CharBroiled
Five-Star Recruit
Yes, Nebraska lost. To a solid BYU team which won 8 games last year and will win at least that many this year. All hope is not lost because of some of the things I noticed while watching the contest.
1. We made adjustments at halftime.
Mike Riley looked at the overall offense at halftime and made adjustments allowing the offense to work to its strengths, balancing out the attack. The last few years there were 0 adjustments made at halftime and games like this would turn into blowouts. The coaching staff actually compared notes and tweaked the attack, both offensively and defensively, to give Nebraska a chance to win. Outside of a crazy Hail Mary, the Huskers would have won too, in the type of game they were notorious for rolling over and dying. Last year, this would have been around BYU 45, Nebraksa 21.
2. Tackling.
It's a night and day difference with this team and tackling. The defense tried to wrap up and drag people to the ground rather than lower a shoulder for the big ESPN hit highlight which usually ended in a whiff and 6 points, (the Gordon game from last year). No more of desperation arm tackles, no more diving at legs, no this is a bunch that tried to form tackle every time. They tried to strip the ball as well, it just didn't work. They have made improvements in this department.
3. The cupboard is not bare.
There is talent on this team and there were flashes of it on numerous occasions. This is a brand new coaching staff, a brand new scheme/coaching philosphy, so hiccups were to be expected. There were times TA looked great, while there were other times he looked lost. I think Riley will take a long hard look at the game film and come up with a gameplan to maximize Armstrong's skillset. At times Armstrong looked confident in the timing routes, and the ball was crisp coming out of his hand. Other,times, not so much, but it is the nature of the beast when changing a quarterback's dynamic in a way. I liked the way Wilbon and Newby looked in the backfield. Yes, defensively, we're a bit thin, and having some un-suspended linebackers would help, but this is a problem which can be addressed in recruiting as well.
4. Players taking accountability.
Numerous times during this game, I watched players taking accountability for their own actions or blown assignments rather than trying to throw teammates under the bus. In the first quarter for example, BYU completed a pass to one of its 9ft. tall receivers for a first down when Kalu stumbled. Instead of screaming at his teammates, he tapped his chest and said it was his fault. Breakdowns in coverage happen, but it was good to see players holding themselves accountable for their own missteps in coverage.
Yes, there is work to do, (and I hate to lose) but I think there is direction with this program. I think this is going to be a squad which continues to improve from game to game rather than regress like previous teams.
GBR!
1. We made adjustments at halftime.
Mike Riley looked at the overall offense at halftime and made adjustments allowing the offense to work to its strengths, balancing out the attack. The last few years there were 0 adjustments made at halftime and games like this would turn into blowouts. The coaching staff actually compared notes and tweaked the attack, both offensively and defensively, to give Nebraska a chance to win. Outside of a crazy Hail Mary, the Huskers would have won too, in the type of game they were notorious for rolling over and dying. Last year, this would have been around BYU 45, Nebraksa 21.
2. Tackling.
It's a night and day difference with this team and tackling. The defense tried to wrap up and drag people to the ground rather than lower a shoulder for the big ESPN hit highlight which usually ended in a whiff and 6 points, (the Gordon game from last year). No more of desperation arm tackles, no more diving at legs, no this is a bunch that tried to form tackle every time. They tried to strip the ball as well, it just didn't work. They have made improvements in this department.
3. The cupboard is not bare.
There is talent on this team and there were flashes of it on numerous occasions. This is a brand new coaching staff, a brand new scheme/coaching philosphy, so hiccups were to be expected. There were times TA looked great, while there were other times he looked lost. I think Riley will take a long hard look at the game film and come up with a gameplan to maximize Armstrong's skillset. At times Armstrong looked confident in the timing routes, and the ball was crisp coming out of his hand. Other,times, not so much, but it is the nature of the beast when changing a quarterback's dynamic in a way. I liked the way Wilbon and Newby looked in the backfield. Yes, defensively, we're a bit thin, and having some un-suspended linebackers would help, but this is a problem which can be addressed in recruiting as well.
4. Players taking accountability.
Numerous times during this game, I watched players taking accountability for their own actions or blown assignments rather than trying to throw teammates under the bus. In the first quarter for example, BYU completed a pass to one of its 9ft. tall receivers for a first down when Kalu stumbled. Instead of screaming at his teammates, he tapped his chest and said it was his fault. Breakdowns in coverage happen, but it was good to see players holding themselves accountable for their own missteps in coverage.
Yes, there is work to do, (and I hate to lose) but I think there is direction with this program. I think this is going to be a squad which continues to improve from game to game rather than regress like previous teams.
GBR!
