fgrimley32

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. This was the loudest I've ever heard the crowd since the kick that beat Colorado. The band even sounded powerful after that run, like a FB was playing the trumpet too... But alas, all that for NOTHING. We go back to bad defense and Riley-ball. Thanks coaching staff. Seriously? What is soo hard about breaking the huddle with an Ozigbo, Janovich and 3WRs, line up in an I-Slot, and do three running plays to secure the game? I mean, Green Bay uses that formation to perfection, because it dictates terms to the defense. If they come with a base 4-3, then play action pass. If they go with a Nickel or Dime, then do any series of FB or I-Lead runs? Yet that simple formation and all it's possibilities is light years beyond this staff. Not only that, but others here have mentioned that we don't drive to get pancakes anymore, and that's completely true. It's a testament to the softness of this team, that they don't DRIVE BLOCK anymore, they simply do that Influence blocking even when running inside zone plays, and we act surprised when those running plays get blown up. Or we do a whole buncha motion and shifting to run a lame Jet Sweep that gets strung out for no gain. We may very well go 2-10 this year. I feel for the players because they are stuck with this worthless staff, and they are doing the best they can. I mean, I even feel bad for Tommy "I never met a bad deep ball I didn't like" Armstrong. He's had to endure Beck's soft East-West offense, only to be saddled with LangsDORKs nightmare. And what more can be said about Janovich? A GREAT FULLBACK, in the light of past Husker greats and he was completely phased out during the Beck era, and finally gets some love only to get regressed under this coaching regime. Think about how much talent we've wasted with all these loser coaching staffs and OCs. Helu, Burkhead, Suh, Crick, Lavonte David, Janovich, ... the list just goes on and on. Can't tell me we haven't had the talent to win the Nebraska Way.

You've got it all WRONG about commitment and why we fans commit time, emotion and sometimes money to a football program. For me, when NU hired Mike Riley (and the staff), there was an understanding that we would go back to Nebraska Ball. More running, usually from simple I formations, with a FULLBACK and I-Back. Our climate really demands it now that it's gotten WINDY and COLD. As well as playing far better defense than we are right now, to the point of NOT being last in the country in pass defense. At this point, being better than 50% would be a marked improvement. Yes, there are injuries, but there is an issue of TECHNIQUE as well. Watch how the DBs just go through the motions of jamming opposing WRs, and watch their "footwork", they run flat-footed instead of backpedaling on their toes. And that's one of the issues off the top of my head. If you think we fans are non-commitive because of what we see through five games, you are right. I don't want to go back to the Callahan days of using the Pass to set up the Run and playing horrid defense. If you are cool with that "process" path then all the more to you, but I won't follow our beloved Huskers if they are gonna continue losing their traditional identity and become West Coast Nebraska. Langsdorf, and by extension, Riley have shown they understand NOTHING about Nebraska, even with all the good "talks" he supposedly had with Osborne, Tenopir and others last spring. I think the Omaha paper even talked about this, how Osborne told Riley he needed to understand have a strong running game for our climate in late fall, early winter. In one ear, out the other, I guess? Lastly, as a fan, my only commitment is to the players. They signed to play here and have tried to represent us to the BEST OF THEIR ABILITIES, and for the most part have done a good job with a few obvious exceptions (Alex Lewis). I feel the worst for them, going through the CAPT BLOWUP (Pelini) Era and now stuck with a whole new staff and a West Coast Nebraska mentality (Pass-Run Offense, soft Defense). I think they are holding up as well as young men can in their position. I doubt I would act much better when I was as young. I'm Out.

Remember the good ol' days of Boyd Epley? Well looky here what I found on YouTube. Thank you God... now we can get back to real Husker Power. Along with getting rid of that "lazy, sloppy" fat on our players, now the Huskers can get back to building teams that will punish people into the fourth quarter instead of the other way around. When DT Maliek Collins has a muffin top and QB Ron Kellogg III was straight up FAT, nothing more needs be said... cept that teh S&C program is a miserable failure. Anyway, enjoy this as much as I did... can't wait to see the difference at the spring game. Later Sludge

That's the "blocking" I'm talking about. They can't blow those guys off the line?

I told ya he wouldn't get it.

Look who blocked for him too! THAT TERRIBLE SYSTEMICALLY BAD OFFENSIVE LINE Yup. Obviously, you don't understand SYSTEMICALLY BAD, as they will have a few decent plays, like that one with Cross blocking, but still, how many good plays over bad ones? I don't know... 41 points worth of good plays and a 99 yard drive? Well, one punt return and its against Fresno State. Its been big play or bust. That's my point. We have trouble sustaining drives and simply making first downs. Its gotta be big play or NOTHING. I don't like that in an offense. It's too fragile.

You may not be wrong, but most of us are pretty happy to enjoy a nice win tonight. We'll freak out about the OL in due time when/if it blows up on the field. If you're looking for the angry rabble crowd, I think you've got the wrong audience tonight. No, just wish our coaching staff was better.

We are still passing WHY?

Look who blocked for him too! THAT TERRIBLE SYSTEMICALLY BAD OFFENSIVE LINE Yup. Obviously, you don't understand SYSTEMICALLY BAD, as they will have a few decent plays, like that one with Cross blocking, but still, how many good plays over bad ones?HuskerMax called. They want their troll back. Too bad, not going. Haha!

What ONE PLAY went bad and called the O-Line bad? They have been bad for quite some time. They can't sustain long drives, often kill themselves with penalties, and get blown up OFTEN in the backfield. As I've said, its boom or bust with this crew. Hey dude, reread it. I'm saying the OL has been bad all night. One play doesn't change it Fair nuff.

Was at that game, and that's one of the few times we beat up a team at the line of scrimmage. However, on D, it was the beginning of the end. That was the game Crick got injured and was never the same.

Case in point, did you just see that play? Mediocre blocking at best.

What ONE PLAY went bad and called the O-Line bad? They have been bad for quite some time. They can't sustain long drives, often kill themselves with penalties, and get blown up OFTEN in the backfield. As I've said, its boom or bust with this crew.

Look who blocked for him too! THAT TERRIBLE SYSTEMICALLY BAD OFFENSIVE LINE Yup. Obviously, you don't understand SYSTEMICALLY BAD, as they will have a few decent plays, like that one with Cross blocking, but still, how many good plays over bad ones?

Throw the bomb armstrong.

We have an imani cross sighting.

I think playing 2 gap is exactly like playing 2 gap That's my point, a 1-gap defense gets into the backfield.

Nothing like playing 2-gap (react), then letting their QB bust off a long run.

Okay. Okay. We get it. Obviously NOT, if you're bitching at me.There's only one person bitching. That's you Not really, just telling the truth.

Been hoping to see Cross, Abdullah, and Newby in the diamond all night.

We're winning by 29, calm down I'm calm. Just letting you know how bad it's gonna be, when we play an opponent that can mount a challenge.

So I guess our O-Line is now 2 good plays-8 bad plays?

You're seriously breaking ground here. Thanks for enlightening us to our issues the past x seasons. You're welcome. I'm here to help.

Okay. Okay. We get it. Obviously NOT, if you're bitching at me.

But that's how the Huskers live and DIE each season.