Aim9

I am also hoping it doesn't rain for that KU game. I have tickets and we are going to DESTROY Kansas this year. Can't wait for that.. What sports bars around Omaha usually will show PPV husker games? I would really like to see it on TV but don't want to fork over the 40 bucks or whatever.

Well, I'd offer this. With incompletions, the clock stops and is not restarted until it is positioned and the ref signals "live". With a run, the clock doesn't stop unless the runner goes out of bounds. With over two minutes left, we'd for damn sure better complete almost every pass attempted, and we'd for damn sure better get first downs. If we go three-and-out passing, we leave time on the clock for USC to come back and score again. The odds favored running in that situation - try and bust one. Even if if it doesn't go for a score, it allows you to pin USC near their goal line with little time left. Going to the pass has too many risks. If USC scores just before the half, it could be a back-breaker. You make some valid points, but it still doesn't make much sense. If you don't have any confidence in your team to move the ball and you just lay down and die you have no chance to win. With 2:30 left we could have tried at least ONE big heave downfield. Perhaps with 30 seconds left or something- we had already got a first down. You can't win a game by simply focusing on how good the other team is with the ball- you have to score some of your own. Yes, USC could have picked it off. You always run that risk when you throw the ball. (Nebraska also could have fumbled on the run too) Nebraska also could have got a big reception (how about throwing to Purify?) and we could have put some points on the board before half. Any reasonable coach knows that when you have the ball, two time outs, and only 2:30 left on the clock before halftime that you have a golden opportunity. BC squandered it.

Again- no huge problem with the overall gameplan, but can anyone address my problem with what BC did before half? Also, where was our best linebacker? (Octavien)

I concede that we needed to run the ball a lot. I agree that we could have won on that gameplan if Grix and/or Shanle would have caught the INT and Lucky wouldn't have fumbled. HOWEVER- there is NO excuse for what happened before halftime. With over 2:30 left and two time outs Callahan runs the ball up the gut five times and walks into the locker room right after USC scored a TD. Doesn't even try to move down the field and sneak in a field goal or TD and give the team a little momentum. Say what you will about the overall gameplan, that was vanilla flavored bad coaching. With that much time on the clock we could have run the clock down if the drive wasn't going well anyway. We had little to lose and everything to gain. That was just terrible and I don't think that anyone could or should defend it. It was a gutless move- the end. That was the only thing that really really irked me about the game.

I know everyone is talking about how Cally's gameplan was sound because we weren't destroyed and USC was dissappointed they only got 28, but seriously what kind of standards are these? Are we striving to go 9-4? Callahan should have taken a few chances and at least pretended like he was going for a win. Say what you will about him just eating up clock, but what he did before halftime was just mind boggling. With 2:30 left on the clock and two timeouts he didn't even TRY to go downfield. We did what, 5 running plays and went into the locker room? You could at least try a few passes and see where you could get. With 2:30 you could almost run out the clock if the drive wasn't going well anyway. A field goal or a TD right before halftime would have done wonders for morale going into the half. That was just bad coaching. I'll support Callahan because the program is certainly better off now than with Solich, but if we ever make it to the national championship and he coaches like that I will promptly call for his resignation. I want a coach who strives to win, not a coach who strives to not get blown out.

I have to say that I cannot remember a Husker game that I have wanted us to win so badly. I watched May and Holtz's analysis and they said we're going to be destroyed with no reservations. Thus far I haven't heard of ANY talking heads or columnists who have put NU over USC. If the win happened, talk about gratification. Watching the entire country (outside Nebraska) put their collective foot in their mouth would be awesome. As an aside- WV looks like the real deal. I hate their conference, but they are a rock solid team. Also- dbetz should check out the huskerboard fantasy league. I have given him a very mutually advantageous offer.

YOU got lucky didn't ya. Well I got lucky that he had that huge of a game, but I knew he was going to be a solid pick this year with him as the Eagles #1 WR. Now if only Shaun Alexander would pick up the slack my team would be ready to rock. I'm almost wondering if I should have chosen LT instead with my first pick. I was soooo close, but the sheer number of TDs that Alexander gets was too much for me to pass over.

Keep up the good work Donte Stallworth

Damnit- I would have had the win if it weren't for stupid Delhomme. STOP THROWING INTERCEPTIONS!!! This was supposed to be the year he stopped doing that so much... I guess he was without Steve Smith this week.

I think our front 7 is better than most people think, but I think our back 4 are weaker than most people think. I pray our front 7 can keep the heat on USC because if they don't it won't be pretty. If Callahan doesn't put Octavien on the field I'm going to GO CRAZY! LET HIM PLAY!!!! He's our best coverage linebacker- he's our best linebacker period. I could go on like this forever.

I suggest giving him a pair of moonboots. Cmon Grix- we need you to come through bigtime against USC.

What the hell are they doing? Are they watching the same players I am?!?!??! Octavien is the best LB we have and he should be on the field as much as possible. He's fast, he hits hard, he reads well, and he has great hands. WHAT ARE THEY DOING? START HIM ALREADY!

Say what you will about the Big 12 being soft- the past 2 years in a row an 8-4 team from the Big 12 has beat a 10-1 team from the Pac 10. You knock Texas Tech, but they (as the fourth best Big 12 team) beat one loss Cal (the widely accepted 2nd best team in the Pac 10 at the time- bitter they didn't get a BCS bid) and Oklahoma may have quarterback problems but they were still good enough to take down 10-1 Oregon. Of course the AP would say that the Pac-10 is tougher than the Big 12, where do you think all the AP writers live? Nebraska? Don't get me wrong, the Pac 10 is a legit conference (unlike the damn Big East conference- win one game against Louisville and all of the sudden you're undefeated) but I think it is softer than the Big 12. I think there is wide agreement that the SEC and the Big 10 are tougher, but after that I think it's the Big 12. Back to the point, I think USC's coaches will not downplay the game but based on virtually everything I've read from USC players it sounds like they are chuck full of hubris- only a portion of which is deserved. (You know, you didn't win last year guys)

Sounds to me like a case of excessive hubris. I would absolutely love to see the NU pull it out, however unlikely that may be. Trojan fan- that comment about Fresno State seems to do more damage to your argument than good. If a top-notch program like USC almost comes up short against unranked Fresno St. of the WAC, it appears as if they may have glossed over them- downplayed them if you will. I doubt coach Pete would overlook NU, but the players seem to have an invincible feeling that perhaps they should not have. If anyone overlooks NU it will be the players. USC has had some great teams for sure in the past few years, but it's easy to feel invincible in the pleasantly soft Pac-10.

Cmon fast Willie!

Basically this game will be about two things- 1. Can the Huskers exploit a depleted USC secondary? 2. Can our front 7 get to Booty before his receivers smoke our DBs? I don't think NU will be able to run the ball very well against USC. They have a very physical D-line that I think our average O-line will have a lot of trouble with. I think our real opportunities will come from passing and exploiting the inexperience of their DBs. With the WCO, it can get very confusing to defend against for greenhorns and I would imagine new guys will have a tough time picking up TE routes and RB routes coming out of the backfield. On defense a monster pass rush is the only way out of this one. USC is going to put points on the board anyway, but unless we can get there QUICK we will get destroyed. Andre Jones inspires a little confidence, but poor Grixby is going to get worked over. Hopefully our pass rush can force them to throw over the middle into our excellent LBs and we'll get some picks. If we have Octavien, Ruud, and McKeon in there we might get a few. We're going to need some help from turnovers to come away with this one, but I'm cautiously optimistic. Even if we just keep it close we're likely to jump in the polls. Kind of a bum deal that it looks like Texas and USC are the best teams in the country again- doesn't bode well for NU's record. Nobody likes facing Texas twice.

The scoring system is pretty foreign to me as well, but I'm satisfied overall. I can't complain with my RBs (Willie Parker and Shaun Alexander) but my #3 WR could be better... I guess Stallworth is alright. I just hope that Delhomme stops throwing so many INTs. I had much more confidence in my team until I looked at all the projected scores. I know they're based on last year but still I was quite a bit behind.

In his defense he makes some perfectly valid points, and sometimes criticism is a good thing. Occasionally we get blinders on with regards to our beloved team. Although I disagree with him on many points (to say that only the conditioning of our o-line has improved is a drastic understatement) it sounds as if he is only speaking the truth as he sees it. Obviously, we had a pretty solid game as nearly all of our offensive components showed improvement. However, our front 7 were not as scary as I thought they would be and we need to put Grixby and Jones to work NOW if we want to have a chance against UT and USC. If you put Jarrett against Grixby or Jones from Saturday it would have been painful. It is my hope that the staff RIDES Jones and works him into a shutdown corner, hopefully with the potential to match up with Jarrett. Grixby has heart, but that can't stop a receiver that's nearly a foot taller than you. (kudos on the forced fumble though- gotta love Grix) Our extra game next week while USC is not playing will be integral to our CBs and getting them some experience and time to gel as a unit. Here's to hoping they rise to the challenge in week 3.

One thing that no one seems to be talking about from the LA Tech game is our punter Dan Titchner. That guy was awesome and it doesn't look like we'll have a huge drop from Sam Koch afterall. I watched the Spring Game and afterwards that was an issue that immediately concerned me, but Titchner put my fears to rest. Also, I have heard little talk of Joe Ganz who also had an excellent game. He didn't throw very often but each time he did it was right on the money with a tight spiral. He looked much better today than ever, and his performance inspired much more confidence than Harrison Beck ever did. The offensive line did much better than last year, but I was expecting this because they had shown vast improvements over the offseason. At long last- a game in which Zac Taylor was NOT sacked! My four main concerns coming into the season were: 1. The secondary- (Still definitely a concern) 2. Our backup QB- (I feel much better about this) 3. Our offensive line- (I feel much better about this) 4. Our punter- (I feel much better about this)

The biggest letdown by far was our CBs. Andre Jones and Grixby did NOT make me feel safe about USC or Texas. It looks like this year opposing coaches will again be trying to pick on Grixby especially, because it works. I love Grix, but a shot of terror goes through me ever time the ball is thrown his way. Also, Jones didn't give up any HUGE plays, but his man was always open. He played way too soft on his defenders. The pass rush was also a little dissappointing and I would like to see much more of Octavien. I still think he's the LB we've got.

NU-61 (8 TDs, 1 FG, 1 S) NS-10 (1TD, 1 FG) NU Rush- 275 NU Pass- 325

I was impressed by Lucky, but the best performance was clearly Taylor. I was also blown away by BJAX- I wish he would have got more snaps. Once he had his big TD run he was taken out.

Yes, he's correct- without the 3 national titles that we won in the 90s we would still only be the winningest program in college football since 1970, so it's not like anyone should respect us. Also, I don't think it's possible to belittle 3 national championships any worse than that. How many titles has Notre Dame won recently? No one doubts their status as a powerhouse, yet only three years ago they also sported a losing record for the first time in decades.

I predict that I will spend way too much time analyzing and discussing husker football. I also predict that many, many nachos with my special cheese dip will be consumed in my household.

I am in central time, and the following times would work best for me. 1. Friday 4PM CDT (Sept. 1) 2. Monday 1PM CDT (Sept. 4) 3. Tuesday 3PM CDT (Sept. 5) I don't mean to impose Blackshirt- I know setting up drafts like this can be a real pain in the ass- I did it last year and it was unbelievably difficult. Thanks for setting it all up.