Even if Nebraska had won the game yesterday would you have been satisfied with the product that was being put on the field? To me our style of play is so deplorable that its hard to watch. Does anyone truly believe that Nebraska can win Divisional Titles let alone Conference or National Titles without a physical running game? I simply don't see how a pass first team can win consistently in the upper Midwest.
Wins and losses aside
- Thread starter Huskerlife39
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I think we have the potential for a physical running game, but for some reason, that back only got 7 carties after scoring the first TD.
That was an ugly game. Painful to watch, and nowhere near what you see when decent teams play college football.
Right now Green Bay has a 91 pass/91 rush split. The Patriots have a 133/71 split. The Broncos have a 127/66 split. While the lack of the run game yesterday was shameful and I described attempting all those passes as "arrogant", and agree if we can't run the ball we are toast, I get tired of the argument that teams that play in weather can't primarily pass. The three teams mentioned just don't throw 50-yard bombs in 30 MPH winds on a routine basis.
Even if we had won by 6 points, Langsdorf still deserves all the criticism he received. Despite all the "we'll play to our strengths" statements, yesterday it was all lip service and Danny called a game as if he was in a dome with NFL'ers.
Epic, epic failure considering how effectively we were running the ball.
As I posted earlier, given the weather,probably the worst single offensive playcalling demonstration I've seen by a Nebraska OC that I can remember, and that's saying something.
Epic, epic failure considering how effectively we were running the ball.
As I posted earlier, given the weather,probably the worst single offensive playcalling demonstration I've seen by a Nebraska OC that I can remember, and that's saying something.
I'm less concerned about the run/pass ratio than NU's complete inability to get one or two yards when it needs to. Convert just a few third-and-shorts and the BYU game never comes down to a Hail Mary. Convert some third downs against Southern Miss and that game is completely over by halftime. Yesterday was more of the same. The thing I can't really tell is whether the problem is the lack of commitment to the running game, or an offensive line that can't seem to get out its own way. Probably a combination of the two.
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I was aghast at the play-calling all game long. If you take away Armstrong's 15 yard sack (which I believe counts against rushing yards in college), NU averaged over 6 yards per carry. Yet NU seemed determined to chuck low percentage passes down-field under poor conditions for such a strategy. Just mind-boggling.
How about NU's first 3 possessions of the 2nd half? They started at the Illinois 44, NU 46, and Illinois 31 - but managed just 3 points. Look at the play calling in those sequences. Deep pass, jet sweep, deep pass that is intercepted. Next possession, two runs for a first down (!!!), followed by 3 passes that netted 3 yards, forcing a punt. The 3rd possession again started with 2 runs for a first down inside the 20, that resulted in a FG.
In short - running the ball produced good results. Throwing it produced bad results. All day.
Maddening.
How about NU's first 3 possessions of the 2nd half? They started at the Illinois 44, NU 46, and Illinois 31 - but managed just 3 points. Look at the play calling in those sequences. Deep pass, jet sweep, deep pass that is intercepted. Next possession, two runs for a first down (!!!), followed by 3 passes that netted 3 yards, forcing a punt. The 3rd possession again started with 2 runs for a first down inside the 20, that resulted in a FG.
In short - running the ball produced good results. Throwing it produced bad results. All day.
Maddening.
I had to laugh when I read an excerpt from Shatel's column this morning. Riley and Langsdorf surmised that Armstrong was surprised that the Illinois defender went after him, rather than follow the TE that had gone in motion (or, presumably - Ozigbo, who had drifted downfield a bit). That's because the Illinois defender assumed that under no circumstances would NU throw the football! He was 100% going after who ever had the ball!
I doubt any of us will ever see a dumber play the rest of our lives.
I doubt any of us will ever see a dumber play the rest of our lives.
No, they can't win without a physical running game. But, that's not the offensive this staff runs. SE failed to see this. He was more interested in finding a nice guy.
My friend, we are only 5 games in. We are going to see some of the worst Nebraska football in a long while. Please let me be wrong.
I don't think it's necessarily that the west coast offense can't work here as much as taking into account the playing conditions. If they had ran the ball yesterday instead of forcing the pass then they're fine. When you've got crazy wind, adjust accordingly. The run was actually working, why go away from it in those conditions? Sometimes the simple option is the best option.