CFHusker

Since the beginning of Nebraska football the offense and the defense have played perfectly only 5 times. 5 times is way above average compared to the rest of college football programs. I am just very happy with a 10-2 (3) season. I would hate to see that momentum stopped because of 3 losses. The offensive staff needs to get stuff fixed. They are all very seasoned coaches. It is very telling when the coordinators are being looked at by other programs. That tells me other people that know football know this is a good staff. Did Watson make some mistakes, sure. I would think he had a reason for calling the game he did. The passing game was there, it was not executed. I can only imagine what Watson was thinking when Martinez was breaking down. "After the game" play calling is so easy. During the game you have to anticipate shifts and weakenesses to call the right plays. The coaches cannot control how the players step up. Players have to be accountable for their mistakes. Brendan Stai before the CO game talked about how the players stepped up and one those titles. They made a decision as a whole team it was going to happen. I bet if you asked the players why they lost games this year they would blame themselves first. For this team or any team to go from 10-3 to 14-0 it is simply a mental adjustment by the players. This takes players to become leaders and not accept minor mental breakdowns. Nebraska Football is back. In the next few years they will play for a NC.

Please finish breaking down the second half. This is great stuff. I think the players were in a position to win. I also have sympathy for Martinez. Those injuries set him back on his learning curve. He probably missed so many reps in practice and he had to have the worry in the back of his mind.

and if you take away 50 points in the Washington game Nebraska loses. You can't make a solid argumemnt by taking away the few successes. The reason those defenses were in the top 25 was because they are good at stopping teams from scoring and moving the ball. In the majority of those losses it came down to a few mistakes that cost the game. In all of the games the offense was good enough to win but made mistakes that cost points. Against OU Watson's offense was in position to score 6 to 10 more points. The players on the field made the errors. Against Va Tech they were in position to score TD's but penaties put them in bad situations. This year the difference between 13-0 and 10-3 has less to do with schemes and playcalling and more to do with mental errors. I for one do not blame Watson when you look at the tools he has to work with. This team is very young and the experienced players have only been with this staff for three years, this "new" offense for one year, and the seniors seemed to make more than their share of mistakes. Dropped passes and fumbles are unacceptable by Sr leaders. It shows me they are not willing to put in the effort or they do not truly believe how good this team can be. If all the Seniors approached the game like Henery this team is 13-0.

The Big 12 tried to shaft us cause we were leaving. I don't see the Big Ten trying to shaft us. Yes i have looked at the schedule, it's to prevent us from winning the first Big Ten title. 2017 i believe we get full revenue. Really we do not get full revenue until 2017? That seems crazy. Nebraska in the Big Ten is a big boost to that conference in every sport accept MBB. I for one can't wait to see Iowa vs Neb wresting in Carver. Or go see the Volleyball team playing at Carver. Finally living in Northeast Iowa is going to payoff.

Nebraska is the youngest 10 win team in the country. Also were the only 10 win team that had the QB miss games due to injury. Next year with more experience this team will compete very well against the Big 10 teams. The style of play in the Big 10 favors Nebraska. For the most part the offenses are bland. It is line up and see who can get there first and the hardest. Due to Mike Leach the Big 12 became a wide open slinging offensive conference. I do not fear the Big Ten. Iowa was the co champion last year with far inferior talent and less coaching ability.

I do not like the idea of firing someone unless you have someone proven to be better ready to step in. But I have watched the Ok game three times and watched the 2001 Orange Bowl and the Tn game. I think the team with Eric Crouch would have the same problems as the 2010 team. They had a hard time passing and if Crouch had gotten hurt that season would have been toast. However the 97 team with Frost seemed to have more dimensions. Although the pass blocking was nothing to get excited about, but it seemed that Frost hardly did straight drop back passes. The Oregon games that I watched did not make me believe the zone read is the best offense for Nebraska either. That team has unbelievable speed and stretch a play all the way across the field to find an opening. Plus they are relentless with the number of plays they run during a game. Nebraska does not have the speed to pull that off. I can't see the zone read working against very fast defenses (2010 as an example)especially when giving them the time to get rested and set. Last thought on the offense. It seems that the O line is asked to be two different things at once. Mixing power runs, zone blocking, and drop back pass blocking. Being this mulitple I believe is making them look bad. Also I think this offense is a learning process for Watson also. This would explain his inability to adapt during the game. I always considered him to be more West Coast/with screens and backside running plays. If this is a learning process for him also then he needs to be given some space to improve. Also it might explain why the offense is making so many mental errors.

I have really enjoyed Helu and will miss his running style. But his fumbles are inexcusable for a SR running back. This will probably be big reason he is not drafted. The offense needed leaders to step up. Unfortunately Paul and Helu made Freshman/Soph mistakes that really hurt the team.

By the time Martinez graduates from this program I believe he will go down as one of the best Huskers of all time. He will be one of the best Wide Receivers ever!!!

he is frustrating to watch.... I do not remember seeing Watson playing last night? Kidding. I was not especially thrilled with some of his calls last night. I have to think that he was not either. I give him the benefit due to the production, the record, and the adversity of the season. For the last 5 games he has not known who his QB is going to be. I have to think they are not finalizing a game plan until they know who will be on the field. I will hold judgement on Watson being a failure the season that all things click and he is unable to have any production. He at least needs two more years to see what he is really made of or what he can do. This is not a comparison to Callahan and Cosgrove. This program is obviously not taking a step back.

Problem is, there are far to many "small" adjustments that have needed to be made for quite some time now (receivers not catching, o-line not getting the blocks, reverting back to play calling that hasn't seemed to work, etc). These are things I would have expected the 1st, maybe 2nd year. But well into the 3rd year, they're things that have yet to be corrected. Young players, injured players, first year in an evolving offense. Time is needed.

If you do what you're paid to do, then nobody is going to rear their ugly head at you. Look at the defensive coaches. Nobody says hoot about them because save one bad performance this year our defense has played mightily well. The defense played more consistent then the offense, but not their best game. They had some pretty bonehead plays also.

So instead of a close game where one fewer turnover could have made the difference between a championship or not you would rather just get beat. If I were Watson I would be running away from this fan base. Actually, yes. Getting outplayed by a team that is just hands down better than you is easier to swallow than several close losses where the team trips over itself. This is just dumb. I have to assume anyone that would think this way was either in the band, a cheerleader, or played video games instead of actually playing sports. No way would you want to just be inferior vs needing to make small adjustments to win. Anyone who thinks this way should be Iowa State fans.

Well said

When Frost was at UNI I got to meet him quite a few times. Once he came over to my home to watch a UFC fight with another coach who lived in my hood. He is a very stand up character. Nebraska would be blessed to have him on staff for that reason alone. The players at UNI thought the most of him and played hard for him. That being said I hope he never comes here to coach. With the ungrateful fan base rearing its ugly head I would not want such a good guy subject to it. No one can perform at a level expected at Nebraska. Or at least on this board.

Rex burkhead, Roy Helu, Brandon Kinnie, Kyler Reed, Mike McNeil, Alex Henery...more than enough weapons to score 3 points in the second half. Rex burkhead (fumble), Roy Helu (fumble), Brandon Kinnie (drops), Kyler Reed, Mike McNeil, Alex Henery...more than enough weapons to score 3 points in the second half. I think they also should have scored more but unfortunately the players let themselves down.

So instead of a close game where one fewer turnover could have made the difference between a championship or not you would rather just get beat. If I were Watson I would be running away from this fan base.

Would anyone that is ready to fire Watson concede this team on offense is an improvement from last year? Would they also concede that this is year 1 for this style of offense? Would you also concede that NU is young very young? Would you also conceded that injuries again bit this team? Credit needs to be given to this staff, with young injured players to win 10 games. I do not see other programs doing more than this program. It is back to elite status. Yes it has bugs to work out, but that is better then starting over.

Last night was a tough pill to swallow. I feel rotten for the players. While close games are very fun to watch, losing them is agonizing. So I was trying to get my thoughts wrapped around what needs to change. I began to think that maybe Watson needs to find a better fit for this high risk style of play calling. I was ticked to see him call such an inconsistent game. It seemed we could have consistently punched them in the mouth all game long. Watson wants to out scheme or trick the defense. When it works it really works, but OU's dc put Watson in his place last night. Last night I was all about seeing Watson move on. Then I watched the game this morning and no longer in the bye bye Watson camp. While in hindsight I would have not called some of the plays he did, 99% of the loss was caused by player error. I am one that will never be mad at a player for how they perform if they are playing hard. It is their game to win or lose. Their teammates and coaches can be the judge and jury. That being said I could not believe the errors that were made and have consistently been made. I started to ponder what the future will hold next yr without the Seniors. I looked through the roster and all of my questions were answered. This team is young. They are full of youth. Also the Seniors have only been with this staff for the third year, so they are basically RSo or Jrs. Based on this I think this entire staff needs to be applauded for a great yr. In 2010 only 20 teams had ten or more wins. Not a single one of those teams dealt with the adversity this team did. Only 3 or 4 of those 20 teams have coaching staffs with as short of tenure as Nebraska. Congratulations 2010 Huskers on a GREAT season!!!!!!!!!

Last night was a tough pill to swallow. I feel rotten for the players. While close games are very fun to watch, losing them is agonizing. So I was trying to get my thoughts wrapped around what needs to change. I began to think that maybe Watson needs to find a better fit for this high risk style of play calling. I was ticked to see him call such an inconsistent game. It seemed we could have consistently punched them in the mouth all game long. Watson wants to out scheme or trick the defense. When it works it really works, but OU's dc put Watson in his place last night. Last night I was all about seeing Watson move on. Then I watched the game this morning and no longer in the bye bye Watson camp. While in hindsight I would have not called some of the plays he did, 99% of the loss was caused by player error. I am one that will never be mad at a player for how they perform if they are playing hard. It is their game to win or lose. Their teammates and coaches can be the judge and jury. That being said I could not believe the errors that were made and have consistently been made. I started to ponder what the future will hold next yr without the Seniors. I looked through the roster and all of my questions were answered. This team is young. They are full of youth. Also the Seniors have only been with this staff for the third year, so they are basically RSo or Jrs. Based on this I think this entire staff needs to be applauded for a great yr. In 2010 only 20 teams had ten or more wins. Not a single one of those teams dealt with the adversity this team did. Only 3 or 4 of those 20 teams have coaching staffs with as short of tenure as Nebraska. Congratulations 2010 Huskers on a GREAT season!!!!!!!!!

I live right in the Hawkeye Nation. I get disturbed everytime I have to hear about how the Hawks are equivalent to the Huskers. I quickly remind them they have a very bare trophy case. I love going to Lincoln and texting the Hawk fans a picture of the TROPHIES. Although I do really like Ferentz. I have attended quite a few I club events and he is always entertaining.

No one mentioned has anything near the resume that Wats has. This whole conversation is ridiculous and is prove we should all cross our fingers and hope that Wats sticks around. 10-2, losses were a result of player error and not scheme. Player error is not the responsiblity of a coordinator it is for the head coach to clean up.

I understand what you are saying and I respect your comments but 3 years of turning an offense around is enough time to do it IMO. I don't see "vast improvement" in the offense as you do. Martinez's running ability has disguised a lot of Watson's unability to coach an offense. Hell, look what Coach Paul Johnson did his first year running the option at Ga Tech. He led that team to a 9-4 record and they were 3rd overall in rushing that year. Mind you, these were players who weren't recruited to play in that style of offense but he made it work. The tripple option that Johnson runs is not an easy offense to learn. This is just one example of how inept I thik Watson is. Of course this just my opinion. I am thinking that 9-4 would not keep Watson's job or would not make fans happy. What was Ga Tech's record this year? To say that this offense is not vastly improved from last year is just a complete lie. It is progressing in the right direction. Fans need to support the coaches and be very happy with a 10-2 season with a Big 12 Championship shot and a possible BCS bowl game.

Martinez showed very little emotion even when scoring on an 80 yd touchdown run. I believe it is just his demeanor. I am also sure it is difficult for him or anyone to deal with the spotlight, the pressure, and balancing the rest of his responsibilities while being so far away from his family. Tons of kids drop out of school for those reasons and they are not expected to score a touchdown everytime they touch a ball because Husker fans have way too high of expectations. It would make no sense at all to have martinez with a headset if he had no chance of playing in the game vs Lee or kellogg. They can't have every player wear a headset, the sideline would be chaos. After last week it was probably a very good mental break to be on the sideline and just chill. If he quits he quits that is up to him. It is just college football and he has to do what is best for him.

They did a great job of getting more blockers vs defenders in the run lanes. Great schemes

Game ball goes to the ENTIRE team!! That was a great way to end the Big 12!!! I was bit emotional. I was thinking back to being in the tractor listening to the Neb vs Colorado games when I was probably 6 yrs old. I am going to miss it.