feel they have a blueprint for mounting a successful attack against our defense. It will be a very difficult game for us unless our defense makes some significant improvements and plays its best game.
We have had only 6 days to get our tired and stressed roster ready for the most important game of their lives (so far). To win, we are going to need a great week of practice, a good start to the game, an effective defense strategy, and a potent offense. This game really worries me.
