I watched the bowl game again

[jedburks]

For no good reason at all I woke up at 5:30am. Couldn't go back to sleep so I watched the Capital One bowl game again. Just as pissed off as I was when I first watched it. I called the radio shows the day after the game talking about the 3rd down issues. Including this game, we had 48% of our 3rd downs this season where we needed 7+ yards. We only converted 27% of those.

This is what our 3rd down play calling was in our 13th game of the season.

3rd and 4: play action to Amir, incomplete pass to Burkhead. No RB blocking help
3rd and 7: incomplete pass to Turner, pass interference. No RB blocking help
3rd and 13: incomplete pass to Burkhead. No RB blocking help
3rd and 3: option to Amir, fumble
3rd and 2: run up middle to Rex. No first down.
3rd and 5: pass complete to Cotton for first down. No RB blocking help
3rd and 14: INT. Empty backfield
3rd and goal from the 16: screen to Burkhead.
3rd and 1: pitch to Burkhead for first down
3rd and 25: run by Taylor. No RB blocking help
3rd and 15: sack. No RB blocking help
3rd and 10: pass complete to Bell for first down. Burkhead stayed in and blocked.
3rd and 12: sack. No RB blocking help
3rd and 22: sack. Burkhead stayed in and blocked

It took until the 4th quarter to realize maybe someone needs to help block on some 3rd downs. We became so reliant on the RB flaring out to the flat as an outlet. That is great because of Burkhead's skills but with the lack of patience and ability with Taylor that can become a detriment against good fast defenses. I know this is Beck's first year but I would hope that as the season would go on he would learn. I understand that each person is usually the last person to realize their tendencies but he better figure out these tendencies in the off season.

 

[wearegettingthere]

For no good reason at all I woke up at 5:30am. Couldn't go back to sleep so I watched the Capital One bowl game again. Just as pissed off as I was when I first watched it. I called the radio shows the day after the game talking about the 3rd down issues. Including this game, we had 48% of our 3rd downs this season where we needed 7+ yards. We only converted 27% of those.

This is what our 3rd down play calling was in our 13th game of the season.

3rd and 4: play action to Amir, incomplete pass to Burkhead. No RB blocking help
3rd and 7: incomplete pass to Turner, pass interference. No RB blocking help
3rd and 13: incomplete pass to Burkhead. No RB blocking help
3rd and 3: option to Amir, fumble
3rd and 2: run up middle to Rex. No first down.
3rd and 5: pass complete to Cotton for first down. No RB blocking help
3rd and 14: INT. Empty backfield
3rd and goal from the 16: screen to Burkhead.
3rd and 1: pitch to Burkhead for first down
3rd and 25: run by Taylor. No RB blocking help
3rd and 15: sack. No RB blocking help
3rd and 10: pass complete to Bell for first down. Burkhead stayed in and blocked.
3rd and 12: sack. No RB blocking help
3rd and 22: sack. Burkhead stayed in and blocked

It took until the 4th quarter to realize maybe someone needs to help block on some 3rd downs. We became so reliant on the RB flaring out to the flat as an outlet. That is great because of Burkhead's skills but with the lack of patience and ability with Taylor that can become a detriment against good fast defenses. I know this is Beck's first year but I would hope that as the season would go on he would learn. I understand that each person is usually the last person to realize their tendencies but he better figure out these tendencies in the off season.

Despite Rex's ability to be individually powerful and elusive, your post further illustrates that we are not a power offense but a finesse offense predicated on misdirection. I believe that the offense will be better the 2nd year with Beck. Again, it will NOT be a power offense. I believe it will continue to have open receivers. Mart has proven he can hit the open receiver. Where Mart has his issues is anything aside from wide open. Although we aren't a power offense, we can't abandon the run on first down, but we do need to pass more on first down to keep defenses honest. Bo really needs to focus on offensive line recruiting. No need to go in detail since the lack there of has been highlighted here during the season.
Again, to be clear, I believe our offense will be better and they need to be. Bo's defense has gone down the past 2 years and losing our big 3 won't help.
Of course, the defense could be better, but there is nothing to justify that belief at the present.

 

[ebbycalvin77]

in the 2008 and 2009 recruiting classes NU gave 10 o lineman schollys........2 of them took meaningful snaps this season. If they redshirted they were jr's this season and if they didn't they were sr's this season...........not good. One of them was Yoshi who was a Juco and the other was A-Rod. The talent isn't there and i question the man coaching them as well.

 

[HawkeyeHater]

in the 2008 and 2009 recruiting classes NU gave 10 o lineman schollys........2 of them took meaningful snaps this season. If they redshirted they were jr's this season and if they didn't they were sr's this season...........not good. One of them was Yoshi who was a Juco and the other was A-Rod. The talent isn't there and i question the man coaching them as well.

DING DING DING!!!!!!!!!


Cotton needs to go...........

 

[Brasky]

Cotton will NEVER BE FIRED.

 

[huskers1217]

in the 2008 and 2009 recruiting classes NU gave 10 o lineman schollys........2 of them took meaningful snaps this season. If they redshirted they were jr's this season and if they didn't they were sr's this season...........not good. One of them was Yoshi who was a Juco and the other was A-Rod. The talent isn't there and i question the man coaching them as well.

who the hell are you.....???

and good post by the way. REP!

 

[ebbycalvin77]

Just another avid husker fan concerned with the direction of the program. I usually dont have much to add to the conversation but I do read this board often. YEAH.....I got reped!

 

[Red_Alert]

Just another avid husker fan concerned with the direction of the program. I usually dont have much to add to the conversation but I do read this board often. YEAH.....I got reped!

You can't see your rep points until you reach 50 posts.

So Get Going!!

 

[sandhill_husker]

So Get Going!!

That was awesome! I'll hit you after spreading rep around Mr. Alert.

 

[jedburks]

in the 2008 and 2009 recruiting classes NU gave 10 o lineman schollys........2 of them took meaningful snaps this season. If they redshirted they were jr's this season and if they didn't they were sr's this season...........not good. One of them was Yoshi who was a Juco and the other was A-Rod. The talent isn't there and i question the man coaching them as well.

First of all, I hate you for making me look up recruiting.

Second, you have your numbers wrong. Yoshi and ARod were in the 2010 class.

From the 08 and 09 classes they gave schollies to 8 OL players and took 2 OL walk-ons. 4 of those 10 were gone going into this season. 3 of those 4 were scholarship guys. Baker moved to defense. That leaves 5 guys to pick from. Brandon Thompson has at least seen time on the 2 deep, Brent Gvale has seen significant snaps, and Sirles has been a starter. There are players that leave all the time. You are not going to shoot 100% at any position.

I didn't hear anyone calling for Cotton's head after the Michigan St game when we pushed around the most physical team in the country that game. (sorry had to throw that shot at Brasky )

 

[popeyecv64]

yep this is foosball sirs

 

[Exorbitant]

I did because I knew that game was an illusion for Nebraska fans more then anything else. Michigan St. was a WORN out team physically and mentally when Nebraska beat them. On the other hand, with a really good coaching staff, Nebraska may have been a BCS team this year.

 

[jedburks]

I did because I knew that game was an illusion for Nebraska fans more then anything else. Michigan St. was a WORN out team physically and mentally when Nebraska beat them. On the other hand, with a really good coaching staff, Nebraska may have been a BCS team this year.

I wasn't just after the Michigan St game. Through the middle to end of the season the OL played well and no one was screaming for Cotton.

 

[Exorbitant]

I wasn't just after the Michigan St game. Through the middle to end of the season the OL played well and no one was screaming for Cotton.

Just because I didn't come here and do a post it note, doesn't mean I was happy with Ole Barn. Nebraska won't ever get to the next level with him and now Corey {The belly flop expert} Raymond. I remember when I had first heard that Mad Dog Bo was hiring Ole Barn, I wasn't impressed by that hire.

 

[jedburks]

Just because I didn't come here and do a post it note, doesn't mean I was happy with Ole Barn. Nebraska won't ever get to the next level with him and now Corey {The belly flop expert} Raymond. I remember when I had first heard that Mad Dog Bo was hiring Ole Barn, I wasn't impressed by that hire.

That is fine, but you are not everyone.

 

[Exorbitant]

That is fine, but you are not everyone.

I bet I speak for at least 328,475 Nebraska fans!

 

[jedburks]

I bet I speak for at least 328,475 Nebraska fans!

I bet you dont

 

[Brasky]

I wasn't just after the Michigan St game. Through the middle to end of the season the OL played well in spite of Cotton.

FIFY

 

[Exorbitant]

I bet you dont

If that was the case then why has just about everyone I've talked to agrees with me about Ole Barn and wanted him gone especially after the 2009 season? Now if our offensive line started consistently improving after that season, I'm sure most Nebraska fans, myself included would want him to stick around a long time.

Think about this, I had talked to at least 75 people away from this site about Ole Barn and well over 90% of them had wanted the guy to be replaced for the last couple of years. Comparing this to taking a survey where maybe a thousand people are surveyed out of an area of many thousands of people, this is a good indicator that there are tons and tons of Nebraska fans who want to see Ole Barn being replaced. I do realize that it will almost take an act of God, { I know you have no faith in that dept.} for Mad Dog Bo to replace his buddy, so stop arguing with me, you know I'm right.

 

[HawkeyeHater]

Any slight improvement in line play is the result of garrison.....


Anybody who knows me knows I've wanted Cotton fired since he was hired...