Northern Illinois Week Pressers

[RedSavage]

This makes a lot of sense to me with the offensive struggles.  Sometimes I think coaches get in their own heads and are like oh if we call x play, y play should work because they're expecting z play.  I think there's been a lot of "trying too hard" both from the coaches and some of the players at times the last couple weeks and it's hurt us.  It's like being so afraid of making a mistake that you actually end up overthinking it and making more mistakes.

 

[knapplc]

Isaac Armstrong is hurt now, too? That's crazy.

NU is working toward adding at least one player from the club soccer program to have a shot at helping the team at kicker. Starter Barret Pickering and multiple other in-house candidates, including punter Isaac Armstrong, are working through various ailments.

 

[Mavric]

 

[ActualCornHusker]

I think Frost and his staff have made a lot of mistakes since they've been here, and they've battled a lot of adversity that maybe they didn't face at UCF. But at the same time, I see them as being aware of their mistakes and working to correct them. Frost is a young coach still, and as long as he and his assistants continue to be self-aware and acknowledge their mistakes, I think the sky is the limit for this team under Frost's leadership.

 

[Dansker]

Forget trying to out scheme the opponent. I'd focus on turning the players loose and outworking the opponent. Go full contact 1v1's in practice. Screw it. You want to be tough then get this team to hate going against each other in practice.

 

[Dansker]

Isaac Armstrong is hurt now, too? That's crazy.

WTH are they doing, roughing the kicker drills??

 

[ActualCornHusker]

Forget trying to out scheme the opponent. I'd focus on turning the players loose and outworking the opponent. Go full contact 1v1's in practice. Screw it. You want to be tough then get this team to hate going against each other in practice.

I know it's not their style, but I'd love to see Frost incorporate a fullback in his offense, especially in short yardage situations. Sometimes they set up the TE as a lead blocker in the backfield, but it's not as effective IMO

 

[hskrfan4life]

I know it's not their style, but I'd love to see Frost incorporate a fullback in his offense, especially in short yardage situations. Sometimes they set up the TE as a lead blocker in the backfield, but it's not as effective IMO

Thing is that we've been just using Adrian in those short yardage, and for the most part the line does it's job to get the yard. I'm just hoping our specialists recover.

 

[Dansker]

I know it's not their style, but I'd love to see Frost incorporate a fullback in his offense, especially in short yardage situations. Sometimes they set up the TE as a lead blocker in the backfield, but it's not as effective IMO

I wish they would incorporate the pistol formation into their offense. Having Mills, Washington and Adrian back there would be a good combination. Mills or any type of power back can essentially become the full back in those formations.

 

[ActualCornHusker]

I wish they would incorporate the pistol formation into their offense. Having Mills, Washington and Adrian back there would be a good combination. Mills or any type of power back can essentially become the full back in those formations.

I believe it was the very first play of the year they showed that look (UNDER CENTER IIRC!!!) with Mills at FB and Wandale at HB and ran a toss play. I don't believe we've seen it since.

 

[Husker in WI]

I believe it was the very first play of the year they showed that look (UNDER CENTER IIRC!!!) with Mills at FB and Wandale at HB and ran a toss play. I don't believe we've seen it since.

Well it didn't work very well, I think it was more of a fan service play than an indication they were putting in FB formations. We have been under center a handful of times for sneaks and jet sweeps, I'm sure we have some fun play action off of those down the road. Doubt we see more FB though, even though the fanbase would love it.

 

[WyoHusker56]

Forget trying to out scheme the opponent. I'd focus on turning the players loose and outworking the opponent. Go full contact 1v1's in practice. Screw it. You want to be tough then get this team to hate going against each other in practice.

I think they do as much full contact as you're allowed. Aren't there restrictions on this from the NCAA now? I doubt it's 90s level contact, but it's probably more than a lot of teams.

 

[Jeremy]

Someone mentioned Pistol, and yes, this is a great idea. Pistol Waggle. One of the few plays that really worked for Beck, and Armstrong was not too bad at it. Waggle would be great for AM, because it would get him out in space with a few different options to throw and a sideline to run to. The TE is always a great first read, and it would be good to get Stoll going again.

 

[Husker in WI]

Someone mentioned Pistol, and yes, this is a great idea. Pistol Waggle. One of the few plays that really worked for Beck, and Armstrong was not too bad at it. Waggle would be great for AM, because it would get him out in space with a few different options to throw and a sideline to run to. The TE is always a great first read, and it would be good to get Stoll going again.

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And yet you're against Thurston's idea about fans calling the plays? :lol:

EDIT: I remembered your position from that thread incorrectly, my bad.

I feel like all of these are good things, but there is a limit to how much you offense can encompass. We would all love the team to be able to go 5-wide air raid on one play and then run an I formation triple option on the next, and arguably we do have the personnel to do that - Spielman, Wan'Dale, Mills, Washington, and Stoll could work. But there is already a ton in the offense, and at some point adding things is lowering the level of execution for everything. Only so many reps in practice.

 

[Jeremy]

And yet you're against Thurston's idea about fans calling the plays? :lol:

I feel like all of these are good things, but there is a limit to how much you offense can encompass. We would all love the team to be able to go 5-wide air raid on one play and then run an I formation triple option on the next, and arguably we do have the personnel to do that - Spielman, Wan'Dale, Mills, Washington, and Stoll could work. But there is already a ton in the offense, and at some point adding things is lowering the level of execution for everything. Only so many reps in practice.

No one would choose the plays I have. There are too many Thurstons from Pender in the stands. If we could truly call plays, they'd all pull out their well-worn copies of Osborne's playbook and declare that a good-old FB dive/trap is the way to go, about every other play. They might get creative and call a pitch or ISO, but that's as crazy as old Thurston wants to get. Not that I would mind, really. Some smashmouth would be fun to see again, but we probably don't have the horses up front for it.

I agree that we have to limit what we do. I'd just like to see some plays that really utilize AM's athleticism, and the called hand-off inside zone that's been stuffed most of the game is not doing that.