HuskerShark
Banned
After the MSU game, I've got 3 main concerns with this team that will be key factors in how the rest of season plays out. The first is a concern that I've had for a while, and really showed itself Saturday.
#1 - Receiver route combinations
Too many times in the past few years under Tim Beck's offense, we've seen 2 receivers running routes and ending up in the same area (Late throw to Moore in the endzone that was nearly a TD). There also seem to be a lot of routes that don't quite complement each other (Final throw by Tommy that was intercepted).
I'm not an offensive guru by any means, but these route combos seem like a problem. I can understand if there are young receivers in the game and they aren't running them correctly, which was the case on that last drive, but it has happened with our passing game for years now. Wasn't Beck the passing game coordinator at Kansas? You'd think these types of things wouldn't happen.
#2 - Offensive line - Bad push and too many penalties
Against Fresno, Miami, and Illinois, our line looked possessed. They controlled the line even though teams were loading the box. Saturday against MSU, they looked like absolute dog crap. They got absolutely tooled by MSU's front 7 (which I acknowledge is very good), and that factor alone held us back from winning the ballgame. I'd love to see a stat as well on penalties, as Alex Lewis and Jake Cotton have to be two of the most penalized offensive linemen in CFB. And at times on Saturday, Sterup looked like a Jr. High kid trying to block Calhoun and Rush. Totally tooled.
This is the one thing that I'd give Beck some leeway on. I've heard a lot of bitching about how we kept trying to do the same thing over and over even though it wasn't working. Let's be honest - If Beck would have tried to run early on and just aired it out the rest of the game, people would be complaining about that too. Ameer Abdullah is the best playmaker on the team, and we had to continually try to get him the ball. Unfortunately, when your OL can't block and is continually whiffing on LBs and DL all game long, it's hard for your All-American RB to find space to run.
#3 - Depth in the secondary
Losing Daniel Davie hurt. Bad. He's been doing a pretty good job this year and was holding his own early on in the game. Then the first play Jonathon Rose came in, MSU went right after him with a double move and threw a 55 yard TD to Lippett.
Kalu shows major promise, he's just young and pretty green. He will be a different person next year after an off season in the weight room.
Josh Mitchell, while I love his heart and his leadership, just isn't a guy who is going to make us feel comfortable on an island against a quality receiver.
I really hope our young CBs and Charles Jackson can step in next year and make that unit much improved, because lack of depth and ability there right now is pretty concerning. I know someone is bound to post that Connor Cook was just held to 11/29, so here would be my response to that:
Our best form of pass coverage right now is our stellar front 4. Cook didn't have all day to sit in the pocket and make throws because RG4, McMullen, Collins, and Valentine are freakin' amazing!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
With that said, I truly believe that there is something special about this team. The leadership that is present is different than years' past, and our defense plays with attitude. I fully expect this team to run the table and face MSU in the B1G CCG with an 11-1 record. And the way things are playing out this year, I'd venture to say that the winner of that game could be looking at the 4th spot in the playoff.
GBR!!!
#1 - Receiver route combinations
Too many times in the past few years under Tim Beck's offense, we've seen 2 receivers running routes and ending up in the same area (Late throw to Moore in the endzone that was nearly a TD). There also seem to be a lot of routes that don't quite complement each other (Final throw by Tommy that was intercepted).
I'm not an offensive guru by any means, but these route combos seem like a problem. I can understand if there are young receivers in the game and they aren't running them correctly, which was the case on that last drive, but it has happened with our passing game for years now. Wasn't Beck the passing game coordinator at Kansas? You'd think these types of things wouldn't happen.
#2 - Offensive line - Bad push and too many penalties
Against Fresno, Miami, and Illinois, our line looked possessed. They controlled the line even though teams were loading the box. Saturday against MSU, they looked like absolute dog crap. They got absolutely tooled by MSU's front 7 (which I acknowledge is very good), and that factor alone held us back from winning the ballgame. I'd love to see a stat as well on penalties, as Alex Lewis and Jake Cotton have to be two of the most penalized offensive linemen in CFB. And at times on Saturday, Sterup looked like a Jr. High kid trying to block Calhoun and Rush. Totally tooled.
This is the one thing that I'd give Beck some leeway on. I've heard a lot of bitching about how we kept trying to do the same thing over and over even though it wasn't working. Let's be honest - If Beck would have tried to run early on and just aired it out the rest of the game, people would be complaining about that too. Ameer Abdullah is the best playmaker on the team, and we had to continually try to get him the ball. Unfortunately, when your OL can't block and is continually whiffing on LBs and DL all game long, it's hard for your All-American RB to find space to run.
#3 - Depth in the secondary
Losing Daniel Davie hurt. Bad. He's been doing a pretty good job this year and was holding his own early on in the game. Then the first play Jonathon Rose came in, MSU went right after him with a double move and threw a 55 yard TD to Lippett.
Kalu shows major promise, he's just young and pretty green. He will be a different person next year after an off season in the weight room.
Josh Mitchell, while I love his heart and his leadership, just isn't a guy who is going to make us feel comfortable on an island against a quality receiver.
I really hope our young CBs and Charles Jackson can step in next year and make that unit much improved, because lack of depth and ability there right now is pretty concerning. I know someone is bound to post that Connor Cook was just held to 11/29, so here would be my response to that:
Our best form of pass coverage right now is our stellar front 4. Cook didn't have all day to sit in the pocket and make throws because RG4, McMullen, Collins, and Valentine are freakin' amazing!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
With that said, I truly believe that there is something special about this team. The leadership that is present is different than years' past, and our defense plays with attitude. I fully expect this team to run the table and face MSU in the B1G CCG with an 11-1 record. And the way things are playing out this year, I'd venture to say that the winner of that game could be looking at the 4th spot in the playoff.
GBR!!!
