Guy Chamberlin
Heisman Trophy Winner
Yeah. I know. I'm speaking mostly to the folks who wildly contradict themselves with what what they think Beck shoulda called, what he did call and what the guy they wish was OC would have called. I think a majority of Beck critics want to go back to a smashmouth game from Nebraska's glory days, but they don't accurately recall what went into that offense, including the support of a smashmouth defense, the single biggest component this team is missing. Tim Beck and Shawn Watson enabled the rushing careers of Roy Helu, Rex Burkhead and Ameer Abdullah, three of the best in Nebraska history. They did not abandon the run.You covered all of us with that ludicrous generalization.If you watch much football, you'll notice many if not most successful OCs calling pass plays on 3rd and 2. Sometimes two passes in a row. I'm thinking of Scott Frost less than 24 hours ago. Of course sometimes the same OC chooses to run the ball. Sometimes that works, but sometimes the runner gets stuffed because the defense saw it coming. You have seen that happen, haven't you? Even Marshawn Lynch behind Seattle's offensive line wasn't a given on 3rd and 1 last Sunday.I'm gonna laugh really hard the 1st time TB costs them a game by calling two passes from 3rd and 2 and then 4th and 2, when they could have just rammed it forward to get the 1st. Or better yet how about a 3rd and 2 and your QB takes a sack because you out thought yourself. Its gonna be hysterical.
It's adorable how Nebraska fans think victory is as simple as just "ramming it forward" every time.
Reading post-game criticism on this board, it often appeared that the definition of "getting too cute" and "out-thinking himself" was simply Beck calling a forward pass. In that case, pretty much every OC in the NCAA is too cute. Beck typically called a 5:3 run pass ratio over his Nebraska career. Some folks choose to remember the pass play on 3rd and 2 that didn't work. They don't remember the pass play that did work. Or the running play on 3rd and 2 that got stuffed. There's often a savvy DC on the other side of the ball, too.
I may be wrong, but it often appeared that the criticism aimed at both Watson and Beck was a deflection from Bo Pelini. At least for some posters. We had problems, and some of them were offensive problems, but rarely was it the play-calling, imo. That was actually a pretty fun offense to watch.
If you didn't like Beck's playcalling, get ready for more frustration because most OCs will call similar games. If we get a stout offensive line, better QB decision-making and defensive support you probably won't notice.