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No. 8 Nebraska took one step forward and one step back in trying to gets its best defensive players on the field before opening its first Big Ten Conference season at No. 7 Wisconsin next weekend.
In a 38-14 win over Wyoming on Saturday night, defensive back Alfonzo Dennard played in his first game this season after missing the first three games because of a pulled right leg muscle. But defensive tackle Jared Crick didn't suit up after suffering an unspecified injury against Washington on Sept. 17.
Dennard recorded four solo tackles in about one half of play.
''Alfonzo did well,'' Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said. ''I think it was important that he gets out there in a full-speed competition. I think he'll gain a lot of confidence from that, knowing that he's back.'''
Dennard said it felt good to get ''back in the groove'' and said his leg wasn't sore after Saturday night's game.
Crick had started 31 straight games for the Cornhuskers (4-0) before missing the Wyoming game. He didn't practice all week.
Pelini was noncommittal on Crick's prospects of returning to the lineup against Wisconsin (4-0).
''I don't have a crystal ball as far as what's going to happen next week, but I would anticipate that he's going to play,'' Pelini said.
The Huskers' defense has struggled at times this season and will need all its best players at Madison next weekend.
Entering the game against Wyoming, Nebraska was surrendering 24.7 points and 364.7 yards a game, including 233 passing.
While it improved in both categories against Wyoming - allowing two touchdowns and 305 total yards - the Huskers benefited from costly mistakes by the Cowboys. Wyoming committed penalties that wiped out big plays and a Cowboys receiver dropped a sure touchdown pass after badly beating the Huskers secondary.
''There were so many times where I truly believe that we could've gotten into the end zone,'' said Wyoming quarterback Brett Smith, who completed 17 of 33 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns. ''We just made mistakes. We had some penalties and it just set us back.''
Cowboys center Nick Carlson said ''there's nothing shocking'' about Nebraska's defense.
''We could have had a lot more yards that we left on the field, whether it's penalties or just not executing your assignment on a certain play,'' Carlson said.
Still, Dennard said he felt good about Nebraska heading into the game against Wisconsin, which beat South Dakota 59-10 Saturday. Badgers receiver Nick Toon caught seven passes for a career-high 155 yards and two touchdowns and now has five TD catches on the season.
''I'm looking forward to going against them because they got a good offense and we got a good defense so we just want to go out there and compete,'' Dennard said.
Pelini said the Huskers are getting better, but acknowledged that his team has room for improvement.
''It comes down to efficiency and consistency and that's what we've got to keep working on to improve,'' he said.
