husker_rob

But you're making stuff up. There were no option routes. Sam makes that very clear. The coaches make that very clear. This wasn't the same scenario as Eli. There was no pass option. It was a bootleg. No pass option. I mean, if we would have lined up with 5 wideouts and called a QB draw, would you say it was just too tempting for Tommy not to pass it? It makes no sense. Tommy threw it when it was a running play with no option. Love the guy. He's been our offensive MVP this season. But he either misinterpreted the call or he made a bonehead play. Either way, the coaches weren't responsible here.

What would be so wrong with calling a bootleg in that situation? You're probably not going to get the first down running power off-tackle. They were stacking the box pretty deep by that point. Granted, that would have been infinitely better for us than what we ended up with -- but maybe what we ended up with wasn't what the coaches wanted either. So they call a play that (1) doesn't even involve a mesh point (extra safe), (2) would hopefully move the runner away from the teeth of the defense, and (3) might even take an extra second or two off the clock because it's a stretch play... What would be so wrong with that call? As long as you tell your QB you cannot pass (duh) and you must get down before hitting the sideline, what is so wrong with that? I mean, I'll answer that ..... "it didn't work." That's really what it's all about. Hindsight. Sometimes sh*t happens when dealing with college athletes. I still believe, absolutely nothing about our head coach or assistant coaches would make me believe they're so concerned about themselves that they want to sell out their players. It doesn't make sense. At all.

Hahaha and where are your references? I would love to see your sources. Watch the game? I did. And that's why I am so baffled by that play. There might ... just MIGHT ... be more to the story than what you saw in your living room. Just providing a little more context. Go question Sam. How dare he question your opinion. http://www.omaha.com/huskers/examining-what-the-heck-happened-the-rd-and--that/article_3b7728dc-6a2e-11e5-9a74-03605936afa2.html Sam isn't saying anything. He's reporting the coachspeak where Riley and Langsdorf threw their QB under the Bus, and Tommy refused to do an interview afterwards. Sky falling much? It's October, we just lost to Illinois, and we have a losing record. So, it's close? I have appreciated these coaches honesty and transparency so far. Answering a direct question about whether there was a passing option on the play isn't "throwing Tommy under the bus," any more than sitting Danial Davie for his inability to cover basic passes was throwing him under the bus. Sometimes the truth just lands on specific players. Riley could have added though, that the one play isn't the reason we lost (which it wasn't). We had 59 other minutes to put that game away. Agree with everything you said. All evidence seems to point that way. There has been nothing about Riley and staff that makes me believe they're throwing anyone under the bus to save their jobs hahaha. Frankly, I thought the play calling was fairly good, and that's what blew my mind about that call. We did stop throwing, for the most part, towards the end of the game when it was clear it just wasn't our day through the air. But now it all seems to make sense to me. And, yeah, passes ARE called in crappy weather ... as I watch a horribly-executed ND-Clemson game, because of all the rain. You still have to try to get your play-makers open to make a play.

Can't argue with that. Our receivers were horrible. And sometimes passes were behind them. But that 3rd down ... yeah, that is a pretty big part of the narrative. Sam seems to think so too.

Hahaha and where are your references? I would love to see your sources. Watch the game? I did. And that's why I am so baffled by that play. There might ... just MIGHT ... be more to the story than what you saw in your living room. Just providing a little more context. Go question Sam. How dare he question your opinion. http://www.omaha.com/huskers/examining-what-the-heck-happened-the-rd-and--that/article_3b7728dc-6a2e-11e5-9a74-03605936afa2.html

Hahaha and where are your references? I would love to see your sources.

Sounds like you don't want to hear any other opinion, and that's cool. We're all pissed. But if the coaches tell the quarterback to run the ball, and the quarterback passes the ball... well, what? Should we have our coaches out there holding his hand like Pop Warner? If the QB decides to pass the ball in that situation, even though you tell him not to, it's on the QB.

After re-assembling my head that previously exploded across my room, Sam McKewon says Tommy improved the pass that put the nation's worst pass defense into a tough game-saving situation: Apologies in advance if this has already been discussed. I searched and didn't see anything. From his twitter btw: @swmckewonOWH

The Jekyll an Hyde routine continues. Hopefully this coaching staff has what it takes to stop it. Can do nothing but wait and see.

Until we start showing up in the first 3 quarters, instead of waiting for an epic 4th quarter comeback, I've got no hope. That first half was as flat and sloppy as any I've seen in the last 15 years.

At least Nate shows up and plays hard. I'm still waiting for that push out of our front 4, who predicted it would look like we were blitzing every down. Zero pressure.

Fans that tweet players seriously need to get a life.

You can't buy championships. God knows, Texas has tried. I continue to re-watch games all the time from when we were great. It's not so much re-watching the game unfold; it's more re-living the feelings and memories that accompany them. I'll take the memories / championship all day. Twenty years from now, I wouldn't remember a damn thing that $20k bought, but I'd certainly remember the championship run.

I curse way too much in everyday life. But does it really need to be etched permanently in text on a searchable internet? One thing I've always loved about this board is people are pretty good natured and civil, for the most part ... and understanding that other opinions exist, even if they don't agree with them. There's really no good that is going to come out of allowing us to type using the same language we use when talking.

Yeah, his latest article is pretty discouraging, for sure. And I certainly hope he's being overly pessimistic, because our defense is going to be challenged a lot by BYU (I'm thinking like we were against Wyoming a couple years ago in that opener). I really respect Sam's eye. He really seems to understand the game. Kind of scary.

Agreed. Everything from the new offense to the unfortunate injuries have set the stage for him to get a shot to write his legacy here. He was a really special player once, who got dealt a rough hand of cards. It would be a nice story if he can be our homerun threat this year. Hope he stays healthy.

Kind of my thoughts too. We have 1s vs 1s, yet MR is happy for the offense when the offense has big plays and disappointed that the defense gave up big plays. haha I'm just looking forward to seeing us play a game (King of the Obvious here). Sure seems like they're doing a good job getting our guys ready to play. I love the weekly scrimmage aspect and focus on tackling (as much as possible). We'll see!

Yeah, I wouldn't be putting any money down on this one. On the one side, you've got a perennially tough opponent, because they always seem to have a good offense (tough matchup for a first game) but with several suspensions. On the other side, you've got us with a completely different coaching staff and philosophies on both sides and, as others have pointed out, no game tape to draw upon. I sure hope our new D front can get after their QB effectively, or our d backs in 1:1 coverage could really have a tough day. That said, I'm happy we're still being favored. And I'm excited to see something different on defense.

Will be a nice day if and when this happens (returning the students back down to the field). It may not even result in that much more of an intimidating atmosphere. But I would argue it just "looks" better. I like seeing the crazy students close to the field. I'm sure they can find a way to sell tickets that they're not buying, if that really is the case. We would have the same problem, no matter where we put them.

The sad thing is that someone will now hire this egomaniacal asshat.

Big 12's got a championship game problem. They're still a disaster of a conference. It's like watching a team play with a bunch of individuals doing their own thing.

Don't miss that mess of a conference whatsoever. And I absolutely detest the brand of football that is played there, for the most part (basketball on grass, no defense).

Couldn't agree more with others' thoughts on the brilliance of designing a defensive gameplan to make a crappy QB actually throw the ball. #defensiveguru But Ohio St's front 7 on defense would run right through our OL untouched. We need major improvement there (different scheme will help).

Loving this. Although I can't help but imagine how bad Ohio St would be pummeling us right now. Glad I'm missing that show.