ColoradoHusk

And honestly, you can also cancel the monthly fee for Peacock and only pay the $5 each time NU is shown on the site.

ND Joe has a fair point, but Frost’s ineptitude led to losing so many close games, that it was beyond anything statistically related. With this year, Rhule has a close loss with Minnesota, and two “close wins”’ with Illinois and Northwestern. Rhule’s coaching has helped NU have the confidence to win the last 2. Regarding the original post, the Big Ten West has always been the weaker division, but this year is even worse due to QB injuries, coaching changes, and other factors. I do believe that NU’s play has improved, most significantly on defense. The special teams and game management has also improved, which has helped with the offense getting slightly worse and turnovers continuing to be a problem.

A true screen pass is very difficult to run and execute well. It takes the o-line, RB, and QB to be on the same page and timing. If one area screws up, the play will go for nothing or even a loss. It’s not something that can be installed “quickly”. I don’t remember Tom Osborne running many (or any) screen passes at NU, but he put in a “throw back screen” during the Fiesta Bowl practices before Florida. With the extra practices, Osborne installed it for one play in the game. NU ran it in the first quarter from Florida’s 25 or so, and it went for a TD. However, it almost didn’t work after Frazier’s pass was high and LP had to make a great catch over his head.

Thanks! At least this will put the stop to “why isn’t Sims getting a series or two” when HH isn’t playing well. But, now I’m seeing that just move on to Purdy.

I got ya, if NU is were at 6-2 right now, Rhule would be getting a lot of national attention. But, I honestly like being under the radar right now, and finding ways to win each week is a lot of fun.

I understand that the loss to Minnesota sucked, but maybe NU isn’t where we are right now, without the losses to Minnesota or Colorado in the first 2 games. Teams aren’t going to win every 50-50 game, which Minnesota was. Also, maybe the players needed some adversity for the coaches to get their message to them. I just don’t like playing the “what if” game, especially when the Minnesota game seems like it was 2 years ago, not just 2 months ago.

Hill always had great talent, but it could never be harnessed. The coaches have helped him figure it out. I’m sure Hill playing with confidence also helps.

I was at the game, so I couldn’t exactly tell, but was Haarberg shown in the injury tent when Sims was put in at QB. A woman near me in the stands, said the radio broadcast mentioned HH was in the injury tent, and that’s why Sims was in at QB for that drive. Either way, Sims looked tentative and error-prone again. We will need to hope that HH can make it thru the final 4 games of the regular season, and he can manage the offense just well enough to get around the 20 point make each game.

Lloyd showed his speed on his TD catch and run. He got behind the defense and there wasn’t a defender within 15 yards of him. Even the best secondaries can be surprised beat by pure speed. We saw it last year with Trey Palmer, and guys like Coleman, Lloyd, and Doss have that same type of speed. As far as RB’s, I liked what Emmett Johnson has done the past 2 games. He is a solid, one-cut running back who gets upfield.

It's really awesome to see NU defenders high-fiving each other at they stroll to the end zone on the block FG return. The players are having so much fun together.

Sitting in hotel room in Lincoln. It’s gonna be chilly, but I love experiencing game days at NU. I’m glad I get to share this with my son this weekend.

It’s kinda hard to install new wrinkles to the offense when 8 of the 11 offensive starters in game 1 aren’t even available this week, and numerous backups are also out. Let’s just be satisfied with whatever the coaches are doing and try to survive this season with defense winning games.

I don’t think Phil Simms has any eligibility left.

Rhule said in his post-game press conference that many times WR’s are sent deep to mainly draw defenders away from the main target on the crossing route underneath about 10-20 yards down field. Since deep passes have a low percentage of completion, they aren’t the main target on the play. Even on Coleman’s TD catch, Bullock was running across the middle of the field, and is usually the #1 target on the play. Garrett McGuire told Rhule in the headset that Coleman would be wide open and he should be the first read. So it was good play calling by Satt, and good instincts by McGuire to recommend Coleman. Maybe that McGuire kid knows his stuff after all.

The rule is that as long as there is a body part still on the line of scrimmage, he’s technically not across the LOS. Now, it was close, but I think Haarberg kept his back foot/leg along the LOS. Although I wouldn’t have been surprised if he was penalized on that play.

Don’t worry. I’m right there with you.

T-Fraz is fat!

It’s ok to name players you are being critical of. I agree that Fidone has not lived up to the hype of his recruitment. Significant knee injuries and ineffective QB play this year are big reasons why. He is in his first season of significant playing time, and has been a focal point of the offense so far this season. His career so far is a big reason I don’t get too jazzed up in following recruiting. I know recruiting is the life blood of college programs, but I don’t put stock into guys being studs at NU before they have played a single snap in college. It sets expectations on a player which may be unrealistic and not fair to the player. You obviously think Fidone should have been able to make an amazing catch over the middle because he was a big recruit out of high school. I expect Haarberg to be able to be able to throw a 10 yard pass over the middle and not an easy throw, especially when he passed up an easier throw to a wide open guy in the slot to target Fidone, who was not as open.

Yes, and as others have pointed out, there were other guys more open on that play, as well. I know if your first read is open, it’s tough to not throw it to him, but it makes me wonder if Fidone is being thrown to even when he’s not the first read on the play.

Great post. What I have enjoyed so much about the defense is that it has gotten so much contribution from so many different guys. It feels like there has been 20-25 guys who have played and played well on that side of the field. This gets guys excited to play, keeps players fresh and healthy, and keeps guys from transferring from lack of playing time.

Football fans are great. Not calling you out specifically, but some have said Fidone and the TE’s need more targets, while some say they are being targeted too much. Regarding Fidone, he’s being targeted, because for Haarberg, that the first target he’s looking for. Haarberg is not a good QB, so he just passes to someone he is looking for first. I’m not sure how much running after the catch you are expecting from Fidone when his routes are mainly curl or comeback routes where he is stationary while catching. Haarberg struggles with identifying open receivers running through defenses, and hitting them accurately. It’s tough to get yards after catch when the QB is who we have.

There was only one missed ball which I would put on Fidone, and he had a LB hugging him from behind. Yes, Fidone had 2 hands on the 2nd INT which Haarberg threw. But, that was a terrible pass, as it was high and wide. Anytime that throw is made with that much velocity and in a short distance, it has to be on the receiver’s body. Any pass going high or wide is asking the be intercepted.

Hartzog has struggled at times, but I wouldn’t say he needs to be benched. Hartzog has a tough assignment with the field (wide) side of the field, and having so much space to cover. Plus, he was practicing the past 2 weeks at safety, played there the entire first half, and then moved to CB after Tommi Hill injured his ankle at the end of the first half. As fans, I think we forget that the other team can have good players too. Give credit to the NW receiver for making a great route on that double-move which burned Hartzog, and give credit for the NW QB to step up in the pocket and avoiding pressure to get that pass away. Also, give credit to Hartzog for hustling downfield and tripping up the NW receiver short of the end zone. Hartzog also made a good tackle against a big tight end on 3rd and goal.

Completely agree.

Hill was/is effective because he can get tough yards running. Haarberg is only an effective runner in open space where he can utilize his size and speed. HH is not good a running a QB draw or any other run in close quarters.