LINCOLN, NEB. ? Craig Bohl readily fields questions about Nebraska’s defensive woes, but many fans are wondering if the Cornhuskers’ defensive coordinator has the right answers to fix them.

Nebraska’s defense has often seemed in a fog as the Huskers have stumbled to a 5-3 record and out of the polls for the first time since 1981.

Players out of position. Missed assignments. Sloppy tackling. No pass rush. Confusion. Lack of fire. Too many penalties.

Bohl, in his third season as defensive coordinator, said he and his staff are working to right the ship.

“Certainly, as coaches we can do better,” Bohl said. “We’re in the process of doing better.”

His responses, however, sounded eerily familiar.

After Nebraska gave up 476 yards of total offense in a 40-7 loss at Penn State, Bohl said: “This game was a completely independent game from past games that we played. I think Penn State just came out and played very well.”

After allowing 412 yards in the loss at Iowa State, Bohl said: “Certainly there’s been some up and down times. No one feels worse about our performance than our coaches and players.”

Nebraska defensive coordinator Craig Bohl talks to reporters. Bohl fielded questions about Nebraska's defensive woes Tuesday in Lincoln, Neb., but many fans are wondering if the defensive coordinator has the right answers to fix them.

This week, after Nebraska’s first loss to Oklahoma State since 1961, he said: “Do I need to do a better job coaching? Without question. And that’s what we’re in the process of doing.”

He wasn’t specific about what changes are needed.

Bohl, however, was unable to explain how in each of the three losses the opponent took their opening possession of the second half and drove 80 yards to score.

The problems started late last season when Nebraska allowed 1,054 yards of total offense and 99 points in its final two games a 62-36 mugging at Colorado and a 37-14 Rose Bowl loss to Miami.

This season, Bohl’s troops are 50th in the nation against the run, 51st against the pass and 40th in total defense. They are giving up an average of 20.8 points per game.

“Do we need to look at our game plan?” Bohl said. “Do we need to look at what we can do to put our players in better positions? Certainly.”