Huskers Need to Start Faster
- Thread starter Mavric
- Start date
84HuskerLaw
All-Conference
So many o f these articles written by the media "pros" are just so "duh" they are not worth the time to read. They cite a bunch of data that really are pointless and indicative ONLY that the team has performed on average, very average. Nothing striking or glaring in those stats that gives a clue as to how the Huskers are supposed to start fast or somehow magically just play better.
It would seem to me, once you get beyond the discussion of opposing teams' relative talent comparisons and differentials and the home field/travel advantages, then the most apparent considerations for how well a team plays early in the games thereby enabling a 'fast start' would be game preparation and planning and motivation. If Riley teams are in fact historically 'slow starters' (I don't see the data suggesting that), then one would tend to want to conclude that Riley & Co are themselves 'slow starters' as they would be the only constants in a decades long string of slow starting teams and games. That is not likely to change after this many years of practice and literally hundreds and hundreds of games and years of planning and preparation.
Teams that get off to 'fast starts' by jumping out to early leads and playing harder and faster and smarter and better than their opponents are presumably better prepared from a game plan perspective (they have some schemes and techniques and plays which will surprise or be particularly effective vs their opponent) and or are exceptionally well motivated or inspired or 'fired up' and eager to get after it in the game. Mental preparedness is a big factor (building confidence, inspiring maximum effort, will and desire to win) is the single most important thing a football coach must be able to do if he is going to win a lot more than he loses. The historical record on Coach Riley suggests he is not particularly skilled in this as he has won about as many as he's lost. Very average. But one can debate whether he has had 'average' or below averaghe talent. If his teams have been below average in talent, then Riley has lead his teams to achieve above expectations.
It would seem to me, once you get beyond the discussion of opposing teams' relative talent comparisons and differentials and the home field/travel advantages, then the most apparent considerations for how well a team plays early in the games thereby enabling a 'fast start' would be game preparation and planning and motivation. If Riley teams are in fact historically 'slow starters' (I don't see the data suggesting that), then one would tend to want to conclude that Riley & Co are themselves 'slow starters' as they would be the only constants in a decades long string of slow starting teams and games. That is not likely to change after this many years of practice and literally hundreds and hundreds of games and years of planning and preparation.
Teams that get off to 'fast starts' by jumping out to early leads and playing harder and faster and smarter and better than their opponents are presumably better prepared from a game plan perspective (they have some schemes and techniques and plays which will surprise or be particularly effective vs their opponent) and or are exceptionally well motivated or inspired or 'fired up' and eager to get after it in the game. Mental preparedness is a big factor (building confidence, inspiring maximum effort, will and desire to win) is the single most important thing a football coach must be able to do if he is going to win a lot more than he loses. The historical record on Coach Riley suggests he is not particularly skilled in this as he has won about as many as he's lost. Very average. But one can debate whether he has had 'average' or below averaghe talent. If his teams have been below average in talent, then Riley has lead his teams to achieve above expectations.
huskered17
All-Conference
I would say this is Riley's season to show that he can game plan, inspire, get the team off to a fast start. All I have heard is, Oregon St didn't give him the resources he needed.He has that now. He left a job he could have retired from, to a job where he knows he has to win and win quick. Getting rid of some of his coaching buddy's was a surprise to me, but the right move. I hope it pays off. At the least, he probably bought himself more time to show what he can do, with better players and coaches, but he better hurry, because next year is going to be his toughest test at any of his coaching stops.
GBR!!!
GBR!!!
84HuskerLaw
All-Conference
I tend to agree huskerRed. Riley has demonstrated by his demeanor, good behavior and apparent sincerity, that he can represent the University and the State and its fans as a honorable and decent and caring person. This is critical in my opinion but its ONLY the first part of the job description really. He also needs to lead the football program to well above average results on the field as well as off. As Osborne wrote, its "More than winning" its winning the right way. Nebraska fans have demonstrated over the many decades of support that we all want to win but we expect to do so with respect, within the rules and in a dignified manner.
Start fast is a nice thing but the key is to win after playing smart, hard and consistantly for 4 full quarters. We're better off playing good football throughout the game rather than being overly excited or anxious and then finding ourselves relaxing or losing focus later on.
It will be interesting to see what kind of effort and focus we show this week. If our team plays its best, we can win this game by about 4 touchdowns, say 45 -17, or so. I think the biggest area of need for dramatic improvement is on defense. We need to keep them under 375 yards of total offense and under 21 points while our own offense and special teams play their best game so far. This will be a good test of what kind of coach and spiritual leader Coach Riley really is as he has a team capable of playing much better than it has shown thus far, in my opinion. Ultimately, though, it comes down to the heart and desire of the players themselves. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink. Is this team thirsty or not? We'll find out in about 7 hours.
Start fast is a nice thing but the key is to win after playing smart, hard and consistantly for 4 full quarters. We're better off playing good football throughout the game rather than being overly excited or anxious and then finding ourselves relaxing or losing focus later on.
It will be interesting to see what kind of effort and focus we show this week. If our team plays its best, we can win this game by about 4 touchdowns, say 45 -17, or so. I think the biggest area of need for dramatic improvement is on defense. We need to keep them under 375 yards of total offense and under 21 points while our own offense and special teams play their best game so far. This will be a good test of what kind of coach and spiritual leader Coach Riley really is as he has a team capable of playing much better than it has shown thus far, in my opinion. Ultimately, though, it comes down to the heart and desire of the players themselves. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink. Is this team thirsty or not? We'll find out in about 7 hours.
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huskered17
All-Conference
I hear you, but getting off to a quick start and keeping the pressure on, is what allowed T.O. to have players on the second and third string, get the reps that would help him reload for the next season. Of course you can't do that every game, some will be tight till the end, but we haven't been able to do that in a long time. I think Riley will always win the right way, he has that part of T.O. in him it seems.
GBR!!!
Nebfanatic
All-American
What we really need is a consistent game start to finish. When was the last time we played one of those?
I think when you look at our division you don't see teams capable of spectacular play, but what the good teams in our division do really well is play with consistency. If you can do that you can really wear an opponent down physically and mentally.
I think when you look at our division you don't see teams capable of spectacular play, but what the good teams in our division do really well is play with consistency. If you can do that you can really wear an opponent down physically and mentally.
84HuskerLaw
All-Conference
I don't recall a true 4 quarters of good football in many years. Probably goes back to the Arizona bowl win in Bo's first year if I recall correctly. Something like 33-0 and even that I don't know if we played a full 60 minutes.
We played a few great games in the Solich years (couple bowl games ), but they were the exception not the rule.
So far, the best game we've played under Riley was the farmer bowl vs. UCLA in my view. I thought we'd play more like that since but really it has not happened. Not sure why we did so well in that one. That's probably why I am such a Ozigbo fan and have been frustrated by his lack of play. He and Tommy A were the deciding factors in that one in my view. Both ran hard. He ran so hard, it inspired the rest of the guys to play harder in my opinion.
We played a few great games in the Solich years (couple bowl games ), but they were the exception not the rule.
So far, the best game we've played under Riley was the farmer bowl vs. UCLA in my view. I thought we'd play more like that since but really it has not happened. Not sure why we did so well in that one. That's probably why I am such a Ozigbo fan and have been frustrated by his lack of play. He and Tommy A were the deciding factors in that one in my view. Both ran hard. He ran so hard, it inspired the rest of the guys to play harder in my opinion.