H2h

I never understood why it was thought that our DB's would be flagged more in the Big 10 than the Big 12. You always hear that the Big 10 is more physical so why would they call PI closer? It very well could be true, but it always seemed backwards to me that you'd be allowed to maul a WR in the pass happy big 12 and not be as physical with the Big 10 Wr's without getting a penalty. I guess I always assumed it was more of Raymonds way of teaching than the actuality of it. Regardless, I'm happy to hear our DB's will continue to be physical.

Callahan and Watson offensive scheme rarely if ever blocked the LBs and DBs. The west coast offense, as practiced by Callahan and Watson, was predicated on blocking the DL and then it was the RB's job to get through the hole and make the LB or DB miss to gain extra yards. Barney and Bo's offensive line scheme mirrors Tom and Milt's in that they account for everybody on defense or at least the front seven and possibly the SS or FS depending on which side the play is going. I want to stress that this is strictly my opinion here formed by reading articles from the Omaha World Herald, Lincoln Journal Star, and other sources on our coaching staff both previous and present, combined with my knowledge of x's and o's and watching the games. Not that I know anything, but that seems completely ridiculous to me. You got five offensive linemen, add a tight end or two depending on the formation, and all those guys are only blocking the 3/4 guys on the dline? What are the wide receivers doing instead of blocking the corners standing in front of um?

it's a team sport, no doubt about it..... and Rex is the only one i can think of that brought his A game consistently through out the season.... He was banged up, but Rex fumbled away a TD against Northwestern. So did Enunwa. true, they played him half to death before the NW game.....he gave his all, he was beat to hell and still played hard. Sure, when Rex has an off game it's ok because he "played hard" (like Texas 2010) but when Tmart does it's because he s*cks. I get it. Just like when the Oline plays well it's due to Garrison/Stai and when it doesn't it's because Barney s*cks. No problem. Rex gets a pass because he used up his quota of 1 fumble the entire year against NW. I think most fans can look the other way when your workhorse takes the beating he did all year and only coughs it up once.

If they're the best players then I have no problem with that. Choi and Long played really well for the most part last season. I agree with you. I was responding to the other poster who seemed to be stating the O-line wasn't good because 2 or 3 walk-on's were starting and that the O-line would improve this year. Even though 2 or 3 walk-on's are again likely to be starting.

Well, "maybe" the Dline but losing Crick basically all year took a lot of wind out of that sail. But the Oline was, as usual, on a huge band-aid and needing walkons everywhere. Some of the games we even had to start two or three walkons IIRC. So it's reasonable to say that situation should start to improve this year. Now, is that enough of a difference to project we'll see better results? Maybe. I don't know. I like our chances though..... Choi and Long? The same 2 walk-ons that are likely to be starters this year?(Long was a walkon, right?) Last year we started 3 former walk-ons along the OL Caputo, Choi, and Long. My point being that we are again likely to have at least 2 walk-ons starting on the Oline.

Well, "maybe" the Dline but losing Crick basically all year took a lot of wind out of that sail. But the Oline was, as usual, on a huge band-aid and needing walkons everywhere. Some of the games we even had to start two or three walkons IIRC. So it's reasonable to say that situation should start to improve this year. Now, is that enough of a difference to project we'll see better results? Maybe. I don't know. I like our chances though..... Choi and Long? The same 2 walk-ons that are likely to be starters this year?(Long was a walkon, right?)

Our defense played their asses off agaisnt OU in 2010. Go back and watch the game, they were the reason we could have won that game. Lets not forget that they basically put 7 points on the board for us, returning an interception inside the OU 5 yard line. You can't protect a 17 point lead for the entire game agaisnt an offense as good as OU's was that year. they didn't have to protect a 17 point lead for an entire game - just half the game. We were up 17 with 12+ minutes to go in the 2nd quarter. We were only up 3 at half, and our offense produced a whopping 0 points the rest of the way. Hard to win when you don't score in the 2nd half.

Our defense played their asses off agaisnt OU in 2010. Go back and watch the game, they were the reason we could have won that game. Lets not forget that they basically put 7 points on the board for us, returning an interception inside the OU 5 yard line. You can't protect a 17 point lead for the entire game agaisnt an offense as good as OU's was that year.

Agreed. People get too caught up on the final number, it's how you got there, I dare say its the process.

It's interesting that generally people think the offense was the strength of our team, and think the defense was awful. The stats say the opposite. Total defense rank is 37th and scoring defense is 42nd. But stats can say whatever you want them to say to support your argument.

Well, I don't see it as that ironclad Bo wanting to be just like everybody else "balanced". Just where did he say that 68% is too much? Heck, TO's teams used to run the ball 80% of the time and all they won was lots of games, conferences & national championships. Darn good thing we wouldn't want to do that. Wherever Bo said that, I hope it was taken put of context or at a weak moment for him. It would be a suicidal move, imo, going back to copying everyone else being "balanced". NU can't stand toe to toe with USC, Texas, Bama, LSU, etc, etc recruiting for the same type of offense for any consistent time basis (at all). Hope it's a rumor only. exactly, it would take a bigtime passer and productive receivers.........we don't have either. True. But we've got an experienced qb that runs like a scalded dog, a great rb and we'll almost certainly see improvement in our Oline this year (quite possibly a "lot"). Having our OC, WR & OLine coaches not in their 1st year should help too. Lastly, after three straight years of dropping passes all over the place it's always possible one or two of our wrs learn how to catch the ball. I'm not betting the ranch on that of course but you never know. On that side of the ball I like our chances. Why will our Oline almost certainly improve? Because we have young players who had 4 stars next to their names?

Point being....healthy this offensive line should be much improved (especially for Big10 style of play) this year. I guess I'll ask why you think the line will be improved? Obviously if the line can stay healthy that would be great, but an O-line staying healthy all year hasn't happened to this team in just about forever. But who's going to step up and make this line better? We've pretty much only seen Long, Moore, Sirles, Choi, and Rodriguez get game action. To think were just going to plug in a center who's bigger and the problem will be fixed is wishful thinking to me. But other than the names I listed, have you seen anyone else play on the line? That's why I don't think it's just some guarantee that the line will be an upgrade from last year.

I don't see why people think the offense will greatly improve either, we lost 3 starters on the O-line.

I think some people are putting the stars ahead of production as far as our young talent at RB. What was so impressive about them during the season that leads you to believe they'll be stars? I think they all looked small, and sure they can put on weight, but are they going to keep there speed and elusiveness? I just feel its a bit presumptious to believe we have great depth at RB right now. Not saying they won't be great, just too early to tell.

Agree. He's got the size (which is 50% of the NFL evaluation, see: Paul, Niles) It's not Ben's fault our offense is designed in such a way that limits his usefulness. If we were still WC he'd probably have 400+ yards. Instead he gets 15 balls thrown his way all season. Every one of which seems to be a crucial 3rd and long. I can remember a few catches this year in 3rd and long situations where Ben kept the drive going by taking a shot over the middle catching a ball that got there late. Absolutely agree. He was taking big shots and still bringing the ball in. Big grabs too like you mentioned.

I'll be shocked if Ben Cotton doesn't get drafted after his SR year. His blocking alone will get him a look, and he seemed to catch just about everything thrown at him this year IMO.

Sorry about just now getting back to ya, but I would put South Carolina in the top tear of the Big 10 if not the top. Don't get me wrong, they have their weaknesses as we exposed in the first half. But as far as an overall defense they would pry be at the top, not just in the Big 10 but in the country. Warrior I agree with your assessment. Footballs weird. If we just capitalize on our opportunities in the first half we're probably on here today saying how their defense wasn't as good as advertised. But their defense made game changing plays, so their reputation prevails.

Ha thanks man, long-long-long time lurker. And i used to be far more anti-martinez than i currently am. He didn't cost us a game this year, except maybe Wisconsin but I don't think our defense was gonna keep us competitive anyway.

I agree Hanc and i admit that I oversimplified it. But as you are a coach, when the other team blows assignments, you expect your team to make them pay for it dont you? I'm not saying they weren't good plays by Taylor, just that they are plays he should be expected to make when the opportunity is right there. And he did make them, so credit to him, I just didn't see it as carrying the team on his back as another poster suggested. Thats all.

Between 3 defenders? No. He put the ball over 3 defenders running 2 yards behind Enunwa. A 2 yard gap is wide open in college football. And yes i would have mentioned that he threw to the wrong guy, but points is points no matter how you get it.

Ohio State missed assignments, Taylor made them pay. And then Rex finished them off. 3 Touchdowns out of the diamond courtesy of blown assignments by the defense had a significant factor in us winning the game, but your right i oversimplified.

Warrior I understand I'm not going to change your opinion on Big 10 defenses, but after seeing South Carolina, where does that defense stack up in the big 10 in your eyes?

No you just saw Enunwa wide open, and Aaron Green wide open out of the backfield. And a hole that you could have driven a truck through on the run. It was far more of a schematic advantage than the players making some jaw dropping plays, no?

The stats said Penn State was one of the best defenses in the Big 10. Even with "not being ready to play" as an excuse, hard to imagine that defense holding up in the big 12 when Houston had their way with them.

And nobody on the Nebraska offense carried the team to victory against Ohio State. Lavonte David and the diamond formation did. Ohio State wasn't ready for it, and couldn't stop it.