CFHusker

This is an interesting topic. Compare our OL to most OL's across the country and they seem to be pretty much the same. A lot of OL's are inconsistent. Even in the NFL it seems that OL's are very inconsistent and struggle to get an identity. I believe it is two reasons 1) the complexity of the defenses. The defenses have become so varied. Sometimes they have no clue where guys are going to come from or how they are going to adjust once the ball is snapped. 2) the complexity of offenses. Early 90's you exposed a hole. So you would call a trap of the 2 hole. The entire blocking scheme was focused on blowing out that hole and crushing anyone who dared get in the way. Today it is a lot of zone blocks. So the focus of the line is scrambled at the snap. Also the back has to have the vision to see where the hole is going to open up. In todays schemes a running back makes or breaks an OL. Against MO it appeared they ran more "to a hole" type plays with tight end traps and it was very successful. Today playing offense line is too much thinking. That is where they start to get sloppy. Just like Williams getting those calls he was having to over think his assignments. False starts are either because because of a donkey QB changing their voice to get the D to jump, or because he OL is thinking and not concentrating. So this is not just an issue with the Cornhuskers. It just hurts a lot more because back in the day they dominated and were an identity of the team. But it seems like the OL strategy is going to have to evolve has the game of football evolves. This will have to happen at every level. One thing I hate about the fire everyone conversation is that it seems we have coaches with character. Plus an OL coach is not going to be a merlin with some scheme that know other team can figure out. Fun topic.

HAHAHAHAHA! Really? So in a defense that is built like an offense (in that it has ONE linebacker that makes ALL the calls), Bo losing his top 2 linebackers is not like losing the top 2 qbs??? Give me a break! Bo did what a good coordinator does. He worked his ass off to teach the scheme to the guy, really coached him up, built his game plan around what his guys could do that week and what they couldn't do. That is what a good coordinator does. I remember Western ky running all over the defense and David being out of place most of the game. It has taken him a good portion of the year to get in the right spots. He really cost us against Texas. I think David is a great player and I am sure works hard, but not a great example to show how great Bo is. I think David and Martinez are in similar situations. So if you give credit to Bo you have to give credit to Wats. Anyhow 9-2 playing for potetial conference championship, enjoy the ride

Any chance you were one of the dozen or so Husker fans who (silently) protested Callahan's departure? Genuine question; not rhetorical. Not really. I argued not so silently against it, and the circumstances under which it seemed like Bo was coming here, but I never wanted Callahan back over Bo. I didn't think he should have been fired. I was sad that he was, as I thought he just needed a different DC, and that '07 was a breakdown/collapse of a season. I understand why a HC needs to take a fall if that happens on his watch, but I didn't think he was the root cause of it either. I still don't, but I do think he was in a position to take care of the program better, and didn't. I welcomed Bo with pretty open arms and he has exceeded all my expectations since. Appreciate especially the way he has taken control over the program as a HC. It's a style I appreciate more out of a college HC. I didn't think Solich should have been fired either... But for all of Callahan's failings as a head coach, I still respect his contributions on offense a lot. People will point to production and such, but this is basically a philosophical matter, and I recognize it has been a struggle to produce with the kind of guys we have been pulling in. It has always been a solid system and I was afraid that was going to fall to pieces with Callahan's departure. It didn't, really, as thankfully Watson was retained, but what has fallen a lot is the OL, thanks to our new OL coach. Didn't really realize it then, but Callahan was basically the best in the business with regard to the boys in the trenches. Regardless of anything else we have taken an unfortunately huge step back in that department. As well as in the screen pass department, but I'm not really concerned with style of play. Callahan need to go because he turned away from what makes Husker Football great. I think he is a genious at details. He is proving it with the Jets. The best thing about Pelini is that he embraces Husker Football. It just feels right with him as the HC.

I don't know if i'd call the difference massive, a decent difference, sure, massive? No Scoring Offense- 40th average 2010- 28th 2009- 75th 2008- 17th Scoring Defense- 28th average 2010- 3rd 2009- 1st 2008- 80th I was referring to this and last year. Total offense 2010 - 32 2009 - 99 Total defense 2010 - 9 2009 - 7 Given the utter free fall our offense is in currently and has been steadily getting worse since the injury to Tmart (Iowa St, Kansas & TAM) it would not be surprising in the least to see the current "respectable" 32nd in Total Offense fall a long ways by season end. Tmart is 99% of the offensive improvement from last year and with him hurt.....it's 2009 once again. Based on your stats would it be fair to reason that the entire coaching staff is putting more emphasis on the defense? But look at the improvement on offense? To go from 99 to 32 is a huge leap. No chance that is all due to Tmart. The O line is much improved. We have had issues at receiver. But part of that has to be turning them back into efficient blockers. That has to impact their catching ability, but that is the reality of returning back to a run first offense. If the offensive staff just keeps grinding and working towards consistency, this offense is going to be top notch. With TMart maturing and getting stronger, look out. The big 10 is going to get popped in the mouth.

Tannehill won the starting job, and was not that impressive. CG probably had just as good of game. Although he threw no picks but he rarely tested our dbs. Washington lost, and the Zona Qb backup was the starter prior to Foles taking the reigns from him. I think Northwestern lost, but I think that for the most part overall the Big 10 is not as sound defensively as most in my area would like to believe. Kind of a petty discussion, the point is that back ups are back ups for a reason. You cannot name any team in football that does would not have a drop in production if they lost their starter. Tom Brady is a once in a lifetime situation.

I will ask you the same question bshirt, Was 2009 ALL Watson's fault? Is TMart getting hurt his fault too? You would agree that the improvement between our offense in 2009 and this year with TMart were night and day? Right? Of course not. But EZ-E......he's the "OC". You know, the guy who is responsible for results. The results stunk to high heaven last year and has the year several times too. My God, EZ-E.... Offensive production the last two years. 2009 VT = zero TDs TT = one garbage TD Iowa St = one TD OU = one TD (1 yd dr due to pick) Texas = zero TDs 2010 (so far) SDSU = two Tds Texas = zero Tds Kansas = two Tds TAM = zero Tds ....you're seriously defending that? If so, we can totally forget about ever being in the NC hunt and if Bo's defense ever does anything less than fantastic we're back to the Callahan years. How can you pick out 4 games (2 wins) and say the offensive production in 2010 was a bust? That is some pretty sly politics. We put up 56 on Wash. Oregon 53? Same defense.

I will ask you the same question bshirt, Was 2009 ALL Watson's fault? Is TMart getting hurt his fault too? You would agree that the improvement between our offense in 2009 and this year with TMart were night and day? Right? Of course not. But EZ-E......he's the "OC". You know, the guy who is responsible for results. The results stunk to high heaven last year and has the year several times too. My God, EZ-E.... Offensive production the last two years. 2009 VT = zero TDs TT = one garbage TD Iowa St = one TD OU = one TD (1 yd dr due to pick) Texas = zero TDs 2010 (so far) SDSU = two Tds Texas = zero Tds Kansas = two Tds TAM = zero Tds ....you're seriously defending that? If so, we can totally forget about ever being in the NC hunt and if Bo's defense ever does anything less than fantastic we're back to the Callahan years. How can you pick out 4 games (2 wins) and say the offensive production in 2010 was a bust? That is some pretty sly politics.

To an extent, yes. Watson gets some major blame for last year. Guess what, quarterbacks go down on many teams across the nation. Good OCs can game plan around what they have, get creative, find ways to SCORE. Last I checked, NU has two very capable running backs. Shawn rode Rex down into field goal range Saturday, then what did he do? Asked a hobbled qb to throw the ball. Turnover, no points. You blaming the lack of production on ONE injury is only proving the point of Watson-haters: he can't do anything without Taylor Martinez. That is not being a good OC. Bo can throw any guy out there, coach him up and put together a winning product. Watson can't. You just said that yourself. Do you have an example of this? I sure can't think of one.

I think it is ignorant to give so much credit or so much blame on the coaches. The players play the game. The coaches do not have joysticks to get the players to do exactly what they want, when they want, and how they want. I bet if you asked the players none of them would blame the coaches for the losses. Poorly coached teams are just trying to become bowl eligible. Well coached teams are one win away from the Big 12 Championship game. The Huskers are a very well coached football team. The players have to take it upon themselves if they want to turn the corner and be a great team. The QB play on this team is not good. NU can't pass. There are so many open WR's that don't get the ball it is sickening. The interception late in the 2nd QTr by Green. Helu was wide open in the flat, no one around him for 15 yards. Instead a throw to a double covered Mike McNeil. Game over. That is just one pass play. He overthrew, the double coverage was loose. It was not a horrible read. Although I do wish the backs were utilized more in the passing game. Aggies found success against us rolling out the QB and back.

Interesting, based on these numbers the offensive genious who is Brian Kelly ND HC has produced less touchdowns then the worst moron OC in the history of college football. Sorry wrong place to make that comment. They should retire Henery's jersey.

I think it is ignorant to give so much credit or so much blame on the coaches. The players play the game. The coaches do not have joysticks to get the players to do exactly what they want, when they want, and how they want. I bet if you asked the players none of them would blame the coaches for the losses. Poorly coached teams are just trying to become bowl eligible. Well coached teams are one win away from the Big 12 Championship game. The Huskers are a very well coached football team. The players have to take it upon themselves if they want to turn the corner and be a great team.

Pleaase enlighten us on what could be worse then getting your "stuff" ripped off!!!

Just for clarity, I am not trying to bash TO. 2010 Huskers are 9-2 with a solid shot at winning the Big 12 Championship. In the two biggest wins of the season the offense was the hightlight (Wash and Ok St). In 4 games the offense has struggled. SDSU (freak deal), Texas (Freshman QB against the most speed he had seen. No way to know how Taylor would respond until the game was being played. He could not get his reads made quick enough to exploit them, oh and the drops. with what happened I am sure they would have schemed different), Kansas(injured QB and honestly they did plenty to win the game), Texas A and M (this would have been a very tough game to call plays because bonehead mistakes put the offense in bad positions). To me it seems like it is a matter of consistency and growth. Just like it was for TO. Think about if TO leaves after the 91 season what is his legacy? Husker fans should be the most patient fans on the planet because that lesson was taught by TO. Also I would throw a name in for a new OC if Wats were to leave: Terry Allen Mo St Head Coach. He has not found the success he had when he coached Kurt Warner, but that guy can scheme.

The legend of TO (at least on this board)seems to be bigger than his reality. Except for three yrs his teams were pretty much exactly like this years team. Even those 3 yrs of no losses they had some nail biters and some lackluster victories. TO never had to deal with digging a team out of the basement. His most successful years were the result of two decades of building a foundation, taking some lumps and continuing to grind on. Nebraska football will only get back to an undefeated season with consistency. Firing very capable staff is not going to bring in a championship football team. Unless you can name better alternatives to each position you would like to fire, and give a breakdown explaining how they would do better, then the fire them all pettiness should stop. I for one I am extremly thankful and happy to be 9-2 right now. Win or lose this has been a great, exciting, competitive season. Go Huskers!!

The legend of TO (at least on this board)seems to be bigger than his reality. Except for three yrs his teams were pretty much exactly like this years team. Even those 3 yrs of no losses they had some nail biters and some lackluster victories. TO never had to deal with digging a team out of the basement. His most successful years were the result of two decades of building a foundation, taking some lumps and continuing to grind on. Nebraska football will only get back to an undefeated season with consistency. Firing very capable staff is not going to bring in a championship football team. Unless you can name better alternatives to each position you would like to fire, and give a breakdown explaining how they would do better, then the fire them all pettiness should stop. I for one I am extremly thankful and happy to be 9-2 right now. Win or lose this has been a great, exciting, competitive season. Go Huskers!!

Fans need to get off of Watson. It is much easier to rebuild a defense vs an offense. I am sure Watson looks at game film and wishes he could have some plays back. But overall the offense moves the ball well. He cannot be to blame for false starts, drops, errant throws etc. Last night he had to call plays with a one legged freshman QB. They had a great game plan and exposed weaknesses. It just did not get executed.