roundegotrip

Best post I've read in a while. Thanks.

Nebraska's d-line wasn't trying to get to Shaw, they were trying to contain Shaw, which they did better than they have with mobile QBs all season.

This. Our d-line was playing extreme contain on Shaw. It looked like the defensive gameplan was to keep him bottled up and give him no one to throw to so he'd be forced to pull it down. Unfortunately, we underestimated Alshon Jeffery ( that or we found out that Dennard is indeed only human after all), and Shaw managed to hit that one bomb to Alshon and the hail mary... those two plays accounted for almost 2/3 of his passing yards on the day. He did get loose on a couple of runs with his excellent speed, but he was also sacked, what, three or four times? I think it was a good plan, it just didn't work out the way we hoped.

The problem this team has is, it seems as if several times per year they simply do not care about the outcome of the game. It's as if they play the game like it's a mental exercise, not a competition.

 

Bo talks about execution, but he either is not teaching execution or he doesn't understand how to teach it properly. All phases of the game exhibit poor execution, from penalties to dropped passes to missed blocks.... the list goes on.

 

These guys say they care. They just don't produce a product on the field that says, "I care," from Bo down to the 4th-string long-snapper.

I hope Bo can humble himself this offseason to go to TO and ask him for a master's class in producing disciplined and consistent play. It's what he needs to get his teams over the hump, and he's got a guy who can show him how to do it right upstairs.

Penalties and turnovers. Penalties and turnovers. Penalties and turnovers. Penalties and turnovers. Penalties and turnovers. Penalties and turnovers. Penalties and turnovers.

Disappointing end to a disappointing season.

ARRRGGGGHHHHHHHHH

Our defensive line is playing to contain Shaw, that's why there's no pass rush.

Ugh, how did Legate miss that block? Would have been a TD.

Whatever i'm done. see you next year

Really? Come on.

I don't know... think about Wiscon losing their Heisman level RB, their Heisman level QB, their very highly regarded OC, and their very highly regarded Oline coach. That is a lot of talent to replace on the field and in the booth. Does it mean Penn St. will be better than them? I don't think you can say that because that program's coaching situation is so uncertain. But I don't think it's that outlandish.

Or you could always go to this

 

Maybe it's just because I'm currently riding the wave of a massive peanut butter fudge bender, but I can't stop laughing at this.

The vocal minority has just been exceptionally vocal lately.

Who in their right mind can read the posts in this thread from comish and caveman and then say with a straight face that Bo is not a good coach? The wins are there, the off field success is there, talent development is there, recruiting is there, improvement in his demeanor showed up this season... all signs point in a positive direction for Nebraska football. What am I missing?

I went ahead and pulled the recruiting numbers from Rivals so we can put this "Bo can't recruit" myth to bed.

Awesome post. Thank you.

Chryst is gone?

 

While he engineered some great UW offenses he hasn't made the best calls in big games at times and that's irked me. After the TCU game I was ready for him to takeoff. See you later Coach and good luck at Pitt. If we pull in a halfway decent OC I can't say I'll miss you (but ask me after next season). Our offense isn't that difficult to manage...

Yeah, I mean, the guy's offenses have only averaged 40 ppg over the last 3 seasons... don't let the door hit you on the ass on your way out.

My sarcasm detector is usually flawless, but with the way BS has been flying around lately...

I heard that Kaz and Bo have had this planned since before NU entered the B1G 10. Kaz drove a bunch of the Hawks' D-linemen away in an effort to help out Barney and the NU O-line when we face Iowa. Just something I heard.

There are rumors, and then there are grown men sitting around and gossiping like a bunch of old hens. That is just totally absurd.

I guess I would say that I trust Bo to properly discipline his players at this point. He's never given me a reason not to (that I can think of). If he feels that Caputo's situation is different enough to merit a less severe punishment, then failing any concrete evidence to the contrary, I have to take him at his word.

Nine scholarships seems pretty harsh, but I think OSU pulls enough top recruits that they can absorb that without much trouble.

The flashes that we've seen from the defense in a few games tell me that the ability to shut an opponent down is there. Pelini's track record in bowl games tells me that he will have these guys ready to play. I see a return to form in this game. I think the defense's pride is on the line. I originally voted too close to call, but I'm going to go ahead and call a close win for Nebraska in a relatively low scoring game.

Another awesome post. Badgerfan is bringing it today. Regarding the note on "players to watch" and "injuries and losses", Jared Crick as been out for the season since the Ohio St. game with a torn pectoral. Personally, I would replace him with Brett Maher, as field position and field goal conversions could be big factors in the outcome of this game. Maher has been great as a place kicker all year, but has been slightly inconsistent as a punter late in the season. A big game from him could put Nebraska over the top.

Also, there is a very real possibility (at least, it's still just a possibility as far as I know) that the Huskers could be without starting C and senior Mike Caputo for the game.

Finally, starting TE Ben Cotton appears to be questionable for the game as he continues to recover.

Badgerfan, I like that a lot, and I was interested to see what those lists would look like in terms of scoring offense and scoring defense.

South Carolina's opponents first:

OFFENSE

15. Arkansas (37.4)

27. Clemson (33.6)

34. Georgia (34.2)

43. Nebraska (30.5)

50. Navy (29.7)

***Average Opponent (27.2)***

61. Vanderbilt (26.9)

67. East Carolina (26.3)

72. Florida (25.6)

73. Mississippi St. (25.5)

82. Auburn (24.3)

106. Tennessee (20.3)

117. Kentucky (15.8)

DEFENSE

17. Georgia (19.6)

19. Mississippi St. (19.9)

25. Florida (20.6)

27. Vanderbilt (20.8)

35. Tennessee (22.6)

37. Arkansas (22.8)

39. Nebraska (22.8)

***Average Opponent (24.3)***

55. Kentucky (24.7)

62. Clemson (26.2)

78. Navy (28.9)

80. Auburn (29.3)

97. East Carolina (32.3)

Wheeeee! Now on to Nebraska's opponents:

OFFENSE

4. Wisconsin (44.6)

23. Michigan (34.2)

36. Washington (31.5)

39. Michigan St. (30.9)

45. South Carolina (30.1)

51. Northwestern (29.5)

***Average Opponent (28.9)***

53. Iowa (28.7)

55. Fresno St. (28.5)

60. Wyoming (27.0)

75. Ohio St. (25.1)

110. Penn St. (19.8)

111. Minnesota (18.4)

DEFENSE

5. Penn St. (15.7)

6. Wisconsin (17.0)

7. Michigan (17.2)

9. Michigan St. (17.5)

13. South Carolina (18.8)

26. Ohio St. (20.8)

42. Iowa (23.3)

***Average Opponent (24.2)***

66. Wyoming (27.0)

67. Northwestern (27.3)

93. Minnesota (31.7)

101. Washington (33.3)

107. Fresno St. (35.2)

Interestingly, Nebraska and USC's opponents have a virtually identical scoring defense average. Nebraska has played slightly tougher offenses, to the tune of an extra 1.7 ppg average. Nebraska and USC are pretty evenly matched in terms of scoring offense, but USC has a solid advantage in scoring defense.

That said, given his track record, I'll give Bo the benefit of the doubt that he'll have the defense prepared for this game. I think this could be a more competitive matchup than some experts might be making it.

He almost made a play on that ball, and recovered really nicely to wrap him up. Unfortunately, he bit off more than he could chew (maybe panicked, maybe angry) trying to wrap up a guy twice his size around the chest.

All first time head coaches wish they could fail like Bo Pelini. For your program to have a disappointing year and play the kind of schedule we played, while transitioning to a new conference, and still win at least 9 games for the fourth year in a row... that's quite a loose definition of failure. Utterly ridiculous hyperbole.