I've been a bit worried about this. Good article from Chatelain.Big week for Shawn Watson.
His Husker offense has made significant strides in 2010, thanks to a new quarterback and a new scheme. Nebraska is lighting up scoreboards like old times.
But there’s a caveat — a reason we shouldn’t banish the ghosts of 2009 quite yet.
The Huskers have faced only one strong defense, Texas — and that day ended with Taylor Martinez on the bench and without an offensive touchdown.
Missouri comes to Lincoln with the fifth-ranked scoring defense in the country. And Watson’s track record against good defenses is shaky.
Couldn't agree more. Historically Chatelain has been critical of Watson, and rightfully so. This article provides even more telling evidence that Watson still has a lot to prove as our OC. 3-6 with only 10 offensive TDs against teams with top 50 defenses just doesn't cut it. How can we expect to be a national title contender now or in the near future if our offense continues to struggle so mightily by the best defenses?If the Huskers struggle Saturday — if the offense again stymies hopes for a Big 12 title — then Watson’s progress and direction deserve scrutiny.
i agree, and i will go as far to defend watson's game calling last year. in our loss to va. tech, we moved the ball well, the players just could not execute in the endzone. in the ttu loss, the whole team just played flat (maybe their fat little girlfriends distracted them). in the isu game, we moved the ball extremely well, except someone told the huskers to pretend that the endzone was actually lava, so they were so scared to step on it, the would rather fumble the ball away.If Watson's gameplan and playcalling was so horrid against Texas, then I'd like someone to explain to me why Burkhead, Paul, Kinnie, etc. didn't have defenders within ten yards of them when they dropped all those passes. I will explain some very poor gameplanning and playcalling. When we played OU a few years back with Clownahan calling the shots, we faced the #1 rush defense in the country while their pass defense was suspect. What was his gameplan? Run the ball up the gut 90+ percent of the time and never stretch the field with a pass. Another great Clownahan gameplan and playcalling would have to be the Texas Tech game in 04'. I guess after you've had 4 balls picked the playcalling should always include throwing up more lameducks to see just how many Texas Tech could retrieve before they got tired.
agreed. just trying to keep it in perspective.I don't think anyone is calling for Watson's head. There's nothing wrong with criticizing the guy's track record like Chatelain is doing here. Sure, it appears Watson finally has a QB he can build his system around for an extended period of time. And yes, that QB is a frosh who will experience growing pains. But, the fact remains that Watson has had trouble against solid defenses. The point of this article is that this trend needs to change, and up to this point he hasn't done a great job proving he can buck that trend.
Yeah, I get the same feeling. Seems like Watson has a new, rejuvenated confidence in this offense since the OSU game. Maybe that confidence is just the ticket for this offense to come out and play consistently well from here on out. Saturday can't get here quick enough!I've read a few little quotes from Watson this week that make me feel pretty good actually. I think he is excited that he was able to cut loose the training wheels last week, when the team needed the offense to step up and not only did his players step up, they freaking THRIVED! I have a great feeling about this week and I think Watson and NU will have an offensive gameplan that will have MU wondering what the hell hit them, by halftime.
I have a feeling Watson is going to be VERY proud of himself and his guys on Saturday afternoon, when he's confident that his players will execute, he feels good about letting loose HIS offense, which can be VERY dangerous.
Yeah, I get the same feeling. Seems like Watson has a new, rejuvenated confidence in this offense since the OSU game. Maybe that confidence is just the ticket for this offense to come out and play consistently well from here on out. Saturday can't get here quick enough!I've read a few little quotes from Watson this week that make me feel pretty good actually. I think he is excited that he was able to cut loose the training wheels last week, when the team needed the offense to step up and not only did his players step up, they freaking THRIVED! I have a great feeling about this week and I think Watson and NU will have an offensive gameplan that will have MU wondering what the hell hit them, by halftime.
I have a feeling Watson is going to be VERY proud of himself and his guys on Saturday afternoon, when he's confident that his players will execute, he feels good about letting loose HIS offense, which can be VERY dangerous.
Firstoff no one's denying the dropped passes killed us against Texas. We would have at least tied if not won the game had we converted those into catches. Do you really think the Texas game should have boiled down to a few dropped TD passes? Did you see the Iowa State-Texas game? UCLA????If Watson's gameplan and playcalling was so horrid against Texas, then I'd like someone to explain to me why Burkhead, Paul, Kinnie, etc. didn't have defenders within ten yards of them when they dropped all those passes. I will explain some very poor gameplanning and playcalling. When we played OU a few years back with Clownahan calling the shots, we faced the #1 rush defense in the country while their pass defense was suspect. What was his gameplan? Run the ball up the gut 90+ percent of the time and never stretch the field with a pass. Another great Clownahan gameplan and playcalling would have to be the Texas Tech game in 04'. I guess after you've had 4 balls picked the playcalling should always include throwing up more lameducks to see just how many Texas Tech could retrieve before they got tired.