A Whole lot of Hoopla

[typ3kal]

Read this on a sport's blog I frequent.

 

Yesterday's game became the punch line of O-Street. A game the Huskers should have won with one eye closed turned into a back alley brawl. Don't expect the coaching staff to give their players a night of movies, bowling, and lounging on a pregame Friday ever again. Perhaps the team took a note from the gladhanders they saw on, Wallstreet II (Friday's Pregame Movie Outing), try to make it big on as little effort and labor as possible. If Friday's day off and tour de Lincoln by the team showed anything, it's that the coaching staff can't afford to ease off the gas pedal for one day.

 

Yes, this is the same Husker team that whomped Washington a week earlier at one of college football's loudest stadiums. Yes, this is the same quarterback who electrified Husker nation and the country with his unreal running ability for three weeks in a row. Yes, this is the same Husker team that still comes up short in many of the same areas as last year.

 

The Huskers did manage more than a handful of good things Saturday. After being diagnosed as anemic towards the run, the Blackshirts held their own on the one yard line and then the half yard line to prevent an SDSU touchdown. Given the precarious positions the offense placed the Blackshirts in, they performed well. Instead of looking at the box score, to understand this game we all need to dig a little deeper.

 

4 for 4

Football is a game of field positions. Even if your quarterback throws laser guided missiles, starting four drives from the 4 yard line limits your play calling options. Despite being unable to secure a first down by pounding the rock in three of these situations, as the second quarter began the Huskers did manage to march 96 yards on six plays for a touchdown. This offense has the capability to make huge plays. Anytime you drive nearly the entire length of the field you can pat yourself on the back, but to do so in 6 plays is astounding. The second touchdown drive was just as exhilarating. Capping the drive was an out of the pocket touchdown pass to TE Kyler Reed. In 4 plays the Huskers banked 54 yards and a touchdown. For a quarter, the Huskers looked like their normal selves, but the pesky Jackrabbits came out in the second half as clearly the better team.

 

Spare a near completion by Cody Green to Brandon Kinnie in the 4th quarter that would have likely resulted in a touchdown, the Huskers were no where to be found offensively. If anything, the second half was about finding T-Mo. Spoiler for those who didn't see the game, T-Mo, T-Magic, or T-(Insert anything here) never was a huge threat. The Jacks were consistently able to pressure him in the pocket, and their linebackers continually dialed in on him anytime he attempted to run. The only big running play Martinez managed to reel off in the game was cut short by a taunting penalty which was flagged for Martinez flippantly tossing the ball over his shoulder into an opposing player's face and giving him extra lip service within earshot of the refs. Earth to Martinez, this FCS team played their tails off against a more athletically gifted FBS team on their opponents home turf. One can only hope the coaching staff will bring the team back to reality this week because little T-Mo was as effective as a Disney fish out of water.

 

Revenge of the Offensive line from 2009

Nebraska's second half possessions resembled 2009's lackluster performances. On seven possessions, the Huskers punted four times, were intercepted once, kicked a field goal, and moved the ball 3 yards on five plays as time expired. Most importantly, the offensive line gave the Jackrabbits big plays offensively. More than a handful of plays were ended with Helu and Burkehead tackled behind the line of scrimmage. Arguably the best tandem of running backs in the Big 12 was stymied not by individual play or effort but by the lack of a supporting cast. To run downhill, the personnel in the trenches need to do their job. Since taking the job, Cotton's line has largely been unimpressive. His job should be on the line if this offense follows a similar path as last year.

 

Looking ahead...

The Huskers enter conference play 4-0 for the first time since 2005. Look for the coaching staff to make the necessary adjustments before Kansas state. However, this season could be a disappointing letdown for Lincoln when the Huskers play in Stillwater (my predicted upset for the season). Look for the Huskers to have a big games against KSU and Texas. It's up to the coaching staff to keep the team hungry over their bye week.

 

Next Game Prediction:

KSU 20 Nebraska 37