What did we learn Rutgers edition

[floridacorn]

Seems like Hartzog needs to be out on this guy.  Buford obviously has the underneath zone (though I'm not sure why he didn't drop more when no one shows).  So Hartzog has to have the deep outside.  He's slow getting there and it costs us.

I don't get this coverage either.  They play it like a zone blitz, jumping hot routes, but only rush 3, and you have multiple defenders on the weak side covering air.  Buford was jumping a potential bubble, but I would want him falling underneath #1 a lot faster after that, and Hartzog is in no mans land.  W/o pressure, #2 would have been wide open in the back of the end zone as well.  I like this a lot better if the weak side CB & ILB are coming.  I can only guess Rutgers max protecting here was a huge tendency breaker & they expected this ball to come out quick.  Once it didn't, it was going to be a problem.  

 

[Archy1221]

Wild how much better screen passes work when the blocking - the 'screen' part of a screen pass - is done right, ain't it?

It was nice to see some successful screen passes.   It could and should be a more important part of the offense going forward if they can execute. 

 

[Archy1221]

I don't get this coverage either.  They play it like a zone blitz, jumping hot routes, but only rush 3, and you have multiple defenders on the weak side covering air.  Buford was jumping a potential bubble, but I would want him falling underneath #1 a lot faster after that, and Hartzog is in no mans land.  W/o pressure, #2 would have been wide open in the back of the end zone as well.  I like this a lot better if the weak side CB & ILB are coming.  I can only guess Rutgers max protecting here was a huge tendency breaker & they expected this ball to come out quick.  Once it didn't, it was going to be a problem.  

The defensive spacing was pretty bad.   Essentially two guys covering the same space allowing the throw to just barely be successful. 

 

[Husker in WI]

I don't get this coverage either.  They play it like a zone blitz, jumping hot routes, but only rush 3, and you have multiple defenders on the weak side covering air.  Buford was jumping a potential bubble, but I would want him falling underneath #1 a lot faster after that, and Hartzog is in no mans land.  W/o pressure, #2 would have been wide open in the back of the end zone as well.  I like this a lot better if the weak side CB & ILB are coming.  I can only guess Rutgers max protecting here was a huge tendency breaker & they expected this ball to come out quick.  Once it didn't, it was going to be a problem.  

Buford should have had 2 picks this game - both potential pick-sixes - and neither were the one he actually caught. Technically could've knocked that one down and saved some yardage since it was 4th, although I don't blame him a bit for catching it.

For the TD I'm not going to pretend I know the coverage rules either, but I think it was a fake CB blitz. And maybe it was even a called CB blitz where he backed out knowing he wasn't going to get there. Either way, if he gets more depth he should easily pick that off. I don't think Kaliakmanis ever saw him, he was throwing that based on the safety.

 

[ECisGod]

I'm seeing a lot of complaints about the offense in the second half, but three of their six drives started inside their own 5 and the sixth was three kneel downs to kill the clock.  Virtually every college team is going to be very conservative in that situation when they are up by two scores and have a great defense.

 

[Crusader Husker]

We need a little H-cat  HH coming in and running a little to keep teams off balance.  It may have helped in the 2nd half a little bit.

 

[DefenderAO]

I'm seeing a lot of complaints about the offense in the second half, but three of their six drives started inside their own 5 and the sixth was three kneel downs to kill the clock.  Virtually every college team is going to be very conservative in that situation when they are up by two scores and have a great defense.

1. More feathers in the cap of our Special Teams inadequacies 

2. Dylan had an exceedingly rough game. Not the day to take chances with such bad field position. 
 

I think we’re the better team, and we’re also fortunate to come away with a win that didn’t involve overtime, where the Offense has to do something or the ST comes through to keep things alive. 

 

[Husker in WI]

I think Kaliakmanis learned to not try and block Defensive Lineman downfield - watch him after Monangai bounces it. Technically this is an illegal block, and he probably should have left the game to be evaluated for a concussion. 

 

[Crusader Husker]

I think Kaliakmanis learned to not try and block Defensive Lineman downfield - watch him after Monangai bounces it. Technically this is an illegal block, and he probably should have left the game to be evaluated for a concussion. 

I guess they don't call it when you get trucked!  

 

[Mierin]

I guess they don't call it when you get trucked!  

Ya and it’s less noticeable when it’s a 300+ lb guy who doesn’t go flying. I actually don’t think Robinson meant to destroy him he just happened to show up in the way. 

 

[presidentjlh]

Will definitely say this was Dylan's worst game. His passes were just off the mark throughout the game. He's a freshman, it happens and there's no reason to be alarmed. He'll bounce back.

 

[Mavric]

[No message]

 

[The Dude]

I learned that many Husker fans like to get pre-grumpy about games we haven't even lost yet.  

For several weeks I've heard, for example, "we'll be lucky to win 1-2 more games".  That was 2 wins ago.  I guess we got lucky?

 

[Mavric]

[No message]

 

[Guy Chamberlin]

I felt like they sucked before the game.

Rutgers did come into the game undefeated with victories over Virginia Tech and Washington. Most folks consider that respect worthy. Husker fans certainly would have wanted credit for it.