LINCOLN — Nebraska was looking at a potential second-and-goal from the Texas Tech 4-yard line, lodged in a 24-3 hole but with the optimistic maybe believing a touchdown could start a comeback.

As the first-down run by I-back Marcus Mendoza became stagnant, however, Husker offensive guard Ricky Henry came barreling into the pile in full view of 86,107 and a seven-man officiating crew.

A yellow flag soared into the air.

Personal foul. Fifteen yards marked off against Nebraska. Second-and-goal from the 19 — and now a drive that would result in no points.

It was just one play on an all-around bad day for the Husker offense. Nonetheless, it was a peek at how Nebraska is self-inflicting damage on a unit not equipped to overcome it.

In its three games against BCS opponents, the Nebraska offense has been penalized 21 times for 154 yards. The offense was flagged eight times for 60 yards in the 31-10 loss Saturday when it hardly could afford to go backward considering its obvious problems going forward.

“Whether we were or weren't (struggling), those are things you've got to get rid of,'' NU offensive coordinator Shawn Watson said.

How?

“You coach it, and you hold them accountable to it,'' Watson said. “It's accountability. We'll address it, believe you me. It'll get addressed.''

NU assistant coach Barney Cotton said much the same. Five of the eight offensive penalties Saturday were against his linemen, including three false starts -- pushing the total of false starts to 10 in the games against Texas Tech, Missouri and Virginia Tech.

“It's inexcusable to have pre-snap penalties,'' Cotton said. “That's all there is to it. I mean, it's just inexcusable. There are going to be aggressive penalties at times, but the pre-snap penalties have to be eliminated.''

What magnifies the problem is the number of times the offense is being penalized when it has the ball in opposing territory.

Against Texas Tech, six of the eight penalties came on plays when Nebraska snapped the ball inside the Red Raiders' 30-yard line.

A first-and-10 at the Texas Tech 25 in the third quarter — after an 18-yard Niles Paul punt return and a Texas Tech personal foul — was spoiled by a holding call on fullback Tyler Legate and a false start on left tackle Mike Smith. Henry's personal foul in the fourth quarter was followed immediately by a false start on center Jacob Hickman.

It was reminiscent of the epic meltdown at Virginia Tech, when NU had first-and-goal from the 6 and found itself out of field-goal range after two holding calls and two false starts, including one of each by right tackle Marcel Jones. Or at Missouri when its deepest first-half penetration was wasted by a holding penalty and a chop block on the same possession.

Overall, 17 of the Huskers' 30 offensive penalties have been committed on their opponents' side of the 50. Twelve of those have been inside the 30.

Cotton said his offensive linemen who commit penalties on Saturday are destined for some extra physical work the following week — “just as a reminder that offensive football is meant to be played penalty-free.'' But Cotton also said it's the staff's responsibility to prepare them to play their best.

“Hopefully Monday when we get out to practice we're ready to go back to work,'' he said. “I'm going to work as hard as I can to help them be better prepared and hopefully they're going to do their very best as well.''

In addition to the penalties, Cotton stressed an emphasis on being more physical, another of the overriding concerns from Saturday. Nebraska managed 70 rushing yards (2.3 per carry) after taking out 24 yards in losses.

“Our goal is to score points and our goal is to be physical, so we're going to put guys out there who hopefully can do those things for us,'' he said.

Contact the writer:

444-1042, rich.kaipust@owh.com