ColoradoHusk

Agreed, but some times Beck gets pass happy with the deep ball. I like the vertical passing game, when the run game is working. If the run game isn't working, Beck and TA need to get some horizontal routes for easy throws, first downs, and to stretch the defense sideways. Against FAU, Beck pounded the ball up the middle at first, which set up the deep passing game and outside zone plays in the run game. He didn't really set anything up against McNeese.

Watching the game last night, it is very apparent that Tommy isn't making his progressions and reads. I know this is something that Bo mentioned, but there were a few plays that he had pre-determined where he was going to throw before the ball was even snapped. It's great that Tommy has chemistry with his besty-Westy, but he can't go to him every key pass play. Beck needs to emphasize to Tommy that the check-down is there. Ameer and Newby should be swing pass options on every pass play.

I finally watched the game last night (was out and about on Saturday, busy on Sunday) and I like what Pierson-El does in the punt return game. He knows how to track the punt, be in proper position, and then he heads upfield after receiving it.

Landlord, I may be unrealistic about TE production, especially when NU appeared to have a lot of depth at WR. But, when the TE's have a total of 2 targets thru 2 games this year, that is concerning. I think Beck and Armstrong make things difficult for themselves with all of these vertical routes to the WRs. NU has a matchup problem for defenses with Carter, and they aren't utilizing him.

Agree with what True said. It's less about numbers with the TE. It's more about effectiveness of touches, being a safe option for the QB, and keeping the defenses honest. Beck is so infatuated with the WR's getting vertical that it can bog down an offense when the QB is passing poorly and the WR's are running poor routes. See the 2nd half of last weeks game.

I think somewhere around 30-35 catches and a handful of TDs would be good production for a TE. I am not as much concerned about the numbers but how they are utilized. If they are targeted for key first downs or in the end zone, that's where a TE's are most effective. Guys like Sheldon Jackson, Tracey Wistrom, and old Osborne TE's were key targets in the passing game. Yes this had a lot to do with a lack of prolific WR's back then, but I think there is room for targets to the TE in this offense.

Generally speaking I agree, but we've been in the title game 3 times. And once we were gifted a 7-5 team and got completely throttled. Why? No idea what happened against Wisky. Against Texas they were 1 controversial second from beating them. Against OU, NU had a nice lead and couldn't hold on. Osborne had that happen numerous times to him in the 70s and 80s. I agree that Bo's teams haven't peaked like TO's teams have. But, I think that winning a division in the Big 10 would be very similar to winning the Big 8 in the 80s. Yes, there may not be a top 5 team like OU and CU were, but the other 5-6 teams were generally pretty bad.

I don't know how anyone can say that our chances to win the Big 10 have improved or not from the first 2 weeks. The first 2 weeks results won't mean anything in October and November. The only thing is that Ohio State might struggle this year having to replace Braxton Miller. Remember how bad MSU looked in September last year?

Beck doesn't believe in them even though we have one of the most talented one we have had since Matt Herian. Count me as one who is upset with the lack of targets for Cethan Carter. The TE should be a huge weapon for this offense, but Beck acts like they don't exist. Of course it was this way for Reed, too.

I didn't mean to make it seem like Bo "has it tougher" than TO. Osborne did play tougher non-conference opponents than Bo typically does, but he also was able to reap the benefits of an easier conference, especially in terms of depth. TO was able to get to conference games and really only have 1 or 2 "tough" games, so I would argue it was easier to win the conference back then.

yup, lots of folks, now think 9-4 is really OK....... Now, I am probably one of those folks that 9-4 may be "ok". Is it "great" and I definitely think it's terrible that NU hasn't won a conference championship since 1999. I probably consider the 9-4/10-4 seasons that Bo has had are on par with the 9-3 seasons that Osborne had. Now, the big difference is that Osborne was able to win conference championships, but Bo has to face a much deeper conference than Osborne usually had to.

Said it perfectly... If i get a new brand, i have to re-learn everything. My only fear is the new Iphone sounds like it might be massive.. i like a bigger screen but dont want something too big. I think there are going to be size options with the iphone 6, so you don't have to get the "giant" screen if you don't want to.

I generally like Dirk's articles, especially when he brings in statistical analysis (I am a math nerd). However, the one thing I don't like about him, is that he seems to quickly move to the negative side of the story, especially with Husker football. I know there has been a lot of "good football" (I consider 9-4 season's as good football), rather than the championships seasons and "great" football that Nebraska fans were accustomed to prior to the 21st century. I guess I would rather focus on the positives of certain situations, rather than always focusing on the negative.

No reason to rip this post apart. Very cool!!! Glad you and your son had a great time.

I am actually pretty surprised by this. It would have been easy for Jamal to say, "Hey, my college football career didn't pan out like I wanted it to. I will graduate and go back home to Texas."

I agree 100% what you are saying. The only thing that might cause the coaches to go with a "We-backs" approach is the absence of Ameer. Ameer does everything well, so it is tough to get him out of the line-up. If Newby/Cross/Taylor all have some limitations in their game, then we could see a lot of split carries/playing time, depending on the opponent and game plan. Not that I would agree with it, but it could look like Callahan's use of Lucky, Brandon Jackson, and Cody Glenn in 2006. Nobody knew who was going to be the feature back from game to game.

Not sure if you are serious, but he broke his ankle early in Fall camp. He is out until mid-to-late October.

RRJR and 3rd and Long are basically making the same comments that I am making. The types of plays that Imani and Newby excel at are totally different plays. I honestly think Newby is a better "all-around" back in NU's current system. I understand that a lot of people like Cross, because of his strength and work ethic. I just happen to think that he somewhat limits the offense in the types of plays that can be run. If Ameer would happen to get hurt this year, it will be interesting to see what they do at I-back. Do they tweak the offense a bit to Cross's strengths, or do they put Newby at I-back because his talents are closer to Ameer's talents.

This is a crock of crap and total speculation. How is that speculation? Cross can't really run the outside zone plays, because he doesn't excel in running laterally. Ask Michigan State if he can run the zone read option! Here is the video of that run. (Sorry, don't know how to imbed videos, I am a computer idiot.) http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=9987974 That play is an "inside-zone" read play where, Amani doesn't have to "find a hole". The hole is right in front of him and he just has to accelerate through the hole. To his credit, he hits the hole hard and Michigan State doesn't do a good job of accounting for Cross's speed. Does anyone remember when Cross almost took a safety last year and he was handed the ball off on an outside-zone run? He ran the ball laterally and it almost ended up in a safety. Everyone said "why would you have Amani running the ball laterally?" This is what I am talking about when you can't run the same types of plays with Ameer/Newby and Cross.

This is a crock of crap and total speculation. How is that speculation? Cross can't really run the outside zone plays, because he doesn't excel in running laterally.

That's a good point. Newby needs to get some more carries and experience. Also NU was gashing FAU with outside runs, and those are the runs that Newby excels at. There will be days where NU will need and use Cross's straight-ahead, "hammer" style of running.

When NU ran the old I-formation, the I-back would be about 7 yards behind the LOS. This allows that I-back to see the hole or make necessary cuts. This also allows the back to take a couple steps forward so he is hitting the hole at a higher speed.In the I formation, there was a FB lead blocker though too. That fullback always cleared the lane for the I-back. You could be right though about maybe hitting the gap at a higher speed and it probably does help with vision a bit. I always prefer a running back not make cuts behind the LOS, much like a runner like Cross, but either way I can't knock what we are doing because Abdullah does very well. I was just curious about it.With zone runs and zone blocking, it's up to the RB to see the hole, make the one cut, and hit that hole. That's what Ameer does so well. Cross can't make those lateral cuts, so his plays have to have specified holes for him to hit. Cross is a good straight ahead runner with power, but his can't go lateral, stick a foot in the ground and then hit that hole.

I don't get the infatuation with Cross. He can really only run straight ahead. He can't be used on any plays that are run sideways. I haven't seen him used in the passing game. Also, he caused a 5 yard penalty when he was motioning the same time Newby was yesterday. To me, the play book is more open with Newby than Cross.

When NU ran the old I-formation, the I-back would be about 7 yards behind the LOS. This allows that I-back to see the hole or make necessary cuts. This also allows the back to take a couple steps forward so he is hitting the hole at a higher speed.

They did better with blocking on the punt returns and I could've swore I saw them line everyone up to go after the punter and try to block it. They almost did get the block, too. Even though we only got one decent punt return, I like what I saw from the punt return unit. Kick coverage needs work, though. Ameer was in the game for two punt blocks. He actually almost got one. Kenny Bell should not be returning punts for us the rest of the year, and I suspect (and hope) the coaches are smart enough to recognize how completely lost he is. I respect him for being a senior and wanting to help the team and volunteering for the role, but his results were quite terrible. He obviously fumbled, which is less concerning than him completely misjudging the flight of two punts. That is the stuff that left us with terrible field position last year, luckily it didn't specifically hurt us yesterday. But overall, you need a PR that has that ability to read the ball in the air and KB does a lot of things well, but this is something he clearly struggles with. Now that De'Mornay's redshirt has been burned, I see no reason not to have him be the top PR. He looked better than Kenny did out there.