Mavric

Cardinals

Iowa

Several posts have been moved to where they belong. Posts appropriate for this thread can continue on.

Eh ..... shorts are nice. Jerseys are meh.

That's what the commentators broadcasting the game said. It doesn't mean that they are right, but they probably more objective than many of us here. Can't find the link right now, but several days ago there was a post where a number of national analysts said that NU was the best 1-2 team in the country. I assume they're objective also. And who is our competition for that title? Well, a few would be: Virginia Texas South Carolina Arkansas So two teams that were 7-6 last year, one that was 6-7 and one that was 5-7.

ESPN

That's what the commentators broadcasting the game said. It doesn't mean that they are right, but they probably more objective than many of us here. Can't find the link right now, but several days ago there was a post where a number of national analysts said that NU was the best 1-2 team in the country. I assume they're objective also. And who is our competition for that title?

https://twitter.com/TDBynum/status/647115896951955456

There was an excellent QB sweep play called on a 3rd down early in the game. It was blown up, Lewis couldn't hold his block. Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jyjtlreRhk?t=20m26s I like the play, and wonder how it will be utilized going forward. Just getting around to re-watching the game and noticed that play as well. It's an interesting look but it's not so much Lewis not holding his block as it is Carter not getting his down block. But the guy Carter is supposed to block down on is inside the tackle. That's a long way to go to get a block. That guy doesn't make the tackle but he disrupts the timing of the play. If TA gets to the hole quicker, it was probably there. There was also another called run for TA a few plays before that so there were a couple here and there. Good point. I guess you always really catch the most obvious portion of a play that doesn't work. In this case, the guy that tackles him. Overall, I think all the runners in our offense could hit holes quicker. That's something I think we are lacking in our running game. Granted, we've gotten pretty spoiled with watching eventual NFL draftees hitting holes consistently quickly. As much as I'd hate to say it, seeing as this is a pro-Wilbon thread, I think Wilbon consistently doesn't hit holes fast enough. It's mainly because he seems eager to juke someone out, but he essentially jukes the hole out when he just needs to hit that hole as fast as he can. Maybe I'm crazy for seeing that, and maybe I'm wrong about that. But if I am correct, it's something that experience will teach him. He's gotta get used to the speed of the college game and how we play it. But he's gotta get more snaps to get that experience. Definitely agree with the backs not being as aggressive as they need to be. I remember 2-3 times against BYU that I thought Wilbon was dancing around too much but he found a way to slip through and pick up a couple yards. Newby also needs to be more decisive. Seems like they're both trying make the big play too much instead of just putting a shoulder down and getting a couple more yards while they can.

It's also pretty easy to lead all running backs in yards per carry when suddenly you're basically the only guy getting the touches. It is what it is I guess. If the guy has the play making ability that was talked about all spring not to mention the flashes he showed in his first game at BYU if you're going to throw as much as you decided to against Miami wouldn't you want to give MW a few passes thrown his way to give that defense something to think about? Heck if anything he's a pretty nice release valve for Armstrong because he can make people miss. How about a different style of runner to come at the Canes with? He looks too good to not be on the field imo. Perhaps he is getting all of the carries because he is averaging 6 yards per carry? He hasn't done anything to lose the starting job. I'm sure that game against the mighty D of the South Alabama Jaguars had nothing to do with inflating that 6 yards per carry stat that you're hanging your hat on. Our backup RB's got more time when Ameer Abdullah was our starter so apparently Newby must be 10 times the back that AA was.... Well, technically it did but Newby averaged 5.9 against Miami as well so it's not like the USA game is the complete outlier (as far as YPC goes - he averaged 7.1 in that game). Newby only averaged 4.3 against BYU. Cross was slightly better at 4.9. Wilbon was much worse at 2.3. One game is a pretty small sample size but that's the only game they all got a similar number of carries.

Definitely agree with this. I was surprised when I watched it again but we were definitely getting more pressure than they were. Still not great but better than I thought. The first time I noted this (post #5), it was a rhetorical question. You can plainly see all the LBs in the pic. But for some reason they are all on the right side and jammed up into the line. There is a huge hole to the left and no one left to scrape and make a play. The second time (post #11) I'm sure they were dropping into pass coverage but it was pretty easy to read screen so the fact that they're still not even in the picture as the pass is being thrown shows how ill prepared we were for that play. You can see Young at the bottom of the pic but he's the only defender within 10 yards of two receivers.

Post not poster. Not a hard rule to live with.

Planning OVs to Oregon and Nebraska, though Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are the early favorites. Arizona State also in the mix.

Player: Calvin Bundage Hometown: Edmond, Oklahoma School: Santa Fe Position: Safety, Outside Linebacker Height: 6-3 Weight: 200 40 time: Offers: Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Arkansas State, Houston, Iowa, Iowa State, Louisville, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon, TCU, Tennessee, Texas Tech, Tulsa Visits: Twitter Rivals: #48 OLB; 247: #21 S; Scout: #251 Overall; #18 S; ESPN: #38 OLB; Hudl

That's all I have time for tonight. I'm going to amend my previous statement about our defensive line play. I was mainly paying attention to our pass rush the first time but as I re-watched it to get these screen shots, our run defense was actually pretty poor. Most of the time Miami had huge holes to run through. The pass rush simply didn't have much time to get there as Kaaya was getting the ball out quickly - a credit to him and and not speaking well of our pass coverage. But through the entire first quarter I really struggle to find a play that wasn't pretty good from our offensive line. And the second quarter is basically the same way. Dropped passes - though I would content that two of them were knocked away by Miami - and a missed block by our TE cost us drives.

Miami's third possession Quick throw on the slant. WR screen. Maurice smells it out but can't recover in time. Not sure where our LBs went. Pretty bad run defense again - huge hole to run through. Kaaya has time to throw here but gets happy feet and rolls out even though there really isn't any pressure. Young finally makes him throw it away. Must have actually had good coverage on this one. TERRIBLE run defense. I really hope we had some sort of slant called here because there is no one on the right side. Another quick throw from Kaaya. This time Kaaya had time again but scrambles anyway. Should have been an easy TD to the RB releasing down the sideline but Kaaya zings it over his head. Another quick throw. Most of the time, Kaaya is getting rid of the ball very quickly. Hard to get pressure. Another quick throw with good protection. Receiver is really open. Got lucky here. Big holes in our run defense but the RB run right into the back of the guys in front of him. Goal line defense makes a good stand. After a penalty, Kaaya with the quick throw on the fade but it's incomplete. Have to give our defense credit here. There were some pretty bad plays but they found a way to force a field goal. And Miami had to earn it - it was a 13 play drive.

Nebraska's third possession I wouldn't call this great blocking but there is definitely a running lane to the outside for TA. But the LB runs him down for a three yard gain. Another perfect pocket allowing for everyone's favorite play "Cotton on the catch." This is an interesting play with Utter pulling and Newby leading TA. The line all makes their blocks - the free defender that blows up the play was lined up in the Guard-Tackle gap and Carter was supposed to block down on him. That's a long down block, especially for a TE. That guy doesn't make the play but it slows TA up enough that Lewis' guy is able to get free for the tackle. Punt.

Miami's second possession Pretty bad run defense here. The line is spread out so far that there are huge holes. Bando is unblocked but misses the tackle. A very quick throw by Kaaya - so fast that Young was completely unblocked but couldn't get there in time on the blitz. Davie is a half-step off but makes the tackle after the pass completion. Again pretty poor run defense. A huge hole and the OLine is free to work up to the second level. Another very quick throw from Kaaya, finding the slant for the TD. I didn't really notice Maurice much during the game but watching it again he was making some things happen.

Huskers second possession If this isn't a running lane, I don't know what is. It's a quick throw to Westy but none of the line is even a step back from the LOS (30). The left side got a good push. Not much of a hole but Miami was stacking the line on 3rd & 1. Cross got four yards. Mission accomplished. Remind me again why we didn't do this on 3rd & 1 later in the game.... Jet sweep to Reilly. All the line has executed their blocks. The one free defender was outside where the line could get to him and didn't make the play. Great pocket for TA to throw from. Throw was inside Carter and when he turned around to catch it, it give the safety time to close and knock the pass away. Not much of a hole but this is a straight zone run into the middle of an eight man box. But you can see several linemen have pushed their guys a few yards back. Just too many guys to block on a straight-ahead run. Lewis could have held his block longer but TA still has room to throw. Not a great job.

Miami's first possession. Quick curl route. Not much time to get any pressure. Another fairly quick throw but Collins has shoved his guy six yards back and Freedom is just coming free (no pun intended). Davie was beat but recovers to knock the pass away. Not particularly great line play as there is a nice hole. But where are our LBs? Young is directly ahead of the RB and we have five guys on the offense's right side with nobody home on the left. This was some sort of blitz or stunt but it left us terribly vulnerable. This is the play that Davie gets completely turned around and the receiver is wide open on the deep cross. But Collins totally beat his man only to run clear by Kaaya. But we have three guys bearing down on Kaaya as he releases it. Quick throw on the slant for the TD. No chance to get any pressure.