Let's talk scheme

[NUpolo8]

That spread motion running offense USC ran was a powerful thing. It is specifically designed to spred out a defense and confuse linebackers. Hence, your likely first solid defensive contact is in the secondary. It surely did so last night. As the game wears on, the linebackers know less and less what to do. Cover the motion man? Cover the I back? Cover the passing lanes? The team was so spread out IMHO it is way more potent when the DL is stymied and can't penetrate. Outstanding OL for USC.

So, Coz or no Coz, how does a defense deploy to stop it?

One thing I saw, and this actually first appeared in the Wake game, was the outside LB, or DE, would penetrate on a slant, to the middle right from the line and more often than not, get caught out of position to stop a cut back or reverse or counter. Why wouldn't you have the outside man on the line penetrate deeper before closing on the ball?

Not trying to be a jerk, I think there offense is pro style versus a spread. BUt, you bring up interesting points. But you can't even get that detailed with our problems and why we lost. We could have run the 46 defense from the old Bears days or some grand scheme from the great Baltimore Ravens defenses and it wouldn't have mattered one bit. They're bigger, stronger and fast than we were. They could have run "I Iso" all night long and won...............

Sorry Eric, but there's something inherently wrong with that. I expect a lot more from Nebraska than "well they are just better than us."

 

[TheKiD]

ETR, can you explain how Idaho gave up 214 yards rushing AT USC, and we gave up 313 to USC AT HOME? We gave up 100 yards more on the ground than Idaho did, and we had homefield advantage.. LOL!

Well, obviously Idaho has had better recruiting classes and much more talent than us right? IDAHO MAN!

There is exactly nothing to blame apart from coaching. Our tradition of dominant defenses is the one thing that SHOULD NOT HAVE CHANGED during this transition period... it didn't need to be messed with, it was great! So, our offense is looking pretty potent now and our defense sucks. Hmmm.

I have not liked Cosgrove from the first season he was here.. however I gave him a few years to get things patched up. But, no.. the D is getting worse.

To give up 549! yards rushing in two games?! HOLY CRAP! That is unacceptable!

Okay, done ranting. But, ETR buddy... you cannot chalk this up to talent, well maybe you can.. but if the talent is lacking it's because the coaches have not developed them right.. most, if not all, of our front 7 have been 3-4star guys. If they are not skilled enough, that falls on the coaching staff.