Direction and Hope

[HuskerfaninOkieland]

Sorry for all the statepaper articles, but all the other crap I read sucks to be quite honest.

 

NE Statepaper

 

Direction and Hope

Huskers can't pull off upset, but are back off the canvas

by Samuel McKewon

 

October 11, 2008

 

Of course Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini won’t make his football team’s 37-31 overtime loss to No. 7 Texas Tech a moral victory.

 

That’s our job.

 

Yes, NU blew off half its foot in the first half. And yes, the defense is dangerously thin and still prone to mental breakdowns. But these were the Cornhuskers we expected to see two weeks ago against Virginia Tech. And this performance is much closer to the kind that will get Nebraska to seven wins and into a bowl game.

 

“This shows us the potential we have as a football team,” Pelini said.

 

Well – their potential minus Cody Glenn and Phillip Dillard.

 

Pelini wouldn’t make excuses for his defense having to play, at times, three walk-ons while two of the Huskers’ starting linebackers could only watch. Once again – that’s our job. Credit Pelini and Co. for getting true freshman Matt Holt ready to play, and modifying the defense enough to keep NU competitive against Texas Tech’s high-octane attack.

 

But let’s not kid ourselves. Nebraska didn’t have Glenn, Dillard or Rickey Thenarse and it lost its best pass rusher, defensive end Barry Turner, a month ago. LaTravis Washington probably isn’t going to play this year. Anthony West blew out his knee in the spring. Pelini won’t make excuses, but he’s shuffling a short deck. He and his staff are simply plugging holes in the dam and trying hard not burn any more redshirts.

 

Can the Huskers make this patchwork bunch hold up? If offensive coordinator Shawn Watson can call another gem like he did Saturday, just maybe.

 

Watson brought his A game to Lubbock. He crafted drive after drive, mixing pass and run, using his running backs in a smart way, consistently gaining yards on first down. You could debate a few of his play selections – the two calls in overtime were among them – but Watson had a mission to keep Tech off the field. He accomplished it beautifully.

 

Marlon Lucky got his touches in open space and picked his spots in the running game. Roy Helu, Jr. handled some of the tough inside runs. Nebraska’s offensive line still accumulated five rotten penalties, but played physical and created some holes – especially on zone read plays. The receivers – all of them – blocked and caught and ran good routes. There isn’t a true gamebreaker in that unit, but they make all the routine plays, and have a terrific relationship with quarterback Joe Ganz.

 

And what about Joe Ganz?

 

For 79 plays, he was spectacular. Poised, athletic, competitive – he played as well as any Big 12 quarterback has this year, considering the opponent, NU’s relative lack of big play guys and constant need to score to keep up with Texas Tech. If you think it’s hard to do what Chase Daniel does – and trust us, it is – try having to do it over a 15-play drive. And try imagining how maddening it is to watch two drives dissolve because of a penalties, and another fall apart because your biggest running back can’t get half a yard on fourth down?

 

What else could Ganz have done for those 79 plays? Nothing. He was brilliant, legendary even. For 79 plays, he was as good as any NU quarterback short of Tommie Frazier in the Fiesta Bowl and Steve Taylor vs. UCLA had ever been in a big game.

 

On the 80th play? Not so much.

 

We won’t relive the deciding interception here, but we will say that Watson, watching Zach Potter block Tech’s extra point try in overtime, might have been a little overzealous with his playcalling in the heat of the moment. On NU’s first offensive play of overtime, Watson tried to end it immediately with a play toward the end zone. On the second play, you could argue he should have played it safer, smarter. A bubble screen. A zone read play. A shovel pass.

 

But he didn’t, Ganz panicked just a little, and Tech got the gift of its season. Now that Oklahoma and Missouri have bit the dust, the door is suddenly a little more ajar for the Red Raiders, who get Texas and Oklahoma State in Lubbock. The road to the Big 12 South title no longer goes through Norman. It goes through West Texas, where the Longhorns and Cowboys will like have to play Tech at night, when Jones Stadium is a whole different animal than it was Saturday vs. NU.

 

Of course, the Huskers tamed that beast, and took one of the nation’s best and toughest-to-play teams right to the brink of defeat.

 

Is there a moral victory for failing to complete the job? No.

 

But there is for NU picking itself off the canvas after Missouri and trading blows. There’s a little more hope now. And a clearer direction.

[hskrfan4life]

Sorry for all the statepaper articles, but all the other crap I read sucks to be quite honest.

 

NE Statepaper

 

Direction and Hope

Huskers can't pull off upset, but are back off the canvas

by Samuel McKewon

 

October 11, 2008

 

Of course Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini won’t make his football team’s 37-31 overtime loss to No. 7 Texas Tech a moral victory.

 

That’s our job.

 

Yes, NU blew off half its foot in the first half. And yes, the defense is dangerously thin and still prone to mental breakdowns. But these were the Cornhuskers we expected to see two weeks ago against Virginia Tech. And this performance is much closer to the kind that will get Nebraska to seven wins and into a bowl game.

 

“This shows us the potential we have as a football team,” Pelini said.

 

Well – their potential minus Cody Glenn and Phillip Dillard.

 

Pelini wouldn’t make excuses for his defense having to play, at times, three walk-ons while two of the Huskers’ starting linebackers could only watch. Once again – that’s our job. Credit Pelini and Co. for getting true freshman Matt Holt ready to play, and modifying the defense enough to keep NU competitive against Texas Tech’s high-octane attack.

 

But let’s not kid ourselves. Nebraska didn’t have Glenn, Dillard or Rickey Thenarse and it lost its best pass rusher, defensive end Barry Turner, a month ago. LaTravis Washington probably isn’t going to play this year. Anthony West blew out his knee in the spring. Pelini won’t make excuses, but he’s shuffling a short deck. He and his staff are simply plugging holes in the dam and trying hard not burn any more redshirts.

 

Can the Huskers make this patchwork bunch hold up? If offensive coordinator Shawn Watson can call another gem like he did Saturday, just maybe.

 

Watson brought his A game to Lubbock. He crafted drive after drive, mixing pass and run, using his running backs in a smart way, consistently gaining yards on first down. You could debate a few of his play selections – the two calls in overtime were among them – but Watson had a mission to keep Tech off the field. He accomplished it beautifully.

 

Marlon Lucky got his touches in open space and picked his spots in the running game. Roy Helu, Jr. handled some of the tough inside runs. Nebraska’s offensive line still accumulated five rotten penalties, but played physical and created some holes – especially on zone read plays. The receivers – all of them – blocked and caught and ran good routes. There isn’t a true gamebreaker in that unit, but they make all the routine plays, and have a terrific relationship with quarterback Joe Ganz.

 

And what about Joe Ganz?

 

For 79 plays, he was spectacular. Poised, athletic, competitive – he played as well as any Big 12 quarterback has this year, considering the opponent, NU’s relative lack of big play guys and constant need to score to keep up with Texas Tech. If you think it’s hard to do what Chase Daniel does – and trust us, it is – try having to do it over a 15-play drive. And try imagining how maddening it is to watch two drives dissolve because of a penalties, and another fall apart because your biggest running back can’t get half a yard on fourth down?

 

What else could Ganz have done for those 79 plays? Nothing. He was brilliant, legendary even. For 79 plays, he was as good as any NU quarterback short of Tommie Frazier in the Fiesta Bowl and Steve Taylor vs. UCLA had ever been in a big game.

 

On the 80th play? Not so much.

 

We won’t relive the deciding interception here, but we will say that Watson, watching Zach Potter block Tech’s extra point try in overtime, might have been a little overzealous with his playcalling in the heat of the moment. On NU’s first offensive play of overtime, Watson tried to end it immediately with a play toward the end zone. On the second play, you could argue he should have played it safer, smarter. A bubble screen. A zone read play. A shovel pass.

 

But he didn’t, Ganz panicked just a little, and Tech got the gift of its season. Now that Oklahoma and Missouri have bit the dust, the door is suddenly a little more ajar for the Red Raiders, who get Texas and Oklahoma State in Lubbock. The road to the Big 12 South title no longer goes through Norman. It goes through West Texas, where the Longhorns and Cowboys will like have to play Tech at night, when Jones Stadium is a whole different animal than it was Saturday vs. NU.

 

Of course, the Huskers tamed that beast, and took one of the nation’s best and toughest-to-play teams right to the brink of defeat.

 

Is there a moral victory for failing to complete the job? No.

 

But there is for NU picking itself off the canvas after Missouri and trading blows. There’s a little more hope now. And a clearer direction.

nice read.

[AR Husker Fan]

***SNIP***

 

Pelini wouldn’t make excuses for his defense having to play, at times, three walk-ons while two of the Huskers’ starting linebackers could only watch. Once again – that’s our job. Credit Pelini and Co. for getting true freshman Matt Holt ready to play, and modifying the defense enough to keep NU competitive against Texas Tech’s high-octane attack.

 

But let’s not kid ourselves. Nebraska didn’t have Glenn, Dillard or Rickey Thenarse and it lost its best pass rusher, defensive end Barry Turner, a month ago. LaTravis Washington probably isn’t going to play this year. Anthony West blew out his knee in the spring. Pelini won’t make excuses, but he’s shuffling a short deck. He and his staff are simply plugging holes in the dam and trying hard not burn any more redshirts.

 

***SNIP***

You know, it's pretty remarkable what they did against Tech when you take all of that into consideration. Even though it's a loss, and even though we need to see if they can keep it up, I'd have to say that the spirit of the Blackshirts is starting to come back...

[BIGREDIOWAN]

***SNIP***

 

Pelini wouldn’t make excuses for his defense having to play, at times, three walk-ons while two of the Huskers’ starting linebackers could only watch. Once again – that’s our job. Credit Pelini and Co. for getting true freshman Matt Holt ready to play, and modifying the defense enough to keep NU competitive against Texas Tech’s high-octane attack.

 

But let’s not kid ourselves. Nebraska didn’t have Glenn, Dillard or Rickey Thenarse and it lost its best pass rusher, defensive end Barry Turner, a month ago. LaTravis Washington probably isn’t going to play this year. Anthony West blew out his knee in the spring. Pelini won’t make excuses, but he’s shuffling a short deck. He and his staff are simply plugging holes in the dam and trying hard not burn any more redshirts.

 

***SNIP***

You know, it's pretty remarkable what they did against Tech when you take all of that into consideration. Even though it's a loss, and even though we need to see if they can keep it up, I'd have to say that the spirit of the Blackshirts is starting to come back...

 

Yeah, you are right and I think if they can really take it to ISU and BU we will play fairly well against OU.