JTrain

12:48 2nd quarter. 3rd and 12 we got sacked. Ameer had just shifted to the right of Armstrong who was checking the DBs. Again #43 clapped and Pelini snapped it. Again Tommy wasn't ready for it and barely caught it.

http://videobam.com/Ifehi

Just saw another one. 0:39 in the 3rd. The 4th down where Tommy had to fall on it. Again LB #43 turns his back to the line judge on that side and claps. Even easier to see on this play. This is the play Bo yelled at Mark.

No. Pelini snapped it. It clearly had nothing to do with a defensive audible.

Wrong thread.

Just watched it. 10:53 3rd (Armstrong fumble) The LB #43 definitely claps. You can see it and hear it on TV, and that's what causes Pelini to snap it. Armstrong wasn't quite ready for it.

Put him in the diamond with Newby and Ameer.

Put him in the Wildcat with Ameer or Newby as the jet motion back.

How many teams actually rely on the sound of a clap to snap the ball when playing against big road games? Seems like an all-around awful idea.

Also, there the issue of them knowing exactly when the snap was.

Honest question: given how historicallly bad the Nebraska defense has been the past few seasons, and Bo Pelini's reputation as a defensive guru, why is the bulk of criticism reserved for the Offensive Coordinator?

You mean from this game? Because the offense sucked and the defense was decent.

If you mean overall in the last few years, well then Pelini has gotten a ton of criticism.

Yeah, I was wondering that too. I don't know if they just flat-out lined up wrong or if they assume the stutter should give the slot guy time to clear either way.

Figured it out from the press conference. Outside guys are running "stutter" routes and the inside guys corner routes. Not 100% sure which direction exactly they were supposed to head after the stutter move, but judging by Allen it was diagonally (post). The stutter is supposed to give DPE time to break before Hovey comes across so they don't collide, but with DPE starting off the line and both guys running sloppy routes, it didn't work and they bumped. Either way it looked like an overthrow.

I agree with True when he stated that we need to recruit a passer first with the ability to scramble. A player like that in our system would be deadly, think Colt McCoy. He could make all the throws and could also move the chains with his feet if needed. To me, we don't need someone that can take it to the house everytime on zone-reads but someone that can get 5-6 yrds a pop along with making all the throws.

Agree. In Osborne's last five seasons, we averaged 18 pass attempts per game. It was a great system and a consistently great offensive line (and strength program). We could get by with essentially a great running back and leader at the QB spot. We no longer have those advantages. The only team from the major five conferences that throws it less than 20 times per game now is Georgia Tech.

Did anyone see the Wisconsin-WIU game? Gordon 17 carries for 38 yards.

The blitz was a smart call. They knew we needed a route past the first down line and they knew Tommy would struggle trying to read deep routes in 2.45 seconds.

Allen's initial route was a curl and he was wide open. He only ran to the middle when he knew Tommy wasn't going at him. But watching it over again, I think you're right that it was designed only to go to the right. Allen and Westy were just decoys, because Tommy first stares down the middle of the field (no routes) to try to move the safety and then looks to the right.

As for the routes, it's a guess. Hovey initially stops at the 30 like a curl route, then head toward the middle of the field. If Tommy was trying to go to him it was either a bad overthrow or he expected Hovey to break a different direction.

As for Ameer, I didn't mean in the actual play as it happened. I meant if he was designed to run down the middle, it could have worked nicely with the blitz they brought. Catch it around the 32 going full speed an maybe pick up a block from the slot receivers.

I don't think the pass to Westy would have gone anywhere, and it could have potentially been an INT as well. The smartest route on this play in hindsight is Taariq Allen's. The defender in the middle of the field never looked at Allen or even that side of the field. It was 2 on 2 coverage and the safety was well off Taariq.

 

That would be a play where if Tommy could fool the defense with his eyes, we could have won that game.

 

Who knows. The Westy throw is a tough throw but it's there. You're right he may have thrown an INT. If the pass is low or behind Allen, he risks not getting the first down which is bad news. Personally I like the middle of the field with Westy beating the safety inside. But then again, I liked that all night and we threw it maybe once. Or if we really wanna use hindsight, how about releasing Ameer down the middle?

That's a Heisman moment.

Why are there no edits of this yet?

Listening to Damon Benning from today. Quotes:

"You have to either find a way to control the intermediate area with passing game a la tight ends or slot receivers or let your quarterback get busy in the run game."

"When you allow a team to dictate how fast they want to play (which Michigan State's defense was) with really no misdirection or a threat of draw to keep pass rushers honest, and no QB run game to keep safeties honest, you're putting an awful lot of pressure on your bigs up front..."

On Beck: "You don't wanna say it out loud because, we think because guys get paid a lot of money and they're paid to do a job that they don't freeze a little bit..."

On Beck's simple gameplan: "I just don't think that's the way you can play that game on the road."

"When you wanna slow down pass rush, there's always a couple of different things you can do: You can always runs screens, and you can always run draws-- two plays that I'm not sure if Nebraska has in their offensive repertoire that they feel confident, from a timing standpoint, running. It's a little bit of a head-scratcher."

 

In the first half, we ran:

 

Zero HB screen plays

Zero draw plays

One play action pass that targeted the middle of the field

Zero run plays that attempted some novel form of misdirecting their front six

One play from the diamond formation

 

So unless I missed the thread where everyone was calling for lots of zone read and quick sideline passes, I'd say we didn't really do what people wanted.

 

That's not to say "people" are always or even usually right. But I think in this case the general concepts requested are solid and pretty fundamental (ex. Their ends are blowing by the outside of our tackles-- how 'bout a draw play? Or, they are swarming to the point of attack-- how 'bout a counter or reverse?).

 

An HB screen won't work against their "quarters" coverage. Because they don't play man to man ever, their LB's are zoned in on what's in front of our around them. In other words, their LB's would recognize and sniff our an HB screen in a heartbeat.

 

OK, so we didn't run the draw play. What makes you think that would have worked?

 

Once again, their "quarters" scheme works perfectly to counter this. Their LB's are in zone coverage, constantly. It's only when they read that it's a running play that they go after the runner. Even if they bite, they all have to bite. Also, the only time their LB's aren't in zone coverage is when they blitz. A play action ain't helping you then because the load the center in their favorite blitz.

 

Someone already stated the inside and outside zone plays have misdirection built into them. A reverse maybe? Could work, but the LB would be in position because he doesn't leave his "zone". So sure it might have gained 5 yards, but it would have been dependent on him, and the safety to both make terrible reads. Possible, but asking a lot for two guys to make a mistake.

 

Diamond formation. Honestly, I'd love to see more diamond formation. There's a ton of potential in it, Beck has shown a lot of innovation with it, but he hasn't shown it in a while.

 

I find it incredibly unusual for someone to be references the suggestions of fan board regarding how a football team should game plan and adjust. I mean, it would be one thing if we had a strong understanding of the intricacies of a defense and certain ways to attack it. But we, on here, are merely just saying things like "we need more diamond formation", "why not run a RB screen?", "We need to run a quick slant on third down", etc. But what we seem to be forgetting, or just simply don't understand, is that we don't know how a specific defensive scheme does to counter those types of plays/formations and why/how those plays will fail.

 

I like that you first imply that the fans don't understand the "intricacies of a defense" yet you throw out general statements like "an HB screen won't work against their "quarters" coverage" and "the quarters scheme works perfectly to counter [the draw]". So apparently you view yourself as the exception. I already addressed the point about the fans usually being wrong about specifics, but said that some of the basic stuff can be quite simple and correct.

There are countless varieties of halfback screens, and screens absolutely can work against a zone, especially when linebackers are blitzing.

The draw play can work because you give the defensive line time to spread out (especially the way their DEs were rushing) and give Ameer the chance to make a LB miss, which he's pretty decent at.

They were obviously incredibly well-practiced for our zone read, which is specifically why I threw in the word "novel".

You make it seem like their scheme is impenetrable. It isn't. There are plenty of ways to attack any defense and Oregon managed nearly 500 yards against them (including two long TD passes to the slot receiver down the seam).

Of course none of us know for sure how any particular play or concept would have worked. And in a way that's the most frustrating part. We had zero points and 80 yards at half time despite having incredible opportunities. Whatever adjustments we made were too little too late. Ultimately Beck is responsible for the production of the offense. You can blame the players if you like (no doubt some of them played poorly), but Beck is responsible for knowing the strengths and weaknesses of his players, teaching them how to execute his scheme, and adjusting in-game.

The blitz along with the cover 3 meant the shorter routes and the 10-15 yards space in the middle was going to be open. Westercamp was probably the best option considering how much space they were giving him. It looked like Pierson-El was supposed to run an out-and-up but after Hovey broke off his route and bumped into him, he went for the space by the sideline. By that point Tommy was already throwing the out-and-up. I don't know if it would have been complete or still an interception had DPE stayed with the route. The corner was in great position for it either way.

With rare exceptions, QB coaches do not develop quarterbacks that much in 3-4 years given limited practice time. A great coach may take a 7/10 passer, refine him a bit and move him to an 8. But you generally aren't going to see anyone go from a 4 to an 8. Especially in today's age where most of these guys have gone through multiple big camps and trained with professionals before they even sign their LOIs. Think about the best college quarterbacks over the past 10 years. For 90% of them, they either have it or they don't and you pretty much know by the end of their freshman year, or within their first few starts.

Martinez had it in the running game, but not in the passing game. And even with private training in the off-season, the passing improvements in four seasons were limited. He remained inconsistent, still had trouble reading defenses and usually reverted to his old bad form in big games under pressure.

In the first half, we ran:

Zero HB screen plays

Zero draw plays

One play action pass that targeted the middle of the field

Zero run plays that attempted some novel form of misdirecting their front six

One play from the diamond formation

So unless I missed the thread where everyone was calling for lots of zone read and quick sideline passes, I'd say we didn't really do what people wanted.

That's not to say "people" are always or even usually right. But I think in this case the general concepts requested are solid and pretty fundamental (ex. Their ends are blowing by the outside of our tackles-- how 'bout a draw play? Or, they are swarming to the point of attack-- how 'bout a counter or reverse?).

I remember in high school basketball practice, we used to have to hit 100 free throws before we could leave. Why not do something similar with Tommy and those short passes he struggles with? Just spit-balling.

Because we would break every time-related NCAA bylaw in the book.

I've been waiting (13 seasons). Seen a lot of good wins over these years, but nothing that takes us from good to great. Last night was just another showing of getting up for the let down.

 

2009: L Texas, (Big 12 Title game) 13-12 loss to win the conference for the first time in 10 years and go to a BCS bowl game

2010: L Texas, Would have been the first 6-0 start since 01'

2010: L Oklahoma, (Big 12 Title game) 23-20 comeback by OU; lost 3/4 games to finish the year

2012: L Wisconsin, (Big 10 Title game) 70-31 beat down

2014: L Michigan St, Would have been the first 6-0 start in 13 years; ended drought of beating a top 10 team on the road

 

Now you are thinking last night doesn't count and I think you are wrong. Going to be tough for a 2 loss (conference games) to win the West. We now 100% have to win @ Wisconsin, @ NW and at @ Iowa. Can we? Of course I think we can, and I think if we have a rematch with Michigan State we can def win the game (especially on turf). I think the game last night favored them immensely with the rough conditions. Question that I want people to respond to:

 

Would a 11-1 season without winning the conference be a win or a loss in your book? Could mean beating 0 teams that finished ranked, and extend the drought to 15 years w/o a conference title

I would be happy at the point of 11-1, but not after losing the CCG. The last couple years I thought the B1G had nowhere to go but up. With the Braxton Miller injury and Wisconsin disappointing, it looks like I was wrong. This is the year to do it, especially with Ameer and Gregory.

I think even I would have lost it with the DPE punt return where he was waving the blockers back and the refs thought he was signaling fair catch

I thought this at first, but it's actually true that you can't advance the ball in this scenario. Fowler also cleared this up after the commercial.

Invalid Signals—ARTICLE 3

Approved Ruling 6-5-3

 

V. Team A’s scrimmage kick is rolling beyond the neutral zone when B17

alerts his teammates to stay away from the ball by a “get away” signal.

RULING: Invalid signal. The ball is dead by rule when either team

recovers.