Nebraska’s defensive problems in Saturday’s 31-24 victory against McNeese State had little to do with failed adjustments, defensive coordinator John Papuchis said, and more to do with lack of execution and technique.

Well, there’s one notable exception.

Remember that time McNeese State slipped a wide-open running back out of the backfield, only for the Cowboys to, most times, fail to convert the play?

No, not that time. THAT time.

Or that time.

Yeah, there are several plays from which to choose.

“I guess that would be one of the cases where adjustment wasn’t handled well,” Papuchis said. “You have to have, depending on the coverage, you have to be able to pass the tight end and the running back off.

“We didn’t do it. He was open a bunch, and they didn’t catch it. I don’t know how lucky you can be, but they never caught it. I guess it was a little luck on our side. We’re not going to count on that next time.”

Nate Gerry might argue it wasn’t necessarily all luck.

The sophomore safety did his part in deflecting a second-and-goal pass in which McNeese State running back Dylan Long had separation in the end zone. The Cowboys, in position to take the lead with less than five minutes left in the game, instead settled for a game-tying field goal.

Gerry credited his play to film study.

“That was my job, to read the quarterback,” he said. “It would’ve been nice if I would’ve caught it (the ball). Got it down, I guess. That’s all we needed.”

Other times, though, Nebraska’s linebackers failed to keep up with McNeese State’s running backs and tight ends in coverage, although the Cowboys converted only twice in seven such opportunities — a 12-yard reception by running back Nate Holmes and a 5-yard reception by running back Derrick Milton.

Other opportunities, including two third-down plays on drives early in the second half, went for naught.

“We had some busts,” Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said. “We had some things we covered on the sideline that we didn't handle. Did we get a little tired? I don’t know. I don’t think so. But we had multiple chances to get off the field and then didn’t.”

Both Pelini and Papuchis lamented the amount of “leaky” yardage Nebraska allowed — or plays that should’ve been for no gain, or a loss, but netted more because of, more than anything, poor tackling.

“That was the No. 1 thing that bothered me in the whole football game defensively, was the poor tackling we had,” Pelini said. “Not forming somebody up and finishing plays off.”

Nebraska also wasn’t winning first down defensively as much as it wanted, allowing too many second-down plays of 6 yards or fewer.

Papuchis was also disappointed in the defensive line’s play, calling it “average, at best.” Linemen not getting off blocks bothered him most.

“It’s one thing to play your gap, but if that happens that means there’s one guy designed within the structure to make the tackle, and you can’t live like that,” Papuchis said. “You’ve got to get off blocks and make plays sometimes. We didn’t do a very good job of that.”

Nebraska played without injured defensive end Randy Gregory, but Papuchis wasn’t about to use that as an excuse.

“The 11 guys we played are the 11 guys we prepared, and I don’t care what the situation is throughout the course of a football season, you’re going to have to play with your backups at some point,” he said.

“I have respect for McNeese and I know they’re a good program, but I certainly expected us to compete and go out and put them away.

”Blackshirts hurt by lack of execution