predictionking

I don't mean to be captain obvious, but we had some holes that needed to be replaced, and we thought they would've been replaced. We were obviously wrong. I will argue with anyone still that our scheme is not the problem, and Watson didn't just forget how to call a football game over the summer. NU has failed to overcome serious personnell departures, and its killing them. 1. The loss of Joe Ganz- Well duh. yes, I am preaching to the choir, but that kid was special there is no way around it. He should've been a 2 year starter for the Huskers. Ganz's biggest strength was his ability to avoid a rush and throw on the run. Lee can't feel the rush to save his life. 2. The loss of Matt Slauson, Lydon Murth AND Javario Burkes- Murtha was an average to below average pass blocker for his size and athleticsm, but he was an excellent run blocker. Matt Slauson is well.....Matt Slauson. Ricky Henry is a good run blocker, but he doesn't have the pass blocking down. And Marcel and DJ Jones are both downgrades from Javario and Murtha. DJ Jones is one of NU's worst offensive tackles in years. 3. Swifty and Peterson- Quite Frankly this one boggles my mind. Those of you who want to rag on our scheme need to realize these two were constantly opened despite not having any athletic advantage over a single DB they faced all season. NU's offense allows it's receivers to get open, ours just can't catch and our QB can't muster the forward pass. 4. The departure of Quentin Castille is killing this team. That's all on Castille. But his presence alone makes this team dramatically different. One could argue Burkhead nor Helu would be hurt right now. Secondly, do we find the end zone with Castille in the game against Va Tech and Iowa State? Probably. Going into the season did any of you really believe these losses would be this dramatic? I sure didn't. Our issues have been more than innexperience. Innexperience players often improve as the season unfolds. Right now, these replacements are digressing. That's on the coaching. Our offensive depth needs substantial improvement over the next few seasons. Otherwise, we will always struggle to re-build.

I'm a realist with the offensive. It has a lot of problems, just like our defense was to start last year. All I am saying is that the season is not lost, the Big XII North is still wide open. I would say play calling is probably our worst problem. But that is fixable as is this season. By this time last year, our defense was figuring things out. Our offense has a long way to go before we could see the same level of improvement.

Well we can still salvage the season. Luckily, Baylor, K-State, KU, and Colorado are all dreadfull. However, 8 turnovers a game will equal 0-5 to finish the season. We are equally dreadfull. Honestly, losing to K-State would send me over the edge.

Any defense with a pulse will... .............Or any defense without a pulse for that matter (ie. Iowa State)

Sometimes you see a post and you just know you could hang out with the poster and have a good time. Judging by this post, I'm guessing you and I have about the same warped sense of humor. Funny Shiite.

:hurl: I'm not against the Wildcat, but I'd like to know why it's suddenly taken the college and pro games like a storm. It's not a lot different in results than the Option or the Wishbone, it just comes from a different formation. And yet it's all the rage, while back in the day we were considered quaint and old-fashioned for running an antiquated Power Run game back in the 90s. Times change, and all we can do is shake our heads. Actually the Wildcat is really just the Zone Read. Most teams just run it with a running back taking the snap. IMO, we just need to leave Cody Green in at QB and run more Zone Read, until teams prove they can stop him. Success from Green's legs would open up the passing game thus making our offense far more productive.

I'm talking more about using him out of the backfield or slot as a ball carrier, maybe the occasional short swing pass, but nothing complex in the passing game. And secondly, I'm only talking about maybe 5-10 plays a game.

Prince is one of the most legendary high school running backs in AZ High School Football History. His Senior season numbers were ridiculous, something like 2,000+ yards and 40 TD's. One thing which always stuck out on his film was his ability to "shake and bake" At the Big Red Breakfast this morning James Dobson said Prince was the most explosive person on the football team, especially in the ten yard dash. With all the injuries on defense, and NU's inability to get some explosive plays offensively, I think the Huskers should consider letting Prince get some touches on offense, even if it's only a couple designed plays. Anybody think I'm nuts?

Sheffield was saying "scoreboard" while he was getting taken to the ground.

This guy may be using projections to some extent. The potential #2 pick may be more inclined to pick up McCoy for a 4-3 scheme than Suh. A lot of people are talking about Suh as a D-End in the 3-4.

Yeah this game definitely has that classic "just got our arses kicked at home with massive road trip at Baylor looming next week trap game" written all over it. Cy, you don't need the Huskers to overlook you to steal a win in Lincoln. All you need to do is put together one or two big plays on special teams, hold on to the football, and play sound defense against a bad offensive football team.

If we lose to Iowa State, there will be a meltdown of monumental proportions and people will be calling for Bo's head. It very much is a ticking time bomb. A loss to Iowa State would likely signify 7 straight losses to close out the season.

Texas Tech gained 254 total yards, their lowest output since 2000. You're an idiot if you think Nebraska's defense is average. ISU will not score more than 10-14 offensive points on the Huskers. But that might just get it done against this dreadfull Husker offense.

Dumbest thing I've ever read. This offense is not the "West Coast Offense" anymore. It's gravitated to a scheme which caters to less talented athletes. It's built to succeed when the QB can avoid the rush and find open wideouts whom have to improvise. If you can't see the schematic similarities to what KU does, then you're nuts. With this current defense, NU would be rolling teams if we had "Ganzlike" Production. Your post is ignorant. Secondly, put this same defense on the field last year, and Ganz probably goes 11-1.

That's why you put in the QB that adds another dimension to your offense. Ganz had two very dependable recievers last year. Our recievers just aren't very good. I just don't buy this argument guys. If Ganz was still here, he would be finding open receivers. Our QB play has completely destroyed our offense. Most innexperienced QB's need about 2 or 3 games before things start to click. Lee has digressed. It's time to cut our losses and ride the Green Train. We can still win the North by default with Green at the helm. Get him place now, and we will be better in the long run.

Look guys, if Joey Ganz was still QB, Nebraska would be 6-0 right now and probably ranked 4th in the country. No one, I mean no one, would be ragging on Shawn Watson, and our offense would probably be averaging similar numbers to last season. Hell, Ganz WOULD be a potential Heisman candidate. Does Watson need to simplify things? Do we need to address a lot of issues? Hell yes, its stupid to continue running things without the proper personnell in place. But our problems stem from QB issues first and foremost. DJ Jones does suck at right tackle, and our receivers are dropping easy catches. But our pass pro wasn't great last season, and our wideouts have been average for a while now. Ganz was just the difference. He almost always felt the pressure. He knew when to step up in the pocket. He knew when to take off and run, and he also knew how to find an open man through improvisation. We've had open receivers the last two games, but Lee is not hitting them. His biggest problem is throwing on the run. It's like he has no vision downfield when he escapes the pocket. He also does a poor job of feeling pressure. If a pass rusher rushed up field and got around one of the tackles, Ganz was always able to feel the pressure and step up the pocket. Lee lacks that ability. It's time to go with Cody Green, take your lumps, win the North by default, and work towards a big season in 2009. One thing Cody did extremely well on Saturday was stepping up in the pocket to avoid the sack. One has to wonder that had he been in the game earlier, how would he have fared running the zone read? IMO, a 5 or 6 yard gain for Lee is 10 to 15 for Green. Secondly, it means the defense can't just key on Helu. It's time to go with Green. Change the QB, go young, help the Environment, Go GREEN!!

I will agree with almost everything you've written with the exception of the secondaries. NU's secondary has made about 3 or 4 boneheaded plays this season, that's for sure, but it is head and shoulder's better than ISU's secondary. Of course, that doesn't really matter against the Nebraska offense. Baylor has more weapons at wideout than the Huskers. You will struggle to score against Nebraska the way you struggled against Iowa. But you may be able to win 5-4 if your closer can shut things down in the bottom of the 9th. P.S. My roommate is a ISU alum so I have seen the Clones every time they've been on TV this year. Their improvement is indicative of Rhoade's ability. What a great hire!

Freakout post of the day, lol.

I'm not trying to make excuses for our receivers. But I'd like to delay their funeral until after they play a quality team in dry conditions...... at home. Today is big for the wideouts and Zac Lee.

Personally the only headline I really want to read this season is "SuhNers Sacked"

Yeah, he is (but he also looked like Colt McCoy last weekend against K-State....if not better). The QB at Louisiana-Lafayette looked like Colt McCoy against K-State.

Are you serious? Fisher has looked great. Bizarre post of the year.

It's amazing what a week can do. Does everyone remember NU beating New Mexico State last season? We had looked average defensively against Western Michigan, and then stuggled mightily against a bad San Jose State team. Everything looked all gloom and doom in Husker land. Then all of a sudden the Huskers rout a pathetic New Mexico State team. All of a sudden, Husker nation was sure we would beat a rebuilding Virginia Tech team. Of course that was a mistake. Take away a special teams score, and NU gets throttled by Tech last year. Prior to the K-State @ Tech game, the Red Raiders were "reeling" along. Their offense had been innefficient, and teams were moving the ball against them. Then Kansas State comes to town. From the eyeball test alone, k-State did not belong on the field. They were noticeably smaller, slower, and weaker than the Red Raiders. This was understandable considering K-State has been overmatched by virtually every Big 12 team except Iowa State the last couple of seasons. The Red Raiders score at will on the Cats, and "shut down" their worthless offense. All of a sudden, most Tech fans believe they will not only win in Lincoln, but win rather easily. Secondly, most Husker fans are also thinking Tech is going to come in an give us a game. Folks, don't buy into the hype! Tech is a flawed football team. They turn the ball over TOO MUCH. They give up sacks. Their QB is not battle tested. Their defense makes mistakes and sells out for the big hit to a fault. Their offensive line is a work in progress, and it had all kinds of issues prior to facing the joke from Manhattan. They do HAVE plenty of TALENT. Don't misunderstand my point. They DO HAVE A GREAT SCheme, but think about this matchup, this week, in Memorial Stadium. I have been on this soapbox for a week now. Nebraska WILL ROLL Tech in Lincoln this weekend. Turnovers, Emotion, and momentum will create a major snowball effect. This game has all the makings of a return to the good old days of Nebraska football. We used to blast teams whom were honestly not 50, 60, or even 70 points worse than us. Defense, change of possession, turnovers all feed from the emotion of the crowd and they all feed the emotion of the crowd. You will see it this weekend. Look for short field scores, defensive touchdowns, and big plays creating significant momentum switches from our defense. NU 44 Tech 17.

Do you honestly think Blaine Gabbert is a pocket passer? Secondly, I would argue Blaine Gabbert with a bum ankle is just as mobile as Potts. And with a healthy leg, Gabbert is far more mobile than Sheffield.

BELIEVE IT! I played college football, albeit the NAIA level, and I played for a school which ran the Spread offense. There are different variations of the Spread, and Tech's version is one of the most complex variations in college football. There are two obvious ways to combat this attack: 1. Control the line of scrimmage and get to the QB by either disrupting his rythym or putting him on his back. or 2. Secure tackling and keeping the receiver in front of you after he makes the catch. Not to sound like captain obvious here, but the beauty of the Spread offense is it allows playmakers to make plays in open space. Tech's offense lives and dies on turning 5 to 7 yard receptions into 10 to 15 yard completions. If you disrupt the rythym and the timing, you can turn that scheme into a one-dimensional circus of errors, see the OU-Tech game from a year ago. However, if you let the QB make easy throws, and you don't have athletes and sure tacklers in your back 7, then your toast, see K-State last week. IMO, the Huskers match up well with Tech this season for a couple of reasons: 1. Our front four should be able to disrupt the timing to some extent. Allen and Turner need to have big games off the edge. The strength of the Tech offensive line is their interior. Crick and Suh will actually have their hands full, but, and this is a big but, Tech will also have their hands full. This will give Turner and Allen the opportunity to make some plays. 2. I believe the NU secondary has demonstrated an incredible knack for making tackles this season. NU has a lot of depth, athleticsm, and experience in that back 7. I don't see Tech or any team for that matter catching a slant and taking it 70 yards to paydirt against Nebraska. There is just too much speed and athleticsm in the Husker Secondary. Tech WILL make some plays and gain some yardage. Their scheme is too good for this not to happen. However, they will not be able to drive the field with consistency. Lastly, and this is a big deal. Don't underestimate the value of the K-State-Tech game for the Huskers. Any football team from Broken Bow High to the New York Giants can learn a LOT about their opposition after watching a blowout from the week before. It's easy to find a team's weaknesses on film. Coaches know where they can exploit and opponent. However, it's sometimes difficult to know what an opponent does well. That game gives NU a template of how to defend Tech at it's very best. You can bet NU's defense has given their full attention to the Pelini's this week.