Cutting down the playbook

[NUpolo8]

And for the record, I'm not a proponent of the run heavy offense. I'd love to see us run something like KU ran when Beck was there, which is what I thought we were getting with Beck. You've got an up-tempo offense, that is about distributing the ball to your playmakers. Reesing wasn't going to burn you. But he was efficient. A 65%ish passer, with a 3-1 TD/INT ratio. Scrambled well, saw the field, etc.

That's not the guys we're recruiting though. I honestly think that's the offense Beck is pushing us towards, but we aren't recruiting guys that would lead that offense. Stanton might fit that mold, but I don't think Armstrong or anyone we recruited last year do. Our QB recruiting does not match the offensive direction IMO. It really doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Recruit run-first QBs then try to pass the ball around the field with a masters level offense that lacks identity. Why?

If that was truly the goal, they had the complete wrong person at QB for the last four years.

That's not even a knock on Taylor, if that's true, it was perhaps the biggest attempt of sledgehammering a square peg through a cylindrical opening ever. And yeah, it begs the question of the communication level between the coaches or even their vision.

Basically, I'm saying I hope that's incorrect, because if it's true it conjures up images of a know it all high schooler trying to explain string theory while trying to forge mommy's signature on the notice that they're failing Algebra.

 

[QMany]

And for the record, I'm not a proponent of the run heavy offense. I'd love to see us run something like KU ran when Beck was there, which is what I thought we were getting with Beck. You've got an up-tempo offense, that is about distributing the ball to your playmakers. Reesing wasn't going to burn you. But he was efficient. A 65%ish passer, with a 3-1 TD/INT ratio. Scrambled well, saw the field, etc.

That's not the guys we're recruiting though. I honestly think that's the offense Beck is pushing us towards, but we aren't recruiting guys that would lead that offense. Stanton might fit that mold, but I don't think Armstrong or anyone we recruited last year do. Our QB recruiting does not match the offensive direction IMO. It really doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Recruit run-first QBs then try to pass the ball around the field with a masters level offense that lacks identity. Why?

If that was truly the goal, they had the complete wrong person at QB for the last four years.

Taylor was 60% with a 2-1 TD/INT ratio. That is not quite what kchusker_chris would like, but I believe it is much better than any other options we had. I don't think Beck minded his mobility either.

 

[NUpolo8]

And for the record, I'm not a proponent of the run heavy offense. I'd love to see us run something like KU ran when Beck was there, which is what I thought we were getting with Beck. You've got an up-tempo offense, that is about distributing the ball to your playmakers. Reesing wasn't going to burn you. But he was efficient. A 65%ish passer, with a 3-1 TD/INT ratio. Scrambled well, saw the field, etc.

That's not the guys we're recruiting though. I honestly think that's the offense Beck is pushing us towards, but we aren't recruiting guys that would lead that offense. Stanton might fit that mold, but I don't think Armstrong or anyone we recruited last year do. Our QB recruiting does not match the offensive direction IMO. It really doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Recruit run-first QBs then try to pass the ball around the field with a masters level offense that lacks identity. Why?

If that was truly the goal, they had the complete wrong person at QB for the last four years.

Taylor was 60% with a 2-1 TD/INT ratio. That is not quite what kchusker_chris would like, but I believe it is much better than any other options we had. I don't think Beck minded his mobility either.

Taylor is/was a lot of things, but Todd Reesing he ain't. And if Reesing is the model in which this offense runs, it was destined to not work under Taylor. I think that's the takeaway here. As for the options available, it's unknowable at this point.

 

[kchusker_chris]

If that was truly the goal, they had the complete wrong person at QB for the last four years.

That's not even a knock on Taylor, if that's true, it was perhaps the biggest attempt of sledgehammering a square peg through a cylindrical opening ever. And yeah, it begs the question of the communication level between the coaches or even their vision.

Basically, I'm saying I hope that's incorrect, because if it's true it conjures up images of a know it all high schooler trying to explain string theory while trying to forge mommy's signature on the notice that they're failing Algebra.

Doesn't mean they had the wrong person at QB, just means there wasn't another person available. And I do think there was a lot of square peg / round hole in our offense throughout Taylor's tenure here. He was a run first, hobbled QB - operating a zone-read offense without the ability to consistently perform the "read" part. I think he would have been better in a more traditional offense that didn't require him to think as much, gave him better vision of the entire field instead of reading a DE. Limited the misses on the exchange, reducing fumbles, etc.

 

[NUpolo8]

If that was truly the goal, they had the complete wrong person at QB for the last four years.

That's not even a knock on Taylor, if that's true, it was perhaps the biggest attempt of sledgehammering a square peg through a cylindrical opening ever. And yeah, it begs the question of the communication level between the coaches or even their vision.

Basically, I'm saying I hope that's incorrect, because if it's true it conjures up images of a know it all high schooler trying to explain string theory while trying to forge mommy's signature on the notice that they're failing Algebra.

Doesn't mean they had the wrong person at QB, just means there wasn't another person available. And I do think there was a lot of square peg / round hole in our offense throughout Taylor's tenure here. He was a run first, hobbled QB - operating a zone-read offense without the ability to consistently perform the "read" part. I think he would have been better in a more traditional offense that didn't require him to think as much, gave him better vision of the entire field instead of reading a DE. Limited the misses on the exchange, reducing fumbles, etc.

Yeah pretty much. It kinda shows how committed to passing more often Beck truly is. Otherwise a guy like Taylor wouldn't have been put in positions like Wisconsin 2011 as often as he was.

 

[kchusker_chris]

Yeah pretty much. It kinda shows how committed to passing more often Beck truly is. Otherwise a guy like Taylor wouldn't have been put in positions like Wisconsin 2011 as often as he was.

I thought Beck showed a lot of promise early. I'm starting to have my doubts. He could prove me wrong, I just don't think we have the guy under center that he needs to be a great OC. Not a knock on Armstrong, not a knock on Beck - but I think both would be better off with someone else. Stanton being a run-first guy as well leads me to believe we're going to have a number of years ahead of us being "multiple" - ie: Beck and Bo trying to bring us closer to 50/50 without a passing QB. 50% of our offense is reliant on our QBs weakest ability. Whatever I guess.

 

[zoogs]

This is just coach speak. Our offense was not super simple under Osborne, super complicated under Watson, and increasingly simple every year under Beck. But you would expect coaches to continue to try to optimize their system and how they teach it to their players. It's a good thing.

I'll share concern that they seem to be wanting to move in a direction away from Tommy's strengths. We moved away from the zone read, which seemed to always feature Taylor at his most dangerous. Why we had all this traditional option or short to intermediate passes with no YAC opportunity really, really baffled me, but at least we got a decent completion % out of them?...

As long as Tommy holds on to the job, I hope we cater to what he does best.

 

[Landlord]

To anyone that complains about "it seems like we hear about slimming the offense down every year"..

Well, yeah. And we should. I think most teams hear about that every year. It's human nature to keep adding on to stuff and to gravitate away from the basics - I would suspect our staff is no worse at this than any other.

 

[deedsker]

I don't care what problems Taylor had, but preinjury Freshman Taylor showed up for every game we would have won more games and his deficiencies would be likely more unknown. Every player has their qualities that they must use to make the system work for them. Reesing could complete short passes and elude rushers. Taylor could straight up run away from any contact. Armstrong reads the option quite well. I don't think Reesing is the end all model he is holding up, but one circumstance of the system Beck seems to be headed toward. Fast paced, mismatch driven personnel, mobile to semimoble quarterbacks who can create after a breakdown in plans.

 

[NUpolo8]

Yeah pretty much. It kinda shows how committed to passing more often Beck truly is. Otherwise a guy like Taylor wouldn't have been put in positions like Wisconsin 2011 as often as he was.

I thought Beck showed a lot of promise early. I'm starting to have my doubts. He could prove me wrong, I just don't think we have the guy under center that he needs to be a great OC. Not a knock on Armstrong, not a knock on Beck - but I think both would be better off with someone else. Stanton being a run-first guy as well leads me to believe we're going to have a number of years ahead of us being "multiple" - ie: Beck and Bo trying to bring us closer to 50/50 without a passing QB. 50% of our offense is reliant on our QBs weakest ability. Whatever I guess.

Beck is likely a good football mind, it just seems to me he's the avatar with what plagues this team. He appears to want to run a quick tempo offense in which any play can come out of any formation. Bo seems to think that is the hardest offense to defend against. Which, yeah, obviously. A team that can do anything out of anything and does it quickly does sound pretty frightening.

Except that's probably not a feasible offense, especially considering the array of talent Nebraska has had of late. So, what you get some times is a very up tempo turnover on downs or a punt. Which, given Nebraska's defense post 2010, is also less than ideal.

Examples of this playing out is the Minnesota game last year, where Beck was trying to take advantage of the pass protection on paper, but doing it with a grossly hobbled QB who wasn't all that great a passer to begin with.

So hopefully this is a sign of the coaching staff ceasing with obsession the of the theoretical and the implementation of playing to the strengths.

 

[HUSKER FREAK]

I really think Fyfe could be the Todd Reesing type if that's what Beck really wants. He has a pretty serviceable arm and may have the smarts to know when to run and just get to that line. Like Reesing he doesn't have the speed that Armstrong or Taylor has but may be the better passer. I say this not knowing how much improvement was made in the off season for Stanton and Armstrong though. also Beck may not want the reesing type either if that means he doesn't have burner speed I think he wants both.

 

[RedRedJarvisRedwine]

Having watched two of Fyfes HS games, I can vouch that his arm is more than serviceable.

Edit: I guess this comes down to what you and I think is serviceable.

 

[lo country]

Yeah pretty much. It kinda shows how committed to passing more often Beck truly is. Otherwise a guy like Taylor wouldn't have been put in positions like Wisconsin 2011 as often as he was.

I thought Beck showed a lot of promise early. I'm starting to have my doubts. He could prove me wrong, I just don't think we have the guy under center that he needs to be a great OC. Not a knock on Armstrong, not a knock on Beck - but I think both would be better off with someone else. Stanton being a run-first guy as well leads me to believe we're going to have a number of years ahead of us being "multiple" - ie: Beck and Bo trying to bring us closer to 50/50 without a passing QB. 50% of our offense is reliant on our QBs weakest ability. Whatever I guess.

Beck is likely a good football mind, it just seems to me he's the avatar with what plagues this team. He appears to want to run a quick tempo offense in which any play can come out of any formation. Bo seems to think that is the hardest offense to defend against. Which, yeah, obviously. A team that can do anything out of anything and does it quickly does sound pretty frightening.

Except that's probably not a feasible offense, especially considering the array of talent Nebraska has had of late. So, what you get some times is a very up tempo turnover on downs or a punt. Which, given Nebraska's defense post 2010, is also less than ideal.

Examples of this playing out is the Minnesota game last year, where Beck was trying to take advantage of the pass protection on paper, but doing it with a grossly hobbled QB who wasn't all that great a passer to begin with.

So hopefully this is a sign of the coaching staff ceasing with obsession the of the theoretical and the implementation of playing to the strengths.

I agree with bolded for sure. I hope this is a sign that after several years of "I get stubborn","should have stuck with the run", "tried to do too much" Beck might have figured out that sometimes being able to execute less better is actually addition by subtraction. Bo might also think this is his season at redemption to get off the hot seat (if there is one)

We do not nor have we had a QB resembling Reesing at KU since Ganz IMO. Can TA be that guy? Who knows. If not, then Beck needs to completely crap can his vision.

I also like BO showing the QB's that it is ok to go to a check down or hot read and get the ball to the RB. Marlon Lucky made it look easy. Helps the new QB to not do too much and opens up the vertical game to double moves or PA IMO as they cheat to stop the quick outs and screens.

 

[True2tRA]

To anyone that complains about "it seems like we hear about slimming the offense down every year"..

Well, yeah. And we should. I think most teams hear about that every year. It's human nature to keep adding on to stuff and to gravitate away from the basics - I would suspect our staff is no worse at this than any other.

I don't think people are so much complaining about adding stuff. I think the thing is that most teams establish a foundation, an "identity", something you call your bread and butter, then build on that. I think a lot of people would like to see us become great at something and build upon it, instead of trying to be good at multiple things. Of course, I've been saying this for years, and the coaching staff sounds like they are trending that direction...sounding like it anyway.....so we may all get what we want this season.
So yes, you may gravitate away from the basics, but when needed, you always have those basics to fall back on because you execute those basics to perfection. In Nebraskas case, the run game has and should be our "basics", which we actually execute well. I just want to see us execute it brilliantly.