Numbers to know: 1995 Nebraska

cg_8

cg_8

Special Teams Player
This article is great. It's short, but the best part of it is this:

179 — Number of options the Huskers ran according to the amazingly-detailed play breakdown in the back of the 1996 playbook for running backs. That was 19.1 percent of the Huskers’ total plays and resulted in 19.3 percent of their total yards. Nebraska’s most frequently run option was 31-39 Sprint, a speed option out of a one-back set, with 45 attempts. It’s most effective option was 41-49 Sprint, run out of the I-formation with a fullback lead. Nebraska averaged 11.28 yards on this play (29 attempts).
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http://hailvarsity.com/news/numbers-to-know-1995-nebraska-football/2015/10/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=2015_10_22_1995Football_1&inf_contact_key=b11e4caf621d450e0d8afdaaea8c9ca800f851d2d54ee5917fea4f5c85f5a1cd

And the 1996 playbook is attached... What an awesome source. Seeing that we had 179 option plays, each based on different set of things like defensive fronts. That's awesome for a football nut like myself. This makes me happy...

 
Never really had the chance to look at a college-level playbook before. Simply fascinating, and should give some people here who never played college football (like myself) an appreciation for the amount of time and effort that goes into not only knowing the playbook but being able to execute all the variations effectively.

My favorite formation was always the power set or the 'Oz-Bone', with double tights, a power-I formation and then a wingback off to the side between the running back and fullback.

I also remember the sheer confusion it caused for Colorado in 1995 when we replaced the tight ends for two wide receivers split out, showing that particular formation for the first time ever that season, and scored on our first offensive play of the game.

 
I was listening to 1620 today and the guys were talking about (this topic and) how the punt coverage allowed just 12 yards all season or something? DB was talking about how excruciating it was to work on special teams, especially considering the level of detail TO brought, when that team wasn't really feeling like they'd be punting that much anyway.

 
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Sargon said:
Here's the run at t=646 on youtube (whole game)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gJnv8AFFRs?t=646

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gJnv8AFFRs?t=646

(thought 'media' is the way to make a youtube show up as clickable media but its not working so anyone please let me know how to do that and I'll edit the above)
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When the Ahman Green run on the first play of scrimmage for NU against CU was mentioned, I had to take another look at it.

I actually don't think CU was all that confused by the formation. I do think the formation enabled the option to be run VERY WIDE, which may have been a new wrinkle. The safety in the middle of the field got caught up in the wash of bodes and finally blocked by Jeff Mackovicka. Brendan Holbein's block to seal the sideline was greatness. Ahman got the corner and had the speed to take it to the house untouched.

 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gJnv8AFFRs?t=10m44s

Here's the play set to show just before snap.

I think what's key to beat that edge is the CB coming up to press, then when our split end runs a fade route, he runs with him, allowing that space to be cleared for a good 10 yards, then split end finishes with a good block, securing that edge.

I think it's a good wrinkle considering that they might have been prepared for some passing. I was 10 when this happened, so I can't remember how often we ran with a two split end set. Either way, what a thing of beauty. Lead blockers do an excellent job.

 
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cg_8 said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gJnv8AFFRs?t=10m44s

Here's the play set to show just before snap.

I think what's key to beat that edge is the CB coming up to press, then when our split end runs a fade route, he runs with him, allowing that space to be cleared for a good 10 yards, then split end finishes with a good block, securing that edge.

I think it's a good wrinkle considering that they might have been prepared for some passing. I was 10 when this happened, so I can't remember how often we ran with a two split end set. Either way, what a thing of beauty. Lead blockers do an excellent job.
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Good point about the split end running the CB off the LOS and then setting up the block. The pitch on this play was done so early, but then there was so much green turf in front of Ahman.

 
That play against CU (video in the article) where Tommie gets nailed by a CU defender while looking for a receiver is my favorite play of all time. No wonder the Huskers had no sacks on the season!

Any other QB would've been laying on the turf, probably without the ball. Tommie kind of takes an extra stutter step with the guy hanging from him and delivers a strike to Ahman. Unbelieveable.

I had season tix back then, but since it was in CU, we went to the KSU-KU game that year in Manhattan since both were highly rated. I remember watching that play in an Aggieville bar and freaking out while the purple-clad KSUckers looked at me with slackjawed confusion.

But the best stat from that season involves the fact that we beat 4 teams that finished in the final top ten of both polls, and beat them by an average score of 49-18.

GBR!

 
I've mentioned it before, but Nebraska averaged something like two punts a game during the '95 season.

I'm gonna guess half of those came with second and third string offenses in the fourth quarter.

And we punted only once in the Orange Bowl, against the #2 team in the nation.

Punting stats don't get mentioned much, but that's a serious sign of domination.

 
It’s most effective option was 41-49 Sprint, run out of the I-formation with a fullback lead. Nebraska averaged 11.28 yards on this play (29 attempts).
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*Averaged* 11.28 yds each time the 41-49 Sprint was run over the course of a season. That's simply incredible.

 
NUance said:
It’s most effective option was 41-49 Sprint, run out of the I-formation with a fullback lead. Nebraska averaged 11.28 yards on this play (29 attempts).
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*Averaged* 11.28 yds each time the 41-49 Sprint was run over the course of a season. That's simply incredible.
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I know I have commented on option plays numerous times before, but TO used option plays as his "pass plays", so it's not a surprise that the average is high. Now, I am surprised that it is over 11 yards per play, but if it's ran 2-3 times a game, when the defense is set up for it, the play should be successful.

 
True2tRA said:
Sargon said:
Here's the run at t=646 on youtube (whole game)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gJnv8AFFRs?t=646

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gJnv8AFFRs?t=646

(thought 'media' is the way to make a youtube show up as clickable media but its not working so anyone please let me know how to do that and I'll edit the above)
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If you paste the link like you did, and delete the "s" off https:// (make it http://) it will post like this:

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How about that awesome block by Jeff Mackovicka? (10:45 point) He takes out two Colo DBs. His block sprung Green for the TD.
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