Watching the Sugar Bowl Tuesday night, it hit me that there is one whale of a "to-do" list for the Huskers if we want to do more than tread water in the Big 10 this coming season.
Here we go:
1) Get bigger and better talent at QB.
2) Get bigger and better talent at TE.
3) Get bigger and better talent on the D-line.
4) Get bigger and better talent at Receiver.
5) Bigger and better talent at Running Back.
6) Bigger and better talent on the O-line.
And I do not know where or how to start. I like to think that #6 and #3 are happening, but I am not sure how that is coming along. #5 I think is starting to take shape. But #1, 2 and 4 are looking very questionable at this point in my humble (and age-advanced) opinion.
Still--spring ball is not that far away. And there's still a chance (small IMO) that the Holiday Bowl was just a "who cares" phenomenon. Boy do I hope that's the case.
Go Big Red!!
The Old Husker Fan
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Sunday, December 5, 2010
After Yet Another Husker Loss To The Sooners...
That blog title won't get a whole lot of clickage--but what the heck. For the--what--20th time?? HUNDREDTH time??--I woke straight up after just 4 1/2 hours sleep with one image---Taylor Martinez throwing a dying quail pass straight at a whole end zone full of Oklahoma white shirts.
And so, Bo Pelini leaves the Big XII with a losing record against the Sooners. OU 23, NU 20 in the 2010 Big XII Championship game. No trophy spiking, no ultimate Bronx cheer from Husker fandom to Dan Beebe, nothing except a whole lotta grumpiness as we face a very cold Sunday.
Good grief!! Does this madness never end??
But, we could all see this coming, couldn't we? If South Dakota State wasn't a warning shot, then Texas should have been. Or Iowa State. Or Kansas. Certainly A & M. Even the Colorado game was a tense affair until late in the 2nd quarter. The simple fact is, you can't win championships with a hot-and-cold offense.
I highly recommend this piece of analysis by Sam McKewon of the Nebraska State Paper. He nails the Husker offensive issues square in this commentary. Basically, the Husker O is a hodge-podge of several different styles which, in crunch time, simply don't go together: Oregon zone read plus West Coast passing plus offensive-line philosophy based on the power game. It's a mess.
This game was sooo much different than last year's Texas matchup. Last year, the Huskers knew what they were--tremendous D, a little O, and a helluva kicking game. They played that way. Everyone was on the same page.
But this year, the disjointed "Who are we?" persona carried through into the title game, and it showed.
Martinez's INT in the 2nd quarter that I cited earlier is a perfect example. Last year, that ball would have been heaved into the stands and Alex Henery would have lined up a short field goal. No problem.
Same deal with Roy Helu's fumble on the next possession which led to OU's tying TD--last year, that ball is carried like it's a Berkshire Hathaway stock certificate. Not this year.
And then in the 4th quarter, after the gutsy Wildcat running of Rex Burkhead, the good guys still had a chance at a game-tying field goal even after the missed long-ball try to Martinez. You remember--3rd & 8 at what--the 40 or so? I credit son Cliff with this observation--just run it again and maybe get another 2-3-4 yards closer and then bring on #90. Why not? His 53-yarder had room to spare. But nope--here was another Martinez tap-dance in the pocket with another big sack--and that chance went by the boards.
Oh--and by the way--is anyone still glad that Niles Paul was out for the game? Boy, did we miss that guy.
Now it's on to the Big Ten (plus 2)---and it will be very interesting going forward to see what changes are made, if any, to correct this "walkabout" tendency for the offense. There's talent there for sure, but the guys need some coaching up--otherwise, these "we came so close..." type games will keep showing up at--oh, 4 a.m. or so.
But here's to the season--where the guys were in contention. And that is SO MUCH BETTER than being an afterthought. I'll take that any day (or night)!!
GO BIG RED!!
The Old Husker Fan
And so, Bo Pelini leaves the Big XII with a losing record against the Sooners. OU 23, NU 20 in the 2010 Big XII Championship game. No trophy spiking, no ultimate Bronx cheer from Husker fandom to Dan Beebe, nothing except a whole lotta grumpiness as we face a very cold Sunday.
Good grief!! Does this madness never end??
But, we could all see this coming, couldn't we? If South Dakota State wasn't a warning shot, then Texas should have been. Or Iowa State. Or Kansas. Certainly A & M. Even the Colorado game was a tense affair until late in the 2nd quarter. The simple fact is, you can't win championships with a hot-and-cold offense.
I highly recommend this piece of analysis by Sam McKewon of the Nebraska State Paper. He nails the Husker offensive issues square in this commentary. Basically, the Husker O is a hodge-podge of several different styles which, in crunch time, simply don't go together: Oregon zone read plus West Coast passing plus offensive-line philosophy based on the power game. It's a mess.
This game was sooo much different than last year's Texas matchup. Last year, the Huskers knew what they were--tremendous D, a little O, and a helluva kicking game. They played that way. Everyone was on the same page.
But this year, the disjointed "Who are we?" persona carried through into the title game, and it showed.
Martinez's INT in the 2nd quarter that I cited earlier is a perfect example. Last year, that ball would have been heaved into the stands and Alex Henery would have lined up a short field goal. No problem.
Same deal with Roy Helu's fumble on the next possession which led to OU's tying TD--last year, that ball is carried like it's a Berkshire Hathaway stock certificate. Not this year.
And then in the 4th quarter, after the gutsy Wildcat running of Rex Burkhead, the good guys still had a chance at a game-tying field goal even after the missed long-ball try to Martinez. You remember--3rd & 8 at what--the 40 or so? I credit son Cliff with this observation--just run it again and maybe get another 2-3-4 yards closer and then bring on #90. Why not? His 53-yarder had room to spare. But nope--here was another Martinez tap-dance in the pocket with another big sack--and that chance went by the boards.
Oh--and by the way--is anyone still glad that Niles Paul was out for the game? Boy, did we miss that guy.
Now it's on to the Big Ten (plus 2)---and it will be very interesting going forward to see what changes are made, if any, to correct this "walkabout" tendency for the offense. There's talent there for sure, but the guys need some coaching up--otherwise, these "we came so close..." type games will keep showing up at--oh, 4 a.m. or so.
But here's to the season--where the guys were in contention. And that is SO MUCH BETTER than being an afterthought. I'll take that any day (or night)!!
GO BIG RED!!
The Old Husker Fan
Monday, November 15, 2010
"So What" End To Husker-Jayhawk Run
Thanks to good neighbor Neal, I got to witness first-hand the final Huskers versus Jayhawks college football clash last Saturday evening. But "clash" would be far, far, far overstating this encounter. And that's too bad, because there has been some big-time energy surrounding this game quite often during the past 100-plus years.
Even the last 2 years had some drama and tension. Remember the game in Lincoln in 2008---when Joe Ganz and Todd Reesing went at it back & forth? And the game wasn't really decided until Zac Potter forced a late interception. And a year ago in Lawrence, with the boys needing to win in order to hold control in the Big 12 North, KU went ahead--but Roy Helu Jr. bailed Big Red out with a trademark long TD run.
This year though, it was, "Oh well--meh."
I mean, how can you get really charged up for the game when the first thing that plays on the HuskerVision board is T.O.'s "Welcome back Turner" video? That set the tone for the whole night. Is this a game? Is it a scrimmage? Is it a reunion? Really really really awkward--a word that has been rolled out in probably every single postgame "real news" article.
Well, thank heaven it's almost over. And as this strange wind-up tour trundles toward the end, one can only hope that some honest-to-goodness competitive energy cranks up when Big Ten play starts next year. My guess is that there won't be any "muchas smoochas" when Iowa shows up.
What about the game itself---well, who knows how good the Husker D is with #15--Alfonzo Dennard--back on the field. After all, they were going against a weak KU offense. But still--like the coaches said--only 87 yards for the whole game for KU? That stat is a keeper! Dennard's INT was something that we're used to seeing those ballhawks in the SEC do. Jared Crick was a beast in the middle of the line. And there is no way that anyone can run away from Lavonte David--or for that matter, run wide on this defense period.
Offense, however---uhh, not so much. I like Jeremiah Sirles at left tackle--I know he got stoned during the Texas game, but this guy has done a great job since and I thought showed it again against KU. The rest of the line, frankly, looked like they were having a hard time. And there were no running lanes between the tackles. Going forward, that's not a good sign. With the quicks that Helu & Burkhead have, just that one crease and they're good to go. Wide is fine, but the money yards are between the tackles.
Also on the offense---Niles Paul showed up the other night. He made some tough catches and took some hits. It was this point in the season a year ago that Niles made some consistent big plays---I hope that history repeats itself.
I am also concerned about Taylor Martinez's ankle, along with everyone else. He gave up on some runs the other night, and frankly did not look that fast overall. Hopefully this was an exercise in "work yourself back, big fella---better to do it now than next week."
And, boy can Alex Henery smack the ball on his kicks. The sound of him striking the ball on punts and field goals was truly audible. What a talent!
This week against A & M---it's in many respects cave-man ball. Defense, special teams, just enough offense to take care of business is the formula I foresee Bo Pelini and the Husker staff following this coming Saturday. It will be interesting to see how it plays out in front of the loud & rowdy bunch in College Station. Can they do it? Well, there's still no margin for error. Missouri is over its slump it appears, and suddenly Colorado looks like their typical scratch-and-claw selves at the end of the year. But, it also looks like the Husker D is hitting its stride as well--and that's enough to lick the chops over as we all keep thinking about the last Big 12 title and a Fiesta Bowl chance--and who knows--maybe a back-door run to the BCS biggie.
There's certainly a lot left to play for and look forward to!
Go Big Red!!
The Old Husker Fan
Even the last 2 years had some drama and tension. Remember the game in Lincoln in 2008---when Joe Ganz and Todd Reesing went at it back & forth? And the game wasn't really decided until Zac Potter forced a late interception. And a year ago in Lawrence, with the boys needing to win in order to hold control in the Big 12 North, KU went ahead--but Roy Helu Jr. bailed Big Red out with a trademark long TD run.
This year though, it was, "Oh well--meh."
I mean, how can you get really charged up for the game when the first thing that plays on the HuskerVision board is T.O.'s "Welcome back Turner" video? That set the tone for the whole night. Is this a game? Is it a scrimmage? Is it a reunion? Really really really awkward--a word that has been rolled out in probably every single postgame "real news" article.
Well, thank heaven it's almost over. And as this strange wind-up tour trundles toward the end, one can only hope that some honest-to-goodness competitive energy cranks up when Big Ten play starts next year. My guess is that there won't be any "muchas smoochas" when Iowa shows up.
What about the game itself---well, who knows how good the Husker D is with #15--Alfonzo Dennard--back on the field. After all, they were going against a weak KU offense. But still--like the coaches said--only 87 yards for the whole game for KU? That stat is a keeper! Dennard's INT was something that we're used to seeing those ballhawks in the SEC do. Jared Crick was a beast in the middle of the line. And there is no way that anyone can run away from Lavonte David--or for that matter, run wide on this defense period.
Offense, however---uhh, not so much. I like Jeremiah Sirles at left tackle--I know he got stoned during the Texas game, but this guy has done a great job since and I thought showed it again against KU. The rest of the line, frankly, looked like they were having a hard time. And there were no running lanes between the tackles. Going forward, that's not a good sign. With the quicks that Helu & Burkhead have, just that one crease and they're good to go. Wide is fine, but the money yards are between the tackles.
Also on the offense---Niles Paul showed up the other night. He made some tough catches and took some hits. It was this point in the season a year ago that Niles made some consistent big plays---I hope that history repeats itself.
I am also concerned about Taylor Martinez's ankle, along with everyone else. He gave up on some runs the other night, and frankly did not look that fast overall. Hopefully this was an exercise in "work yourself back, big fella---better to do it now than next week."
And, boy can Alex Henery smack the ball on his kicks. The sound of him striking the ball on punts and field goals was truly audible. What a talent!
This week against A & M---it's in many respects cave-man ball. Defense, special teams, just enough offense to take care of business is the formula I foresee Bo Pelini and the Husker staff following this coming Saturday. It will be interesting to see how it plays out in front of the loud & rowdy bunch in College Station. Can they do it? Well, there's still no margin for error. Missouri is over its slump it appears, and suddenly Colorado looks like their typical scratch-and-claw selves at the end of the year. But, it also looks like the Husker D is hitting its stride as well--and that's enough to lick the chops over as we all keep thinking about the last Big 12 title and a Fiesta Bowl chance--and who knows--maybe a back-door run to the BCS biggie.
There's certainly a lot left to play for and look forward to!
Go Big Red!!
The Old Husker Fan
Sunday, October 31, 2010
A Vintage Husker Win Over Mizzou
Huskers 31. Tigers 17. How sweet is THAT score anyway if you're a Big Red fan??!!! Even 24 hours plus after the happening, those images of pure dominance are still washing through my memory. We haven't seen a performance like that si2nce--okay, if you want to count the Holiday Bowl against Arizona--but otherwise, it's been a looonnnggg time since the team put together a high-profile beat-down like this.
And, of course, the features that have to stick out for us "vintage" fans of the Scarlet and Cream is that the victory on Oct. 30, 2010 had features that were indeed vintage--classic hallmarks--of this program that have been part of Big Red lore for generations. Let's review:
1) Offensive Line Smackdown
I know--Roy Helu smashed through the school single-game rushing record. But this Old Husker Fan will go with the line's performance first--because there were sights for sore eyes on the blocking side of things yesterday. It started with Ben Cotton wiping out 2--count 'em, TWO--Mizzou guys on Helu's first home run TD. Then it continued with Nick Caputo and Ricky Henry pulling around the right side on Roy H. Jr's 2nd long TD run--along with pass block par excellence on the long TD throw to Kyler Reed by Taylor Martinez--a HUGE gap in the middle for Helu Jr's 3rd hammer shot--and then, with almost 9 minutes left in the game, the classic kill-the-clock drive to seal the game. It's what's up front that counts, and the O-line responded.
2) A Big-Time Running Back Showing
Roy Helu Jr., to me, has been stuck in a "yeah he's good, but---" type of stature in terms of his place on Husker all-time rushing charts. He took care of that yesterday, didn't he, with vision, cuts, bursts, and heart that places him in the same breath as Green, LP, Jones, Clark, Hipp, Craig, Berns, Kinney, and even has him sharing some of the same territory as the best back that this fan has ever seen wearing red--Mike Rozier. 307 yards. Three. Hundred. Seven. That number is mind-numbing. #10 in the 2010 Husker lineup brought it all yesterday--and his 3rd TD had a cut and explosion that only the best bring to the party.
3) Punishing Defense
The best Husker teams have had a defense that flat-out hurts the other guys. Yesterday, we saw that--and Missouri obviously felt it. The sacks that Cameron Meredith and Courtney Osborne put on Mizzou QB Gabbert--and the gutsy goal-line stand 3rd down play where Ciante Evans and Jared Crick helicoptered Gabbert to keep him out of the end zone are proof that this year's edition of the Blackshirts is dialed into that same perspective.
4) The Bench Comes Through
Two new starting safeties. A reserve cornerback playing most of the game. A walk-on D lineman who has never played gets a sack. And a senior #2 quarterback takes over in the 2nd half without flinching. The aforementioned Messrs Osborne and Evans, along with new safety Austin Cassidy, Kevin Thomsen and ever-steady Zac Lee can add their names to the stories of big games where heretofore non-headline players made their mark in a very real way. Coaches say all the time that football is a team game--and the Husker program has a history of proving that over and over again. Yesterday was no exception.
5) The Tight End Is Big
This is a personal item. I've always been a fan of the tight end position on the Husker teams. I know that Johnny Rodgers and Irving Fryar basked in glory as wingbacks/wide receivers--but to me, the true hallmark Husker non-backfield skill position is the tight end. And, what a reminder we got of that position's prominence yesterday--not only with blocking, but also with #25, Kyler Reed, making 2 huge catches--his 40 yard TD aerial from Taylor Martinez, and then, late in the game, with a tough 12-yard reception on 3rd and 2 during the game-clinching 8 minute, 40-second possession.
Of course, this coming Saturday against Iowa State is another must win. After all, Iowa State can win the Big XII North by winning out--and no matter what, the Huskers have zero wiggle room in order to stay on track to go to their final Big XII championship game. But this is one fan who feels a whole lot better about the program going into this week than last week--and for sure better than 2 weeks ago. I think things are looking up, and that they're looking up for some several definitely vintage Husker program reasons--reasons to savor looking to the rest of the 2010 campaign.
Go Big Red!!
The Old Husker Fan
And, of course, the features that have to stick out for us "vintage" fans of the Scarlet and Cream is that the victory on Oct. 30, 2010 had features that were indeed vintage--classic hallmarks--of this program that have been part of Big Red lore for generations. Let's review:
1) Offensive Line Smackdown
I know--Roy Helu smashed through the school single-game rushing record. But this Old Husker Fan will go with the line's performance first--because there were sights for sore eyes on the blocking side of things yesterday. It started with Ben Cotton wiping out 2--count 'em, TWO--Mizzou guys on Helu's first home run TD. Then it continued with Nick Caputo and Ricky Henry pulling around the right side on Roy H. Jr's 2nd long TD run--along with pass block par excellence on the long TD throw to Kyler Reed by Taylor Martinez--a HUGE gap in the middle for Helu Jr's 3rd hammer shot--and then, with almost 9 minutes left in the game, the classic kill-the-clock drive to seal the game. It's what's up front that counts, and the O-line responded.
2) A Big-Time Running Back Showing
Roy Helu Jr., to me, has been stuck in a "yeah he's good, but---" type of stature in terms of his place on Husker all-time rushing charts. He took care of that yesterday, didn't he, with vision, cuts, bursts, and heart that places him in the same breath as Green, LP, Jones, Clark, Hipp, Craig, Berns, Kinney, and even has him sharing some of the same territory as the best back that this fan has ever seen wearing red--Mike Rozier. 307 yards. Three. Hundred. Seven. That number is mind-numbing. #10 in the 2010 Husker lineup brought it all yesterday--and his 3rd TD had a cut and explosion that only the best bring to the party.
3) Punishing Defense
The best Husker teams have had a defense that flat-out hurts the other guys. Yesterday, we saw that--and Missouri obviously felt it. The sacks that Cameron Meredith and Courtney Osborne put on Mizzou QB Gabbert--and the gutsy goal-line stand 3rd down play where Ciante Evans and Jared Crick helicoptered Gabbert to keep him out of the end zone are proof that this year's edition of the Blackshirts is dialed into that same perspective.
4) The Bench Comes Through
Two new starting safeties. A reserve cornerback playing most of the game. A walk-on D lineman who has never played gets a sack. And a senior #2 quarterback takes over in the 2nd half without flinching. The aforementioned Messrs Osborne and Evans, along with new safety Austin Cassidy, Kevin Thomsen and ever-steady Zac Lee can add their names to the stories of big games where heretofore non-headline players made their mark in a very real way. Coaches say all the time that football is a team game--and the Husker program has a history of proving that over and over again. Yesterday was no exception.
5) The Tight End Is Big
This is a personal item. I've always been a fan of the tight end position on the Husker teams. I know that Johnny Rodgers and Irving Fryar basked in glory as wingbacks/wide receivers--but to me, the true hallmark Husker non-backfield skill position is the tight end. And, what a reminder we got of that position's prominence yesterday--not only with blocking, but also with #25, Kyler Reed, making 2 huge catches--his 40 yard TD aerial from Taylor Martinez, and then, late in the game, with a tough 12-yard reception on 3rd and 2 during the game-clinching 8 minute, 40-second possession.
Of course, this coming Saturday against Iowa State is another must win. After all, Iowa State can win the Big XII North by winning out--and no matter what, the Huskers have zero wiggle room in order to stay on track to go to their final Big XII championship game. But this is one fan who feels a whole lot better about the program going into this week than last week--and for sure better than 2 weeks ago. I think things are looking up, and that they're looking up for some several definitely vintage Husker program reasons--reasons to savor looking to the rest of the 2010 campaign.
Go Big Red!!
The Old Husker Fan
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Use The Term "Ath-a-lete" For 2010 Huskers
Seeing the Huskers take Washington apart every which way last Saturday--with those long runs by Taylor Martinez and Roy Helu, the TD pass to Mike McNeill that featured his stretch to hit the pylon, and that terrific INT and broken-field TD run by Alfonzo Dennard included--reminded me of a term that Barry Switzer used when he crafted another in his Sooner Magic wins at Lincoln during the 1986 OU 20, NU 17 win--one absolute hell of a game, by the way.
According to a Sports Illustrated article after the game, Switzer uttered this comment when he was trying to rally the bad guys in the 4th quarter:
"Oh hell---let's just out-ath-a-lete 'em."
And they did. Nothing fancy--and another heartache in November to Oklahoma was in the books.
That comment has stuck for a long time. And it hit me this week, after the surprising (to me and a few others) thumping that the Huskers put on Washington---that this year's version of Big Red can grab that comment from the Bootlegger's Boy and add it to their resume as well.
Ath-a-lete. Because that's what we are looking at here on both sides of the ball. This is what the great Oz teams of the mid-90s threw at their opponents--and before that, it was what OU used to trot out on the field.
This scares other teams---and it should. For all the right reasons. Mainly, this elite-level talent and speed forces other teams to be perfect on both sides of the ball. And that actually is a self-defeating philosophy. On defense, worrying about "perfect" causes hesitation. It makes a linebacker hold up for a half-second before making a move. Or, a d-back wonders if "now" is the time to fill a running lane. And on offense, the QB knows that the throwing windows will be narrower and briefer; the result being that he may double-clutch before throwing.
This is no joke. I saw such a reaction time and time again during the heyday of OU under Switzer. But now, darned if I don't see that same kind of pure talent oin both sides of the ball with this bunch that Bo Pelini is rolling out this season.
Yes, this is a championship-caliber outfit we're looking at for sure. Could the Huskers lose? Sure--but I do not think this teamm is going to be outgunned when it comes to talent.
What fun!! I posted when Bo first came on board as coach that it would be great to see the Huskers "in the conversation" when it came to top rankings. And it's happening right before our eyes. A promising season for sure! With a team like this, you don't want the season to end!
Go Big Red!!!
The Old Husker Fan
According to a Sports Illustrated article after the game, Switzer uttered this comment when he was trying to rally the bad guys in the 4th quarter:
"Oh hell---let's just out-ath-a-lete 'em."
And they did. Nothing fancy--and another heartache in November to Oklahoma was in the books.
That comment has stuck for a long time. And it hit me this week, after the surprising (to me and a few others) thumping that the Huskers put on Washington---that this year's version of Big Red can grab that comment from the Bootlegger's Boy and add it to their resume as well.
Ath-a-lete. Because that's what we are looking at here on both sides of the ball. This is what the great Oz teams of the mid-90s threw at their opponents--and before that, it was what OU used to trot out on the field.
This scares other teams---and it should. For all the right reasons. Mainly, this elite-level talent and speed forces other teams to be perfect on both sides of the ball. And that actually is a self-defeating philosophy. On defense, worrying about "perfect" causes hesitation. It makes a linebacker hold up for a half-second before making a move. Or, a d-back wonders if "now" is the time to fill a running lane. And on offense, the QB knows that the throwing windows will be narrower and briefer; the result being that he may double-clutch before throwing.
This is no joke. I saw such a reaction time and time again during the heyday of OU under Switzer. But now, darned if I don't see that same kind of pure talent oin both sides of the ball with this bunch that Bo Pelini is rolling out this season.
Yes, this is a championship-caliber outfit we're looking at for sure. Could the Huskers lose? Sure--but I do not think this teamm is going to be outgunned when it comes to talent.
What fun!! I posted when Bo first came on board as coach that it would be great to see the Huskers "in the conversation" when it came to top rankings. And it's happening right before our eyes. A promising season for sure! With a team like this, you don't want the season to end!
Go Big Red!!!
The Old Husker Fan
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Husker Coach Bo May Just Need A Time Out
Husker followers will be all geeked up by a media blackout that head coach Bo Pelini has put on regarding practice until the end of the week.
"Oh no! No access! Whatever will we do? How WILL we fill the time and space?"
I can see it and hear it now. And my thought is, "Good grief people, it's only the 18th of August for pete's sake."
To me, all this is is the Coach calling a time out. And I think it's a good call. I mean, how many times can the guy talk for 5 minutes or whatever at the end of practice to a crush of microphones and cameras and say the same nothing phrases? Because that's what we're getting. Boiled down, shaken up, stirred 5 times, it amounts to Bo's version of Frank Solich saying "They moved around real well."
Well, if the most that can be said is a phrase that sounds like you're watching a horse show, then maybe it IS time to just take a break---send the camera crew to a high school practice--or maybe to see how the Midland College fall athletic season is going now that Midland has taken in a bunch of players from Dana in Blair--since Dana went bankrupt about 6 weeks before school was supposed to start.
Gee--real sports news. What a concept.
But, back to the Huskers--after all, this IS a Husker blog. I think another reason why Bo took a time out is because he doesn't want to let on how truly concerned he may be about how many holes this team has to fill. Because there's plenty of empty space that right now has potential, but few answers.
Let's review.
We start with this---there is only one--1--spot or unit on the team that is truly solid--where you absolutely KNOW what you're going to get based on past performance--and that is the kicking game with Alex Henery.
Yes, maybe cornerback--but I lump the CBs in with the overall defensive backfield, and that is not set at all. Also, maybe running back--although I don't know if our guys can stay healthy.
We lost 4 games last year because the offense was putrid. It looked great in games where Nebr had a huge physical advantage, but otherwise, come on. And enough with the Holiday Bowl giddiness--that doesn't mean a thing. How do we know that Arizona didn't basically say "Oh the hell with it" at the end of the season?
So now we come to the 2010 offense--and what? Pretty much the same outfit. Receivers who can maybe get the job done, maybe not. And O-line that does not have one single guy who folks can point to and say for sure, "Man--that dude is going to be in the League."
Then, of course--there's the QB situation. And here, from this fan's standpoint, I think that the best QB on talent and ability is freshman Brion Carnes. I think he's got the best throwing motion along with running ability combined. But--does a freshman QB get you to the title game? Also included here is the ongoing question of just how good an offensive coordinator Shawn Watson is. So far, I don't see him as a real guru.
Now to the D---and good lord people, the guts of this unit has to be replaced!---the best D-lineman in SCHOOL HISTORY---a linebacker who was a tackling machine--and BOTH SAFETIES. This was the unit that saved our bacon time after time after time in 2009---but has to have the middle re-built.
So you have all this construction that has to be done--some truly heavy-duty lifting---and then include the comments of "We're going to be better." Hmm.
I think Bo has tallied all this up, too. And if I were him I wouldn't want to do anything for a few days but just have practice either.
But, in thinking about it, isn't that why he's the man for the job? Because he has the priorities straight--get the team going and prepared. And when it's REALLY time for comments--after some action that means something--it'll be a lot easier to make remarks from the winning side. That's what we all want anyway.
Go Big Red!
The Old Husker Fan
"Oh no! No access! Whatever will we do? How WILL we fill the time and space?"
I can see it and hear it now. And my thought is, "Good grief people, it's only the 18th of August for pete's sake."
To me, all this is is the Coach calling a time out. And I think it's a good call. I mean, how many times can the guy talk for 5 minutes or whatever at the end of practice to a crush of microphones and cameras and say the same nothing phrases? Because that's what we're getting. Boiled down, shaken up, stirred 5 times, it amounts to Bo's version of Frank Solich saying "They moved around real well."
Well, if the most that can be said is a phrase that sounds like you're watching a horse show, then maybe it IS time to just take a break---send the camera crew to a high school practice--or maybe to see how the Midland College fall athletic season is going now that Midland has taken in a bunch of players from Dana in Blair--since Dana went bankrupt about 6 weeks before school was supposed to start.
Gee--real sports news. What a concept.
But, back to the Huskers--after all, this IS a Husker blog. I think another reason why Bo took a time out is because he doesn't want to let on how truly concerned he may be about how many holes this team has to fill. Because there's plenty of empty space that right now has potential, but few answers.
Let's review.
We start with this---there is only one--1--spot or unit on the team that is truly solid--where you absolutely KNOW what you're going to get based on past performance--and that is the kicking game with Alex Henery.
Yes, maybe cornerback--but I lump the CBs in with the overall defensive backfield, and that is not set at all. Also, maybe running back--although I don't know if our guys can stay healthy.
We lost 4 games last year because the offense was putrid. It looked great in games where Nebr had a huge physical advantage, but otherwise, come on. And enough with the Holiday Bowl giddiness--that doesn't mean a thing. How do we know that Arizona didn't basically say "Oh the hell with it" at the end of the season?
So now we come to the 2010 offense--and what? Pretty much the same outfit. Receivers who can maybe get the job done, maybe not. And O-line that does not have one single guy who folks can point to and say for sure, "Man--that dude is going to be in the League."
Then, of course--there's the QB situation. And here, from this fan's standpoint, I think that the best QB on talent and ability is freshman Brion Carnes. I think he's got the best throwing motion along with running ability combined. But--does a freshman QB get you to the title game? Also included here is the ongoing question of just how good an offensive coordinator Shawn Watson is. So far, I don't see him as a real guru.
Now to the D---and good lord people, the guts of this unit has to be replaced!---the best D-lineman in SCHOOL HISTORY---a linebacker who was a tackling machine--and BOTH SAFETIES. This was the unit that saved our bacon time after time after time in 2009---but has to have the middle re-built.
So you have all this construction that has to be done--some truly heavy-duty lifting---and then include the comments of "We're going to be better." Hmm.
I think Bo has tallied all this up, too. And if I were him I wouldn't want to do anything for a few days but just have practice either.
But, in thinking about it, isn't that why he's the man for the job? Because he has the priorities straight--get the team going and prepared. And when it's REALLY time for comments--after some action that means something--it'll be a lot easier to make remarks from the winning side. That's what we all want anyway.
Go Big Red!
The Old Husker Fan
Monday, February 22, 2010
Husker OC Watson Confirms My 2009 Thoughts
Tom Shatel of the World-Herald had a real interesting interview last week with Husker Offensive Coordinator Shawn Watson. The full article is here. I know there's been plenty of chatter about what Coach W said, but I want to add my 2 cents as well.
It was great to read how the Pelini regime continues to interact with the Osborne era brainpower. That came out right away, when Coach Watson told how he's been in on periodic get-togethers with both T.O. and Milt Tenopir to get more acquainted with their methods in run-game development. This, of course, continues to distance the program in a very positive way from the shield-out-the-past notion that dominated the Callahan years.
Coach W also made a huge remark in talking about the Holiday Bowl offensive performance when he said, "healthy people". And then went through the whole list of guys we knew about being hurt, guys we didn't know as much about being hurt, and guys whose extent of their injuries were vague for many weeks. (This last one is specifically Zac Lee.) Basically, the whole darned O-line was fighting some injury issue almost the entire last 2/3 of the season. With that going on, no wonder the game plan turned more vanilla. And I agree with him big time that, as he said that T.O. reminded the coaches last season, "Style points don't matter." Sometimes there are games---heck, sometimes there are seasons---where a team just has to grind it out. And this team and its coaches were willing to do that in 2009.
The coach also said a mouthful and then some regarding how they had to hustle Cody Green out of there during the Oklahoma game. I could not agree more. I remember watching that game and thinking that CG represented a turnover just waiting to happen. Hopefully, of course, Cody turns in a good spring. It's all out there for him since Zac L will be rehabbing after the shoulder surgery.
Which brings me to---Lee's condition and how the coaches played it cool. Good for everyone involved. Zac did what he could, and the coaches never used his injury as an excuse, nor did they let on that something was wrong so the opposition could run with it. (They probably could see something wasn't working on the tapes, but why confirm it?) From a coaching standpoint, this playing it cool to me shows again just how much of a professional Shawn Watson is. He said about not making a big deal out of it, "That's my job."
There's one other thing about the way Coach W handled the questions, and that is---not once did he mention the receivers and their catching problems. We all know that Nebraska had only one dependable wideout last season--Niles Paul. (Yes, Brandon Kinnie made a catch or two against Texas, but Paul was truly "the man".) And, we also know that at least a couple guys were disappointments as the season went on. But the coach never pointed fingers, never called the guys out for subpar performance.
So now, where do we go from here? Well, we wait for spring practice info. And conjure up thoughts of the Wildcat offense. Considering how this outfit methodically took Arizona apart, I am excited for what's ahead. Who knows? We may be seeing an offense in 2010 that in its own way--its own physical way--makes its mark like the 2008 team did.
And one more note: To me, the fact that Coach Watson was able to do this interview at all is to me a sign of just how much Bo Pelini trusts him. I don't know if every offensive coordinator would be given that kind of leeway in doing something like this. I think this is a very strong signal that the head coach and the offensive coordinator get along very well. And I like that!
Go Big Red!!
The Old Husker Fan
It was great to read how the Pelini regime continues to interact with the Osborne era brainpower. That came out right away, when Coach Watson told how he's been in on periodic get-togethers with both T.O. and Milt Tenopir to get more acquainted with their methods in run-game development. This, of course, continues to distance the program in a very positive way from the shield-out-the-past notion that dominated the Callahan years.
Coach W also made a huge remark in talking about the Holiday Bowl offensive performance when he said, "healthy people". And then went through the whole list of guys we knew about being hurt, guys we didn't know as much about being hurt, and guys whose extent of their injuries were vague for many weeks. (This last one is specifically Zac Lee.) Basically, the whole darned O-line was fighting some injury issue almost the entire last 2/3 of the season. With that going on, no wonder the game plan turned more vanilla. And I agree with him big time that, as he said that T.O. reminded the coaches last season, "Style points don't matter." Sometimes there are games---heck, sometimes there are seasons---where a team just has to grind it out. And this team and its coaches were willing to do that in 2009.
The coach also said a mouthful and then some regarding how they had to hustle Cody Green out of there during the Oklahoma game. I could not agree more. I remember watching that game and thinking that CG represented a turnover just waiting to happen. Hopefully, of course, Cody turns in a good spring. It's all out there for him since Zac L will be rehabbing after the shoulder surgery.
Which brings me to---Lee's condition and how the coaches played it cool. Good for everyone involved. Zac did what he could, and the coaches never used his injury as an excuse, nor did they let on that something was wrong so the opposition could run with it. (They probably could see something wasn't working on the tapes, but why confirm it?) From a coaching standpoint, this playing it cool to me shows again just how much of a professional Shawn Watson is. He said about not making a big deal out of it, "That's my job."
There's one other thing about the way Coach W handled the questions, and that is---not once did he mention the receivers and their catching problems. We all know that Nebraska had only one dependable wideout last season--Niles Paul. (Yes, Brandon Kinnie made a catch or two against Texas, but Paul was truly "the man".) And, we also know that at least a couple guys were disappointments as the season went on. But the coach never pointed fingers, never called the guys out for subpar performance.
So now, where do we go from here? Well, we wait for spring practice info. And conjure up thoughts of the Wildcat offense. Considering how this outfit methodically took Arizona apart, I am excited for what's ahead. Who knows? We may be seeing an offense in 2010 that in its own way--its own physical way--makes its mark like the 2008 team did.
And one more note: To me, the fact that Coach Watson was able to do this interview at all is to me a sign of just how much Bo Pelini trusts him. I don't know if every offensive coordinator would be given that kind of leeway in doing something like this. I think this is a very strong signal that the head coach and the offensive coordinator get along very well. And I like that!
Go Big Red!!
The Old Husker Fan
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)