LJS: Taylor defends Husker game plan

[Eric the Red]

LJS: Taylor defends Husker game plan

 

Nebraska coach Bill Callahan spent Monday defending Saturday night’s offensive game plan against USC. Tuesday, it was his players’ turn.

 

OK, granted, it’s not like any Husker would openly criticize his coach. That would be neither smart, nor expected.

 

That said, Zac Taylor seemed pretty convincing in backing his coach.

 

“I’d take the same approach if we played them again,” said Taylor, the Nebraska senior quarterback.

 

Taylor attempted 16 passes, completing eight in the Huskers’ 28-10 loss at fourth-ranked USC. Both of those numbers were Nebraska career lows for Taylor, who entered the game with the nation’s seventh-best passing efficiency mark, having completed 72.6 percent of his passes (41-of-56) in two games against lesser competition.

 

Against the quick, physical, athletic Trojans, Callahan opted to run the ball. Nebraska ran 36 times for 68 yards.

 

“I understand why we did it,” Taylor said. “It made sense. We were in the game and had our shots.”

 

Last season, Taylor’s fewest passing attempts (20) and completions (10) in a game were against Pittsburgh. The following game, he was 36-of-55 for a school-record 431 yards against Iowa State.

 

Keep that in mind when you hear Callahan say each game calls for a different plan.

 

“The matchups are different, the problems are different, the schematics are different,” Callahan said. “It’s different every game.

 

“It’ll be different this week. Believe me, it will be different this week.”

 

Nebraska faces Troy on Saturday night. These Trojans aren’t as highly regarded as last week’s bunch, but shouldn’t be taken lightly.

 

Troy (1-2) gave both Florida State and Georgia Tech fits in road games before falling in the fourth quarter.

 

The Huskers tried to give USC fits and give themselves a chance in the fourth quarter by running the ball but didn’t play the needed perfect game.

 

“A lot of people want to criticize (Callahan) for not throwing the ball much more, but if you look at it, we had our chances,” Taylor said. “The game plan put us in a situation to win the game. We just didn’t make the plays when we needed to.”

 

Taylor pointed to a lost fumble on Nebraska’s first possession of the third quarter and his underthrown pass on fourth-and-9 later in the period as key plays.

 

“If we convert on those two drives right there,” Taylor said, “we’d have a pretty good shot at winning it.”

 

Sophomore receiver Nate Swift, who didn’t catch a pass, said he trusted the coaches’ game plan.

 

“I really, really wasn’t frustrated that much,” said Swift, the Huskers’ leading receiver last season. “It’s just when we were down that much (21-3), it seemed like we should’ve passed maybe a little bit more. But I mean, it’s all in the game plan. I trust Callahan. I know what he’s doing. He definitely knows what he’s doing out there.”

 

Swift wasn’t the only Nebraska receiver without a catch. Frantz Hardy and Maurice Purify also went without a reception, and tight end Matt Herian only had one.

 

Herian’s was a 36-yard catch, which followed a 31-yard pass from Taylor to Terrence Nunn, setting up Nebraska’s lone touchdown.

 

“It seemed like a couple of times we were throwing the ball, we had success,” Swift said. “Matt Herian deep, T-Nunn on the seam. But I mean, it was just here and there. Most of the time, we had too much pressure coming to the quarterback. You never know what could’ve happened.”

 

Taylor was sacked once and scrambled other times. Did coaches call fewer passing plays for fear that Taylor would get hit hard and possibly seriously injured?

 

“I don’t know,” Taylor said. “That might have had a little bit to do with it. (But) we knew that running the ball was going to put us in a situation to win, so I think that’s why we stuck with that.”

 

Taylor then praised the play of the offensive line, noting its improvement from last season, when he was sacked 38 times.

 

“They’re communicating well. That’s the biggest difference this year,” Taylor said. “They’re on the same page, and they know their assignments. Any game, USC is going to hit you. It’s going to happen, even against the greatest offensive line in the world. I was pleased with only getting hit two or three times.”

 

Taylor said he knows the coaches have confidence in the passing game. And Callahan said Taylor is a “team guy” who will do whatever’s needed.

 

“It doesn’t matter if we throw it 100 times or run it 100 times,” Callahan said. “He really doesn’t care. He has the team in his interest and heart.”

[BIGREDIOWAN]

Great article!!!!!

[DJR313]

Interesting. The kid's playing the game believed in what they were doing.

[Siouxperman]

When I first glanced at your heading I thought it read:

 

 

"Liz Taylor defends Husker game plan" just waking up I guess....

[BIGREDIOWAN]

Liz Taylor!!!!

[Washusker]

I thought the SC game was last week. Shouldn't ZT be talking about Troy?

 

 

 

 

 

As I've said before, I am scared to death of this game....

[Hunter94]

i agree, this game is scarey as hell, especially if the kids are not up for it after the last game.....and cally and norvell better open up the goddamn playbook too..next excuse we will hear is he's holding back for the Texass game.....but i think the kids will play hard IF the coach shows some confidence in them and with his play calling

 

 

hunter

[Washusker]

I live in Washington State, so I have no idea what the team is thinking. (Are the WRs piseed? is Cody Glenn pissed? are our CBs down?) I can't imagine that anyone has a good taste in their mouth. I do wonder about the psyche of the kids going into the Troy game.

 

 

 

If we get through this unscathed, we'll be okay. I don't imagine it will be hard to get up for KU...

[Benard]

Interesting. The kid's playing the game believed in what they were doing.

If you put a lie detector on most of them I gurantee you that they would say that the game plan sucked and coach wanted to just stay close. IN the press they will say what is right.

[HawkSker]

[TrueHuskerFan]

This is soooo old but I can't not respond to this thread. What does the team have to do to prove that they were trying to win this game? What will make the angry fans happy? Does every player and coach need to take a lie detector test to prove that they are true Huskers? Maybe the University should implement that into the scholarship program. Weed out moles using systematic background checks and polygraphs. I can hear the questions now, "Did you drop the interception on purpose? Did you fumble the handoff purposely? Did you coach the game to stay close and not win?" People have to be so sceptical and create drama when there is nothing there. As countless members of this board have said, can't we just move on???

[BIGREDIOWAN]

Exactly I swear some people just like to have drama in their lives!!!! (Oh great here comes the responses..............)

[HSKRNOKC]

Agree or disagree, its in the past. Lets concontrate on winning the big 12.

[Blackshirtsguru]

Interesting.  The kid's playing the game believed in what they were doing.

If you put a lie detector on most of them I gurantee you that they would say that the game plan sucked and coach wanted to just stay close. IN the press they will say what is right.

:hmmm

[FriscoTXHusker]

If the team is even half as obsessed about the USC loss as this board is, we've lost to Troy already. USC was just one minor disappointing bump in the road that all the wailing and nashing of teath in the world will never change now. It's way past time to GET DOWN TO BUSINESS!!

 

GBR