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Huskers, Ganz pick ISU apart
By Dan Wright
Date Posted: 2008-10-18
Another week, another struggle on defense to contain an elite Big 12 Conference quarterback and another mark in the loss column for Iowa State.
Against Kansas and Baylor over the last two weeks, the Cyclones have faced some of the best signalcallers the country has to offer. It didn't get any easier for ISU in a 35-7 loss to Nebraska on Saturday.
Cornhusker quarterback Joe Ganz picked apart the Cyclone defense with an array of intermediate routes and receiver screens across the middle. Ganz threw for 283 yards in the first half, helping Nebraska jump out to a 21-0 halftime lead and allowing the Cornhusker defense to stay fresh and off the field.
The Cornhuskers finished with 548 total yards (328 passing, 220 rushing) and held the ball for 37 minutes, 11 seconds. They piled up 349 yards in the first half alone.
"We left some yards on the field," Ganz said. "We left some points on the field. We're still not there, but I thought we played a great game."
With the exception of a couple of deep throws, Ganz didn't attempt to stretch the Cyclone defense; he didn't need to. He was content to take whatever ISU gave him, finding plenty of medium-range holes underneath the Cyclone secondary that his receivers settled into, and crossing patterns and screens to flankers.
His longest completion of the day went 27 yards on a screen pass to I-back Roy Helu Jr.
"He's a great quarterback, and that was a great team we played today," ISU defensive back Kennard Banks said. "We just need to get more sound, more focused and be aware of what's coming to us at all times."
Ganz did a majority of his damage on early downs, hitting 13-of-14 passes 116 yards on first down, including a 19-yard score to Nate Swift that gave the Cornhuskers a 7-0 lead with 5:27 to play in the first quarter.
As a team, Nebraska averaged 8.7 yards on first down. Facing second and short on a routine basis, the Cornhuskers had an easy time moving the chains consistently en route to 29 total first downs.
"I thought Joe ran the offense well," Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said. "We are hard to defend right now because we are keeping the defense off balance. We executed pretty well."
Ganz finished the game 27-of-37 for 328 yards and the touchdown to Swift,. He also scored on a 1-yard sneak with 6:35 left that gave Nebraska a 28-7 lead.
"That doesn't fall on one person, it's everyone on the defense," ISU defensive end Kurtis Taylor said. "That is defensive line first, that's the secondary and the linemen as well.
"As a team, we didn't get it done today. It's definitely frustrating when we allow him to get comfortable and make some plays."
Taylor and the Cyclone defense did force five Cornhusker fumbles, recovering three, but found it difficult to pressure Ganz into making any mistakes. Taylor and Christopher Lyle each had a sack, but the defense only forced two other Ganz hurries.
"Bottom line is, we're not catching any type of spark to get our team going, certainly early in the game," Cyclone Gene Chizik said. "That doesn't give you any hope. It's really disappointing and disheartening. I'm proud of our guys because they keep fighting, but at some point, that's not good enough."
By Dan Wright
Date Posted: 2008-10-18
By Nirmalendu Majumdar/The Tribune
Nebraska quarterback Joe Ganz fires a pass in the Cornhuskers’ 35-7 victory over Iowa State Saturday. Ganz was 27-of-37 for 328 yards.
Nebraska quarterback Joe Ganz fires a pass in the Cornhuskers’ 35-7 victory over Iowa State Saturday. Ganz was 27-of-37 for 328 yards.
Another week, another struggle on defense to contain an elite Big 12 Conference quarterback and another mark in the loss column for Iowa State.
Against Kansas and Baylor over the last two weeks, the Cyclones have faced some of the best signalcallers the country has to offer. It didn't get any easier for ISU in a 35-7 loss to Nebraska on Saturday.
Cornhusker quarterback Joe Ganz picked apart the Cyclone defense with an array of intermediate routes and receiver screens across the middle. Ganz threw for 283 yards in the first half, helping Nebraska jump out to a 21-0 halftime lead and allowing the Cornhusker defense to stay fresh and off the field.
The Cornhuskers finished with 548 total yards (328 passing, 220 rushing) and held the ball for 37 minutes, 11 seconds. They piled up 349 yards in the first half alone.
"We left some yards on the field," Ganz said. "We left some points on the field. We're still not there, but I thought we played a great game."
With the exception of a couple of deep throws, Ganz didn't attempt to stretch the Cyclone defense; he didn't need to. He was content to take whatever ISU gave him, finding plenty of medium-range holes underneath the Cyclone secondary that his receivers settled into, and crossing patterns and screens to flankers.
His longest completion of the day went 27 yards on a screen pass to I-back Roy Helu Jr.
"He's a great quarterback, and that was a great team we played today," ISU defensive back Kennard Banks said. "We just need to get more sound, more focused and be aware of what's coming to us at all times."
Ganz did a majority of his damage on early downs, hitting 13-of-14 passes 116 yards on first down, including a 19-yard score to Nate Swift that gave the Cornhuskers a 7-0 lead with 5:27 to play in the first quarter.
As a team, Nebraska averaged 8.7 yards on first down. Facing second and short on a routine basis, the Cornhuskers had an easy time moving the chains consistently en route to 29 total first downs.
"I thought Joe ran the offense well," Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said. "We are hard to defend right now because we are keeping the defense off balance. We executed pretty well."
Ganz finished the game 27-of-37 for 328 yards and the touchdown to Swift,. He also scored on a 1-yard sneak with 6:35 left that gave Nebraska a 28-7 lead.
"That doesn't fall on one person, it's everyone on the defense," ISU defensive end Kurtis Taylor said. "That is defensive line first, that's the secondary and the linemen as well.
"As a team, we didn't get it done today. It's definitely frustrating when we allow him to get comfortable and make some plays."
Taylor and the Cyclone defense did force five Cornhusker fumbles, recovering three, but found it difficult to pressure Ganz into making any mistakes. Taylor and Christopher Lyle each had a sack, but the defense only forced two other Ganz hurries.
"Bottom line is, we're not catching any type of spark to get our team going, certainly early in the game," Cyclone Gene Chizik said. "That doesn't give you any hope. It's really disappointing and disheartening. I'm proud of our guys because they keep fighting, but at some point, that's not good enough."
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