LINCOLN, Neb. — Nearly nine months of waiting and wondering how a new defense at Nebraska would look with Rob Aurich in charge led to a stunningly flat-footed moment on Saturday in the Huskers’ season-opener.A 68-yard gain on the first play of the season — a basic connection from Ohio quarterback Nick Poulos to receiver Riley Neer. It took the air out of Memorial Stadium.“I bet everybody in the stands and watching was probably like, ‘Oh man, what’s going on?’” edge rusher Anthony Jones said.Umm, yeah.“That was an eye-opening experience for us,” said Aurich, the first-year defensive coordinator. “And it was a great opportunity to see how we respond.”Nebraska didn’t surrender another play of longer than 20 yards in its 49-21 win against the Bobcats. Aurich described the first-play coverage bust as an error in communication that led cornerback Jeremiah Charles to release Neer into open space behind the second level of the Nebraska defense.Even with that mistake, Nebraska held Ohio to 5.1 yards per passing attempt and 4.7 yards per play, aspirational figures that would have ranked first and 11th, respectively, in the FBS a year ago over a full season.Reeling a bit from the start, the Huskers allowed 172 yards and 13 points on Ohio’s first three possessions. But the Blackshirts settled in, holding the MAC foe to 60 yards on its next five drives as Nebraska wrestled away control.One game in, much about Aurich’s defense at Nebraska remains unsettled. Yes, the Huskers adjusted after a rough first quarter. But they allowed Poulos to rush for 70 yards. Ohio finished 7 for 16 on third and fourth downs, below Nebraska’s standard.The Bobcats scored two touchdowns on two red-zone trips. The Huskers forced only one turnover and managed four tackles for loss, below the team’s average a year ago.The consensus from Aurich and Nebraska defenders: They can be a lot better.“We’ve got to play faster,” Aurich said. “Just my observation there, that’s not to the level that we want to play at. I think we can play off our keys much quicker. We’ve got to play with a little more fearlessness and roll. And the guys have plenty of talent to do that.”He attributed some of that slower play and hesitancy to the nature of a first game. The Huskers started four defenders and played 12 who were taking their first reps at Nebraska. Linebacker Owen Chambliss, the San Diego State transfer who followed Aurich last winter, missed the opener while recovering from an injury.Upon the return of Chambliss, “an elite communicator,” Aurich said, it’s reasonable to expect that the Huskers will get out of their defensive stances with more aggression.Coach Matt Rhule wants even more.“I want to get to the point where it’s a suffocating defense,” he said.To suffocate an offense, Nebraska needs to build a defense with several components:• The ability to cover in man-to-man. Cornerbacks Andrew Marshall and Donovan Jones did their parts in the opener. Ohio targeted Marshall six times. He didn’t allow a catch. Aurich described him as the Huskers’ best defender on Saturday.Jones, from his nickel position, broke up a pair of passes and allowed nothing to unfold behind him.• A more active pass rush. It wasn’t there with consistency until Aurich dialed up a few creative looks in the second half. Nebraska is aiming to get home with four defenders. It subbed freely at the edge positions. As the snaps piled up on Ohio in 95-degree heat, Nebraska’s depth won out. But the Huskers want their pass rushers to find energy from the “dark place” that Aurich has asked them to seek.• Containment of the QB run game. Poulos had four gains of 11 to 17 yards on the ground, including his first two keepers during Ohio’s strong first three drives.Missed assignments against the quarterback “cannot happen,” Rhule said.The Huskers will see their share of mobile quarterbacks in the Big Ten, including Malik Washington of Maryland on Oct. 10, Demond Williams of Washington on Oct. 31 and Katin Houser at Illinois on Nov. 7.Jamir Conn (4) led Nebraska with eight tackles in the opener. (Dylan Widger / Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)• A fearlessness in how the Huskers approach their jobs. Mistakes will happen. Aurich is eager to see how his players respond, though not necessarily one play into a game.“Don’t go out there if you’re going to be scared,” Donovan Jones said.That message from the new DC has been received.Eleven defenders received coveted Blackshirts last week. Distribution of the practice jerseys may shift by the week, contingent on progress and starting assignments. Seven got season-long, single-digit game jerseys, awarded by teammates as a badge for toughness and leadership: Chambliss (No. 0), defensive linemen Jahsear Whittington (1), Cam Lenhardt (2) and Anthony Jones (5), and defensive backs Jamir Conn (4), Marshall (7) and Donovan Jones (8).Aurich isn’t concerned about leadership. Every one of those single-digit recipients — in addition to linebacker Vincent Shavers, who shifted into Chambliss’ spot last week — are comfortable speaking up.When the Nebraska players huddled in the locker room after warmups Saturday, Conn fired up the defense with a message. He said he’s excited about their potential to play with physicality and quickly shed any hesitancy that comes with Aurich’s bid to piece together the parts of a scheme new to Nebraska.He finished with a team-high eight tackles.“Everyone feels comfortable in what we’re doing,” Conn said, “very comfortable and confident. And that’s what allows us to play fast. Our motto is simple, fast and violent. That’s what is going to help us win games this year.”