Watson a candidate for the Miami(OH) head coach position

[Lonestar_Husker]

If he's gone, he's gone, we will still need to be balanced to be effective. It's not 1995 anymore, people need to realize this.

 

Why do people say stuff like this? Like the 1995 offense wasn't balanced? If I recall correctly, the first touchdown scored in the national championship game was a passing touchdown, by Nebraska.

 

There are lots of ways to be balanced. You can use the run to set up the pass. The 1995 offense, and basically all of Osborne's offenses, were tremendous at that. They'd go 5 yards up the middle, 3 yards around end, 4 yards up the middle, 4 yards up the middle, 3 yards up the middle, 6 yards around end, and then 40 yards over the top on playaction. Our offense this year has been like that at times, so threatening with big runs on the ground that we've been able to pop Kyler Reed for big plays on playaction.

 

Part of what is disturbing about Watson's offense this year is how much less effective they were running the ball once Martinez was hurt. Once they lost that home run threat, the offense didn't know what it was anymore. Instead of asking 3rd year starter Roy Helu or 2nd year co-starter Rex Burkhead to plow forward for 2-4 yards, we'd go into a west coast styled passing game, where we ask a redshirt freshman QB still raw in the passing game to make short throws that are all about timing and accuracy, and 50% of the time we'd waste a down in the process, also putting us into 2nd/3rd and long situations. Even when we complete those passes, the result is the same as a short run, and doesn't help to set up the run like the vertical passing game does. Rather than play to our strengths, we played to our weaknesses, and we seemed to lack the strategy and commitment needed to set up a strong running game once we didn't have two home-run threats on the field at the same time. That's just something we should be able to do, especially given the tools we had this year even without a healthy Martinez at QB.

 

I say this because the offensive lines of the mid 90s were much better than the offensive line we played with this year. It's much easier to throw once in a while when there are 9 defenders close to the line of scrimmage. How many freshmen played on the line for Tom Osborne? We had several get playing time this year including redshirt freshman Jeremiah Sirles STARTING at left tackle. Aaron Graham has said in interviews that he would tell the defensive tackle across from him what play NU was going to run and chuckle because he knew that there was nothing that could be done to stop it. Would any of those lines have been overwhelmed like this years line was in the CCG?

 

It doesn't make much sense to have Roy or Rex plow forward for 2 to 4 yds on first and 15 after a false start of 1st and 20 after a hold.

We just don't have the horses upfront to dictate and dominate like we did back in the day. Then, throw in the running backs we had. Lawrence Phillips, terrible human being, great running back. Ahman Green anyone? Damon Benning was about as good as anyone on this years roster. Of course, if the hole appears where it is supposed to on a consistant basis, it can make average backs look pretty good. And coordinators look good, too.

 

As far as a vertical passing game goes, I agree. Does Taylor have sufficient arm strength to go deep? He did look better at passing as the year went on. He looked horrible early, then better and better. His throwing motion definitely improved. But I think he was named the starter because of his running ability, not his passing ability. I think sticking with him was just to send a message that he was our guy, so as not to bring confidence issues into play. The QB position is a little different in that regard. Competition is good for most positions, but you don't want your QB playing tight, looking over his shoulder, feeling like one mistake could cost him his position. He needs to be relaxed and confident to perform at a high level. I'll equate it to something I know about. A 3foot putt should be a 3foot putt. The 3foot putt is a lot easier on the practice green than on the 72nd hole of the US Open. If you're worried about results, execution suffers. Competion before the season is desired. Once a QB is chosen, he needs to have the support of the team and he needs to support the team at the same time. He is the leader.

 

I can think of 3 offensive plays in our losses that would have changed the outcome of those games. I can think of 3 defensive plays, also.

 

Texas game. Offensive play that would have made a difference: Any of the dropped touchdowns, but I'll take Rex's because it was early in the game before the anal pucker factor rose to diamond producing levels. Defensive play: 2nd qtr. 3rd and 5 from about midfield. 40 yard pass to Fozzy Whitaker to our 10yd line, setting up their 2nd touchdown to go up 17-3. Whitaker caught 34 passes this year for an avg of 6yds per catch. This was his longest of the season. Stop that and Texas punts and we don't grip even tighter.

 

aTm game. Offensive play: Kyler Reed is open in the endzone with zero defensive help inside. He has beaten his defender. Taylor throws the ball behind Kyler to the only defender in the area. He did not have to fit it in a tight spot, there was nobody inside, just lead Kyler to the inside and a TD is assured. Even an incomplete gets us 3 precious points. Defensive play: Gotta go with the Roughing the Passer. If Courtney jumps to block or tip the pass, that penalty is probably not called. It was a total BS call to begin with, but the officials were looking to give aTm every opportunity. Don't give them one.

 

OU CCG. Offensive play: Taylor's interception in the endzone. He is the starting QB at Nebraska. He threw the ball back across his "bodeh" into a crowd of defenders. I would think that he learned not to do that in POP WARNER. You just don't do that....at any level. Brett Favre can't get away with it either. It cost the Vikings big time last year. Anyway, it cost us at least 3 precious points.

Defensive play: How do you let a player from a team that is down 17-0 and getting it's azz kicked behind you for a 50yd TD? I was a believer until that play. I could feel the air just let out of the team. The confidence really dropped after that play. It seemed like that is when some players tried making plays instead of doing their jobs. Again, the bootyhole pucker was in full effect.

 

This is what I mean when I say it's a team game, there were plays on either side of the ball that could have made a difference. It's not neccessarily just coachspeak. We were very close to having a "magical" season. 3 plays on either side of the ball.

 

 

What were the expectations for this year? If anyone expected an undefeatd season, then cranial examinations are in order. I expected to win the north and have a realistic shot at the Big 12 title. I hoped to win the Big 12, but I realize that there are other good teams with good coaches, that have players who play hard. We had a good shot, we gave it a shot and fell just short. Boooo Hooooo. Waaaaaaaaa.

I wish we had given it our best shot, but we didn't. We played hard. We tried, perhaps, just a little too hard. I don't think it's just one man's fault. To say one dude prevented the team from reaching it's goals is short sighted in my opinion.

 

Next year could be even better. The depth and experience should be more apparant, especially on the offensive side of the ball at key positions, QB and offensive line. If we have to break in a new offensive coordinator and scheme, I will temper my expectations. There is no guarantee that the next guy will be any better. I hope he gets enough time to prove himself. There is a shortage of patience around here. I guess there always has been, according to TO. There is pressure at a lot places, I realize this. It just seems amplified around here.

[In the Deed the Glory]

Our offense has just sucked this year. It is hard to imagine how any team could field a worse offense than we have this year. It is just so bad.

 

Edit: leave it to this one to not see the big picture, sarcasm doesn't help you here...

[Big Red 40]

If he's gone, he's gone, we will still need to be balanced to be effective. It's not 1995 anymore, people need to realize this.

 

Why do people say stuff like this? Like the 1995 offense wasn't balanced? If I recall correctly, the first touchdown scored in the national championship game was a passing touchdown, by Nebraska.

 

There are lots of ways to be balanced. You can use the run to set up the pass. The 1995 offense, and basically all of Osborne's offenses, were tremendous at that. They'd go 5 yards up the middle, 3 yards around end, 4 yards up the middle, 4 yards up the middle, 3 yards up the middle, 6 yards around end, and then 40 yards over the top on playaction. Our offense this year has been like that at times, so threatening with big runs on the ground that we've been able to pop Kyler Reed for big plays on playaction.

 

Part of what is disturbing about Watson's offense this year is how much less effective they were running the ball once Martinez was hurt. Once they lost that home run threat, the offense didn't know what it was anymore. Instead of asking 3rd year starter Roy Helu or 2nd year co-starter Rex Burkhead to plow forward for 2-4 yards, we'd go into a west coast styled passing game, where we ask a redshirt freshman QB still raw in the passing game to make short throws that are all about timing and accuracy, and 50% of the time we'd waste a down in the process, also putting us into 2nd/3rd and long situations. Even when we complete those passes, the result is the same as a short run, and doesn't help to set up the run like the vertical passing game does. Rather than play to our strengths, we played to our weaknesses, and we seemed to lack the strategy and commitment needed to set up a strong running game once we didn't have two home-run threats on the field at the same time. That's just something we should be able to do, especially given the tools we had this year even without a healthy Martinez at QB.

 

I say this because the offensive lines of the mid 90s were much better than the offensive line we played with this year. It's much easier to throw once in a while when there are 9 defenders close to the line of scrimmage. How many freshmen played on the line for Tom Osborne? We had several get playing time this year including redshirt freshman Jeremiah Sirles STARTING at left tackle. Aaron Graham has said in interviews that he would tell the defensive tackle across from him what play NU was going to run and chuckle because he knew that there was nothing that could be done to stop it. Would any of those lines have been overwhelmed like this years line was in the CCG?

 

It doesn't make much sense to have Roy or Rex plow forward for 2 to 4 yds on first and 15 after a false start of 1st and 20 after a hold.

We just don't have the horses upfront to dictate and dominate like we did back in the day. Then, throw in the running backs we had. Lawrence Phillips, terrible human being, great running back. Ahman Green anyone? Damon Benning was about as good as anyone on this years roster. Of course, if the hole appears where it is supposed to on a consistant basis, it can make average backs look pretty good. And coordinators look good, too.

 

As far as a vertical passing game goes, I agree. Does Taylor have sufficient arm strength to go deep? He did look better at passing as the year went on. He looked horrible early, then better and better. His throwing motion definitely improved. But I think he was named the starter because of his running ability, not his passing ability. I think sticking with him was just to send a message that he was our guy, so as not to bring confidence issues into play. The QB position is a little different in that regard. Competition is good for most positions, but you don't want your QB playing tight, looking over his shoulder, feeling like one mistake could cost him his position. He needs to be relaxed and confident to perform at a high level. I'll equate it to something I know about. A 3foot putt should be a 3foot putt. The 3foot putt is a lot easier on the practice green than on the 72nd hole of the US Open. If you're worried about results, execution suffers. Competion before the season is desired. Once a QB is chosen, he needs to have the support of the team and he needs to support the team at the same time. He is the leader.

 

I can think of 3 offensive plays in our losses that would have changed the outcome of those games. I can think of 3 defensive plays, also.

 

Texas game. Offensive play that would have made a difference: Any of the dropped touchdowns, but I'll take Rex's because it was early in the game before the anal pucker factor rose to diamond producing levels. Defensive play: 2nd qtr. 3rd and 5 from about midfield. 40 yard pass to Fozzy Whitaker to our 10yd line, setting up their 2nd touchdown to go up 17-3. Whitaker caught 34 passes this year for an avg of 6yds per catch. This was his longest of the season. Stop that and Texas punts and we don't grip even tighter.

 

aTm game. Offensive play: Kyler Reed is open in the endzone with zero defensive help inside. He has beaten his defender. Taylor throws the ball behind Kyler to the only defender in the area. He did not have to fit it in a tight spot, there was nobody inside, just lead Kyler to the inside and a TD is assured. Even an incomplete gets us 3 precious points. Defensive play: Gotta go with the Roughing the Passer. If Courtney jumps to block or tip the pass, that penalty is probably not called. It was a total BS call to begin with, but the officials were looking to give aTm every opportunity. Don't give them one.

 

OU CCG. Offensive play: Taylor's interception in the endzone. He is the starting QB at Nebraska. He threw the ball back across his "bodeh" into a crowd of defenders. I would think that he learned not to do that in POP WARNER. You just don't do that....at any level. Brett Favre can't get away with it either. It cost the Vikings big time last year. Anyway, it cost us at least 3 precious points.

Defensive play: How do you let a player from a team that is down 17-0 and getting it's azz kicked behind you for a 50yd TD? I was a believer until that play. I could feel the air just let out of the team. The confidence really dropped after that play. It seemed like that is when some players tried making plays instead of doing their jobs. Again, the bootyhole pucker was in full effect.

 

This is what I mean when I say it's a team game, there were plays on either side of the ball that could have made a difference. It's not neccessarily just coachspeak. We were very close to having a "magical" season. 3 plays on either side of the ball.

 

 

What were the expectations for this year? If anyone expected an undefeatd season, then cranial examinations are in order. I expected to win the north and have a realistic shot at the Big 12 title. I hoped to win the Big 12, but I realize that there are other good teams with good coaches, that have players who play hard. We had a good shot, we gave it a shot and fell just short. Boooo Hooooo. Waaaaaaaaa.

I wish we had given it our best shot, but we didn't. We played hard. We tried, perhaps, just a little too hard. I don't think it's just one man's fault. To say one dude prevented the team from reaching it's goals is short sighted in my opinion.

 

Next year could be even better. The depth and experience should be more apparant, especially on the offensive side of the ball at key positions, QB and offensive line. If we have to break in a new offensive coordinator and scheme, I will temper my expectations. There is no guarantee that the next guy will be any better. I hope he gets enough time to prove himself. There is a shortage of patience around here. I guess there always has been, according to TO. There is pressure at a lot places, I realize this. It just seems amplified around here.

I agree on all points! Very well stated.

[Lonestar_Husker]

Decent defenses just eat the guy up, they always have.

 

It is just a terrible combo. Bo eats up good offenses and Watson gets eaten up by good defenses. It is no way to win big games.

 

 

We gave up about 1000 yds and 64pts to the state of Oklahoma this year.

[akita]

GET READY Do not be surprised if Watson is gone at end of season!!!! I will use a word that got me crucified SOURCE

[EZ-E]

GET READY Do not be surprised if Watson is gone at end of season!!!! I will use a word that got me crucified SOURCE

 

Tim Beck will be our OC next season. I am somewhat confident in saying that.

 

I really think that Watson got the job at Miami (OH).

[suh_fan93]

GET READY Do not be surprised if Watson is gone at end of season!!!! I will use a word that got me crucified SOURCE

I really hope your source is right. This would be beyond awesome...

[corncraze]

GET READY Do not be surprised if Watson is gone at end of season!!!! I will use a word that got me crucified SOURCE

 

No more "sources"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[corncraze]

GET READY Do not be surprised if Watson is gone at end of season!!!! I will use a word that got me crucified SOURCE

 

Tim Beck will be our OC next season. I am somewhat confident in saying that.

 

I really think that Watson got the job at Miami (OH).

We can kiss any chance of getting Bubba good bye then

[CornKing]

dedhoarse dedhoarse dedhoarse dedhoarse dedhoarse dedhoarse dedhoarse dedhoarse dedhoarse dedhoarse dedhoarse dedhoarse dedhoarse dedhoarse dedhoarse dedhoarse dedhoarse dedhoarse dedhoarse dedhoarse dedhoarse dedhoarse dedhoarse dedhoarse dedhoarse dedhoarse dedhoarse dedhoarse dedhoarse dedhoarse dedhoarse dedhoarse dedhoarse dedhoarse

[zoogs]

GET READY Do not be surprised if Watson is gone at end of season!!!! I will use a word that got me crucified SOURCE

 

Tim Beck will be our OC next season. I am somewhat confident in saying that.

 

I really think that Watson got the job at Miami (OH).

We can kiss any chance of getting Bubba good bye then

 

Oh, undoubtedly.

[CENTEXHUSKER]

GET READY Do not be surprised if Watson is gone at end of season!!!! I will use a word that got me crucified SOURCE

 

Tim Beck will be our OC next season. I am somewhat confident in saying that.

 

I really think that Watson got the job at Miami (OH).

 

A few rumors flying that Don Treadwell(Mich St OC) has taken the Miami(OH) job. Rumors of course, we'll see soon enough

[dergibog]

We can kiss any chance of getting Bubba good bye then

 

If Bubba plays baseball, it'll be because he gets millions to sign. I don't think Watson staying or going will be the decisive factor.

[JOEY]

]

 

I would rather kick watsons butt out of here and lose Bubba... not the end of the world we still have turner...

[ESPY]

GET READY Do not be surprised if Watson is gone at end of season!!!! I will use a word that got me crucified SOURCE

 

Tim Beck will be our OC next season. I am somewhat confident in saying that.

 

I really think that Watson got the job at Miami (OH).

Don't be ashamed. It's okay to be more than "somewhat" confident. Methinks Beck will be our man too. He might be joined by another in a co-OC role, but I'm confident he'll be one of our leading offensive coaches next year.