Steven M. Sipple: Diaco's comments mystifying element in disappointing season

Nebraska defensive coordinator Bob Diaco makes notes during football practice in September at Hawks Championship Center.The first-year Nebraska defensive coordinator mystified many Husker football fans Saturday with his comments following the Huskers' 31-24 overtime loss to Northwestern.

His explanations for why his defense struggled against the Wildcats and throughout most of the season — the Huskers rank 73rd nationally in total defense, 43 spots lower than they finished in 2016 — simply aren't flying with a lot of folks.

I'll cut him slack. Perhaps the 44-year-old New Jersey native is trying too hard to make sense of it all. On one hand, he said, "The guys that go in (the game) can…