Trenches

[Pennsyhuskers]

Michigan was much better than we were in the trenches on both sides of the ball.

College football has changed a lot over the past several decades. But one stubborn fact remains constant. Games are almost always won or lost based upon who has the better talent in the trenches.

Folks, it really is that simple. Dear old Nebraska U, post Osborne, keeps changing coaches looking for some magic fix. But until we hire someone who can rebuild our lines we will keep failing. Bank on it.

Rhule talks a big game. Yesterday his lines in the trenches were utterly exposed as weak and below average. And this is happening in the vaunted year 3 of Matt Rhule magicland.

I knew Michigan would be a tough game. But the sad thing is they out muscled us in the trenches big time. And Michigan isn’t even an elite team right now. That speaks volumes about where we are as a program right now.

I am not calling for Rhule’s head or for him to be fired. But Rhule himself needs to take a long hard look at his program and recalibrate it for toughness in the trenches. That might mean firing a certain offensive line coach who is clearly a hack.

 

[Baxter48]

last year I thought uncle donnie improved the oline play but they definitely took two steps back yesterday and rather ugly

 

[cornhead1.]

Michigan was much better than we were in the trenches on both sides of the ball.

College football has changed a lot over the past several decades. But one stubborn fact remains constant. Games are almost always won or lost based upon who has the better talent in the trenches.

Folks, it really is that simple. Dear old Nebraska U, post Osborne, keeps changing coaches looking for some magic fix. But until we hire someone who can rebuild our lines we will keep failing. Bank on it.

Rhule talks a big game. Yesterday his lines in the trenches were utterly exposed as weak and below average. And this is happening in the vaunted year 3 of Matt Rhule magicland.

I knew Michigan would be a tough game. But the sad thing is they out muscled us in the trenches big time. And Michigan isn’t even an elite team right now. That speaks volumes about where we are as a program right now.

I am not calling for Rhule’s head or for him to be fired. But Rhule himself needs to take a long hard look at his program and recalibrate it for toughness in the trenches. That might mean firing a certain offensive line coach who is clearly a hack.

Below average is an overstatement, we lost 30-27. It wasn't like we got steam rolled 40-10, but I agree with that fact our OL and DL's need to get better

 

[agnhusker]

Michigan st and Iowa are going to run on us

 

[Shimmer003]

Elite front 7 players on defense and lineman are the hardest players to recruit because there is by far the least of them. It’s why skill players outside of QB fall down draft boards. Until we can recruit at a higher level, we will struggle to make a jump. That said, I think Penn state is the only team left on our schedule that has a the same caliber line play as Michigan had. I think we are better than we were last year. But we’re not there yet. I loved the team’s fight yesterday. They could have folded. They didn’t. We just couldn’t block or tackle. Mostly because their guys were better than ours. Pretty simple. Tough to accept. Silver lining is that Michigan has elite talent and many of those guys yesterday played when Michigan won a natty two years ago. On to the next one. We need to keep getting better.

 

[cornhead1.]

Michigan st and Iowa are going to run on us

add Minnesota to that. Fortunately those teams D's will have issues with our offense too

 

[Pennsyhuskers]

Below average is an overstatement, we lost 30-27. It wasn't like we got steam rolled 40-10, but I agree with that fact our OL and DL's need to get better

That game was close for two reasons. The first reason is that Dylan really is a true talent at QB who made plays with his arm despite getting constant pressure. The second is that Michigan’s true freshman QB had a couple of nice plays but overall was not a difference maker. If we had any semblance of a rushing defense we would have won that game by two touchdowns or more. Three long runs kept Michigan in that game and they happened because our defensive front seven suck at stopping the run.
We also would have won going away had our offensive line given Dylan more time.
We lost yesterday, not because their skill position guys are better than ours (which they are not), but because both of our lines played sissy boy football. We lost in the trenches.

 

[HuskerInCarolina]

Below average is an overstatement, we lost 30-27. It wasn't like we got steam rolled 40-10, but I agree with that fact our OL and DL's need to get better

When talking specifically about the OL, below average is an understatement. We gave up 36 QB pressures on 48 passing plays, along with 7 sacks. Remove those sacks, we ran the ball for 3.8 yards per carry. The OL is not good. At all.

 

[Danimal4NU]

Elite front 7 players on defense and lineman are the hardest players to recruit because there is by far the least of them. It’s why skill players outside of QB fall down draft boards. Until we can recruit at a higher level, we will struggle to make a jump. That said, I think Penn state is the only team left on our schedule that has a the same caliber line play as Michigan had. I think we are better than we were last year. But we’re not there yet. I loved the team’s fight yesterday. They could have folded. They didn’t. We just couldn’t block or tackle. Mostly because their guys were better than ours. Pretty simple. Tough to accept. Silver lining is that Michigan has elite talent and many of those guys yesterday played when Michigan won a natty two years ago. On to the next one. We need to keep getting better.

Couldn't block or tackle....?? the 2 MOST important things to do

 

[Husker88]

Elite front 7 players on defense and lineman are the hardest players to recruit because there is by far the least of them. It’s why skill players outside of QB fall down draft boards. Until we can recruit at a higher level, we will struggle to make a jump. That said, I think Penn state is the only team left on our schedule that has a the same caliber line play as Michigan had. I think we are better than we were last year. But we’re not there yet. I loved the team’s fight yesterday. They could have folded. They didn’t. We just couldn’t block or tackle. Mostly because their guys were better than ours. Pretty simple. Tough to accept. Silver lining is that Michigan has elite talent and many of those guys yesterday played when Michigan won a natty two years ago. On to the next one. We need to keep getting better.

Solid post.

Something we need a bit more of around here.

 

[Dylman]

Uncle Donnie needs to get the hell out. Dude has been here the longest and STILL has the worst unit on the field. Pillow fighting pussies is what it looked like.

 

[itseasyas1-2-3]

Solid post.

Something we need a bit more of around here.

I'm glad we now have that secret recipe.

 

[mgbreeze]

Yesterday was frustrating, because I'm finally going to agree that Donnie has to go. Maybe our LT and RT aren't future NFL guys (?) but surely they HAVE to have more potential than what we saw? There is no way they are incapable of providing more blocking than literally a race to the QB with almost no resistance? I didn't see a lack of talent, I saw guys that were tentative and had no clue what they were doing. The frustration part comes in because obviously Donnie isn't going anywhere.

 

[Baxter48]

Yesterday was frustrating, because I'm finally going to agree that Donnie has to go. Maybe our LT and RT aren't future NFL guys (?) but surely they HAVE to have more potential than what we saw? There is no way they are incapable of providing more blocking than literally a race to the QB with almost no resistance? I didn't see a lack of talent, I saw guys that were tentative and had no clue what they were doing. The frustration part comes in because obviously Donnie isn't going anywhere.

I agree they did look confused and tentative, they are supposed to know the snap count and the defense beat them off the ball, if Rhule isn’t going to fire uncle Donnie then hire another oline coach to help them. Michigan came with meanness and aggression where we played a pillow fight

 

[king_kong__]

I agree they did look confused and tentative, they are supposed to know the snap count and the defense beat them off the ball, if Rhule isn’t going to fire uncle Donnie then hire another oline coach to help them. Michigan came with meanness and aggression where we played a pillow fight

After last season ended I suggested Rhule promote Uncle Donnie to Associate Head Coach or some other meaningless mascot position

That way we can hire an actual coach while still kowtowing to everyone’s feelings, which we all know are Very Important when building a contending football program

 

[Shimmer003]

Couldn't block or tackle....?? the 2 MOST important things to do

Agreed. They’re the most important parts of the game. And it’s a simple concept. But when you have to block or tackle a guy that’s a better athlete than you, it can be extraordinarily difficult to actually do. Don’t confuse simple and easy.

 

[JDD1959]

Our inability to run the ball against equal/better teams will be our achilles heel. You've got to have more of a balanced offense to complete in the Big 10 week in/out. Having said that, if that's what you want to hang your hat on (Pass 70%) then at least make sure the line can protect our QB. i know it's just one game but the pass (no) protection for this game was pathetic, it's got to be much better going forward or DR will never survive.

 

[Zeke Husker]

After last season ended I suggested Rhule promote Uncle Donnie to Associate Head Coach or some other meaningless mascot position

That way we can hire an actual coach while still kowtowing to everyone’s feelings, which we all know are Very Important when building a contending football program

Now that I can agree with. Need to try someone different as OL coach.

 

[goldencohusker]

Yesterday was frustrating, because I'm finally going to agree that Donnie has to go. Maybe our LT and RT aren't future NFL guys (?) but surely they HAVE to have more potential than what we saw? There is no way they are incapable of providing more blocking than literally a race to the QB with almost no resistance? I didn't see a lack of talent, I saw guys that were tentative and had no clue what they were doing. The frustration part comes in because obviously Donnie isn't going anywhere.

The frustration for me is we get to sit back and watch each coaching regime that comes through here learn the hard way that to win in the BG10 you have to be strong in the trenches. Wasn't there a staffer in the Pelini or Riley regimes that commented after one of the losses to Iowa about what a blood bath Iowa practices for them to be that much tougher than NU? That was such an eye opener as a fan to hear an NU coach talk like that, and yet here we are a decade or so later still trying to figure it out.

 

[Nuts McClanahan]

Michigan was much better than we were in the trenches on both sides of the ball.

Folks, it really is that simple. Dear old Nebraska U, post Osborne, keeps changing coaches looking for some magic fix. But until we hire someone who can rebuild our lines we will keep failing. Bank on it.

I knew Michigan would be a tough game. But the sad thing is they out muscled us in the trenches big time. And Michigan isn’t even an elite team right now. That speaks volumes about where we are as a program right now.

I am not calling for Rhule’s head or for him to be fired. But Rhule himself needs to take a long hard look at his program and recalibrate it for toughness in the trenches. That might mean firing a certain offensive line coach who is clearly a hack.

Michigan is no longer elite but they are still elite on the line of scrimmage. I think we're actually better on the offensive line (still not good enough for most fans) and at times we were elite on the defensive line last year (ask Ohio State) but not even close to that this year. Bottom line for me is that we're going to have to change some schemes on the defensive end to stop the run or at least avoid those ridiculously large busts.

 

[Husker4Real1]

On one hand, it was ridiculous how NU’s Oline was getting owned time and time again - while the Michigan Oline was able to get their backs to the 2nd and 3rd level enough to break NU’s back

OTOH - how in the world does NU keep this at a 3 point game, and a game they actually could have won had they converted on the first two drives?

I credit Holgorson being able to figure out ways to attack even with an Oline that was getting pushed around.

 

[mr.michigan]

On one hand, it was ridiculous how NU’s Oline was getting owned time and time again - while the Michigan Oline was able to get their backs to the 2nd and 3rd level enough to break NU’s back

OTOH - how in the world does NU keep this at a 3 point game, and a game they actually could have won had they converted on the first two drives?

I credit Holgorson being able to figure out ways to attack even with an Oline that was getting pushed around.

Hail Mary

 

[dinglefritz]

Elite front 7 players on defense and lineman are the hardest players to recruit because there is by far the least of them. It’s why skill players outside of QB fall down draft boards. Until we can recruit at a higher level, we will struggle to make a jump. That said, I think Penn state is the only team left on our schedule that has a the same caliber line play as Michigan had. I think we are better than we were last year. But we’re not there yet. I loved the team’s fight yesterday. They could have folded. They didn’t. We just couldn’t block or tackle. Mostly because their guys were better than ours. Pretty simple. Tough to accept. Silver lining is that Michigan has elite talent and many of those guys yesterday played when Michigan won a natty two years ago. On to the next one. We need to keep getting better.

I believe some of our most talented linemen are in our last two recruiting classes. It took 3-4 years for Nash and Ty to develop in to the beasts they were. I believe in watching some of those young guys play against Akron and HCU that they’re going to be very good. Takes time. We had a huge quality gap in our linemen recruiting Frost’s last two years and that first class of Rhule’s.

 

[Wasker73]

Michigan was much better than we were in the trenches on both sides of the ball.

College football has changed a lot over the past several decades. But one stubborn fact remains constant. Games are almost always won or lost based upon who has the better talent in the trenches.

Folks, it really is that simple. Dear old Nebraska U, post Osborne, keeps changing coaches looking for some magic fix. But until we hire someone who can rebuild our lines we will keep failing. Bank on it.

Rhule talks a big game. Yesterday his lines in the trenches were utterly exposed as weak and below average. And this is happening in the vaunted year 3 of Matt Rhule magicland.

I knew Michigan would be a tough game. But the sad thing is they out muscled us in the trenches big time. And Michigan isn’t even an elite team right now. That speaks volumes about where we are as a program right now.

I am not calling for Rhule’s head or for him to be fired. But Rhule himself needs to take a long hard look at his program and recalibrate it for toughness in the trenches. That might mean firing a certain offensive line coach who is clearly a hack.

I think Michigan will turn out to be a good team, but not a great team. They are definitely going to take advantage of a pretty easy schedule the rest of the way. I do not just think it is the O-line, but the D-line got outmuscled too. Especially on all those 3rd down and long plays.

 

[Pennsyhuskers]

I think Michigan will turn out to be a good team, but not a great team. They are definitely going to take advantage of a pretty easy schedule the rest of the way. I do not just think it is the O-line, but the D-line got outmuscled too. Especially on all those 3rd down and long plays.

I agree it is both lines. But our defensive line coach is in his first year and has to deal with the empty cupboard of quality lineman the last staff left him. But our offensive line coach has been here now for four years and has never once produced an excellent line.

 

[itseasyas1-2-3]

The frustration for me is we get to sit back and watch each coaching regime that comes through here learn the hard way that to win in the BG10 you have to be strong in the trenches. Wasn't there a staffer in the Pelini or Riley regimes that commented after one of the losses to Iowa about what a blood bath Iowa practices for them to be that much tougher than NU? That was such an eye opener as a fan to hear an NU coach talk like that, and yet here we are a decade or so later still trying to figure it out.

Iron sharpens iron as our leaky OL competes against our undersized DL attests.

 

[litespeedhuskerfan]

After last season ended I suggested Rhule promote Uncle Donnie to Associate Head Coach or some other meaningless mascot position

That way we can hire an actual coach while still kowtowing to everyone’s feelings, which we all know are Very Important when building a contending football program

....at this point, I think its safe to say you've been right about him and my patience for him is now over...its time for him to go and if that bothers DR so be it, but I doubt he'll really care. Like, at all. Maybe he'll even help him pack at this point.

 

[king_kong__]

....at this point, I think its safe to say you've been right about him and my patience for him is now over...its time for him to go and if that bothers DR so be it, but I doubt he'll really care. Like, at all. Maybe he'll even help him pack at this point.

it's hard to gauge how DR would handle it

he's a rich first born who's been coddled his entire life, including during his time here. fun player, good player, gobs of physical talent, easily our best player, but we see this reality show up in the face of adversity (lots of pouting/bad body language, little or no fire in his belly)

probably better not to find out and keep Unc around in some reduced capacity despite him being a total bum (aka the Matt Rhule Nice Guy Special)

 

[itseasyas1-2-3]

it's hard to gauge how DR would handle it

he's a rich first born who's been coddled his entire life, including during his time here. fun player, good player, gobs of physical talent, easily our best player, but we see this reality show up in the face of adversity (lots of pouting/bad body language, little or no fire in his belly)

probably better not to find out and keep Unc around in some reduced capacity despite him being a total bum (aka the Matt Rhule Nice Guy Special)

100%. Talented, hugely successful at this young age and presumably headed for a much higher position in life. My wife agrees he has been coddled from a wealthy, well connected upbringing and she really dislikes the way he seems to pout when things aren't easy for him. She thinks his body language belies his public image during difficult times.

I suggest he's a high profile athlete who is cultivating his public image with lots of money at stake. There are traits expected and admired, some are obvious, others not so much. DR has been brought in as the savior to resurrect this program, peer recruited at a high level, and emotions boil over when progress is stymied and cause outward, but muted bursts of frustration. That's not necessarily a bad thing.

He keeps a journal, has his time throughout a day accounted for. In his world he attempts to script how things work, when they don't it leads to frustration.

Due to DR's obvious lack of foot speed, other than QB, the only position he would be suited for in this sport is place kicker.

Regarding Donovan, DR would look at that as a personal failing.

 

[broken record]

last year I thought uncle donnie improved the oline play but they definitely took two steps back yesterday and rather ugly

The interior line played pretty well and did open holes. Gottula was overmatched badly and I was a bit disappointed with Teddy P who also seemed overmatched despite being a physical freak and a 6th year player despite injuries. If we need to overload the line with double tight ends than just do it.

 

[Shimmer003]

The interior line played pretty well and did open holes. Gottula was overmatched badly and I was a bit disappointed with Teddy P who also seemed overmatched despite being a physical freak and a 6th year player despite injuries. If we need to overload the line with double tight ends than just do it.

We tried to keep TE’s in. It resulted in no one being open. You can’t run 3 man routes in obvious passing downs and have success

 

[51CtyRed]

Take away the 3 long td runs and the defense only gave up 120 yards on 30 attempts. Not as bad as bad as getting gashed - still have work to do.

 

[Kakdawg]

Yesterday was frustrating, because I'm finally going to agree that Donnie has to go. Maybe our LT and RT aren't future NFL guys (?) but surely they HAVE to have more potential than what we saw? There is no way they are incapable of providing more blocking than literally a race to the QB with almost no resistance? I didn't see a lack of talent, I saw guys that were tentative and had no clue what they were doing. The frustration part comes in because obviously Donnie isn't going anywhere.

There is a lack of talent on our OL. Those guys got beat up by better players. Especially those OTs.

I think part of the problem we have is that we don't have the defensive line talent like Michigan so they don't even realize it's a weakness until they see it in game. Our defense can't prepare them for what they seen yesterday. Again Especially the tackles.




Holla

 

[BugsAreQualityProtein]

How many lineman are Frost era players? I know Teddy and Corcoran are.

 

[mgbreeze]

There is a lack of talent on our OL. Those guys got beat up by better players. Especially those OTs.

I think part of the problem we have is that we don't have the defensive line talent like Michigan so they don't even realize it's a weakness until they see it in game. Our defense can't prepare them for what they seen yesterday. Again Especially the tackles.




Holla

Maybe just practice in the parking lot and have some GA's run over our OT's with an F150. Would look similar to Saturday.

 

[dinglefritz]

Iron sharpens iron as our leaky OL competes against our undersized DL attests.

I think sometimes we underestimate the impact of game plans and play calling. Mediation clearly has some play calls that hit for explosive plays against our defensive calls. My Vikings looked AWFUL last week. With half their starting O line out this week they looked almost unstoppable with Wentz at QB. Granted they were playing the Bengals but a week after getting trounced, their O and D lines looked tremendous.

 

[itseasyas1-2-3]

I think sometimes we underestimate the impact of game plans and play calling. Mediation clearly has some play calls that hit for explosive plays against our defensive calls. My Vikings looked AWFUL last week. With half their starting O line out this week they looked almost unstoppable with Wentz at QB. Granted they were playing the Bengals but a week after getting trounced, their O and D lines looked tremendous.

Which has exactly to do with what I posted?

So if we looked terrible against Michigan this week, but next week we played Akron again with half the OL missing we could look unstoppable? Profound.

 

[Bigred2467]

I think sometimes we underestimate the impact of game plans and play calling. Mediation clearly has some play calls that hit for explosive plays against our defensive calls. My Vikings looked AWFUL last week. With half their starting O line out this week they looked almost unstoppable with Wentz at QB. Granted they were playing the Bengals but a week after getting trounced, their O and D lines looked tremendous.

Mediation?

 

[Pennsyhuskers]

Mediation?

Probably spellcheck mistake. I am sure he meant Martindale.

 

[Pennsyhuskers]

Yesterday was frustrating, because I'm finally going to agree that Donnie has to go. Maybe our LT and RT aren't future NFL guys (?) but surely they HAVE to have more potential than what we saw? There is no way they are incapable of providing more blocking than literally a race to the QB with almost no resistance? I didn't see a lack of talent, I saw guys that were tentative and had no clue what they were doing. The frustration part comes in because obviously Donnie isn't going anywhere.

Rhule said in his post game presser that he thought the offensive line “gave Michigan too much credit” (I assume he meant thinking Michigan’s defensive line is better than it is) and therefore our guys did not “attack” with physicality. They instead played tentatively and defensively. All of which is just coach speak for “our line played scared”. So I think that was Rhule taking a shot at Donnie. I really do. Because if our guys do have the physical talent to compete with the likes of Michigan, but failed out of fear and being intimidated, then that is a coaching issue.