wiby_NU

Bama landed Bateman. You gotta think they are set at QB for this class. Looks like Ramsey will probably be staying with Georgia because of Bateman's commitment. I dont see why we couldn't pull this kid out of SEC country

Just dont see this kid as an end. Looks a bit too slow, much like the ends we currently have. Let him hit the weight room and put on 30+ pounds..could make a great d-tackle in a couple years.

Were just gunna have to agree to disagree my friend. it looks like Wats is no longer a candidate for the Vandy job and he will be here for at least another year. I respect the guy, but i dont respect his play calling...Do i think his play calling will win us 9-10 games next season..probably not...he will struggle against a conference that produces better defenses than the big 12 (especially the North)...i guess what im saying is that im not gunna hold my breath when the offense takes the field...i dont expect much out of them when it comes down to the big games (and we have a lot of them) as long as we have Wats at OC. Do i hope Wats proves me wrong? Sure, but judging from his track record and past 2 seasons, i just cant see it happening.

A TON of people lashed out at any run that wasn't up the middle. OU has a fast defense, you can't go sideways on them, got to go North/South, etc. But now people are looking at an option play that is running sideways and saying it should have been called against OU? My goodness... In all honesty, I think if Taylor were zoned in instead of completely cold we could have run something like this. But if we had, it would have been "Damnit, Watson. Any fool would know the way to beat OU is to run between the tackles." Kind of like what has been said. Or "There we go again, going away from what is working." Oy vey. If we had run that and a fumble occurred, there wouldn't be an end to "what are they thinking?! Calling a play like that, and not thinking it could result in a lost fumble? That cost us!" on this board. And that would be pretty fair. Like the "What are they thinking? Don't they know Martinez is liable to take a 10-yard sack here when we can't afford that?" Which I agree with completely. Not really. The zone read was almost the only thing that worked. It worked with Burkhead. We had most success when Burkhead took it between the tackles, but he also had a sweep that went to the outside that gained 25 yards, which led to a field goal. OU has a fast defense but that doesn't mean you go up the middle every time, or go outside every time. Got to mix it up. The plays where Taylor handed the ball off to Helu outside, IIRC were the wrong reads. Instead of keeping it himself and maybe taking a modest gain of even one or two up the middle, we lose 4 yards. 2nd and 9 turns to 2nd and 14. That's where a bad read hurts us. So your willing to have a running back run the zone read more effectively than our own QB? and then implement this as our base offense. Even though Wats said it himself, "we become to one dimensional when we run the Wildcat" therefore, we wont run the wildcat nearly enough to win the game. I encourage you to watch the OU game again. These were not necessarily bad reads by Martinez. There was nowhere for the play to go, whether the QB or running back kept it. Defenses know how to stop it, it is relatively easy to stop, and they know that no matter what, Wats will run the Zone read over and over. Watch the game, its easy to see our problem..Play calling. In regards to you now saying the option would not have worked because the OU defense was to fast on the perimeter. Once again, you are eating your words when saying that we ran effectively outside in earlier posts, and now their defense was too fast for us to run outside on them. The option and the zone read are two different plays. Zone read- the offense sits back and waits to see what the defense would give them. Speed option-no pulling guards and you get to the outside as quick as possible (no sitting around behind the line of scrimmage trying to read the defense). Triple option- even in the shotgun gives you 3 different chances for a play to work, yes you have to read the defense, but and in my opinion having Helu and Burkhead in the backfield is always a plus. Im not saying these would or wouldnt have worked (including the I formation), but as a "multiple" offense, why not try them to see if it works, obviously the zone read (with martinez) didnt. And dont tell me Martinez cant run the option and its too complex for him, i watched him run it in his high school footage out of the same basic formations.

Yeah, and as I asked Nexus earlier, I wonder if this doesn't have a lot to do with who the QB is. He and houseofspears mentioned something about footwork in relation to the I formation, and that could be a reason why we see Martinez mostly from the shotgun, while Green's strengths seem to enable lining up under center to be a bigger part of the game plan. On something like an exotic option play like that, someone or other probably felt it was too risky (I mean, with the fumble problems we already had - to bring that out against OU? Didn't they have a fast, attacking perimeter defense that could stop us cold on slow-developing runs to the outside? .... Anyway.). I think the story on last year is that Watson had the Wildcat installed the whole year but Bo felt it was gimmicky and wouldn't let it be unwrapped until the end; and then it worked, and Bo embraced it. Not too sure on the validity of this one, so take it for what it is worth. The first part of it (Watson having the Wildcat ready and installed for the whole year last year) seems plausible, and the second half may be a (fair) guess. Zoogies you must have a list of excuses written down on a piece of paper for every offensive play Wats doesnt run, fails to run effectively, or runs over and over again...i could care less whether OU could've stopped the play on the video..but was it worth a try?..sure, why not...It would have been something else besides a zone read play going for a 5 yard loss, or a sack going for a 10 yard loss, maybe another fumble? possibly..whats another fumble when you have 42 on the season anyway. Is the play "exotic" NO..its a triple option in the shotgun formation. If it was so exotic than why did we run it in the first place, and with success? And now your agreeing that OU's defense was too fast on the perimeter, saying that the zone read wasnt working. When above you deliver excuses as to why Martinez was "just made bad reads". You confuse me..is Wats paying you to defend his every play call..or are you infact, the Wats himself????

Then I think it proves the point that we should not rely on the zone read against athletic defenses, I would think? If Burkhead is running it better, then let Burkhead run it. If Martinez and Co. aren't getting the zone read done, then change things up a bit. When I was watching the game, it looked like they were running two different zone reads when Taylor was QB and when Rex was in the wildcat. When Rex was running it they were both going in between the tackles where they were reading the DT or MLB, but when Taylor was running it, it would be to the outside where we would pull a guard, but the speed of Oklahoma got the play before the blocking was set up. So maybe it was just the type of zone read that we ran that was the difference. But I'm not sure, it was just an observation that I made. Your exactly right..martinez's reads almost always go outside, very seldom does he go inside. In the wildcat, Rex is almost always reading the interior of the defense and looking for the crease..also note that we put a wide reciever in motion in the wildcat to fake the WR sweep...which is almost never done w/ the QB in...two completely different zone read plays..and two different situations. You cant compare Martinez and Burkhead when running the zone read

Your hypothesis that disciplined and quick defenses are just shutting down the zone read would be a lot more valid if there aren't at least 2 examples just this year of disciplined/quick defenses (Texas, Oklahoma) with high level schemes, that saw the zone read become a ton more effective the moment Taylor stopped running it and Zac/Rex stepped in. Zone read works, Zac and Rex showed that. If Taylor could read it like Zac, or even like Rex, then he could have killed those teams with it because we all know how his explosiveness/speed compares to those two. I believe a&m shut it down..as well as Okie state, almost all martinez's rushing yards came on scrambles...does SDSU ring a bell? How many yards did he have on Mizzou running the zone read before the injury? It works for Zac because defenses schemes change when he comes in (he's isnt nearly the threat martinez is)..watch the Texas game when Lee comes in...is Lee going to be here next year running the zone read, No...unfortunately martinez isnt burkhead, unless your promoting burkhead for QB next season, and from reading all your responses defending Wats, he wont be. Rex has the ability to find that tiny crease in the defense, break tackles, run with authority, and have a high level football IQ. He is arguably the best football player on the team. Ask Wats "we become too one dimensional when we run the wildcat" therefore we seldom run it. Can you honestly tell me that running the zone read with Martinez at QB in the Big 10 will win us 9 to 10 games. I know how hard the schedule is, but us Husker fans count on at LEAST 9-10 wins. I say we line up, pound the rock, roll the QB out on play action, and incorporate some speed option.

I just dont understand how some people still think this zone read offense will work if Watson stays. Im tired of hearing excuses about how Martinez isn't making the right reads. Well then he must have just "coincidentally" made the wrong reads against disciplined and quick defenses...yes, its only a coincidence...these defenses werent necessarily good (SDSU), they just knew how to defend the ever so slow developing zone read. I absolutely does not work against a DECENT defense. Take Texas for example, great speed on the perimeter yet vunerable up the middle, Kansas State ran it all over them with the "pound the rock" scheme. Yet Wats runs zone read, after zone read, after zone read, its gotta work eventually, right? So what im hoping for is the Big 10 to just suddenly become a below average defensive conference, that we can zone read the crap out of. Sounds like a good wish, but it sure as hell wont happen

No one else outside of Nebraska considers us "the classiest fans in college football". How many people have you heard say this while you were attending an away game. Has someone personally walked up to you and said "wow, you have the classiest fans I have ever seen". I certainly wouldn't and i'm a husker fan. Maybe we were back in the 90's when we were winning championships, but certainly not anymore. We're just your average crazy football fans. Simple as that

Horrible excuse. If you have a QB who cant throw a screen pass, he shouldnt be a QB. It's one of the most basic passing plays in the book. Ive seen Martinez throw with touch. Watch all those long touchdown passes to Kyler Reed

Zoogies, do you find it odd that you are the only one defending Watson on this entire board..don't worry..we will convert you eventually. Whether its by the end of this season, or the end of next season.

Anyone else just hate the fact that us Husker fans EXPECT our offense to lay an egg..should'nt we expect our offense to play decent, and when they dont, we're dissapointed..this is a sign that something is not working. I would love to be an defensive coordinator going up against Watson. Watch a couple hours worth of game footage and take the rest of the week off.

Gotta agree with this...we expect our offense to do bad, but when they have a good game, were surpised..shouldnt it be the other way around..we should expect great things out of our offense, and when that doesnt happen, its a dissapointment

It would be nice to see Watson go so we can implement some other kind of offense that would benefit Martinez..enough of this "multiple" crap..the zone read just doesnt cut it anymore..unless you run that franetic paced offense like Oregon..or have a 6'5" 250 lb freak of a quarterback (Auburn).

For all you watson lovers...if, and i say "if" he comes back next year...are you willing to bet a 9 or 10 game winning season and decent bowl game against Big 10 defenses..i for one dont see any of this happening with the current offensive coaching staff..better defenses..and stiffer competition than the cupcakes of the Big 12 north

Big 12 title...we need an offense in the Big 10 to compete..their defenses bring it EVERY week..unlike the big 12 cupcakes

In everyone else's eyes we have already lost our reputation...the pelini rants...fan "death threats"...and "cheap shots"by our players...Beebe has only added fuel to the fire..spike that trophy...throw the finger, instead of the bones...and say peace out to the Texas 10

It's the coachs job to teach these players consistency...such as discipline in the run game and passing game (holding calls, fall starts). For god sake our offense cant keep from jumping offsides AT HOME, when its dead silent..I want to see just one drive of 12 plays or longer where our offense isn't flagged and put back into a 3rd in long..u have to be insane to say that the majority of it isn't coaching.. what does our offense do at practice? Wats needs to get back to the basics such as blocking drills, understanding snap counts, catching the ball, and holding on to the dang football...teach consistency...and you will get consistency.

Yes, CU is good against the run. But that's mostly because of their speed. They play a nickel D (I think) that depends heavily on guys swarming to the ball. Obviously the NU offense has seen this before and experienced what happens against fast defenses when we use the zone read as opposed to a north-south attack. Our zone read does not work nearly as well when we're running sideline to sideline. But, if we attack the heart of their D by running right at it, we have success because we neutralize their speed. Hopefully our offensive game plan consists of heavy doses of this north-south running game. Whether Green or Martinez is QB, that's the attack that will work. I have to admit..i believe we will lose this game...but looking on the bright side..we wont have to face an offense like Okie State in the Big 12 title with an inept offense of our own..we already saw what Okie State can do to our defense..what would the score to that game be...im guessing somewhere around 35-10...same things goes if Oklahama makes to the Big 12 title game.

Actually, during the game Saturday night we had Helu, T-Mart & Burkhead in a pro set during one series. I turned to my wife and yelled Finally!! Give the defense ALOT to think about. Not just a gimpy QB with no threat to run and one back. Something I missed..thanks for bringing it up...still doesnt negate the hundreds of other series with a quarterback on one good leg and a single running back in the backfield..where has Legate been also...he has had a few promising plays then sits the rest of the game...Even though im bringing up not having tmart, rex, and helu in the backfield at once..you cant run when your offensive line is getting pushed 5 yards into the backfield (Caputo) or drawing a penalty every other play

Its the job of the offensive coordinator to have the players ready to execute the game plan...2008 offense was more of a west coach approach..this is different..something watson has no idea how to put a gameplan around..ive watched far to many games where we run the exact same plays as the last game..and the game before that..and the game before that..he doesnt know how to adjust to defenses..how many time did you see last week A&M players blasting our oline 5-10 yards in the backfield because they had no idea where the pressure was coming from...it seemed to me watson looked at last years A&M defense (the 4-3) rather than this years (3-4). He has zero imagination..and zero ability to produce an effective gameplan against defenses

The recievers catching the ball rely heavily on the coach..that why we have a "receivers" coach....consistant o-line blocking rely heavily on the o-line coach..hence the name "o-line" coach....and the offense struggling rely heavily on the "offensive coordinator"...i think you get my drift..maybe pelini can focus some of his anger on the man who has athletes all over on offense yet can move it against an average defense...when did we see helu, burkhead, and tmart all in the backfield at once? NEVER..we seem to be able to put all of our best players on the field on defense, yet cant do so on offense..shear stupidity on watsons part...no more chances for him..he's proven he has only been average wherever he's coached..I thought Bo doesnt settle for average, and strives for perfection..the offense is the complete opposite of perfect..its a disaster...i dont wanna hear about tmart and other injuries...we were perfectly healthy against Texas and couldnt execute worth a crap against an athletic defense..same result last week..just a different texas team

As much as everyone think the refs screwed us..and they did..how can our offense only score 6..YES 6 points...Watson has to go..im done with his play calling...way to predictable even with a backup QB in For those of you who wonder why Ben Cotton was penalized with the unsporsmanlike conduct..take a look at this..a bit disturbing...i have to question the A&M players sexuality A&M sized SHOCKER: http://video.ak.fbcdn.net/cfs-ak-snc4/78471/575/1722766395267_1755.mp4

Gotta agree with you there mmmtodd...makes you wonder what is going on at other universities..maybe not to this extent..but still makes you wonder