McKeon: Be prepared for a diminished run game

B1G rushing offense trivia: We were 4th in the B1G in 2014 rushing offense. Who were the first three teams in the B1G in rushing offense?

This sort of surprised me.

#3 Wisconsin

#8 tOSU

#9 Indiana

#17 Nebraska

#19 Michigan State

LINK

(I would have never guessed the Hoosiers were ahead of us.)
Even more surprising, Huskers were not as potent rushing in the B1G games.

BIG Conference Games Stats - (Overall including Non-Conf games in parenthesis)

1. Wisconsin 329.8 - (320.1)

2. OSU 265.4 - (264.5)

3. Indiana 233.6 - (263.6)

4. MSU 226.4 - (235.2)

5. Minn 218.8 - (215.5)

6. Nebraska 207.9 - (240.2)

BIG Conference Stats

1. Gordon Wisc 1648 - 206.0 - (2587)

2. Coleman Indy 1317 - 164.6 - (2036)

3. Langford MSU 1020 - 127.5 - (1522)

4. Cobb Minn 1006 - 125.8 - (1626)

5. Ameer Neb 898 - 112.2 - (1611)

6. Elliott OSU 859 - 107.4 - (1878)

7. Jackson NW 854 - 106.8 - (1187)

The numbers that stand out about the Huskers (and Indiana) is that the production dropped quite a bit during conference play. The B1G loaded up against the Huskers run game with some better defenders.

 
B1G rushing offense trivia: We were 4th in the B1G in 2014 rushing offense. Who were the first three teams in the B1G in rushing offense?

This sort of surprised me.

#3 Wisconsin

#8 tOSU

#9 Indiana

#17 Nebraska

#19 Michigan State

LINK

(I would have never guessed the Hoosiers were ahead of us.)
Even more surprising, Huskers were not as potent rushing in the B1G games.

BIG Conference Games Stats - (Overall including Non-Conf games in parenthesis)

1. Wisconsin 329.8 - (320.1)

2. OSU 265.4 - (264.5)

3. Indiana 233.6 - (263.6)

4. MSU 226.4 - (235.2)

5. Minn 218.8 - (215.5)

6. Nebraska 207.9 - (240.2)

BIG Conference Stats

1. Gordon Wisc 1648 - 206.0 - (2587)

2. Coleman Indy 1317 - 164.6 - (2036)

3. Langford MSU 1020 - 127.5 - (1522)

4. Cobb Minn 1006 - 125.8 - (1626)

5. Ameer Neb 898 - 112.2 - (1611)

6. Elliott OSU 859 - 107.4 - (1878)

7. Jackson NW 854 - 106.8 - (1187)

The numbers that stand out about the Huskers (and Indiana) is that the production dropped quite a bit during conference play. The B1G loaded up against the Huskers run game with some better defenders.
And Ameer tweaked his knee.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
I think we'll be alright with the 4 Horsemen, once they get rolling. I'm mainly concerned about the QB situation and offense Riley is going to run.

 
B1G rushing offense trivia: We were 4th in the B1G in 2014 rushing offense. Who were the first three teams in the B1G in rushing offense?

This sort of surprised me.

#3 Wisconsin

#8 tOSU

#9 Indiana

#17 Nebraska

#19 Michigan State

LINK

(I would have never guessed the Hoosiers were ahead of us.)
Even more surprising, Huskers were not as potent rushing in the B1G games.

BIG Conference Games Stats - (Overall including Non-Conf games in parenthesis)

1. Wisconsin 329.8 - (320.1)

2. OSU 265.4 - (264.5)

3. Indiana 233.6 - (263.6)

4. MSU 226.4 - (235.2)

5. Minn 218.8 - (215.5)

6. Nebraska 207.9 - (240.2)

BIG Conference Stats

1. Gordon Wisc 1648 - 206.0 - (2587)

2. Coleman Indy 1317 - 164.6 - (2036)

3. Langford MSU 1020 - 127.5 - (1522)

4. Cobb Minn 1006 - 125.8 - (1626)

5. Ameer Neb 898 - 112.2 - (1611)

6. Elliott OSU 859 - 107.4 - (1878)

7. Jackson NW 854 - 106.8 - (1187)

The numbers that stand out about the Huskers (and Indiana) is that the production dropped quite a bit during conference play. The B1G loaded up against the Huskers run game with some better defenders.
Yep. The offense in general dropped off as conference play progressed over the weeks, over last few years. At least it seemed that way. The blocking schemes weren't conducive to late october and November success. Strong, stout DLs usually owned our OLs. Ameer getting hurt deflated those numbers a bit though. The fact they couldn't complete any passes with any consistency even further muddled things.

 
Riley: "...And that's really the ultimate goal....how many guys can we get from right out......from right out here, that can go in...go in the games and help us win. And the more we find, obviously, the better, the better team we'll be...."
Pure genius, right there.
More: "I'm not gonna single anybody out, but I will say that Nabity, he's made a ton a football plays out here...."
As opposed to what other kind fo plays...?
Well, not to jump on the guy too much already, but Riley, the times I've heard him speak, seems a bit mumbly jumbly.Sorta scatter brained. Anybody else get that? I mean, Urban Meyer, for e.g., speaks incredibly clear and focused.
And you've never been asked a question where you can't think of the right words to say? I'm pretty sure Urbs has had his fair share of jumbled words, we just don't really noticed it because he has never been our coach and hang on every single thing he says. Besides would rather have the occasional misspeaks or the "he's done some good things, some things he can improve on. But he's a pretty good football player"?
 
Riley: "...And that's really the ultimate goal....how many guys can we get from right out......from right out here, that can go in...go in the games and help us win. And the more we find, obviously, the better, the better team we'll be...."
Pure genius, right there.
More: "I'm not gonna single anybody out, but I will say that Nabity, he's made a ton a football plays out here...."
As opposed to what other kind fo plays...?
Well, not to jump on the guy too much already, but Riley, the times I've heard him speak, seems a bit mumbly jumbly.Sorta scatter brained. Anybody else get that? I mean, Urban Meyer, for e.g., speaks incredibly clear and focused.
And you've never been asked a question where you can't think of the right words to say? I'm pretty sure Urbs has had his fair share of jumbled words, we just don't really noticed it because he has never been our coach and hang on every single thing he says. Besides would rather have the occasional misspeaks or the "he's done some good things, some things he can improve on. But he's a pretty good football player"?
When Riley speaks, he's kind of all over the place, vague, imprecise, and makes me feel uneasy. Urbs is the opposite of that. I think if you took 10 pressors of each side by side, you'd see the difference, night and day.

 
There's also times where he's pretty clear and specific, and talks candidly about what's going on. Like with the QB situation this spring. He's been clear about where we're at and what we need to do to improve.

Not sure what Urban Meyer has to do with anything. They're two different people, so of course their interviews are going to be different.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
I agree we probably don't have a guy as talented as Helu, Burkhead, or Abdullah on the roster, but you don't necessarily need one to have a formidable ground game. You can do it by committee.

That's where his UT QB comparison misses the mark. You can't really do that at QB.
Texas actually had a ton of success running the ball that year in 2005 even aside from VY. VY passed for 3,000 and rushed for 1,000. Texas also had 4 guys that shared carries all season long and all of them had 75 carries or more through 13 games.

1. Jamal Charles - 119 carries for 878

2. Selvin Young - 96 for 461

3. Henry Melton - 87 for 432

4. Ramonce Taylor - 76 for 513

RB by committee that rushed for just under 2300 yards and 41 TD's

So, while I agree that you can have formidable ground game with RB by committee, you also have to have the horses in the trenches, and some good talent behind them. Our guys aren't as talented as any of those guys. Except for Melton, I can't really picture him in my mind. Although gut feeling tells me they had a "Javorski Lane" kind of guy (260+ lbs) and that might have been him.

I had more to write but forgot about what my point was....so, yea.

 
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?

 
There's also times where he's pretty clear and specific, and talks candidly about what's going on. Like with the QB situation this spring. He's been clear about where we're at and what we need to do to improve.

Not sure what Urban Meyer has to do with anything. They're two different people, so of course their interviews are going to be different.
Well, there's a reason why Urbs has only 1 loss among B1G teams in 3 years and won the NC his 3rd yr with a 3rd string qb. He knows what he's doing and he can clearly communicate it and translate it onto the field. Riley makes me uneasy, that's all I'm saying. I'll have to listen to him on a 'good' day, I guess.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
I agree we probably don't have a guy as talented as Helu, Burkhead, or Abdullah on the roster, but you don't necessarily need one to have a formidable ground game. You can do it by committee.

That's where his UT QB comparison misses the mark. You can't really do that at QB.
Texas actually had a ton of success running the ball that year in 2005 even aside from VY. VY passed for 3,000 and rushed for 1,000. Texas also had 4 guys that shared carries all season long and all of them had 75 carries or more through 13 games.

1. Jamal Charles - 119 carries for 878

2. Selvin Young - 96 for 461

3. Henry Melton - 87 for 432

4. Ramonce Taylor - 76 for 513

RB by committee that rushed for just under 2300 yards and 41 TD's

So, while I agree that you can have formidable ground game with RB by committee, you also have to have the horses in the trenches, and some good talent behind them. Our guys aren't as talented as any of those guys. Except for Melton, I can't really picture him in my mind. Although gut feeling tells me they had a "Javorski Lane" kind of guy (260+ lbs) and that might have been him.

I had more to write but forgot about what my point was....so, yea.
Great catch.

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
default_tongue.png


 
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.

jake-cotton-fall.gif


nebraska-punt-against-iowa-b.gif


 
Last edited by a moderator:
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.

jake-cotton-fall.gif


nebraska-punt-against-iowa-b.gif
You actually are basing these mistakes by the team on Bo not being able to talk well in a press conference?

Really????

 
Back
Top