Dylan Raiola lives up to the hype as Nebraska football dominates UTEP 40-7

hey everybody welcome back to another edition of Rapid recap here at inside Nebraska with me as always it's Tim F geese s the name right that time shout out to the YouTube commenter who was correctly calling me out for getting your name mispronounced so uh but your name is a lot like my my first name where it's like it's Zac but you spell it with an H I gave up caring you don't care anymore either and that's what I'm not even going to do a segue into what we're going to talk about today Nebraska 40 UTEP 7 um it was the Dylan rayola show but all right here's how I here's how I described it in my head right before coming on are you fan of Star Wars MH yes the original trilogy you know Star Wars A New Hope so 4 was like mind-blowing oh it's this it's it's the new thing this is what like the future of Cinema and then the next movie Empire Strikes Back was even better mhm next week is the real the real what I believe will be the national coming out party the national Breakout game where all the will be on and that's more like Empire Strikes Back today was more like the original Star Wars the first one that came out where Dylan rayola showed us ex what exactly what we talked about after he was named the starter a couple weeks ago exactly what we saw in the spring game he's got the keys to the offense he he runs I mean that I'll talk about a second but the tri the discount triple check R he checked the play at the line three different times uh we can get into that but just just fire off your thoughts at me from what you saw today from him yeah I mean you know you saw the Big Arm you saw the uh just the control of the offense you saw the uh offat platform throws the sidearm like all of all of that but again like you said I think what what I think the fan base had to see which we you and I have talked about kind of all offseason but what the fan base had to see which we got to see today um his control of the offense like again like taking the checks taking the safe throws you saw you know he didn't he put the ball In Harm's Way One Time by my count it was one kind of cross yep one cross body throw but besides that you know every throw is it's like okay it's either going out of bounds or it's going into the receiver's hands or he's got faith in his receiver he's going to throw it there um kept the ball out of Harm's Way Again like you mentioned checks at the line there were a couple times uh on that point where he it looked like he wanted to a cork one but he had the discipline to hold it back and and take either the throw away or the safe the safe safer throw so just that was more of that and then reading through progressions as well you saw him you know kind of like quickly getting one two 3 four getting across the field and then getting back to his second or third read and and throwing across his body and making that completion um he he was going high to low he was going left to right or right to left SC in the field he was he was when they got in the one high on the big uh the Isaiah n um 59 y he not only he saw that they were in a one high look and knew n had the match up on the outside one-on-one and he not only looked off the safety took the time to patiently with composure just do that look the safety off and then turn back and and unleash one deep and what was just as impressive perhaps more so is he didn't even Flinch when he had defensive end bearing down on him coming off the right Edge he stood in there know knew he was going to take a shot and just flung it up there to where he he he slung it up there to where Nar could just run underneath the ball and grab it he powered his way through two Defenders showed balance to get to the end zone and um those those are the extremely exciting explosive plays that we've been anticipating all all offseason now they today they were here yep and I think an understated part of his performance today I think his you know the offensive line held up I think you saw some positive I guess steps forward from um from Turner Corker in the interior of the line looked strong you know the two the Michael mooka the addition of him they were able to run the ball behind him Justin Evans look sharp at the other at the other guard spot um but there were times where Dylan was pressured and he's just able to navigate the pocket pretty easily you know keep himself out of Harm's Way being able to keep his eyes downfield you know redirect some stuff downfield uh I think you want to see more of that down the line you know against some of these big 10 fronts Colorado's front next week um but I think it was just an understated part of his game something again Nebraska hasn't really had as someone that can really manage the pocket the way he does you know that that that's something that you and I were talking you know Adrien Martinez is let me ask you Tim have you ever seen Adrian Martinez have a game like that was about to say you know what were we saying what were we saying that you haven't seen a quarter that you haven't had a quarterback like this set Nebraska and that's what we got a sneak preview in my mind of because next week is is I wouldn't I don't necessarily want to say it's the real challenge but it's a Prime Time game everyone's going to be watching you just had this performance the stakes are high the Stak Sanders just pered like they did even though it wasn't a great all game for um they escaped with a win and now that that Showdown is going to be a showdown in Prime Time right here and it's just that's the that's the one we're looking at now MH for sure and um you know obviously eyes are on that but um I think reflecting on this too I think just talking about the offense in general um like what I saw just you know they've made an emphasis of okay we're going to Showcase Dylan but also we're going to play a balanced football game um three running backs had at least 50 yards today uh we got to see we got to see all four of the running backs they've talked about all off season um in the first half alone I swear to God that you and I in the spring were talking about how you don't need a number one you don't need a back you have you can have four and it it works and uh you know we we saw we saw Dante dowo kind kind of carrying the load the new edition um powering through running hard uh we saw ramir Johnson showing a little like I think like me and Steve were kind of talking about it off off air but U you know the shiftiness we saw from ramire is not something we've seen before you know he's always been like a shiftier like scatback but but just the way he was making guys miss in the phone boot today is not something we've seen from him before so curious to see more from him the shiftiness between the tackles more like you're and just like in that phone booth like like one-on-one just able to make a guy Miss and like reach for air essentially something we really haven't seen from him um before uh Emma Johnson broke off that long run on that triple check from Dylan we saw you know I was curious to to ask uh emed kind of what they saw we weren't able to get that that opportunity but um you know kind of broke broke one long and then Gabe Irvin you know it's been almost a year if not more more since he's seen the field just dealing with coming off that injury feel awesome and he had he he felt so you know talking to him after the game just like the uh how cool he felt and how nice he felt you know just to get into the end zone twice um from an injury he said himself you know some guys don't come back from you know this is an injury that he really fought to get back from and he was just happy to see the field even in a limited time and I think that's a role you're going to see from him this season is more of that short yardage back a guy that can just kind of plug between the guards at least between the tackles and uh kind of drive it Forward yeah he's if you play college fantasy football which I don't but if you play college fantasy football gab Bin's the touchdown vulture I guess you just like an NFL fantasy had uh he had 24 yards rushing two touchdowns on six carries and the others had EMT was 8 for 71 Dowell 8 for 55 in a touchdown rir 11 for 50 and all told they had 233 yards rushing and three touchdowns and 47 attempts and speaking of that balance which is one of the main key takeaways I want to talk about again 223 yards rushing on 47 attempts three touchdowns and through the air 284 yards passing as a team two touchdowns rayola official stat line was 19 for 27 238 yards and two touchdowns no turnovers um 70% completion percentage but we see that balance and that's the formula that's what they've been talking about the complimentary football yep is between that side and then a defense that was we're not going to talk about the defense much because they did they just built what they did last year you know it's the same it's it's it's it's a veteran group you know we talked to Ty Robinson after the game and and he even said said you know well one you know I think something we haven't mentioned yet first season opening win since 2019 which for a guy like Ty Robinson who's been here as long as he has this was the first time he's getting to experience that in a bit so and for him you know it was like this is the first time in a while I've just got a veteran group like I know everyone around me I know what they're doing Raska hasn't always started off the season fast on defense even last year you know it took a couple games for them to to figure it out and start to play like the unit they became down the stretch of the season um but they they they they pretty much picked off where they left off last year they had one drive where they were caught on their heels a little bit um but they they adjusted real quick you know they were able to U subdue utep's Tempo they kind of adjusted to that uh kind of overwhelmed their receivers a little bit they weren't able to get anything on the ground they had 56 so rushing yards on the day and and outside that you mentioned the big the big shot play they had there it was seven to nothing um Nebraska goes for it on fourth down they don't get it and then immediately UTEP comes back three plays they went 13 yards 12 yards and then 42 I believe and outside of the what what what's the stat line on that it was it was a 63 yard Drive I could have sworn um in total says 114 yards for UTEP in the first half and outside of that 63 whatever the math is on 116 minus uh 63 or 114 - 63 it's been a day I don't know if we got that mental math in the other the other five drives I'm not going to I'm not I was going to try to stall in my head so I can do the math whatever it was a low it was a low total on the other five drives and they stood tall didn't allow another point they safety they had two forc turnovers well they had the safety and the forc uh and the interception Y and and Rule said after the game you kind of hope that that that was counted or they had two turn two they did have two interceptions and the safety R stew um so technically they had three turnovers today rule believes that safety should count as a turnover because it did get the offense the ball back um but again that's another big thing Nebraska kind of emphasized all offseason is finishing Plus in the turn in in turnovers and they did that today again that's something that I don't think they did once last year they kind of broke even I know if there was a time the Louisiana Tech game they finished uh with One giveaway and one turnover yeah zero I think that was the only game so it's been it's been yeah so it's been over a year then since they since they've done that so again this is how you play winning football you know they set the tone and for for this team you know again in the past past couple years you know winning has proven hard you know so it's no small feat to start the year off with a win a dominant win where you know I think Gabe bvin said it best it's a it's a celebration of of everything they did this the work they put in uh through the fall you know they got opportunity to highlight some young guys down the stretch um some guys that deserved it you know Jaylen grad he came in from an NAIA School transferred in his dream was to just play on this field he got that opportunity today you know this was a dream come true for him um a guy like Gabe Irvin you know what I mean like hasn't played in over a year he had an opportunity to come in score two touchdowns um so for for for for this type of game you know it's for on on the field you know the big takeaways what we saw with the offense but for these guys and this team you know getting to celebrate the way they did in the third and fourth quarter means a lot and I think it's something that this team can rally around and build on moving forward the other five drives 51 yards in the other five drives there you go there's the it it I was stalling for that I was stalling for that yep what you're were saying CU I was trying to finish that off cuz it was killing me I couldn't let that stand 10 yards per Drive yeah exactly yeah and and the the uh Dante Dowell had the fumble inside the 10 yd line and UTEP takes over a thrown and three and then what happens after that the I mean Ty Robinson and Makai be bear gets the low leverage and just puts it under the O liman's chin essentially to drive it back and then he takes him down the end zone 9 to7 after that Nebraska scored I believe it was five straight touchdowns um they had the uh the one to naor they had the one to Banks um and they had another one I think in between there right after that I don't know is the fact that I'm having trouble recollecting all Nebraska's touchdowns in the order in which they came this this game is a really good sign moving forward before Colorado any last thoughts about Colorado matchup anything like that any anything from today or looking ahead yeah I mean we have plenty on the Colorado match up coming up this week um I think one one last thing from today um you know I I I just think encouraging things even on the spe on special teams I think that's just something to to note we didn't get any clarification or further Clarity on the field goal or the kicker situation they only attempted one field goal it was a short one and they got it um but Brian busini over two punts average 48.5 yards per punt that that'll do you know that'll do that that that'll do and Nebraska likes that and then and the kick return and pun returner you know me and Steve uh were're talking about it up in the Press Box but Nebraska hasn't had just positive gains every single on every single return in a while too just it's it's encouraging to see on kick return it's encouraging to see jakori Barney just run up field and try and create something you know not trying to do too much on the side getting laterally getting caught up just moving forward gaining positive yards and then pun return Nebraska has one that seems reliable and Isaiah Garcia castanada uh he hauled in some some tough punts a couple of those where he's just sprinting underneath to grab um so good to see that that they've got two established returners which again for this program in years past it just hasn't been a thing yeah the 2021 season was it where it was a disaster disaster last thought before we get out here Nebraska had 2.3 points per game or 2.3 points in the uh on average in the first quarter last year which was the worst in the Big 10 since Ruckers in 2016 18 points per game last season which is the programs worst since 1968 they scored a touchdown in the first quarter on their very first drive had Raa turned to flipped a second and 30 into a touchdown with the 19 yard to Banks then the SAR momes throw uh to to nir and then eventually the touchdown they scored 30 points in the first half when they which nearly double what they had all game on average last year and by the next Drive of the first drive of the second half I believe it was the first drive they had outpaced that they they had officially doubled what they averaged last year so those are really good signs going forward again prime time Showdown next week and you got you and I before that before Big 10 play opens up but um you get the 24-hour rule you get the celebrate talk about it this was really this was it was fun again to to to watch a Nebraska offense play because the defense was really fun to watch last year but the offense is joining them uh at least for a day we'll see what happens next week but uh with that we're get out of here encourage you guys to like this video subscribe to the inside Nebraska YouTube channel get these videos dropped directly in your feed encourage you guys go to inside nebraska.com where we have a lot more coverage of of today and a lot more coming up in the following days uh leading up to next weekend so for Tim FES I'm Zack Carpenter we'll catch you guys again next time