AustinHuskr

MichiganMan - need your honest opinion:

1) More intimidating home field UM or PSU? (BTW I was at the CU/UM game in 1994 - in the EZ where Westbrook caught the hail Mary but I don't remember it being loud or intimidating)

2) Better defense: UM or PSU? Or MSU for that matter? We kept hearing that MSU had the best DL and PSU the best overall defense..... IDK... PSU looked a lot better to me esp. the DL.

Too lazy to google this but what I found interesting is: MI's defense ranks 17th in average yards allowed (322.2) and 7th in average points allowed (16.1)! Yo! That's impressive.

How does that compare with PSU's?

Our OL against their DL will be the X-factor IMO - more so than stopping Denard.

Honestly?

 

I still had a lot of questions about this team when the season began.

 

I could have sworn we all did. And that first glance at our new Big 10 schedule had most of us predicting a 2 or 3 loss season. Or worse.

 

What I didn't anticipate at all was our defense starting out so poorly and then....not getting any better.

 

With two solid showing the last two games, and at least one of them a win, I'd still take this season over 2009 and 2010.

 

And then I plan on dialing my expectations up for next season. Coaches and returning starters in place. No excuses.

Amen, but don't forget the loss of the Big3: Dennard, David and Crick (although Crick won't be a big loss). The secondary needs to make HUGE strides, period. With Dennard gone they'll have to step up. I don't see who that leader in the secondary would be though....

Next thing we need is a big run plugger on the DL. Rome needs to bulk up. Guy has the size but no oomph. Randle...IDK?? Peat needs to live up to his hype..... We need a monster MLB. 6'3" 230lbs at least. Maybe Compton becomes that guy - maybe Santos is the next David.... Maybe it's another JUCO - Zaire Anderson..... Lots of questions but that secondary needs to step up.

I don't think NU fans are going to see much "pressure" on Robinson. The d-line will play with a controlled rush forcing Robinson to "run away" from the play. NU will play man on the backside (with the backside DL just playing containment) allowing an extra person LB or DB to follow Robinson to the "play side". This will be the formula to contain Robinson and force a turnover or two.

 

With Dennard in a man-to-man, and Green playing in a zone with Stafford/Cassidy, the Wolverines might actually just play into the strengths that the Husker defense has. David/Stafford will be able to run and make plays.

 

Going out on a limb...Nebraska 38; Michigan 17 (Robinson will score at least once on pure athleticism)

 

NU offensively: keep doin' what you do!!!

 

If the d-line comes out and plays with a controlled rush, we can automatically mark this down as an "L". Sorry, but the controlled rush thing is the dumbest thing I have seen. It looks like the d-linemen are just standing around and not even trying. I mean, what's the point? So the QB has all day to sit back there and pick apart our D? The d-line has enough problems pressuring QBs and then you ask them for a controlled rush? Forget about it. Controlled rush equates to ZERO pressure and ALL day for WRs to get open and the QB to get them the ball.

 

Get after Denard with blitzes and let our d-linemen loose. That's the only way we have a chance to win this game.

Yup.

 

That's why I sometimes wish I could get a press pass, fly up to Lincoln and ask Bo point blank if that's the premise of his defense and WHY he runs that silly scheme? Again, if there is proof that we run this "patty cake DL" scheme by design, then Bo is simply not a very good DC. To me it just looks like we have no talent on the DL and that equates to guys not being able to shed blocks.

 

We got after the QB in the Mich St game. He was pressured all day long, but it was because we actually went after him. Obviously the QBs are entirely different players, but I can guarantee we will lose if Denard is not pressured. When he is pressured, he makes alot of mistakes. Will he scamper from time to time? Yes, but it's better than being picked apart in the passing game. And I understand he isn't a good passer, but when you have more than five seconds for the WRs to get open and for the QB to make a decision, it's pretty simple pitch and catch.

 

If we put pressure on him, we win this game.

That's what MSU did. They harassed the bejesus out of him. The question is - can NU generate that same pass rush without giving up huge runs? MI has found a RB now (Toussant) and he's very good. We'll have to keep the rush lanes in check. This is where great DE play comes in - and which we have ZERO talent. MSU had great DE play in that game.

I don't think NU fans are going to see much "pressure" on Robinson. The d-line will play with a controlled rush forcing Robinson to "run away" from the play. NU will play man on the backside (with the backside DL just playing containment) allowing an extra person LB or DB to follow Robinson to the "play side". This will be the formula to contain Robinson and force a turnover or two.

 

With Dennard in a man-to-man, and Green playing in a zone with Stafford/Cassidy, the Wolverines might actually just play into the strengths that the Husker defense has. David/Stafford will be able to run and make plays.

 

Going out on a limb...Nebraska 38; Michigan 17 (Robinson will score at least once on pure athleticism)

 

NU offensively: keep doin' what you do!!!

 

If the d-line comes out and plays with a controlled rush, we can automatically mark this down as an "L". Sorry, but the controlled rush thing is the dumbest thing I have seen. It looks like the d-linemen are just standing around and not even trying. I mean, what's the point? So the QB has all day to sit back there and pick apart our D? The d-line has enough problems pressuring QBs and then you ask them for a controlled rush? Forget about it. Controlled rush equates to ZERO pressure and ALL day for WRs to get open and the QB to get them the ball.

 

Get after Denard with blitzes and let our d-linemen loose. That's the only way we have a chance to win this game.

Yup.

That's why I sometimes wish I could get a press pass, fly up to Lincoln and ask Bo point blank if that's the premise of his defense and WHY he runs that silly scheme? Again, if there is proof that we run this "patty cake DL" scheme by design, then Bo is simply not a very good DC. To me it just looks like we have no talent on the DL and that equates to guys not being able to shed blocks.

Something has been missing from this season. It just seems hollow. I think the Wisconsin and Penn State games just emotionally wiped us out. I spent an incredible amount of energy getting up for Wisconsin, only to be knocked out cold. That game showed us that we were nowhere near the top. Sad. Also, the weirdness around Penn State made the season more strange. It just seems like something has been missing from this season. The reality is that I wanted us to compete for the National Championship, but we had way too much change and inexperience to get there. Don't get me wrong: glad to be in the Big 10 and love the new venues, but something has been missing. Still several cool games to play, so maybe that will change. Next year is aiming to be something special. Would like to end this year on a good note.

Wow! Are you sure you are not my alter ego?

I have been thinking about this ever since the WI loss.... and more so since NW. The PSU game did nothing to change that feeling except reinforce the fact that we are NOT the team I thought we'd be back in Sept (esp. with all the talk about NU being the fav. to win the B1GC).... Not to mention that all the talk since Bo got here was that "we're making progress, etc".

Even if we win these next 2, we end up in the Cap1 bowl.... uuummmm..... playing a good team I guess. Sorry - I'm not buying into anymore hype or "best case" scenarios of ending up in a BCS or B1GC. Don't want to expend anymore energy hoping that "NW beats MSU"... or a bunch of top1-10 teams lose and open the doors for an at-large BCS. Just not worth the brain cells. What makes this season seem so hollow now is that even the B1GC champion has no shot at the NC. So it's not like the whole nation will be watching to see which super B1G team ends up playing for all the marbles.....So as it stands right now, another ho hum inconsequential bowl game (and God forbid no losses to UM and IA!). The fact of the matter is that there is no progress - not when you're going 10-3/10-4 for 4 straight years. Progress = winning championships or at the very least playing in big time BCS bowls!

Amazing - I was thinking about starting this exact same thread this morning!

The other thing that tugs at me is I know that with each year that we fiddle around being irrelevant, it makes it that much harder to recruit! The glory days of the 90's fade farther away almost to a point that we sound like ND fans.

 

How have we been irrelevant, especially in the past year (or week, for that matter)?

 

Nebraska was at the forefront of conference expansion. Nebraska was a Top 10 and 15 team this year, and if we win out we'll be Top 15 again.

 

And comparing us to fans of a school that sold their tickets to a visiting top team, have had multiple losing seasons since the 90s, and that is routinely outclassed by Nebraska in TV ratings, despite having their own network? I don't know if this kind of thought won you major accolades back on 'Pedia, but here that's just asinine and unjustifiably pessimistic.

 

Plus, if you were a fan for as long as you said you were, then you would know that all coaches, including St. Tom, lost to unranked teams they should have clobbered. It's college football--a game being played by kids that were, mere months ago, unable to legally buy porn, play the lottery, or smoke it up.

 

Yes, the Northwestern loss sucks. But there's no reason to go all maudlin about it--the future is brighter than ever before.

Wow - you guys really pay a lot of attention to my "Pedia" rep

Only a blind homer like you would not see what's plain as day: When I say NU is irrelevant - I'm not talking about B1G expansion. Shyaaaa..... and that's "on the field football stuff". Look Einstein, this is NOT about saying we ARE ND - it's a valid comparison bec. if you go talk to any body who's a fan of a Top-10 team like LSU, Bama, tu (yes, even tu), OU or whoever, NU is not thought of in that same regard as being a NC contender.

Do they know about NU and TO - uumm .... yeah. But if that gives you the "warm and fuzzies" about NU being relevant, then you're not very informed.

I've wondered about this very same thing watching the offense this year: At times they look like they are brimming with confidence and attack a defense from all angles and with great play calls....then there are a lot of times when we look like a replica of the "2009 Zac Lee stuck in neutral" garbage where we have absolutely no imagination other than "Rex right Rex left TM ZR keeper"! This was most evident in the 1st Qtr. of the WI game where we looked like world beaters. Contrast that with the MSU and NW games where Beck was "playing not to lose" for the most part....

Reading this article made me wonder.... Is Beck susceptible to this thinking more than he wants to admit - meaning - is it how part of his DNA? At face value it looks pretty harmless that he admits his mistakes but I wonder when and how this will come back to bite us again..... The minute after TM throws an INT will be the time to see if Beck really believes what he just said about attacking or..... if he's crawls back into shell. When you see teams like OU, OkieLite and Oregon play - they attack. Even if something bad happens they come right back and get after you. That's what we need to become. Not saying that we shouldn't give it to Rex when under duress but there comes a time, esp. against above average defenses on the road where attacking that defense might be better than letting it hang in there and gain more confidence - and that's what I think happened against NW.

I've wondered about this very same thing watching the offense this year: At times they look like they are brimming with confidence and attack a defense from all angles and with great play calls....then there are a lot of times when we look like a replica of the "2009 Zac Lee stuck in neutral" garbage where we have absolutely no imagination other than "Rex right Rex left TM ZR keeper"! This was most evident in the 1st Qtr. of the WI game where we looked like world beaters. Contrast that with the MSU and NW games where Beck was "playing not to lose" for the most part....

Reading this article made me wonder.... Is Beck susceptible to this thinking more than he wants to admit? At face value it looks pretty harmless that he admits his mistakes but I wonder when and how this will come back to bite us again..... The minute after TM throws an INT will be the time to see if Beck really believes what he just said about attacking or..... if he's crawls back into shell. When you see teams like OkieLite play - they attack. Even if something bad happens they come right back and get after you. That's what we need to become.

http://my.journalstar.com/post/Husker_Extra_Group/Husker_Extra/blog/beck_says_nu_offense_must_attack.html

Kinnie is on his way out, so at this point it's really less of an issue with him.

 

The other guys are pretty young, and I think that with the new receivers coach that we have now these issues will be sorted out in time. Drops have not determined our two losses this season, so there's really no argument there.

 

Getting it sorted out by next season is what is really important at this point.

Really? go back and watch the NW game.

If Bell and Enunwa make those catches we win.

Still.................if it's 3rd and 8 in the 4th qt at the Big House..................I trust Marlowe more than Kinnie right now............

Yup.

Marlowe has been a pleasant surprise. He seems to have that "it" factor - something "angry" - like he knows the ball is his! I see it. I like it.

we have some good guys coming up..... but BK aint one of them right now... the thing is these guys can catch the ball they are not some idiots off some random HS team... i just dont know why they cant preform at game time...

 

 

because they are not 5 star recruits.. And they are still just freshman..

 

 

you dont need to be a 5 star to know how to catch the ball.......

Yup,

Sincerely,

Boise State

I don't think NU fans are going to see much "pressure" on Robinson. The d-line will play with a controlled rush forcing Robinson to "run away" from the play. NU will play man on the backside (with the backside DL just playing containment) allowing an extra person LB or DB to follow Robinson to the "play side". This will be the formula to contain Robinson and force a turnover or two.

 

With Dennard in a man-to-man, and Green playing in a zone with Stafford/Cassidy, the Wolverines might actually just play into the strengths that the Husker defense has. David/Stafford will be able to run and make plays.

 

Going out on a limb...Nebraska 38; Michigan 17 (Robinson will score at least once on pure athleticism)

 

NU offensively: keep doin' what you do!!!

Agree!! Great post esp. the part that says "The d-line will play with a controlled rush forcing Robinson to "run away" from the play". You almost have no choice with the lack of a Suh-type player on the DL. The only issue I have with this is DE play. It's going to be huge in this game and with the way our DE's play, it could be a nightmarish situation if Denard breaks contain to the edge.

Also, don't forget - UM seems to have finally found a RB (Tousant) and a true run game.

The 1 thing that makes me feel better about this game is that MI's home field is A LOT less intimidating than PSU's and if the offense didn't look discombobulated @PSU, then I have no reason to believe that it will be bad @UM.

Just a thought based on the venue but it could also be that PSU wasn't loud bec of all the issues surrounding the game and if UM gets as crazy as it looked against ND at night then look out.

For me it's more than just "irritating". I'm PO'd. because the time and energy I've spent on NU football the last uumm...... 20-30+ years doesn't seem to be paying off I really thought that in year 4 we'd be in solid position to compete for the NC or win a conf. champ and ...at the VERY LEAST make a BCS bowl.

 

But the reality is that we're still irrelevant. THAT more than anything ticks me off. I can understand losing to a top 5-10 team bec. then at least you know that you're there - somewhat. But losing AT HOME is just something that I didn't think we'd be doing 4 years into TO and Bo's tenures.

 

The other thing that tugs at me is I know that with each year that we fiddle around being irrelevant, it makes it that much harder to recruit! The glory days of the 90's fade farther away almost to a point that we sound like ND fans.

Nobody is forcing you to be a Nebraska fan. If you hate it so much, why not root for a different team?

A stupid response I must say.

Can't believe I responded to a stupid post..... Oh well.

Short answer: Get ready for a shoot out.

Of course Bo could surprise us with a creative scheme on defense ala MSU but assuming that does not happen....... this game is ALL on Beck and TMagic/Rex.

And of course, keep Kinnie on the sidelines.

For me it's more than just "irritating". I'm PO'd. because the time and energy I've spent on NU football the last uumm...... 20-30+ years doesn't seem to be paying off I really thought that in year 4 we'd be in solid position to compete for the NC or win a conf. champ and ...at the VERY LEAST make a BCS bowl.

But the reality is that we're still irrelevant. THAT more than anything ticks me off. I can understand losing to a top 5-10 team bec. then at least you know that you're there - somewhat. But losing AT HOME is just something that I didn't think we'd be doing 4 years into TO and Bo's tenures.

The other thing that tugs at me is I know that with each year that we fiddle around being irrelevant, it makes it that much harder to recruit! The glory days of the 90's fade farther away almost to a point that we sound like ND fans.

Bo said in today's presser that Qvale and Thompson are both day-to-day with injuries. Ben Cotton and Andrew Rodriguez are doubtful for Michigan.

 

EDIT - here's an updated from the LJS:

 

 

Bo Pelini was asked about several injuries Monday.

-- Starting tight end Ben Cotton is doubtful for Saturday's game at Michigan, the Husker coach said. Cotton's right arm was in a sling after the Penn State game.

-- Starting LG Andrew Rodriguez also is doubtful. He didn't make the trip to Penn State because of an undisclosed injury, which I believe happened late last week in practice.

-- Reserve offensive guard Brandon Thompson and backup wideout Khiry Cooper are "day-to-day" because of injuries.

-- Pelini expects reserve guard Brent Qvale to return to action this week. He could be a big help with depth behind guards Seung Hoon Choi and Spencer Long, who played every down at Penn State.

 

LINK

So basically if a guy is out of sight we should just assume he's injured.

 

At this rate 1/2 the team seems to be injured! Good GOD! What happened to Turner's injury ?

 

No I don't think you assume he's injured. However, you assume that the coaches are not playing guys on purpose, and they are mismanaging. Is it fair to assume either direction? No. What's fair is admitting we don't know everything that goes on with the football program.

My post was a little tongue in cheek (in case you missed the roll eyes emoticon).

I don't put much stock into Bo's "injury updates". Guys are AWOL and then suddenly we find out they are injured. If guys are dropping like flies then we need to revisit the S&C program bec. I can't ever remember a time when 4 DT's and about 4 OL got injured in a season. Something's just weird there. Also - what happened to Sirles' progress? He was a 4* and should have been busting out this year but now looks lost in the lineup after playing a lot of snaps in 2010.

Sorry - I just don't want to play any B12 teams.

 

Need a few more years to get the bad taste out.

 

Regardless, if we do end up in a non-BCS bowl it will serve as a painful and standing reminder of what happens when you take a game off. Every year it's been near misses that could have drastically changed the perception of Bo. Of course there was 09 when we could/should have won the B12C! Imagine that - instead of commentators always harping on 1999 as the last time NU won a conf. champ! HUGE HUGE moment that we let slip away (bec. of 0 offense). Then in 2010 - again 0 offense costs us games against tu, aTm and OU. 1 - maybe 2 FG's change that whole season again!

 

What a huge loss that was to NW.

 

And BTW - I don't think MSU will lose to NW.

 

historically, MSU doesn't play well at Northwestern. But then again, Iowa had not lost a home game all season until they went up against MSU.

 

Last year, was not a good year for the Big Ten in terms of bowl games. 8 teams went to bowl games, only 3 of them won their bowl games. Ohio State, Illinois, and Iowa.

If teams like NU were blowing off NW - not anymore. They now have everyone's attention including MSU's. For MSU - win that game and they get to go to the party in Indy. Just too much on the line for MSU to mess it up and if MSU's truly the better "team" then they should win, but............

BUT............

I think NW has a very good offense. Better than MSU's? IDK - but we'll see.

Bo said in today's presser that Qvale and Thompson are both day-to-day with injuries. Ben Cotton and Andrew Rodriguez are doubtful for Michigan.

 

EDIT - here's an updated from the LJS:

 

 

Bo Pelini was asked about several injuries Monday.

-- Starting tight end Ben Cotton is doubtful for Saturday's game at Michigan, the Husker coach said. Cotton's right arm was in a sling after the Penn State game.

-- Starting LG Andrew Rodriguez also is doubtful. He didn't make the trip to Penn State because of an undisclosed injury, which I believe happened late last week in practice.

-- Reserve offensive guard Brandon Thompson and backup wideout Khiry Cooper are "day-to-day" because of injuries.

-- Pelini expects reserve guard Brent Qvale to return to action this week. He could be a big help with depth behind guards Seung Hoon Choi and Spencer Long, who played every down at Penn State.

 

LINK

So basically if a guy is out of sight we should just assume he's injured.

At this rate 1/2 the team seems to be injured! Good GOD! What happened to Turner's injury ?

Perhaps I'm stating the obvious, but maybe Qvale just isn't at that point yet where he deserves serious playing time. Somebody mentioned in another thread that his technique isn't where it needs to be yet. Whether that's true or not, I have no idea. He's still young, though, and has at least two more years to push for playing time.

 

Same goes for Moore and Thompsen. If they're not playing, it's because they got beat out. In Moore's case, I'm not surprised. He's a true freshman with a ton of potential, but he's still a true freshman. Marcel Jones has been here for many years and is probably the more consistent player right now if he's starting over Moore.

He's a JR next year.

Uummm... not much time on the clock.

I don't know what it is about the water in Lincoln but these issues span multiple coaches and players. These guys have been catching balls since pee wee fball so it's not something new.

In the end, it's talent (or lack thereof). Even Bell drops easy balls.

This was the 1 name that was talked about much last year. Remember the KSU game..... when all those 2nd stringers trotted out after the wood shed beating and everyone was in awe about how physically talented they looked esp. Qvale....

What the heck happened? He was supposed to be a definite starter in spring camp......and now just like the other eyebrow raising personnel issues on offense he's AWOL.

Anyone know what the deal is?

Hey Woody - which is a tougher environment to play in, Happy Valley or The Shoe?

Honest opinion now - no homer

And yes, I'm already looking forward to 2012.

Sorry - I just don't want to play any B12 teams.

Need a few more years to get the bad taste out.

Regardless, if we do end up in a non-BCS bowl it will serve as a painful and standing reminder of what happens when you take a game off. Every year it's been near misses that could have drastically changed the perception of Bo. Of course there was 09 when we could/should have won the B12C! Imagine that - instead of commentators always harping on 1999 as the last time NU won a conf. champ! HUGE HUGE moment that we let slip away (bec. of 0 offense). Then in 2010 - again 0 offense costs us games against tu, aTm and OU. 1 - maybe 2 FG's change that whole season again!

What a huge loss that was to NW.

And BTW - I don't think MSU will lose to NW.