Armstrong's Smile Had Me Worried . . .

HuskerinSunDiego

HuskerinSunDiego

Special Teams Player
When we got up 24-12 and had the ball, there was a play where (I believe) Armstrong had a big smile on his face. When I saw that, I thought to myself, "We are letting off the gas way too soon. We cannot start relaxing." Sure enough, Georgia worked their way right back into the game and almost won. I'm totally pleased with how we played, but, for that brief period, we let off. It's a small thing to work on, but we have to remain intense until the final buzzer. A small thing to gripe about, but, I honestly thought to myself, "We're going to lose if we keep smiling." Just ask Dwight Howard how far smiling has gotten him in his illustrious career. Totally glad I was wrong, but, we had the chance to put them away and we let them back in.

 
HuskerinSunDiego said:
When we got up 24-12 and had the ball, there was a play where (I believe) Armstrong had a big smile on his face. When I saw that, I thought to myself, "We are letting off the gas way too soon. We cannot start relaxing." Sure enough, Georgia worked their way right back into the game and almost won. I'm totally pleased with how we played, but, for that brief period, we let off. It's a small thing to work on, but we have to remain intense until the final buzzer. A small thing to gripe about, but, I honestly thought to myself, "We're going to lose if we keep smiling." Just ask Dwight Howard how far smiling has gotten him in his illustrious career. Totally glad I was wrong, but, we had the chance to put them away and we let them back in.
Click to expand...
airplane-cant-be-serious.gif


 
Because, you know, we don't want our players to have fun and enjoy playing at all.

default_isweartoallthatsholy.gif


 
Our players don't let off the gas our play caller and staff does. It's something they need to work on, finishing games on offense instead of holding onto the win via the defense. I think Bo would rather play defense than make a mistake on offense that cost us the game. Just his mindset as defensive coach. We can score when we absolutely have to, just wish we would act like it when we need to score one more time to put it out of reach.

 
Being on the sideline for almost 200 games, smiling can actually be a great asset and a show of "let's turn it on".... I love to see my guys smiling....despite what some may think, you can be relaxed and focused at the same time. Stress, over a period of time becomes a NEGATIVE and will impact performance in a negative way....relaxation will keep you in the zone and the moment.

** Just watch women's VB, NBA.....defensive backs / WR after about each play...... after mistakes, most of these "examples" smile, or try to laugh to release the anger, frustration and move onto the next play.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion and I respect that, but thinking way too much read into this one.

*** Plus, isn't football a game....kids play to have fun...goofy concept

 
I get what the OP is saying, and it is a problem the staff has that could have cost us the game, and almost did against Wyoming as one example. We get up and get conservative and let the other team back in it, vs Oregon coming out fast and burying you when your down. It's a mindset that we need to develop, and it starts with the staff, don't think it's the players.

 
The theme of the post is not getting complacent and keeping your foot on the pedal, which I agree with. At times, this team has proven it can get complacent under Pelini. In the same breath, Nebraska is 7-0 in games decided by seven points or fewer. So, there is a sense of fight/passion there, as well.

As far as the "no smiling" rule - that's just ridiculous. It has way more to do with a mindset than anything else.

 
I am not sure if it is complacency on the staff, but rather just trying to play "safe"....and we don't have the talent to play safe..... It seems like we don't blitz as much with the lead and on offense, it's run-run-pass....

Both are EXACTLY what you should do in theory to "salt away" the clock and close out a game.....but, if you aren't talented enough to get a stop without blitzing or if you can't run-run-run (mix in a throw), then you can't use the textbook philosophy.

But as someone said, NU's record in close games in spectacular, so why are we questioning what the coaches are doing?

 
This whole lettin off the gas mentality falls right in line with our complete lack of identity on the offensive side of the ball. Until we find something, or develop something that we lean, that we're identified with, that we're gonna do and do great whether we're ahead by 10 or 30, this is going to continue to be a problem.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top