benjibean1

 

 

Duke - I couldn't agree more. Excellent topic which I have brought up many tiimes. In my opinion, NU will NOT get to national title prominence again until it goes back to adopting Osborne's blueprint. I've given reasons in other posts, but here's another thing....I think a lot of fans have lowered their standards to where they think about "winning the Big 10 championship", or even worse, "winning the West division". Who cares? I couldn't give a damn about a conference or divisional championship. Means nothing to me. Just tells me you outplayed 6 or 13 other teams. What I care about is NATIONAL prominence, being #1 again, being taken seriously (feared) by other teams, being physical and running teams over.

 

Having a cookie cutter passing offense is Ok for guys like Riley who never won anything, but to get back to winning NATIONAL TITLES and being in the hunt for them year after year (like today's Alabama's, Ohio State's, etc.) requires a SOLID running game, and for that...Riley is NOT the answer. He MIGHT get NU to 6-6, 7-5, maybe even 8-4 on a good year, which maybe for some fans is good enough. But he will NEVER get NU to national titles (or even in the conversation of one).

 

 

Undone - you're right.....what one personally wants to see run as far as offensive philosophy and what could actually work can be entirely two different things. A lot of fans like passing. I hate it. I despise it. To me, it is WUSSY football. It's throwing the ball over someone's head so they can't get to it (basically, monkey in the middle). I'd rather run a team over, physically beat them up. With rule changes over the years, they have geared the game more to passing and less to running. They've taken the brutality of the game away. Osborne had it right...EVERYONE (including the QB) blocks, everyone (including QBs) runs (and no slides or running out of bounds). Qb's should not be given any special status when it comes to the BRUTALITY of the game...they should hit and be hit just like everyone else. No prima donnas.

 

So since you mentioned preference, I will say my preference is to run the ball (80/20 ratio or higher, 90/10 even). But to do that you need the right coach who knows the ins and outs of the running game...and Riley is not that coach. He is not a run-the-ball TECHNICIAN. So we are stuck with Riley and his West Coast wussy throw the ball around offense, which, like I said, will absolutely not bring NU back to national titles, hence, it is not good enough for me. I won't settle for "winning the West division". I want PANCAKES. When is the last time you heard the word Pancakes? Offensive linemen used to compete to see who could get the most pancakes in a game. They took pride in it. They enjoyed firing off the line to smash the defensive linemen into the ground on run plays. What happens on a pass play? Offensive linemen BACKPEDAL, forming a nice cushy pocket for the QB (in other words, very passive, and defintiely not gonna lead to any pancakes).

 

So to sum up....my preference...run the ball. What will bring Nebraska back to the promised land of national title?....run the ball (but only with the right coaches who know what they're doing and are true technicians in rushing attack philosophy and execution).

There is much to love about this brand of football - Husker teams of yesteryear called it "smashmouth" football. Dominate the line of scrimmage and pound the defense into submission. You throw over the top 6 to 8 times a half just to scorch 'em with a big ugly tight end lumbering down the field as little DBs slip and fall off his back for 29 yards into the dreadful 4 down territory inside the opponents' 40. From there, the opponent's defenders knew what was coming - more tough running backs and hard hitting fullbacks pounding away. It was brutal at times - yes. The toughest team won 90% of the time.

 

 

Want to know how much Nebraska fans love this brand of football...smash-mouth football? Want to know how much they miss those tough running, physical types of running games?

 

Just listen to the crowd on Saturday after Janovich's 55-yard touchdown run.

 

This is just one example of what Nebraska football is, what it was...

 

.... and what it should be.

 

 

That play brings a tear to my eye. I miss the "Mac" trucks and the "Sledge" Hammers of yesteryear.

 

Don't you know your the cause of this loss? J/k

 

In a sentence, I'd say it's the coaching transition.

 

I'm not really interested in assigning blame. We Husker fans have been doing that pretty well for 15 years and how's that working out for us? Maybe, for a change, our team just needs a little bit of peace from us so they can figure out who and what they want to be.

 

Dude they figured it out. If you are ok with the continued slide...well...I have a participation trophy you can add to your wall.

We lost the last game because we passed it on the last drive and people bitched. So today they ran it three times on the last drive and people still bitched.

So let me help you since you didnt watch the game. The coaches top running back was not in the game. Instead we head with our...well what is he now our 4th option and blast it into a sea of 11 people.

And really, I think Callahan wasn't given a fair shot. Maybe we can find a spot for him as well.

I just threw up in my mouth.

Callahan ultimately ended up not being the right hire. Pelini ultimately ended up not being the right hire, even though he got us to a few conference championship games and won a few bowl games. Will Riley end up being the right hire? Who knows, but 5 games in is far too early to tell.

 

You know what? The start Riley's had isn't too far off from the start Bo had in 2008. And let's not talk about talent left by the previous coaching staff, let's just assume they're equal: you'll hear people say that Cally left no talent and that Pelini left a lot of talent and vice versa, so let's just say they're equal. In 2008, Bo had wins over Western Michigan (47-24), San Jose State (35-12), New Mexico State (38-7), before losing to Virginia Tech (35-30) and Missouri (52-17).

 

ESPN likes to track win probability of teams at various points during the game. Against BYU, up 28-27 with :01, Nebraska had a 98.5% chance of winning. Nebraska lost. Against Illinois, up 13-7 on 3rd and 7, Nebraska had a 99.5% chance of winning. Nebraska lost. We had a 98% of being 4-1 right now, and we've just happened to wind up in the 2% this time. Even though one of the games was really the result of a bad playcall, let's just assume that that playcall was simply unlucky and a matter of chance (who knows, maybe Tommy wasn't supposed to throw the ball). We won't always wind up in that 2% area, it's just probabilistically unlikely.

I have some yellow rocks to sell you. We will call it Gold. 98% chance it is not Gold. No stoping you. Buy it. Then lets say we revisit this in a couple of weeks. Oops you might buy again.

So don't boo then. Just start a chant "insert coach name" Sucks. That would not be directed at the players.

Boo ya. Another thread.

Yet you are still reading them and upping your post count with thrilling insight like this.

Nine wins is all i hear about pelini. but did he have any signature wins? yes he won the expected games but to win the signature wins takes coaching. in those losses he was out coached. with pelini we were not going to see anymore improvement. you were not going to see any big 10 championships and definitely not a national title. and yes the embarassment of his sideline antics. Do we so soon forget his remarks after he was no longer here? Solich was let go for reasons other then coaching performance which was the reason for his short tenure. Callahan was let go for coaching performance after 5 years?. Pelini was let go for a little of both after 5 years. Mike Riley is owed 3 - 5 years before we should make a decision as to performance. Until then lets support him. there are good things happening if we can see past this temporary win/loss ratio.

I would like to know why some coaches think they can come in an put in a "Pro" style offense in the NCAA. When all you ever here is that QB's that comes from College to the Pro level are no where near ready for the game. If a player makes it all the way to a senior and then makes it to the NFL as a QB and is not ready...why would they think a 20 year old Soph/Junior would be able to do it.

However we just didn't make the throws. It is execution. Why is it so hard for coaches to play to the strengths of the players around them.

I dont remember Wisky throwing the ball much...except when they had Russel Wilson...and well because he could. Just an example.

I want a Coach that can recognize the player talent he has around them and game plan for that. That to me smells like success and someone I would gladly get behind.

I believe there will be a little more attention paid to the running game beginning with Wisconsin. Armstrong didn't look good at all throwing and the WR's didn't help matters.

 

There is no denying what Ozigbo did in a close game. And Janovich has shown he can be a formidable player as well.

You have too much faith in this staff. You will see their Clown-a-han stubbornness come out in this game.

 

Well we are at 3 losses now...that loss to Illinois reminded me of the 2009 loss AT Virginia Tech. Nebraska ended up having a pretty good year that year, and the infamous 1 second screw job in the big 12 title game.

 

Maybe since the illinois game reminded me of the 09 VT game. This team goes on a win streak and wins out...

 

Let there be hope until reality sets in on Saturday.

 

Absolutely. Optimism is free.

 

Go sell your crazy somewhere else. We are already stocked up around here.

I would still take losses like we have been over ones that were complete ass beatings. At least we are competitive in these close losses.

Really? Miami we crapped the bed. It was a miracle that we even came close. That was a BLOWOUT. We almost crapped another bed to So. Miss.

By the way....Huskers just threw another long pass and it was incomplete. DL will never learn.

TA should bench MR and DL.

A+ my friend. A+!

Certainly a stunning hire.

Hows my post sound now?

The opening line for Nebraska vs Illinois to start the B10 conference season.

 

What do you think.. We cover?

The over.

it is the lack of personality that concerns me. The sidelines look dead. No one is playing excited or with passion.

Well at least it doesnt look like it. Except for Tommy, he wants to win it.

I personally think Riley is trying to lose. He saw what Callahan did, and said "that looks like a good idea!" I too wish that Wilbon would get some carries as I am over the Imani experience, but I also do not believe that the coaches are ignorant of talent and skill.

Careful I got torched when this hire happened for saying that same statement. Don't win 9, gotta lower those expectations.

I learned that I "HATE" the jet sweep.

Yes it sucks there are 2 L's in the loss column. But come on, look at how these two games ended? A desperation heave from midfield and the other in overtime. The sky is not falling.

I think you must have only watched the 4th quarter. This game was atrocious. I was in disbelief in the 4th quarter that we would be able to even come back to tie it. We played that poorly.

for those unaware....i do not think they are cheating...just playing great like they are wearing stickum.

The biggest difference between this year and receivers of the past. They are catching the ball. Last 4 years i felt like there were a ton of drops out there. These dudes have glue on their hands. Reminds me of this scene.

I think Wilbon will turn up to be that big play guy. He just looks to have juice. Reiley(SP?) looks to have some speed skills as well.

You know what is awesome. Having an opinion and coming to share it. Oh God forbid that it is not in line with the Kool-Aid goggles. Didnt say it "WAS" low class, just that it felt that way. Would probably get a ton of responses if i just said.

Mike Riley is awesome. We Won. Yahoo.

I guess i just grew up in an era where, when we were up, we just kept running it. Then it was up to the other team to stop it. If they couldn't, well that was on them. I was not a Callahan fan. I started off a Bo fan when he was hired. I got tired of his nonsense by the last 3 seasons of his tenure. I don't care for the current regime. After all my opinion doesn't matter and I get what I get. Still will buy the gear. Cheer my team and not like it when they lose.