McKeon: Be prepared for a diminished run game

[Mavric]

So, we're lowering expectations.

 

[The Dude]

Beyond our control as a fan base of what and how the team is coached, the scheme is whatever they are going to figure out. The fun and gun I do not like, one dimensional. How many three and outs will we have in games, specially the games that matter?

And yet, people want us to run every play, too

Link? Example of any kind?

My Link

 

[The Dude]

I never have understood why some fans get all caught up on how a coach speaks in a press conference. I actually knew people who thought Solich was fired....not because of anything on the field....but, when pressed, they would claim we need a HC that can speak more clearly in a press conference. REALLY???

Of all the things to complain about with a coach, it's because he doesn't speak up to your standards with a microphone stuck in his face and random questions asked?

Speaking usually reflects what's going on in someone's(the coach's) head and, therefore, usually what gets translated onto the field. That's my point. Bo was a pretty good example of that, not a great communicator, hence, relatively sloppy team at times, IMO.

You actually are basing these mistakes by the team on Bo not being able to talk well in a press conference?Really????

Uh, no, I'm basing Bo's mistake prone NE teams on his relative inability to communicate well to the team. It is teaching, after all. I'm making this assumption the only way a fan can, by the way he communicated at press conferences. So, I'm saying, again, that Riley doesn't impress me as a great communicator, hence, I'm uneasy about him, his ability to convey concepts to his team. Yeah, I'm saying that.

Bo's own lack of self discipline, anger issues, inability to hire experts as assistant coaches, unwillingness to make changes to his defensive scheme when the world could see it wasn't working and his inability to get along with his superiors (anger issues) had WAY more to do with his team's lack of success than him not being able to communicate in a press conference.

I think it had more to do with crootin' than any of that other stuff. Granted, some of that baggage probably didn't help his crootin' efforts.

I think you're wrong.
I think it had way more to do with a lot of that other stuff. There's plenty of talent on this team. Matter of fact, it's amazing some of these highly talented guys we have on this team wanted to play in either offensive or defensive scheme. The unwillingness (not inability, he was plenty able) to hire more experienced coaches effected every aspect of this team and recruiting. Of course, when you think you know it all and are a control freak, why would you hire people who possibly outrank you in wisdom and knowledge of the game. They may challenge you to be better....and guys like Bo don't like to be challenged.

I don't think I am. I hope I am, but I don't think I am.
Look at the recruiting classes the last 4 years. We're talented enough to be a fringe top 25 team. Not to say we're completely without talent, but if we want to compete with the Ohio States of the world, we got to recruit better.

 

[Hunter94]

I never have understood why some fans get all caught up on how a coach speaks in a press conference. I actually knew people who thought Solich was fired....not because of anything on the field....but, when pressed, they would claim we need a HC that can speak more clearly in a press conference. REALLY???

Of all the things to complain about with a coach, it's because he doesn't speak up to your standards with a microphone stuck in his face and random questions asked?

Speaking usually reflects what's going on in someone's(the coach's) head and, therefore, usually what gets translated onto the field. That's my point. Bo was a pretty good example of that, not a great communicator, hence, relatively sloppy team at times, IMO.

You actually are basing these mistakes by the team on Bo not being able to talk well in a press conference?Really????

Uh, no, I'm basing Bo's mistake prone NE teams on his relative inability to communicate well to the team. It is teaching, after all. I'm making this assumption the only way a fan can, by the way he communicated at press conferences. So, I'm saying, again, that Riley doesn't impress me as a great communicator, hence, I'm uneasy about him, his ability to convey concepts to his team. Yeah, I'm saying that.

Bo's own lack of self discipline, anger issues, inability to hire experts as assistant coaches, unwillingness to make changes to his defensive scheme when the world could see it wasn't working and his inability to get along with his superiors (anger issues) had WAY more to do with his team's lack of success than him not being able to communicate in a press conference.

I think it had more to do with crootin' than any of that other stuff. Granted, some of that baggage probably didn't help his crootin' efforts.

I think you're wrong.
I think it had way more to do with a lot of that other stuff. There's plenty of talent on this team. Matter of fact, it's amazing some of these highly talented guys we have on this team wanted to play in either offensive or defensive scheme. The unwillingness (not inability, he was plenty able) to hire more experienced coaches effected every aspect of this team and recruiting. Of course, when you think you know it all and are a control freak, why would you hire people who possibly outrank you in wisdom and knowledge of the game. They may challenge you to be better....and guys like Bo don't like to be challenged.

I don't think I am. I hope I am, but I don't think I am.
Look at the recruiting classes the last 4 years. We're talented enough to be a fringe top 25 team. Not to say we're completely without talent, but if we want to compete with the Ohio States of the world, we got to recruit better.

a lot better!!

 

[admo]

I'm okay with RB committee. Usually the amount of touches a game for each guy will play itself out as the season develops. Big question for all Husker fans (and probably the OC with all due respect):

Who will/should be the "GO-TO" guy?

This might offend a few, so I apologize. If someone mentions Cross I will probably skip over the post

What's with the disrespect for Cross? Imani has averaged over 5 yards a carry every season, in contrast Newby averaged 4.4 last season. Arguably, Imani is called on in many more short yardage situations, so to average 5 yards a carry while doing the dirty work in the trenches is pretty remarkable. MSU was stopping Ameer, and Imani came in for one series and pounded it the length of the field.

I think Imani compares favorably with Mark Weisman of Iowa. Whereas, Iowa built their offense around Weisman, Cross has had to run out of an offense built around Ameer. Cross doesn't do what Ameer does as well as Ameer, but I would love to see what happens with Imani running plays built around this strengths. Which, IMHO, are considerable.

That was well said. I do not disrespect what Cross does. He is a role player IMO and does it well. Goal line, short yardage, and give him a series or two. He's good at giving breathers, especially later in games when ahead and a defense is getting tired. He's had a nice college career doing that. I appreciate that.

Weisman is better than Cross and generates more power than him. He gets lower at the point of contact and uses his the strength in his legs and shoulders to drive upward into defenders. Cross runs straight up, although he does lean his upper body slightly forward into a pile. And he has been stuffed at the line of scrimmage when there is no wide crease. And he is good when he can get past the DLine with some steam behind him. To me that is hopeful thinking for that to happen often enough as a featured back. I prefer a RB that has burst, quickness, gets low, and a breakaway threat because he has top end speed. I am fine with Cross contributing here and there as a backup for breathers, and goal line. But as a full time starter? No. As a replacement starter against FAU? Sure, why not. It's a good role to have.

 

[Hunter94]

I'm okay with RB committee. Usually the amount of touches a game for each guy will play itself out as the season develops. Big question for all Husker fans (and probably the OC with all due respect):

Who will/should be the "GO-TO" guy?

This might offend a few, so I apologize. If someone mentions Cross I will probably skip over the post

What's with the disrespect for Cross? Imani has averaged over 5 yards a carry every season, in contrast Newby averaged 4.4 last season. Arguably, Imani is called on in many more short yardage situations, so to average 5 yards a carry while doing the dirty work in the trenches is pretty remarkable. MSU was stopping Ameer, and Imani came in for one series and pounded it the length of the field.

I think Imani compares favorably with Mark Weisman of Iowa. Whereas, Iowa built their offense around Weisman, Cross has had to run out of an offense built around Ameer. Cross doesn't do what Ameer does as well as Ameer, but I would love to see what happens with Imani running plays built around this strengths. Which, IMHO, are considerable.

That was well said. I do not disrespect what Cross does. He is a role player IMO and does it well. Goal line, short yardage, and give him a series or two. He's good at giving breathers, especially later in games when ahead and a defense is getting tired. He's had a nice college career doing that. I appreciate that.

Weisman is better than Cross and generates more power than him. He gets lower at the point of contact and uses his the strength in his legs and shoulders to drive upward into defenders. Cross runs straight up, although he does lean his upper body slightly forward into a pile. And he has been stuffed at the line of scrimmage when there is no wide crease. And he is good when he can get past the DLine with some steam behind him. To me that is hopeful thinking for that to happen often enough as a featured back. I prefer a RB that has burst, quickness, gets low, and a breakaway threat because he has top end speed. I am fine with Cross contributing here and there as a backup for breathers, and goal line. But as a full time starter? No. As a replacement starter against FAU? Sure, why not. It's a good role to have.

naw, i call bullsh#t! he is way more than a role player, he will seldom take it to the house, but if 5 YPC bothers you and wearing down the opposing D's is boring, then turn the channel. Ball control and smash mouth, take it or leave it....if you are on the other side and can't stop it, it is very demoralizing!

 

[NebraskaShellback]

Do we have 8 running backs?

 

[admo]

I'm okay with RB committee. Usually the amount of touches a game for each guy will play itself out as the season develops. Big question for all Husker fans (and probably the OC with all due respect):

Who will/should be the "GO-TO" guy?

This might offend a few, so I apologize. If someone mentions Cross I will probably skip over the post

What's with the disrespect for Cross? Imani has averaged over 5 yards a carry every season, in contrast Newby averaged 4.4 last season. Arguably, Imani is called on in many more short yardage situations, so to average 5 yards a carry while doing the dirty work in the trenches is pretty remarkable. MSU was stopping Ameer, and Imani came in for one series and pounded it the length of the field.

I think Imani compares favorably with Mark Weisman of Iowa. Whereas, Iowa built their offense around Weisman, Cross has had to run out of an offense built around Ameer. Cross doesn't do what Ameer does as well as Ameer, but I would love to see what happens with Imani running plays built around this strengths. Which, IMHO, are considerable.

That was well said. I do not disrespect what Cross does. He is a role player IMO and does it well. Goal line, short yardage, and give him a series or two. He's good at giving breathers, especially later in games when ahead and a defense is getting tired. He's had a nice college career doing that. I appreciate that.

Weisman is better than Cross and generates more power than him. He gets lower at the point of contact and uses his the strength in his legs and shoulders to drive upward into defenders. Cross runs straight up, although he does lean his upper body slightly forward into a pile. And he has been stuffed at the line of scrimmage when there is no wide crease. And he is good when he can get past the DLine with some steam behind him. To me that is hopeful thinking for that to happen often enough as a featured back. I prefer a RB that has burst, quickness, gets low, and a breakaway threat because he has top end speed. I am fine with Cross contributing here and there as a backup for breathers, and goal line. But as a full time starter? No. As a replacement starter against FAU? Sure, why not. It's a good role to have.

naw, i call bullsh#t! he is way more than a role player, he will seldom take it to the house, but if 5 YPC bothers you and wearing down the opposing D's is boring, then turn the channel. Ball control and smash mouth, take it or leave it....if you are on the other side and can't stop it, it is very demoralizing!

Describe way more than a role player.

 

[True2tRA]

I never have understood why some fans get all caught up on how a coach speaks in a press conference. I actually knew people who thought Solich was fired....not because of anything on the field....but, when pressed, they would claim we need a HC that can speak more clearly in a press conference. REALLY???

Of all the things to complain about with a coach, it's because he doesn't speak up to your standards with a microphone stuck in his face and random questions asked?

Speaking usually reflects what's going on in someone's(the coach's) head and, therefore, usually what gets translated onto the field. That's my point. Bo was a pretty good example of that, not a great communicator, hence, relatively sloppy team at times, IMO.

You actually are basing these mistakes by the team on Bo not being able to talk well in a press conference?Really????

Uh, no, I'm basing Bo's mistake prone NE teams on his relative inability to communicate well to the team. It is teaching, after all. I'm making this assumption the only way a fan can, by the way he communicated at press conferences. So, I'm saying, again, that Riley doesn't impress me as a great communicator, hence, I'm uneasy about him, his ability to convey concepts to his team. Yeah, I'm saying that.

Bo's own lack of self discipline, anger issues, inability to hire experts as assistant coaches, unwillingness to make changes to his defensive scheme when the world could see it wasn't working and his inability to get along with his superiors (anger issues) had WAY more to do with his team's lack of success than him not being able to communicate in a press conference.

I think it had more to do with crootin' than any of that other stuff. Granted, some of that baggage probably didn't help his crootin' efforts.

I think you're wrong.I think it had way more to do with a lot of that other stuff. There's plenty of talent on this team. Matter of fact, it's amazing some of these highly talented guys we have on this team wanted to play in either offensive or defensive scheme. The unwillingness (not inability, he was plenty able) to hire more experienced coaches effected every aspect of this team and recruiting. Of course, when you think you know it all and are a control freak, why would you hire people who possibly outrank you in wisdom and knowledge of the game. They may challenge you to be better....and guys like Bo don't like to be challenged.

I don't think I am. I hope I am, but I don't think I am. Look at the recruiting classes the last 4 years. We're talented enough to be a fringe top 25 team. Not to say we're completely without talent, but if we want to compete with the Ohio States of the world, we got to recruit better.

Well....everybody is trying to ompete with the Ohio St.'s of the world. They are the National Champions. All I'm saying is that we recruited well enough that we shouldn't have struggled against teams like Wisconsin, Minnesota, an Iowa. I believe we could represent our division every year based on talent alone. The Nebraska name still carries a lot of weight IMO, its time the coches help us live up to that name again.

 

[jsneb83]

Beyond our control as a fan base of what and how the team is coached, the scheme is whatever they are going to figure out. The fun and gun I do not like, one dimensional. How many three and outs will we have in games, specially the games that matter?

And yet, people want us to run every play, too

Link? Example of any kind?

My Link

He was the first person that came to mind too

And that guy who wants us to run the triple option offense.

 

[zoogs]

McKewon's point is very reasonable. One thing we did not lack under Bo is a stalwart running back. From Helu to Burkhead to Ameer, this will be the very first time (Bo or no Bo) that there wasn't a clear line of succession. So there's a lot of talent and a lot of bodies at the position, but it's very unclear if any of them will grab the reigns the way that the three who came before them did.

And that happens.

What I would like to point out, though, is that maybe thei mportance of the run game is a little overstated. I want an offense that places the most stress on the defense because that gives us a fighting chance in any situation. Having a dominant rushing game isn't the end all be all.

Last year, it wasn't even there all the time. You might look at a team that finished with 5.16 yards per carry and 240 yards per game. But that same team went 51.2-354.8-6.84 in the first five games, and then 41.4-168.6-4.11 in the last 8. During the final 8-game stretch of the season, the only times Nebraska surpassed 200 yards rushing in a game were against Northwestern and Rutgers. They were under 4 yards per carry in four of those eight games.

So, will we miss it? Probably. But if it just ran up the numbers against overmatched opponents and frequently faded away in prime time, was it even really there last year?

 

[True2tRA]

Maybe somebody can help me out and find it but I swear McKewon wrote an article during last season that basically said the same things about expectations from our run game?

 

[TheSker]

What I would like to point out, though, is that maybe thei mportance of the run game is a little overstated. I want an offense that places the most stress on the defense because that gives us a fighting chance in any situation. Having a dominant rushing game isn't the end all be all.

It was, however, specifically what Osborne emphasized to Riley when the two of them met.....http://www.omaha.com/huskers/blogs/mike-riley-gets-advice-from-tom-osborne-run-the-ball/article_cc25a7e6-becb-11e4-9fed-87b05187389e.html

 

[alwayshusking]

So, will we miss it? Probably. But if it just ran up the numbers against overmatched opponents and frequently faded away in prime time, was it even really there last year?

Exactly. Our big bad running game shrunk last year when we stepped up in competition. That's great that we hung big numbers on FAU but our numbers vs the 4 best teams we played last year (all losses) were

Michigan State: 37-47 1.3 ypc

Wisconsin: 46-118 2.6 ypc

Minnesota: 38-174 4.6 ypc

USC: 43-144 3.3 ypc

How good is a team's running game if they can't do it against quality opposition?

 

[xlbder]

Weisman is better than Cross and generates more power than him. He gets lower at the point of contact and uses his the strength in his legs and shoulders to drive upward into defenders. Cross runs straight up, although he does lean his upper body slightly forward into a pile. And he has been stuffed at the line of scrimmage when there is no wide crease. And he is good when he can get past the DLine with some steam behind him. To me that is hopeful thinking for that to happen often enough as a featured back. I prefer a RB that has burst, quickness, gets low, and a breakaway threat because he has top end speed. I am fine with Cross contributing here and there as a backup for breathers, and goal line. But as a full time starter? No. As a replacement starter against FAU? Sure, why not. It's a good role to have.

Wiesman averages 4.3 YPC. Cross averages over 5. They are similar size, but I would say guess Cross is faster. I would guess Cross would do at least as well as Weismann were he running at Iowa.