Purdue - What did we learn?

[DefenderAO]

After 5 games into the season, here is what I have learned:

1.  The QB and WRs are MUCH better than last season

2.  The running game is not as good as I expected

3.  The overall D has taken a slight step back from last season

4.  Special teams appears to be worse than ever

5.  Team discipline is still an issue regarding penalties.  The team has cleaned up turnovers.

Overall, some small strides have been made from past season but we have yet to face the toughest part of the schedule. These small strides should yield at least a 6-6 or 7-5 season.

Where do you see three wins in your 7-5 scenario?  

I think we have chances to beat UCLA and Wisconsin if they play 2nd-Half-at-USC ball.  

How we're a TD favorite against Rutgers is astounding, and I think Indiana wins the following week.  We'll be 4-4 after OSU.  Splitting the last four would be tough.  

 

[desertshox]

I learned they should just end the season now. Everyone they play the rest of the season is so much better than them that they really have no hope of winning. Every team they play is a top 5 team with no flaws and Nebraska is nothing but flaws.

 

[BigRedBuster]

[No message]

 

[Hilltop]

Where do you see three wins in your 7-5 scenario?  

I think we have chances to beat UCLA and Wisconsin if they play 2nd-Half-at-USC ball.  

How we're a TD favorite against Rutgers is astounding, and I think Indiana wins the following week.  We'll be 4-4 after OSU.  Splitting the last four would be tough.  

Rutgers is "astounding " ...  ok.  

Most of your posts are negative.   Why do you bother?  

 

[Undone]

I haven't read through this thread at all.

405 yards of offense. We are so much better on offense this year that it's just stupid. Raiola just casually avoids pressure in the pocket out of his peripheral while keeping his eyes downfield like it's nothing.

No turnovers by us. Then we're +1 in the turnover margin, with our takeaway being a pick six?

If we can beat Rutgers and be 5-1 it's going to feel so good.

 

[Savage Husker]

Funny thing with being the snapper or holder:

1) I would not want that stress.

2) An extremely unrecognized NEED that goes unrecognized until NEEDED.

Where I grew up, from Pop Warner through Freshman Year, kicking PATs were 2pts and “going for 2” was 1. We were always working on it before practice and then last practice of the week we would run it as a team to work on blocking. It’s one of those pet peeves for me watching my nephews play youth football out here.

I was the holder from 5th grade to JV before I stopped playing..it was the one thing I was good at in football and I loved it, IMO it really wasn’t difficult because of the practice we put in.

Worked with two LS over those years and somehow had 3-4 kids that could kick - one who actually walked-on at EWU.
 

Anywho, we need to get it fixed soon

 

[Mierin]

I learned they should just end the season now. Everyone they play the rest of the season is so much better than them that they really have no hope of winning. Every team they play is a top 5 team with no flaws and Nebraska is nothing but flaws.

Ya, I don't get it. Rutgers is better than Rutgers usually is, but I don't know why people are acting like they're Alabama. It's also a home game.

They've beaten a couple decent teams. We've beaten a decent team and lost to one in OT. It will probably be a close game but I'm thinking we should probably play it instead of forfeiting.

 

[Undone]

I know most people don't look at stats, and I suppose I wouldn't expect them to. But the box score tells a lot about who we are as an offense right now.

We are subtly kind of becoming a passing team. Going to assume a lot of Husker fans don't quite know what to do with this, and that probably factors into the "we're struggling to run the ball" sentiment from some people.

The thing we probably need to fix even more than field goal kicking is running successfully in short yardage situations.

 

[CheeseHusker]

Special teams are like officiating.... you take it for granted when it is good and only really notice it when it sucks. And then you ask yourself how it gets to that point.

 

[admo]

Any road win for the Huskers in the Big Ten is a good win.  Whether it is expected or not expected.  Cherish it and be happy 

 

[Red Five]

Interesting results at the far left and far right

 

[HuskerNation1]

Where do you see three wins in your 7-5 scenario?  

I think we have chances to beat UCLA and Wisconsin if they play 2nd-Half-at-USC ball.  

How we're a TD favorite against Rutgers is astounding, and I think Indiana wins the following week.  We'll be 4-4 after OSU.  Splitting the last four would be tough.  

If the team plays like they did against Colorado, they will beat Rutgers, Indiana, UCLA and possibly Iowa or Wisconsin.  Thus I see them picking up at least 3 more wins against these teams.

 

[Toe]

Rutgers is better than Rutgers usually is, but I don't know why people are acting like they're Alabama. They've beaten a couple decent teams.

I'm more wondering why Indiana is getting the hype over Rutgers. Indiana is a classic 'ain't played nobody'. I'd at least put Rutgers' win over Washington over anyone that Indiana has beaten.

My big concern is that Rutgers has been a strong rushing team, which seems to be the weaker side of our D lately.

 

[Husker in WI]

I'm more wondering why Indiana is getting the hype over Rutgers. Indiana is a classic 'ain't played nobody'. I'd at least put Rutgers' win over Washington over anyone that Indiana has beaten.

Style points - 2 of Rutgers wins are by 3 points, one of which was won mostly by the opposing teams kicker. Indiana hasn't played anybody, but they've beat all of the nobodies by a lot. And I think a bunch of MAC/Sun Belt all stars actually being decent is a little more believable for voters than Kaliakmanis being able to win them games, or Monangai being so good that he never needs to. I think both of them are 7-5ish teams, but they both got pretty easy schedules and could each win 9.

 

[Guy Chamberlin]

I re-learned that I dislike Satterfield as an OC/playcaller. He would be an excellent offensive analyst, but I can’t stand watching playcalling in the red zone, especially in Goal-to-Go downs.
 

Going back to last season, he overthinks game situation and under thinks personnel where it cost up to 3 potential wins. That Carter Nelson over the top call, even if it worked, boneheaded. I’d be pissed if I were a running back.
 

Listened to Carriker gut reaction, he mentioned a quote from Satterfield earlier this week about run game philosophy. Dude never once dedicated to the run game against one of the worst rushing defenses in CFB.
 

Pay him to stick around Lincoln for game planning and offensive scheme install. However, just completely out on Satterfield having anything to do with in-game coaching. 

The criticism of Satterfield sounds nearly identical to the criticism of every Nebraska OC over the last 20 years. At this point I don't think it's reflective of the specific assistant coaching hires and more a reflection of how offenses have changed over the last 20 years. Even when Nebraska was running 65/35 run/pass splits a segment of Husker Nation would accuse the OC of abandoning the run and/or getting too cute with a first down pass. 

I'm not sure who these folks would like to hire, but if you're looking for a playcaller who wouldn't think of calling a pass play near the goal line, they don't exist. Every Saturday and Sunday you'll see a teams with top flight running backs call a little play-action flare pass from the two yard line because it might be smarter and safer than ramming it down their throats for zero yards. Analytics tends to back these decisions up. 

That being said, we probably won't see the Carter Nelson leap again.