Here is the article in full. I say hit the big dog down the middle (aka: I agree).
linky dinky
Huskers should just tee it up and let 'er rip
Published Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008
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Nebraska heads for the wide open plains of west Texas today, so naturally, I'm thinking about one of my favorite sports movies, "Tin Cup."
The movie takes place in the fictional dust town of Salome, Texas. It's where you find Roy McAvoy, the career gambler/golf hustler/driving range pro who is neither disciplined nor motivated enough to make it big.
That's not why Nebraska football reminds me of the movie.
There's a scene midway through "Tin Cup" where McAvoy has the shanks. He's on the range at the U.S. Open, next to all the big-shot pros. You know, Billy Mayfair, all those guys. He starts hitting ground ball shots, sideways, down the range. Golfers next to him are jumping out of the way of his wild shanks.
Finally, his caddie, Romeo, tells him to take the change from his pocket and move it to the other pocket. Next, tie the laces on both of his shoes together. Finally, turn his visor around backwards.
McAvoy says, "I look like an idiot."
Romeo says, "Well, what do you think you look like shanking the ball?"
McAvoy drills one down the middle. He says, "What happened?"
Romeo says, "You were thinking about how ridiculous you looked and not about the shanks."
THAT'S Nebraska football as it heads into the west Texas pirate's lair of Mad Mike Leach.
The Huskers are 3-2. They've won three games against teams designed to help them qualify for a bowl. They've lost the last two against Virginia Tech and Missouri.
In those last two games, Nebraska can't run the ball, can't block, can't get to the quarterback, tackle or defend the pass. The Huskers aren't executing. They have 46 penalties in five games, for 74 yards per game. That, as they say, is a lot.
You hear that these things are happening because the Huskers are trying too hard, playing more aggressive. They are learning new schemes. Coach Bo Pelini says his team is not undisciplined. Well, it's certainly not disciplined, either.
The Big Red, plain and simple, has the shanks.
The Huskers are thinking more than playing. They don't know where to go or what to do when they get there. They're playing hard, but not necessarily smart.
Mostly, they don't have a lot of confidence.
And that's the irony here. Pelini is one of the most confident chaps you'll ever meet. But now he's coaching an unconfident team. And he doesn't know what to do about it.
If anything has surprised him about the Nebraska job, it's been this part of the transition. How does he get that confidence to rub off on everyone else?
"I knew it wasn't going to be easy," Pelini said. "We need to execute. We need to take the things we're doing on the practice field, our teachings, and transfer it to the heat of the battle."
After the Virginia Tech game, a Nebraska assistant said he was shocked when, halfway through the game, some NU players told him, "Hey, we can play with these guys." The coach said, "No kidding."
Folks, Nebraska is not as bad as it has played. This team needs something good to happen to it.
Of course, today might be the wrong day for that to happen.
Still, if this team is going to survive the second half of the season, it needs to change its approach, find something it can execute, and go from there.
Two suggestions:
1. Pelini admitted his defensive scheme against Missouri was flawed because his team couldn't execute it. Maybe the coach got a little caught up in the moment and forgot he's not coaching Glenn Dorsey anymore. Pelini needs to find something his defense can execute. Something to build confidence.
2. Same with the offense. This group hasn't done anything particularly well. Funny, but many of these same players were on the field last November, when NU scored 39, 31 and 51 points in the last three games.
What was the difference? Earlier this week, Joe Ganz said it was because lame duck coach Bill Callahan decided to air it out. In those three games, Ganz attempted 50, 40 and 58 passes. He said he got in a rhythm. Offensive coordinator Shawn Watson hasn't stayed with anything long enough for anybody to have any rhythm.
Here's a thought: If the Huskers can't run the ball, why not turn Ganz loose and let him chuck it the rest of the season? Give them something they can execute.
It may sound crazy. But, like the caddy said, what do you think you look like now?
