Minnesota- What did we learn?

[seaofred92]

A few things...

 

1. Playbook and play calling need a serious revisit in the offseason. I don’t care if we execute the RB swing passes in practice “40 times in a row”-  we clearly can’t execute it during a game. Scrap it. 

 

2. While the lack of speed/athleticism at WR is glaringly obvious, the biggest issue this team has is it doesn’t have a QB that can consistently deliver the ball down the field. Nebraska averaged 3.8 yards per pass today, that is absolutely atrocious. 

 

3. I did appreciate that we actually took the deep shots we did at times today. You can’t complain when we don’t take shots down the field and then complain about them when we do- I actually appreciated stretching the field vertically and hope they do it next week (and in the bowl game if they get one)

 

4. Our defensive line play is really improving. I was absolutely not a fan of Tony Tuioti last year but his group is easily the best on defense. They do an awesome job of getting their hands up and have gotten much much better against the run. Damion Daniels is starting to dominate at NT and Casey Rogers will be great for us. We need to see continued development from guys like Robinson, Thomas, Riley, Green, and Wildeman but I’m really happy with where this group is. Looking forward to seeing where Hutmacher fits in

 

5. I thought the loss of Reimer was big. Not that Heinrich played awful in replacing him, just think Reimer is so instinctual and we could’ve used him vs Minnesota’s zone run scheme

 

6. I just do not understand what we are doing with our defensive backs. The amount of cushion we gave this subpar WR group today was maddening

 

7. I think we’re stuck between a rock and a hard place defensively. As good as the interior DL plays, we absolutely cannot generate a pass rush to save our lives. As a result, Chin is terrified to man up on third down because we get zero pressure and eventually guys will bust open. But today we just sat in zone and their QB had all day to throw and picked apart the zone. It’s a weird place to be in and won’t consistently improve until we get a better pass rush

 

8. Speaking of needing a better pass rush- it’s the exact reason NU ranks 100 out of 127 in third down defense and gives up a first down 46% of the time. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a P5 team other than maybe Vanderbilt be as inept as we are in obvious passing situations, but it stems from the inability to get pressure on the QB. This same thing has plagued NU since Randy Gregory left, how we haven’t been able to land a premier pass rusher blows my mind but we won’t get better at third down defense until we find one. NU has forced 4 total three and outs the last three games- and one of those was Illinois’ backups running the ball to run the clock out at the end of that game. The lack of pass rush is a large large piece of this

 

9. I actually agree with Frost when he says we’re close. I really think we are. The problem is what we’re missing is probably two of the three most important things in football- a QB that can confidently and accurately throw the ball down the field to stretch the defense and a pass rusher that can get home consistently. The other stuff we’re actually doing pretty well

 

10. Wandale had the big run today at RB but I’d like to leave him on the perimeter/in the slot at WR permanently. Especially in the red zone. He’s just not a red zone back and his role is being successful in space- put him in a position to be successful. Don’t consistently take him out of what he does best to cover up for another position that he doesn’t do as well (obviously he’s supremely talented)

 

11. Travis Fisher needs to coach his guys to 1. Form tackle lower and 2. Turn their head and look for the ball. Our defensive backs it feels like have been head hunters the entire season and they rarely wrap up on tackles- I’m not blaming CTB for his targeting call today, that is the bang bang stuff that will happen during football games. But look at the targeting calls- our DB’s are responsible for all of them. And there are numerous occasions where we just throw our shoulders into guys trying to spear them and make a massive hit instead of wrapping up and driving our legs into a guy to make a sure tackle. That needs to stop. As far as turning their heads goes- Deontai Williams should’ve 100% had an interception in the second quarter when Minnesota ultimately scored a TD. Defended a pass in the end zone and was in perfect position, ball literally hit him in the a$$ because he didn’t turn his head around. If he sees the ball he can turn and it literally falls into his lap for a pick. Was shocked he didn’t get called for PI. Then the very next play is the play CTB gets called for targeting. One of the other DBs had an obvious pick in the end zone too that went right through his hands and resulted in Minnesota points in the first quarter. Have to find real playmakers at DB

 

12. Ryan Held may be the most disappointing coach on the entire staff, and that’s something I didn’t think I’d be saying when he was brought here. How we are this barren/empty at RB I can’t understand- even Mills as “solid” as he is has some obvious limitations. The fact that we routinely have to move Robinson to RB to fill in for his position group because we don’t have a competent player there... says a lot

 

13. I thought the line backing play in this year’s game was much much much improved over last year’s. Minnesota’s zone running scheme challenges LB’s to stay disciplined because of the number of cutback lanes that exist, we really really struggled with this last year and I thought handled it much better this year

 

14. The offense has to stop putting the defense in these nearly impossible situations. Three of Minnesotas four touchdown drives today were less than 40 yards (35- TD, 39- FG, 39- TD). The other drive was 75 yards but was the sequence I referenced above with Williams not turning his head for the pick and then CTB getting called for targeting on a third down stop when Minnesota would’ve been kicking a 31 yard FG into the wind. When NU has been in “normal” defensive situations, they haven’t been THAT bad this year. 

 

15. All in all, we are what we are. We’re a team with an inconsistent QB and inconsistent defensive philosophy and a non-existent pass rush. There are improvements that have been made- I think the DL, OL, ILB play is obviously better this year than last. The problems with this team will remain the same until we can find a QB that can successfully throw the ball down field and athletic edge rushers that can get home on the opposing QB on third down. This is a BIG recruiting class for this staff, we don’t have a pass rusher committed as of now with Payton going to FSU. This staff needs to exhaust every single option at OLB- I’d take 5 of them between HS and JUCO the next 3 classes each until it’s solved. It’s that important and crippling to our defense to lack one. I’m glad they’re still playing hard, I think they’ll respond well and potentially beat Rutgers next week, and hope they make a real effort to add a pass rusher in the offseason to the roster or else we’ll be in the same boat again next season and beyond

[southernoregonhusker]

9 minutes ago, seaofred92 said:

8. Speaking of needing a better pass rush- it’s the exact reason NU ranks 100 out of 127 in third down defense and gives up a first down 46% of the time. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a P5 team other than maybe Vanderbilt be as inept as we are in obvious passing situations, but it stems from the inability to get pressure on the QB. This same thing has plagued NU since Randy Gregory left, how we haven’t been able to land a premier pass rusher blows my mind but we won’t get better at third down defense until we find one. NU has forced 4 total three and outs the last three games- and one of those was Illinois’ backups running the ball to run the clock out at the end of that game. The lack of pass rush is a large large piece of this

 

Excellent post overall.  #8 is painful.

[chamrocck]

Our offense is sputtering.  I’d like Milton to come play here.  Sure it might not work, he’s been injured, etc.  But it sure would bring some excitement to a program who needs it badly.  We’d really see if Frost’s offense can work with the key trigger man running it.  I really like AM and Luke both.  AM is a great backup option we’d have. Luke is not a QB and we absolutely need him on the field in other ways.  Milton, AM, Smothers is your depth at QB.  Pretty good IMO to contend in our division.

 

The defense was more fun to watch this year.  I can see overall improvement/progress.  Badly need a pass rusher still.  We tackled better.  The defense was what I expected this year but the offense put us in holes.  The defense gave up some points but our offense was billed to out score opponents and we missed that mark big time.  We are supposed to put up 40+ on Minny, Illinois and others. Where were the games we won 40-27 or 41-31?  Didn’t happen and that to me was on the offense.
 

The defense played well enough for a 4-3 record, not 2-5.  If the offense played as advertised we should have been 4-3 or reached 5-2.  To me the offense was the weak link.  
 
2020 was almost like a glorified practice season.  Not having like 25% attendance in the stands was just stupid and not science.  It made the games feel lackluster.  It did show us a lot of who can play and who and where we need to upgrade. 
 

I do think it’s going to be Milton because he could have a instant spark.  I don’t disagree with those that want more power running and a different offense but we can’t change now for what we are building and recruiting for.  Wandale has been a key piece in the scheme.  Now add Milton to bump it to the next level and keep building.  Not easy but this is what we are committed to.

 

GBR

[Undone]

I didn't learn anything I didn't already know.

 

The defense is steadily improving. But poor special teams play, turnovers, & penalties kill our chances in the majority of games Frost coaches.

[Crusader Husker]

Next years schedule it is hard to find wins, but easy to find losses.

[HuskerInLostWages]

Just got home from duck hunting, watched the first series on the DVR and turned it off.  Came here and saw we lost, guessing the first series was about the same garbage the entire game and not wasting my time watching it and getting pissed off.  Glad I got a couple ducks rather than wasting my time watching the game live.

[The Dude]

We actually appear to have a fair amount of individual talent on the defensive side of the ball.  It's just going to waste because Chinander is incompetent.

 

Or maybe it's just talent relative to garbage teams like Minnesota. 

[DevoHusker]

2 minutes ago, The Dude said:

We actually appear to have a fair amount of individual talent on the defensive side of the ball.  It's just going to waste because Chinander is incompetent.

100%

[gobiggergoredder]

2 minutes ago, The Dude said:

We actually appear to have a fair amount of individual talent on the defensive side of the ball.  It's just going to waste because Chinander is incompetent.

 

Or maybe it's just talent relative to garbage teams like Minnesota. 

I think the are a high level D lineman from be a pretty decent D

[FrantzHardySwag]

What I learned:

 

The B1G is never gonna adjust to us....its gonna have to be the other way around if we're gonna be successful. B1G teams have trampled us since we joined the League. Pelini tried to bring his defense and got b!^@h slapped. Riley tried to bring his Pac12 pro style offense, and got trampled. Frost tried to bring his UCFast offense and has been owned. WE are the ones that need to adjust.  

[Huskers93-97]

2 minutes ago, FrantzHardySwag said:

What I learned:

 

The B1G is never gonna adjust to us....its gonna have to be the other way around if we're gonna be successful. B1G teams have trampled us since we joined the League. Pelini tried to bring his defense and got b!^@h slapped. Riley tried to bring his Pac12 pro style offense, and got trampled. Frost tried to bring his UCFast offense and has been owned. WE are the ones that need to adjust.  

At this point I am not sure we are going to adjust to the big ten either 

[ndobney]

I learned the staff is completely incompetent 

I have at least some faith in chins cause the defense has not been bad actually has gotten better.

Offense is f******** trash.

Martinez has room temperature iq at best.

Scott Frost can take his offense and shove it up his a**

Keep Frost only if he goes to the triple option I've seen chick flicks more entertaining then this offense

[FrantzHardySwag]

5 minutes ago, Huskers93-97 said:

At this point I am not sure we are going to adjust to the big ten either 

IDK if Frost will, and that scares me. I feel like he's gonna try and jam a square peg into a round hole for two more seasons. 

[CAHusker]

1.  Out recruiting all other Big10 west teams doesn't seem to mean s#!t.

 

Question- am I the only one that feels that every team we have played has better?

1. Defensive Ends
2. Running Backs
3. Wide Receivers
4. Quarterback that can string multiple accurate throws

 

Its exhausting being a Nebraska fan.

[huskerfaninbuckeyehell]

I learned if I see Frost not defer when they win the coin toss it puts me in a bad mood right off the bat....Also that this is the worst team in a conference with one legitimate team and 13 mediocre teams at best because as bad as Nebraska is with just hair of competent coaching they beat NW, Iowa and MN.