Jason Sitoke

Practice? not a game....practice....practice Are we talkin' 'bout practice?! What are we talking about? Practice?

According to the OWH, Martinez came in for one play in the wildcat and lined up at receiver. I was there and didn't notice it, but that makes no sense if it did happen. Keep him off the field altogether if he isn't 100%. The defense looked tired in this game, and I can understand after last week's game. The D-Line looked like they had ankle weights on most of the game. The secondary made some plays, but missed a couple. The LB position did not have a great game. I thought Compton was out of position on most of his snaps. He looked out of sync. The defense played decently well and kept the yardage gained between the 20s for the most part. I understand the game plan to limit potential turnovers from Cody, but why did Watson ever go away from the Wildcat game? ISU could not stop it with any sort of regularity. Run it till they stop it. If we get 4 yards a play, who cares. 3 4 yard runs nets a first down, 6 or 7 of those nets a touchdown. If the plan is to not let Cody lose the game, then why bother having him out there in the first place? I guess 30-35 carries for Rex and Roy is a bit much to ask, though. Overall, I am happy for the win. People thought I was nuts when I said that I was not nervous about the MU game, but extremely nervous about this game. I am glad we don't play ISU anymore, because I could see them as dealing Nebraska fits on a yearly basis, regardless of talent differences. Paul Rhodes is an incredible coach and gets more out of each of his players than they know that they have in them. I agree with the point with the Wildcat. The coaches obviously didn't EVER want to let CG throw the ball if they didn't have to. So why not have Burkhead, a guy that has some explosiveness and is a good runner, instead of Green, a guy with no burst and fumbling issues, line up in shotgun? It's not like you can't be very creative in the running game out of that formation and still keep the defense honest. If a guy is your QB, let him be your QB and throw the ball. If he's not trusted to put the ball in the air, put your best running option in there. It's not like ISU didn't figure out after the first couple series that this guy is NEVER going to throw on early downs.

I think your concession that ISU was playing better than us at the time was reason enough to give them a chance to win straight up. I had NO confidence that our defense was going to stop them at any point in OT. I feel like our offense had a better chance of being halted by a turnover at some point. We had a quarterback that was basically prohibited from throwing the ball (perhaps rightfully so) that seemed to be fumbling every other snap. We were one dimensional with a mistake prone QB, going against an offense that was moving the ball both on the ground and through the air. If ISU comes out with their offense instead of their kicker at 31-30, I'm thinking "how in the hell are we going to keep them from getting 3 yards?" You need to stack the line to keep them from running it in, but then you put AWest in a one on one situation with the same receiver that bitch-slapped him the play before for a TD. I don't like the odds.

I'm fine with keeping him out. But why dress him and keep him on the exercise bike, primed and ready to come in? If he can't go, he can't go. If he can be effective, put him in. "If I'm hurt, I'm hurt. Simple as that" -Allen Iverson

my only complaint.

Rhoads is obviously doing a great job. That being said, I was perplexed by his decision to fake the PAT for a couple reasons: 1) If you're going to gamble, the time to do it was with 40 seconds to go, all 3 TOs, and the ball at your own 20. You've got an offense that is confident, a big leg kicker, and the wind at your back. 2) Okay, so you take a knee, which told me that he thought ISU was the better team at that point and was willing to take his chances with a 0 - 0 game essentially. So his team answers score fairly easily and all indications showed that we were in for a long OT session until someone made a mistake. My money would have been on the offense with the 3rd string QB to make the big mistake. Instead, he goes gimmick with his holder and it fails. 3) To echo what has all ready been stated. If you're going to take one shot on offense to beat a team, do it with your OFFENSE. Win or lose, put it in the hands of the starters that got you to that point.

Nah wouldn't have been able to snap his neck. You need speed to beat the muscles protecting the structures. In human dissection it took several big boys in the class with a pulley system set up to snap the corpses' neck and this is without the muscle guarding (dead) and deterioration of tissues over time (I do realize rigor mortis sets in but gradually weakens over time). However rex may be a little sore and stiff for a few days... That will be Beebe's explanation VERBATIM as to why there will be no reprimand. No intent to injure because 'in absence of rigor mortis, the structural muscles are too strong and will prevent the neck from breaking'.

On a similar note, did anyone catch the play by play guy use the theme word of the season 'targeting' when Osborne bumped a receiver after an incompletion? It was the LaVonte David interference play. The color guy, to his credit, diffused it by calling it a 'love tap' by his standards. Osborne even jumped, like he was bound and determined to NOT let his helmet make any contact with the ISU player.

+1

I think that the time for this thread has definitely come. No one is saying that our defense sucks or that it's time to rethink what in the hell we're doing out there. However, what we are seeing is how this scheme can be exploited. When everyone in your back seven pretty much has the look of a DB, you're going to get pounded in the run game, unless you've got a couple special lineman that can shed blocks and stuff the run themselves. Last year, we had a man child that wreaked havoc up front. He often times single handedly took away an opponents ability to run. This year, we'd be doing that again, except for the fact that Jared Crick appears to be merely a good, not great and certainly not All-American caliber, interior lineman. His counterpart is a sophomore. The 2 ends are fairly average IMO (some could argue that Meredith shows some real promise I suppose). Many times, we've got LaVonte who's in the only position to make a play on the running back. If an O lineman or fullback get on him, we're looking at a 5 - 8 yard gain before the safety or peso back can fill the gap. I think that in these types of games, where the opposition moves the ball consistently and runs clock, it magnifies each mistake by the offense (or Niles Paul on kickoffs for that matter) because the game is shortened. When your defense is consistently facing 2nd and 4, 3rd and 2, etc, drives are easily extended. I'd like to see a little more blitzing on early downs. TFL and sacks are not coming with any regularity this year. We are very much a defensive cliche (bend but don't break). Sacks and TFL are drive killers, and they force teams to take chances to extend drives. That leads to turnovers. Blitzing is not a long term solution to a defense's struggles. The shortcomings are very real. However, like I said, it's not like this unit is deplorable. They're just not dominant. And with all the pub that Crick and Pierre Allen were getting before the season started, I bought into the hype, even though I really hadn't been starstruck by either at that point. Bottom line is that the offense needs to put up points and extend drives of their own. Iowa St. seemed fairly happy to give up 5 yds a run today. They were bound and determined not to give up the huge play and made us earn each score. I thought the only times we stifled ourselves on offense was when CG was fumbling handoffs and snaps, or the backs got greedy (Helu tried the outside too many times when he probably should have lowered his shoulder and fell forward for 5 more yards) They'll need to be patient and possibly win a couple more high scoring games (with aTm and a possible rematch with OSU in the CCG on the horizon).

Anyone but Larry the Cable Guy

I find it hilarious that the word 'flagrant' is being thrown around by Beebe concerning Martin's hit. When you've got 20 yr old kids going around 220 lbs with 4.4 speed running full speed into each other during a kickoff, I would think the situation itself is pretty over the top and outrageous. And you better have a f'ing knack for the flagrant if you find yourself out there amongst the 22. They don't call it 'suicide squad' for nothing.

Man, I remember that so vividly. Most every bit of animosity and heartbreak I ever had with respect to watching my sports teams play has melted away. Except for that play. I'm livid to this day about that f'ing no call. The least nefarious explanation for it is that they saw the facemask, and just didn't feel like calling it.

I'll preface this by saying that neither Green or Lee make me very comfortable when they line up under center. They will start Lee next week if Martinez can't go. That's a fact. Another point of contention: Lee had 3 passes against Mizzou. The first was an ill-advised decision that could have been picked. The second was not off Reed's hands. It was 10 feet over his head. The third was a nice throw on a crucial down. Green has not looked good, but how can some of you say Green sucks, and in the same breath say that you can't judge Lee because he hasn't played much? Last year, Green and Lee were pretty interchangeable in my opinion. Lee got the edge because Green was a freshman. Yeah, Lee has experience in big games, but how much experience does he have playing WELL in big games. Not much. I'm not a Lee hater, but I do find it somewhat puzzling when people speak of him as if he's Major Applewhite with a knack for coming up big in big games. He's just not that guy. And I think the myth about Lee being a markedly better passer than Martinez has been busted these past 2 weeks. That being said, Lee did run the offense against Mizzou, and with the way the offensive line and defense were playing, that's all he was being asked to do. If Martinez can't go, it should be Lee because with the upcoming schedule, we just need a guy that knows the playbook and executes the play.

It's in Lincoln. We could lose by 30 for all I can guess.

F**K YOU!!!!!!!! jk

Reed has got some SERIOUS speed from the TE spot. Love to see him on some seam or wheel routes, in addition to the post he runs off the PA.

Compton was on the field for at least a couple of those big run plays by OSU

I give the game ball to Zac Lee. Great senior moxie and composure shown with that headset on. :-) Offense: Martinez, Paul, Helu (tough running today), Kinnie (no TDs coming in. Now he's got 3) Defense: Ummmmmm...........how about that Husker offense huh?

That's it for this thread.

I don't think those that bash Watson (I'm among them) are all that reactionary. I give Watson credit for continuing to go to the PA corner route. I don't think OSU covered it all day.

It was an ill advised pitch. Reminiscent of his little flip pass earlier. It was a forward pass, but replays were not conclusive.

What's stupid about Thenarse is that when you duck your helmet like that: A You can't wrap up B You can't see anything and a good stiff arm will send you to the turf C You have a great chance of hurting someone. Most likely, yourself.

Ecstatic to see this thread. I checked in on HB after the hit and some of those that post were berating Martin for his 'cheap shot'. f#*k YOU PEOPLE and you know who you are. Yes, someone was hurt on the play. And ABSOLUTELY concussions are very SERIOUS matters. I'm not one of those old school callous a$$hole$ that think EVERY hit is legal and answer every question with 'this is FOOTBALL'. Eric Martin is a man among boys on ST. He's been that way since he got on campus. His hit was LEGAL. It was a block. It looked bad because the guy who got hit was not aware of his surroundings and got LEVELED. f#*k Franklin! How does Martin's family, friends feel about Eric being singled out as a cheap shot artist as they watch him play? He gave a high five on the sideline. NO ONE knows what the context of that was. I'm pretty sure it wasn't "nice work #46. Hope that guy never walks again. HIGH FIVE!" I absolutely concur. Unbelievable unprofessional behavior by the color guy.

This is a good point. Much of Martinez' problems passing have been the result of dropped passes. Yes, he's had bad throws, but so has Lee. Martinez' good throws are being dropped, making his stats look worse than they should. Martinez is a competent passer - not Joe Montana, but he's not Tommie Frazier, either. Qualitatively, having Martinez in there is exactly nothing like having Lee. We've seen very little on Lee, keep in mind. And the biggest problem here is we are treating passing as a single simple ability. Martinez is nowhere close to Lee in the footwork or mechanics of throwing, and he is especially nowhere close in being able to read defenses, meaning both before the play (checking to other plays based on what the defense shows, and other adjustments) and during the play (going through progressions). Last year, at the beginning of the year, Lee was limited in his progressions. Martinez is as well, currently (breakdown is from the Rivals free board). When TMart is asked to go through multiple progressions on a play, they are usually in the same zone of the field - left, middle, right. Against Texas, when we opened it up and progressions were in different areas of the field, Martinez struggled making them, resulting in broken plays. Lee, right now, opens us up to having these wrinkles in the passing game, where his first progression might be in the left middle of the field, his second might be right deep, and his third might be middle short. Or something like that, I'm no expert personally. That's funny because my biggest problem with Lee in the passing game last year was that he never seemed to look past his 1st read. He looked like he knew from the minute he broke the huddle that he was going ONE place with the ball, whether it was there or not. I know you and I tend to go round and round on this issue, so I guess I'll just respectfully disagree with your assertion that Lee is a better passer. I only have what I saw for the entire season last year to go on, and he wasn't a very good passer in those games. when you have no pass protection, it makes it hard to go through your progressions. just saying. I think it's fair to say that I'm considering those situations in which he had time to throw. Just saying.