Charting the Husker Offense

[Mavric]

Thought it might be interesting to see how the offense morphs throughout games and over the course of the year. I'd really like to do this by quarter but I think I'll stick with by half because it's easier to figure and the break point is more defined.

Fresno First half: 23 runs, 115 yards, 5.0 ypc, 0 fumbles lost; 2 completions, 5 attempts, 40.0%, 34 yards, 6.8 ypa, 0 INTs; 82.1% runs, 5.3 ypp, 14:20 TOP, 14 points

Fresno Second half: 28 runs, 177 yards, 6.3 ypc; 0 fumbles lost; 4 completions, 8 attempts, 50.0%, 80 yards, 10.0 ypa, 0 INTs, 77.8% runs, 7.1 ypp, 17:40 TOP, 29 points

Wyoming First Half: 20 runs, 54 yards, 2.7 ypc, 0 fumbles lost; 11 completions, 18 attempts, 61.1%, 277 yards, 15.4 ypa, 1 INT; 52.6% runs, 8.7 ypp, 16:53 TOP, 17 points

Wyoming Second Half: 23 runs, 84 yards, 3.7 ypc, 0 fumbles lost; 10 completions, 17 attempts, 58.8%, 135 yards, 7.9 ypa, 0 INTs; 57.5% runs, 5.5 ypp, 16:04 TOP, 35 points

Oregon First Half*: 17 runs, 66 yards; 3.9 ypc, 0 turnovers; 12 completions, 25 attempts, 48.0%, 130 yards, 5.2 ypa, 1 turnover; 40.5% runs, 4.7 ypp, 16:30 TOP, 14 points

Oregon Second Half: 30 runs, 162 yards, 5.4 ypc, 1 fumble lost; 5 completions, 10 attempts, 50.0%, 70 yards, 7.0 ypa, 0 INTs; 75.0% runs, 5.8 ypp, 19:19 TOP, 21 points

Northwestern First Half: 21 runs, 138 yards, 6.6 ypc, 2 fumbles lost; 10 completions, 17 attempts, 58.8%, 147 yards, 8.6 ypa, 0 INTs; 55.3% runs, 7.5 ypp, 17:18 TOP, 10 points

Northwestern Second Half: 26 runs, 172 yards, 6.6 ypc, 0 fumbles lost; 8 completions, 12 attempts, 66.7%, 99 yards, 8.3 ypa, 0 INTs; 68.4% runs, 7.1 ypp, 18:13 TOP, 14 points

Illinois First Half: 19 runs, 71 yards, 3.7 ypc, 0 fumbles lost; 9 completions, 15 attempts, 60.0%, 152 yards, 10.1 ypa, 1 INT; 55.9% runs, 6.6 ypp, 16:56 TOP, 10 points

Illinois Second Half: 30 runs, 132 yards, 4.4 ypc, 1 fumble lost; 7 completions, 8 attempts, 87.5%, 68 yards, 8.5 ypa, 0 INTs, 78.9% runs, 5.3 ypp, 21:03 TOP, 21 points

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First Halves*: 100 runs, 444 yards, 4.4 ypc, 2 turnovers; 44 completions, 80 attempts, 55.0%, 740 yards, 9.3 ypa, 3 turnovers; 55.6% runs, 6.6 ypp, 16:23 avg. TOP, 13.0 avg. points

Second Halves: 137 runs, 727 yards, 5.3 ypc, 1 fumble lost; 35 completions, 55 attempts, 63.3%, 452 yards, 8.2 ypa, 0 INTs; 71.4% runs, 6.1 ypp, 18:27 avg. TOP, 24.0 avg. points

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Halves <50% runs (1)*: 17 runs, 66 yards; 3.9 ypc, 0 turnovers; 12 completions, 25 attempts, 48.0%, 130 yards, 5.2 ypa, 1 turnover; 40.5% runs, 4.7 ypp, 16:30 TOP, 14 points

Halves 50%-60% runs (4): 83 runs, 347 yards, 4.2 ypc, 2 fumbles lost; 40 completions, 67 attempts, 59.7%, 711 yards, 10.6 ypa, 2 INTs; 55.3% runs, 7.1 ypp, 16:47 avg. TOP, 18.0 avg. points

Halves >60% runs (5): 137 runs, 758 yards, 5.5 ypc, 2 fumbles lost; 26 completions, 43 attempts, 60.5%, 351 yards, 8.2 ypa, 0 INTs; 76.1% runs, 6.2 ypp, 18:07 avg. TOP, 19.8 avg. points

*The turnover in the first half against Oregon technically goes as a fumble but it was a called pass play so I moved it to the passing stats.

So we obviously didn't do very well the one half where we were pretty pass happy (obviously a small sample size). Poor completion percentage, low yards per play and the lowest Time of Possession and points scored.

There isn't a huge disparity between halves where we run slight more and when we're run heavy but almost all the stats are better when we're run heavy: better ypc, fewer turnovers, better completion percentage, more TOP and more points. Slightly better yards per play when were more balanced but that is offset by better TOP (limiting opponents' opportunities) and fewer turnovers.

We've also tended to run the ball more in the second half, lately decidedly so. And it's not all because we were ahead because we were trailing or barely winning most of that time.

 

[HuskermanMike]

Good info Mav, I think for the Indiana game we throw in a few wrinkles for that game. Since we have so much time off we might even try a flea flicker or something like that to try to catch Indiana off guard. Indiana has a bad pass defense but a solid run defense. I think we could wear them down with ozigbo and Newby in the fourth with a lead.

I am wondering if we will get that game this year where we are going to be really pass happy. I hope we don't have that game and if we do, it would probably be OSU because we would be trailing in the game.

Really want to see better creativity in the run game, have Newby go outside the tackles more like he did with that big run against Illinois. We don't need to run straight at our opponents, the Mich State running gameplan was really good last year, and with Ozigbo he can probably break some of those runs that Cross couldn't. Soften defenses up with Ozigbo and than have Newby break one up the middle or outside the tackles, it seems Newby always starts, so this doesn't happen often. I can see the coaches thinking that Newby tires them out with big play runs and Ozigbo pounds through tired tacklers after he does this. Anyway, we need some better run plays in my mind or OSU and Wiscy will feast on our running backs for short gains.

 

[TITANIC VS LUSITANIA]

So the way to play against NU is to take away the run, huh

 

[I am I]

Nice breakdown. Thanks for that.

 

[BRV920]

It's a small sample but pretty much shows that when Langsdorf stays committed to the run we score points. When he gets pass happy... not so much.

 

[BigRedBuster]

So the way to play against NU is to take away the run, huh

I think that other teams come in with that attitude. That's why we are seeing more passing in the first half than second half. Langs throws a few more times to make them pay for it, they loosen up and we pound it at them in the second half.

 

[Elf]

So the way to play against NU is to take away the run, huh

I think that other teams come in with that attitude. That's why we are seeing more passing in the first half than second half. Langs throws a few more times to make them pay for it, they loosen up and we pound it at them in the second half.

Exactly, other teams come in focused on the run. And since we actually have a credible passing threat we can make them pay for that. Good times.

 

[BRV920]

So the way to play against NU is to take away the run, huh

I think that other teams come in with that attitude. That's why we are seeing more passing in the first half than second half. Langs throws a few more times to make them pay for it, they loosen up and we pound it at them in the second half.

Exactly, other teams come in focused on the run. And since we actually have a credible passing threat we can make them pay for that. Good times.

Did you actually look at the numbers? They show that when we've tried to be balanced we scored less points this season. Then in the second half when we recommit to running the ball we are scoring more points and our completion percentage is going up.

 

[Undone]

Did you actually look at the numbers? They show that when we've tried to be balanced we scored less points this season. Then in the second half when we recommit to running the ball we are scoring more points and our completion percentage is going up.

Agreed that this is what the numbers tend to translate to.

It's possible though that it all goes completely out the door when we play Wisconsin & Ohio State.

 

[Guy Chamberlin]

It's a small sample but pretty much shows that when Langsdorf stays committed to the run we score points. When he gets pass happy... not so much.

It shows that when the running game is working, the running game works.

And the running game doesn't work as well without a legitimate passing threat, something Langsdorf and pretty much every coach understands better than the guys who can't stop using the phrase "pass happy."

 

[Kiyoat Husker]

^good point. Has anyone ever used the phrase "run-happy"?

 

[BRV920]

It's a small sample but pretty much shows that when Langsdorf stays committed to the run we score points. When he gets pass happy... not so much.

It shows that when the running game is working, the running game works.

And the running game doesn't work as well without a legitimate passing threat, something Langsdorf and pretty much every coach understands better than the guys who can't stop using the phrase "pass happy."

Did you watch the Illinois game? At the end of the 3rd quarter Nebraska had 89 yards rushing. Would you say that's going good? Because we stuck with it we were able to put them away. Spin it however you want. The numbers don't lie.

 

[Guy Chamberlin]

It's a small sample but pretty much shows that when Langsdorf stays committed to the run we score points. When he gets pass happy... not so much.

It shows that when the running game is working, the running game works.

And the running game doesn't work as well without a legitimate passing threat, something Langsdorf and pretty much every coach understands better than the guys who can't stop using the phrase "pass happy."

Did you watch the Illinois game? At the end of the 3rd quarter Nebraska had 89 yards rushing. Would you say that's going good? Because we stuck with it we were able to put them away. Spin it however you want. The numbers don't lie.

I was thrilled to watch our offensive line come together and Terrell Newby step up and have Nebraska power its way to a fourth quarter win. But it's not like we didn't run the ball in the first half. It's that we ran it better. Either wearing Illinois down or countering their defensive adjustments or both. There will be games where the defense does better against our running game. Langsdorf will have to adjust and you'll freak out.

Remember, some folks scream when three consecutive rushing plays don't get that crucial first down. That fumble hurts just as much as an interception.

Or to look at it another way, Nebraska scored 52 points in its most pass-happy game against Wyoming. The most points of the season. Using your logic, Langsdorf should have stayed pass happy because that's what works.

See? Numbers do lie. All the time.

 

[BRV920]

It's a small sample but pretty much shows that when Langsdorf stays committed to the run we score points. When he gets pass happy... not so much.

It shows that when the running game is working, the running game works.

And the running game doesn't work as well without a legitimate passing threat, something Langsdorf and pretty much every coach understands better than the guys who can't stop using the phrase "pass happy."

Did you watch the Illinois game? At the end of the 3rd quarter Nebraska had 89 yards rushing. Would you say that's going good? Because we stuck with it we were able to put them away. Spin it however you want. The numbers don't lie.

I was thrilled to watch our offensive line come together and Terrell Newby step up and have Nebraska power its way to a fourth quarter win. But it's not like we didn't run the ball in the first half. It's that we ran it better. Either wearing Illinois down or countering their defensive adjustments or both. There will be games where the defense does better against our running game. Langsdorf will have to adjust and you'll freak out.

Remember, some folks scream when three consecutive rushing plays don't get that crucial first down. That fumble hurts just as much as an interception.

Or to look at it another way, Nebraska scored 52 points in its most pass-happy game against Wyoming. The most points of the season. Using your logic, Langsdorf should have stayed pass happy because that's what works.

See? Numbers do lie. All the time.

Do you understand that a big reason we lost 7 games last year was mostly due to the fact that we abandoned the running game? We are also 4-0 this year because we have actually stuck with it. Is a coincidence that we are killing teams in the 4th quarter? Keep deluding yourself into thinking that passing the ball is going to take us to the promised land but I'll point out we've had 3 losing seasons in 5 years in your preferred offense.

 

[Mierin]

I made this using the data Mav provided.

The bigger the circle, the more yards per carry.

The numbers inside the bubbles are the total carries

The color of the bubble is based on the total rushing yards. If the team had more than 100 yards the bubble is a shade of red. The brighter the red the more yards. If the team had < 100 the bubble is a shade of blue. The darker the blue the less yards.

So at a glance, you can see we could have run it more in the Northwestern game, even in the 1st half (although our passing stats are decent there too). With Wyoming, you can see that running more probably wouldn't have helped us much.