84HuskerLaw

I tend to agree with much of the sentiment expressed that the Riley offensive system gives too little attention and emphasis to the run game. The runs are used only to complement the passing game. The trouble with the passing game is - in my opinion - it is just like the old saying in basketball that 'You live by the jump shot, you die by the jump shot!" and You live by the pass, you die by the pass!. The running game is like the inside game in basketball. Without one, you can have an exciting team and score lots of points but you don't win many championships. In basketball, winning 75% of your games is considered excellent and a coach tends to keep his job for a long time, championships or not. But at Nebraska, where many fans understand the game at its very core and essence, it is generally understood that you must RUN the ball well (effectively) to win championships and to win those few extra (key or big) games to keep you in the elite rung. Do you have to lead the nation in rushing yards per game? No, but if you do, you will be winning a lot of games and be 'in the hunt' for a title. If not leading the nation, you must be in the top ten of rushing yards per game (statistically I would say at or above 300 yards per game). Very few pass first and run as a complement teams EVER win titles and few win championships. But offense sells tickets to games (Callahan and Dollar Bill Byrne knew this certainly). What Riley needs to understand (and very few outside of Nebraska understand it so it is not a mortal sin to be this way), is that Nebraska fans are somewhat unique! We LOVE to run the football. I used to joke with those in my section in the stadium when I would say we need more "4 yards and a cloud of astro turf!" Three yards on first down is NOT enough. You need a minimum of 4 and 5 or 6 is much better. Three yards (which is where Nebraska has been far too many plays the last several years) triggers the time to pass glands to secrete their juices and coaches like Watson, Beck, Meyer, Spurrier, Riley, Callahan, etc. will throw on the next three downs no matter what the success or failure rates are on each. For most of these guys, a four yard gain is still a strong 'pass' indicator and it goes against their grain to run on 2nd down after gaining 4 yards on first, even though for Nebraska fans, we look at the remaining six yards as getting just 3 yards per carry on two more plays - advantage Huskers!.

Coaches' fault? Players' fault? Bo's fault? Fans' fault? (Maybe the fans are partly to blame here too people? Being too critical of the individual players that, as human beings, are mistake prone now and then? Being too critical of the coahes? Perhaps the banner being pulled around above the stadium Saturday should be to fire the AD and University President/Chancel;or for hiring these coaches and not firing the previous ones much sooner? Riley may or may not be doing the job he was truly hired to do? Husker fans are passionate to the point of becoming the butt of people's jokes around the country. I have traveled around enough to know and hear the remarks. I am one of those passionate fans and have been for over 50 years. I am very disappointed discouraged but NOT surprised I guess. Thinkgs do not bode well for Nebraska football in terms of winning lots of games and getting trophies to put in the display cases around the stadium. No matter how many more sky box seats are installed, there are foundational things beneath the stadium that need to be rebuilt. It will take decades (seriously - decades!!) to restore the order if the objective is to once again sit atop the pinnacle of college football in America. Much damage has been done to 'the program' dating all the way back to 1998. We hired the wrong coach to follow a legend. We hired the legend's best friend (maybe more like his less capable little brother). Almost immediately, 'the program' began to slip and slide down and away from its elite status. Many Nebraska fans and supporters failed to realize how FAR DOWN AND AWAY the program was from elite status by the time Frank was terminated. The single biggest blow to the program was done by Frank himself (in my opinion) when he fired so many of the Osborne legacy staff and hired amongst others, Bo Pelini. This brought an entirely new and different mentality (obnoxious and all about the coach vs the team and program) to the program. Each new coaching hire failed to restore the order which was Team and Program first and Coach second). Callahan was all ego about himself. "we will take what we want!" was his motto). Bo - obviously his actions speak for themselves. Riley? I remain hopeful although the absolute bon fire that is about 80% of the comments on here suggests it may be over, almost before it started. I like Riley and think, ironically, than with Riley, we would have found our way back to Team and Program above the ego and face of the Coach. Riley is much more like Osborne than Bo. Frank was simply NOT a big time program Head Coach. Ohio U - yes. Nebraska - No. Bo - Youngstown State - nothing more needs to be said. Callahan - he is a pro football coach and has been excellent at that level but is not a college (amateur) level coach.

What I think we can all agree on is that a bootleg was an absolutely terrible call. Especially when the coaches don't believe the quarterback can run the ball, yet in the biggest situation say "Alright we want you to run it, make sure you absolutely don't throw it though" to the one guy on the team that would have an instinct to throw the ball. I don't care if they said to Tommy 8,000 times not to throw, if he sees a defender in his face his first instinct is going to be to throw the ball. If they simply just handed it to Jano or Ozigbo there would've been no part of their brain that said, "Screw it we're throwing this one" If you choose to believe Langsdorf, he said he made it very clear that this had to be a run play. I feel like they did indeed call a QB run play. If they said they called a run play in the press conference, and they didn't the backlash in the locker room would be ridiculous. I just don't understand what's so hard for these guys to allow the running backs to run the ball This seems to get to the heart of it all? We know Riley & Co have little use for the run game, except as a change up for the passing stuff. They just don't 'get it' I suppose. You would think, after 4 decades of coaching as well as playing at Bear Bryant's Alabama in the wishbone of all things, that Riley would have more affinity for running the ball. One will lose a lot of close games without having the ability to run the ball 6 or more snaps in a row and at least some level of confidence you can get a couple first downs without throwing. Strangely, this season, we have shown glimpses and stretches where we can actually RUN successfully and consistantly. However, these coaches don't see it or just don't want to see it. I know they want the fans to get used to the idea that Nebraska is now a throwing team. I don't call Riley's offense 'west coast' (only the Montana led 49ers offense really ran the west coast offense IMO). I hate to say it but I think Riley wants to run something more akin to Callahan's offense which everybody wanted to call the West Coast Offense (hell Callahan may have called it that) but in my view was not the west coast offense. There are neat things aboutthe offense. But Riley runs way too many screens and not nearly enough draws and basic run plays. Screens are best suited for 2 and very long and third and medium situations. We could go on and on. Riley just does not believe in running the ball, except as a change up. That's the bottom line. It won't work in bad weather. You can win in the NFL sense (about 65% of your games is considered successful in the pros - but not in Nebraska - that gets you fired). Rely on the short passing game instead of true running won't work. There is NO substitute for basic running game.

It is NOT time to fire riley but frankly if he continues to literally lose games because of bad clock and game management, we will have to let him go. Presumably there is something in his coaching contract that requires him to be a successful coach who performs at a reasonable level comparable with that of at least an average coach. So far, these game management decisions are just not even close to 'average' or reasonable or even below average. they are terrible. Do your job BADLY is reason to be fired. The athletic department does not need to pay someone to do their job badly. There have to be some 'just cause' clauses to cover reasons to terminate. If this kind of coaching continues - they better be looking through the terms of the contract closely. Perhaps Riley should just keep his motel room rather than buy a house. Not sure he will need one.

Hm. tommy runs the wrong play? Sh...t.

riley can't explain this by saying 'we thought it was a good chance to get the first down and finish the game right!" or some crap like that. the whole second half, the only time we could not get a first down in three or four runs in a row was when we kept throwing incomplete passes.

You would almost want to say Riley lost this game on purpose. But why? Just mindblowing. These guys have many years of coaching experience. I can't possible explain it.

Wasting two times out and giving them a minute of time when you could have simply run the clock out. This is bush league - poor coaching.

I am sorry but at this point, I have to admit Riley has some real explaining to do. This was just bad coaching. Sick.

This is not right. They are getting reviews which are just as good as time outs. Not fair. They got a free down.

If they lose this game, people will want a coach's head.

So Illinois gets a free play and clock stoppage. They don't count the last incomeplete one so they have first down.

Moronic call. Why waste two valuable times outs. You may want to use one to set up your hail marty defense (again?!!!!!!!!!).

Squib or rugby punt - dont high kick

Stupid. Sack for 16 yard loss. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

Strectch play does NOT work. Never use again.

Illini doing better job of running out the clock than we are boys. Come one, Huskers. Offensive line ought to be able to block for 7 snaps and 35 yards and three first downs. That will burn up nearly 3 minutes and get us to mid field. Punt them back inside the 10 again and hope we got two more stops left in this defense. Otherwise, they will score. Chances are about 80%

Throwing into coverage. Stop clock again. Another 1 minute possession. Run the ball guys.

Every incomplete pass stops the clock and takes us out of our run game. Now we can't get a first without throwing

Now, hopefully, since our offensive line has been sitting for most of the game, they are well rested and ready. The Illinois defense has been running on and off the field a lot today so they may be tired? LOL If the offense can focus for 10 snaps and add 3 or 7, we have a chance. Otherise, we are in deep trouble.

These third and longs are dangerous for us. We give them up usually with about 20 yards to spare

Illinois play calling not much better really. Stupid. Sustain drives. Run the ball some.

Probably have about 20 possessions in this game and average about 1 minute of possession.

Throwing incomplete passes are just saving the clock time for Illinois. Stop this.

Sadly, we are going to need a hail mary to win this I am afraid.