Nebraska is about to take its self-improvement tour on the road.
Rex Guthrie, a defensive back who redshirted last year and made his first start Saturday, isn’t entirely sure what to expect. Four home games at Memorial Stadium and essentially another at Arrowhead in Kansas City all featured raucous pro-Huskers crowds that made hearing on defense a chore. Helpful and appreciated, too, the defender said.
It’ll be different at Maryland on Saturday.
“Pumped,” Guthrie said. “Every game is a game to compete, show who we are, show what we do.”
If the Huskers (4-1, 1-1) don’t yet have Maryland circled as a destination trip, it’s because they’re too busy preparing for it. The Terrapin atmosphere is hardly shell-shocking — they drew 46,185 to see their unbeaten squad clash with Washington last weekend — but a 1,200-mile flight and list of on-field improvements leaves plenty to do.
Coach Matt Rhule said Nebraska is trying to play good football more than prove anything. Players hinted it could be a mix of both.
Defensive lineman Elijah Jeudy said Saturday the position group is “just sick and tired of everybody thinking they can run on us.”
NU held Michigan State to 84 rushing yards in its 38-27 win. Next up is validating it by meeting a Maryland team that ranks 123rd in the FBS in yards per carry (3.26).
A few hours after blocking an MSU punt that led to a touchdown, defensive back Jamir Conn said he still feels the doubt about Nebraska from outside the program. The secondary and its FBS-leading pass defense can make another case against freshman quarterback Malik Washington, who ranks in the top half of Big Ten passers with nine touchdown throws to two interceptions.
“I don’t think it really matters if we’re home or away, honestly,” Conn said. “I feel like that’s the type of team we have and we’re just going to go out and dominate like we should.”
Offensive players also hadn’t changed from their red jerseys before thinking ahead to the next chance to get better.
Receiver Nyziah Hunter said Sunday’s practice excited him more in the moment than an East Coast game. Nebraska won, but 261 yards of total offense tied for the lowest output in the Rhule era. There’s progress to capture.
An offensive line in flux also has work to do after an uneven afternoon against Michigan State that included five more sacks and a double-digit output in rushing yardage for a second straight game.
Guard Henry Lutovsky said adjustments at halftime — just get after it, the blockers told each other in a more colorful way — can’t be fleeting.
“Keeping that same mindset,” Lutovsky said. “Honestly, it starts (Sunday) in the meetings, correcting what we need to correct. Carrying it with us all week.”
Receiver Jacory Barney said NU is done with “curses and all that.”
The Huskers are moving to the next play will bring positive results. The next game, too — in this case, a Terps (4-1, 1-1) squad that beat Nebraska 13-10 in Lincoln two years ago.
“We’re tired of the past and all that,” Barney said. “We just want to be in the moment and bring this back, bring Nebraska back. Like, we’re doing it. I’m happy to be a part of this and I can’t wait to see what else we do in the future.