Question for you Husker fans

[HuskerTrucker]

I'm new here and I only really know one guy who is a Nebraska fan, so I'm just wondering something. Do you guys miss the option? I know some people say you have to run a pro offense to get the top talent, but man, I remember watching Nebraska for all those years kick the snot out of eveybody they played. And when it's run well, which it was with ya'll, I don't think there's a more fun offense to watch, or a harder one to stop. Just wondering.

If you had Tom Osborne calling the plays in his version of the spread, and someone like Frazier, or Gill running the offense with the option, it would be devastating. (IMO)

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:clap There is a fantasy game situation on a computer that would be interesting to set up...

 

[junior4949]

Here's my question with regards to recruiting QB's who don't want to run the option because it won't get them into the NFL. How many QB's running the spread have a legitimate shot of making it on a NFL team? Daniel at Mizzou? White at WV? I don't see any past TT QB's lighting it up in the NFL. Reesing at KU?

 

[REDSTEEL]

I'm new here and I only really know one guy who is a Nebraska fan, so I'm just wondering something. Do you guys miss the option? I know some people say you have to run a pro offense to get the top talent, but man, I remember watching Nebraska for all those years kick the snot out of eveybody they played. And when it's run well, which it was with ya'll, I don't think there's a more fun offense to watch, or a harder one to stop. Just wondering.

Yeah, I miss the option. I guess I'm getting old but this spread offense stuff seems like something kids or girls would run.

I think it might be harder to run the option today, but if you had the right QB and the right guy calling the plays it would still work. Like any offense you need the right players and it might be hard to find the right QB to make it go. Players know they might have less of a chance to make the NFL if they are in an option offense in college.

People seem to think NU ran the option all the time (NU rarely ran a true triple option) like the wishbone or something, which is nonsense. NU ran a power running game and the option about 25% of the time. For example Tommie Frazier had 18 TD passes his senior season, for comparison Kerri Collins with Penn St and their high powered offense the year before had 21. Also I think OU probably broke the record this year but 1983 NU with Turner Gill still shared the NCAA record for offensive TDs in a season, so its not low scoring.

If you had Tom Osborne calling the plays in his version of the spread, and someone like Frazier, or Gill running the offense with the option, it would be devastating. (IMO)

View attachment 3239

:yeah What NU ran wasn't really a true triple option attack like what you see PJ or Navy run. NU ran a power running attack, hence the power I base formation. One of Solich's issues was that he increased the frequency of the option play thus taking out the balance in the offense that TO had, I think this is what killed him in the biggest games. If you didn't watch NU in the 80's or 90's and all you saw was post '98 then you don't realize how important it was for TO to run the power runs with the IB. The option play was a way to strech the field after the D was centered to stop the power run, much in the same way the spread works today. TO did about 25-30% option and another 10-15% Play Action Pass to stretch the D, but bread and butter was the IB power runs. PJ does this out of the Triple Option, the fullback becomes the power runner that keeps the defense honest and not cheating to the outside.

Was there more then one option when Crouch had the ball? <_<

 

[cb1954]

Here's my question with regards to recruiting QB's who don't want to run the option because it won't get them into the NFL. How many QB's running the spread have a legitimate shot of making it on a NFL team? Daniel at Mizzou? White at WV? I don't see any past TT QB's lighting it up in the NFL. Reesing at KU?

I was thinking the same thing, but with an option QB you can really take a physical pounding. Don't think you will get as much in the spread

 

[cb1954]

Was there more then one option when Crouch had the ball? <_<

I think part of the problem, D Coordinators . decided to take the pitch away from the QB and see if he could do it on his own and stand the beating. If T.O. would have still been calling the plays I think he would have countered with more misdirection and play action passes. Thats just my opinion.

 

[holvy83]

Here's my question with regards to recruiting QB's who don't want to run the option because it won't get them into the NFL. How many QB's running the spread have a legitimate shot of making it on a NFL team? Daniel at Mizzou? White at WV? I don't see any past TT QB's lighting it up in the NFL. Reesing at KU?

sad thing is many successful QB's from big name programs ever do anything in the NFL, regardless of what offense they run. Very few excell at the next level. who knows, the option might come back? Whatever offense teams win with will be the next fad in college football.

 

[caveman99]

REDSTEEL - Was there more then one option when Crouch had the ball?

Yes there was, same as there was when Frazier and Frost were around.

I think part of the problem, D Coordinators . decided to take the pitch away from the QB and see if he could do it on his own and stand the beating. If T.O. would have still been calling the plays I think he would have countered with more misdirection and play action passes. Thats just my opinion.

That is part of it, but frankly Solich got away from the power run game to much.

 

[AR Husker Fan]

I miss the Power I/Option attack, for two reasons. First, it was fun to watch - it was far more than just brute strength. The way Dr. Tom called it, and ran it, there was a lot of misdirection, line pulls, traps, etc. Just fun to see that kind of precision.

But, most of all, I miss the fact that - to a large extent - it made us unique. I liked the fact that it was not something every team ran.

 

[Enhance]

Here's my question with regards to recruiting QB's who don't want to run the option because it won't get them into the NFL. How many QB's running the spread have a legitimate shot of making it on a NFL team? Daniel at Mizzou? White at WV? I don't see any past TT QB's lighting it up in the NFL. Reesing at KU?

Here is something interesting. You don't hear a whole lot about Daniel, Reesing, or White going to the NFL. Who do you hear going to the NFL? People like Josh Freeman. "Woah he is bad!" Blah blah blah. Josh had no talent around him but he knows how to play the pro-style quarterback position.

Here is what I think is going to happen. You guys ready for this? Defenses are recruiting smaller, lighter guys to play on defense in order to combat the spread attack. You can't have 250 lb. linebackers in your nickel and dime formations because they will get burnt badly.

GT is way ahead of the curve. You see how they've been lighting people up? They have a running triple option attack that is devastating all those lightweight backs on defenses.

The teams that catch onto this and bring back power running games are going to be ahead of the curve and start creating very powerful offenses.

 

[clone]

I miss the Power I/Option attack, for two reasons. First, it was fun to watch - it was far more than just brute strength. The way Dr. Tom called it, and ran it, there was a lot of misdirection, line pulls, traps, etc. Just fun to see that kind of precision.

But, most of all, I miss the fact that - to a large extent - it made us unique. I liked the fact that it was not something every team ran.

PJ's GT spread option attack is very fun to watch.

 

[missouri_husker24]

Here's my question with regards to recruiting QB's who don't want to run the option because it won't get them into the NFL. How many QB's running the spread have a legitimate shot of making it on a NFL team? Daniel at Mizzou? White at WV? I don't see any past TT QB's lighting it up in the NFL. Reesing at KU?

Here is something interesting. You don't hear a whole lot about Daniel, Reesing, or White going to the NFL. Who do you hear going to the NFL? People like Josh Freeman. "Woah he is bad!" Blah blah blah. Josh had no talent around him but he knows how to play the pro-style quarterback position.

Here is what I think is going to happen. You guys ready for this? Defenses are recruiting smaller, lighter guys to play on defense in order to combat the spread attack. You can't have 250 lb. linebackers in your nickel and dime formations because they will get burnt badly.

GT is way ahead of the curve. You see how they've been lighting people up? They have a running triple option attack that is devastating all those lightweight backs on defenses.

The teams that catch onto this and bring back power running games are going to be ahead of the curve and start creating very powerful offenses.

I never thought of it that way, but it does make sense. Now that defenses are relying on smaller, quicker guys, offenses might gradually shifting to more brute strength, but who knows.

 

[bbhusker]

Here's my question with regards to recruiting QB's who don't want to run the option because it won't get them into the NFL. How many QB's running the spread have a legitimate shot of making it on a NFL team? Daniel at Mizzou? White at WV? I don't see any past TT QB's lighting it up in the NFL. Reesing at KU?

Here is something interesting. You don't hear a whole lot about Daniel, Reesing, or White going to the NFL. Who do you hear going to the NFL? People like Josh Freeman. "Woah he is bad!" Blah blah blah. Josh had no talent around him but he knows how to play the pro-style quarterback position.

Here is what I think is going to happen. You guys ready for this? Defenses are recruiting smaller, lighter guys to play on defense in order to combat the spread attack. You can't have 250 lb. linebackers in your nickel and dime formations because they will get burnt badly.

GT is way ahead of the curve. You see how they've been lighting people up? They have a running triple option attack that is devastating all those lightweight backs on defenses.

The teams that catch onto this and bring back power running games are going to be ahead of the curve and start creating very powerful offenses.

I couldn't agree with you more. The power game is going to come back. Just look at some of the current teams, OU's line is huge and not only can they run the ball with power they can pass block extremely well. This is why they are unstoppable, as the saying goes, "It all starts up front". With everyone going to smaller and faster defenses it makes too much sense to go big and powerfull and wear defenses out. The smaller D's just won't hold up to the pounding.

And YES, the option would still work in today's game. It all comes down to one thing, execution.