What did we learn Illinois edition

[Dr. Strangelove]

I don’t really follow you on this. What ended up being unlikely was a Nebraska running play being successful. 7 rushing yards in the 2nd half 

Nebraska attempted 2 running plays in the 3rd Quarter because they only had the ball for 2:40.

In the 4th, before the missed FG, Nebraska attempted 1 running play - at the goal line - for a grand total of 3 running plays before the final drive leading to the missed FG. Multiple sacks contribute to Nebraska being behind the sticks.

Once Nebraska was in position to run the ball, on the missed FG drive alone:

Dowdell had carries of 4, 2, 5, 7, and 2 yards. Nebraska was fine - average? - running the ball when they actually tried. Nebraska's box score in the 2nd half reflects a situation where sacks and lopsided TOP meant (3 rushing attempts before missed FG drive) and several sacks make the rushing statistics a lot more lopsided than they actually were. 

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

I gotta push back here on things you said.   While it’s correct that a fullback catching a long pass is anything but guaranteed, that play up until the throw and catch was executed well (the player was WIDE OPEN) and that throw is easy to make.  Im quite certain DR would say the same thing.  
 

I think your original point does have some merit though that a player who hardly plays and rarely catches passes is the one going deep.  Why not a Carter or Thomas or even Bonner lined up in that spot 

I don't disagree, it was a play that worked. But the problem with passing plays to non-traditional pass catchers is that the play working in execution may not be good enough. The throw is to a non play making player, the timing of the throw is a little different than the thousands of practice throws to play makers. It's all just a little... off in timing. It's a hard play to make work.

Now, if Nebraska had a FG kicker who you trust and can rely on, then sure. I wouldn't have a problem with the play because you can always have 3 points in your back pocket. But Nebraska does not have a reliable FG kicker you can trot out there if the play does not work. And if Satterfield thought his FG kicker was reliable and that was a valid reason to call his 3rd down play, well, he's worse than I thought. And if he dialed up the 3rd down play, despite his Running Back averaging 4.0 ypc that drive, knowing he has a bad FG kicker he'd have to trot out there if it doesn't work, well than that is even WORSE than all the other scenarios.

Satterfield is really bad at understanding the time and situation of football. He blew multiple games this year by overthinking things, and he blew the end of the game against Illinois. That being said, the defense was so atrocious it should've never been in that situation to begin with.

 

[Redux]

The thing is the play was really called to throw it short to the flat, a play that would have been much more akin to a run. I've seen it all over the NFL this season in short yardage. Draw everybody to the middle and throw a little dump to the flat to your TE for 4 yards and a first down. It's high percentage and highly effective. DR just saw a wide open man and went for the score.

And that's precisely why I hated the call.  He tends to go long and doesn't notice the short yardage catch.

 

[MyBloodIsRed16]

Was there a comment on the severity of Corcoran's injury?  I was out of the room when he got hurt and never went back to look at it or see if it was known what happened.  

 

[Archy1221]

The throw is to a non play making player, the timing of the throw is a little different than the thousands of practice throws to play makers. It's all just a little... off in timing. It's a hard play to make work.

I don’t know if you have ever played the position, but that throw really isn’t that hard to make no matter who is running the route, especially considering how open and how much space was clear for the ball to land.   DR had an area of about 5-7 yards he could have planted that ball in for a catchable ball without the defender having a play on it.  In stride it’s a TD, otherwise it’s a long first down.  Either way NU wins.  Instead he airmailed it and missed by like 3-4 yards long!!   

 

[Archy1221]

Satterfield is really bad at understanding the time and situation of football. He blew multiple games this year by overthinking things, and he blew the end of the game against Illinois. That being said, the defense was so atrocious it should've never been in that situation to begin with.

Before I put any blame on Satt, Inwould need need to know what the communication between Rhule and Satt was before the play.   And if there was no communication, then that is a HUGE Rhule problem.   
 

Prior to the third down play cal, Rhule should have told Satt whether he had 1 down or 2 downs to get the first.   If Rhule said we are kicking if we don’t make it, then the pass play is the way to go all day long.   If Rhule said you got two downs to get the first down then I kinda agree that you run the ball on third down and see what happens.  
 

Did any reporter ask Rhule about that communication and what was decided prior to third down play and their thought process?  I haven’t heard.   I get a sense that it wasn’t discussed on the headset.   And if not, that’s terrible game management.  

 

[Red Five]

Was there a comment on the severity of Corcoran's injury?  I was out of the room when he got hurt and never went back to look at it or see if it was known what happened.  

Rhule used the term "severe" or something close to that in describing it post game.  Safe to assume he is out this week and probably more.

 

[Mavric]

[No message]

 

[Mavric]

 

[Mavric]

[No message]

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

Before I put any blame on Satt, Inwould need need to know what the communication between Rhule and Satt was before the play.   And if there was no communication, then that is a HUGE Rhule problem.   
 

Prior to the third down play cal, Rhule should have told Satt whether he had 1 down or 2 downs to get the first.   If Rhule said we are kicking if we don’t make it, then the pass play is the way to go all day long.   If Rhule said you got two downs to get the first down then I kinda agree that you run the ball on third down and see what happens.  
 

Did any reporter ask Rhule about that communication and what was decided prior to third down play and their thought process?  I haven’t heard.   I get a sense that it wasn’t discussed on the headset.   And if not, that’s terrible game management.  

These are good points, and I don't think anybody asked Rhule. But I think it's pretty clear that if the mantra is "Chasing 3", that message needs to filter to the coaching staff as well. There are multiple ways to win a football game, and I think that working the clock, getting a first down, and kicking a much easier FG as time expired was Nebraska's best path to winning the game considering the play of the defense at that point in the game.

Those sacks at the beginning of the 4th were painful, and eerily foreshadowed what was to come in OT. I also think that running the ball between the tackles was decently successful. The worst running plays were: at the goal line, and a play where Dowdell tried to stretch the run resulting in a loss. Otherwise when Nebraska was downhill, they had some moderate success.

Even on the play where Dowdell tried to stretch the play - a frequent issue with him - there was a massive hole generated by the OL. He could've taken 3-4 yards, instead he tried to bust a big play instead of taking what was there. The OL was doing a pretty decent job on the final drive.

 

[Red Five]

 

[soup]

For the record Rhule said in the post game that the 3rd and 3 was supposed to go to the fullback in the flats, but it was covered, so DR threw to the wide open man in the endzone and missed.

We can dissect it all we want, but 95 out of 100 throws DR makes that completion and we are all talking quite a bit different today.

 

[Archy1221]

and I think that working the clock, getting a first down, and kicking a much easier FG as time expired was Nebraska's best path to winning the game considering the play of the defense at that point in the game.

I agree.   I was actually shocked the defense did make a stop at the end of the 4th quarter

 

[VedderHusker]

Just re-watched. The most egregious bad officiating was on Illinois 4th & 1 at Neb 38 w 3:56 left in the 3rd. Sherman clearly has #6’s forward progress stopped at the line of scrimmage and whistles are blown. 6 then lunges forward and Sherman tries to rip the ball and gets PF for punching. The play was reviewed and “stands” was called. Clear evidence in the review.  Sherman’s arm around 6 after the whistle.  Official in background.