One of Nebraska’s notable injuries from earlier this week may end up creating a bigger ripple than it first looked like. Anthony Jones is out for “a while” after playing on a broken foot against Oregon, and one former Blackshirt thinks Rob Aurich’s defense will feel that loss in more than one way.
Jay Moore recently discussed Jones’ injury on Hurrdat Sports, and his first point was the one that matters most: Nebraska is losing a veteran presence. Moore said Jones has been the kind of steady voice a defense needs, especially late in games when a unit could use a fourth-quarter push.
“The best thing about Anthony Jones is he's been around the block a few times. The maturity is there, and he's been a part of a lot of different programs.
We always call him the "old head." Just having that maturity out there, where you've seen everything, and you can talk to younger players-and he'll still be on the sidelines to do that.
But his maturity is definitely going to be missed on the field.”
Jones has started all seven games this season and has piled up 19 tackles. He’s also the most seasoned of Nebraska’s defensive linemen, with a college path that ran from Oregon to Indiana to Michigan State before he landed at UCLA last season and then Nebraska.
But Moore also sees opportunity in the injury. In his view, Kade Pietrzak is positioned to step into the opening and take on a larger role.
“Cade's played at a really high level. He had that great interception against Maryland, and I think his ability to rush the passer is good, his ability to play the run.
He's big. He's physical.
I fully expect him to step in and fill that void.”
Pietrzak’s résumé points to a player ready for more. Last season, he played in all 13 games, started one, and finished with 17 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and 2 pass breakups.
This year, he has appeared in all seven games but hasn’t started yet. He has 5 tackles, along with 3 pass breakups at the line and that interception against Maryland.
Based on Nebraska’s depth chart against Oregon, Pietrzak was behind Williams Nwaneri, which could make the adjustment straightforward if the Huskers need him to start opposite Nwaneri against Washington.
The timing may help Nebraska, too. If the Huskers are going to be without a starter on the defensive line, they’ll have a little room to sort it out. NU has a bye this Saturday before returning to face Washington on October 31 in a Blackout game.
In Other News...
Nebraska Lands A Huge Blackout Spotlight As Backfield Concerns Grow
Nebraskas Halloween Blackout game against Washington now has a stage to match the atmosphere, with the Cornhuskers set for a 7 p.m. CT kickoff on Big Ten Network. The broadcast details also are in place for upcoming games against Illinois and Iowa, while the television plans for Rutgers and Ohio State will come later as kickoff draws closer. For a fan base that has circled this stretch on the calendar, the schedule rollout adds another layer of anticipation to a month already built for prime-time attention.
The timing matters even more because Nebraskas backfield picture is getting thinner. Fullback Vincent Genatone is done for the season, and running back Isaiah Mozee will be out for an extended period, leaving the Huskers to sort through depth and roles as the schedule tightens. With Washington set for a national audience on Halloween, Nebraska will have a spotlight to go with the questions it is still trying to answer in the run game. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraskas Bye Week Just Raised One Big Question About This Team
Nebraska heads into its bye week at 5-2, and Matt Rhules message has been pretty direct: this team is close to looking like a top-10 group, but only if it cleans up the week-to-week swings that still show up too often. The Cornhuskers have reasons to feel good about where they are. Anthony Colandrea has played well enough to spark real conversation about his future with the program, the offensive line has been sturdier in pass protection, and the defense has kept opponents in check in recent games.
Still, the bye arrives with one area demanding the most attention. The running back room has not been as dependable once conference play started, and that leaves Nebraska with a clear question to sort through before the season tightens up even more. For a team that believes it can climb higher, the next stretch may hinge less on talent than on whether the Huskers can turn that improved overall profile into something steadier on Saturdays. [Read more 🡒]
Nebraska Let Oregon Hang Around Until One Lanning Decision Changed Everything
Oregons quarterback situation has been a moving target since injuries and uneven play forced the Ducks to keep searching for answers, and Dan Lanning made another eyebrow-raising call against Nebraska by sticking with Brock Thomas under center. Thomas got the start because he had looked better than backup Dylan Raiola in the previous game, a decision that fit the recent pattern of trying to ride the hotter hand even as the offense continued to search for stability.
The game turned when Raiola finally entered in the fourth quarter and gave Oregon a different gear. He helped the Ducks put together the final push and score the last 11 points, flipping what had been a manageable Nebraska position into a comeback loss. For Nebraska, it was the kind of finish that lingers because the door stayed open long enough for Oregon to walk through it. [Read more 🡒]