Mobile QB's and Nebraska's Defense

[Red_Alert]

I'm a bit perplexed here.

Perplexed as to why Bo's defense plays so conservative, doesn't rush D lineman, and bring the blitz more often against mobile QB's? It obviously hasn't been working in the past 2 1/2 seasons, and wasn't working until there were 4 minutes remaining in the 2nd quarter last night. ie..Denard getting injured.

I understand the theory of the containment thing. When NU is playing mobile QB's the D-line doesn't even rush. They are sitting back waiting with a blocker on them and it gives the appearance they are getting owned. They have in fact been getting owned anyway when said mobile QB's decide to take off.

Here's my point....

When Denard went down with 4 minutes remaining in the 2nd Q, Bo and Pap successfully brought the heat on Bellomy. They rushed D-lineman, blitzed linebackers, and DB's. NU's defense shined like Charlie McBride had suddenly returned.

Well Bellomy is a mobile QB. He was considered "Duel Threat" out of high school. Scout.com: Russell Bellomy Profile .
He's from the 2011 class so he's been in Hoke's offense for a full year and a half. Enough time to learn it.
Bellomy has speed. It was Bellomy who chased P.J. Smith down from behind after the 50yd INT return to negated the pick 6.

Bellomy struggled throwning the ball because he either had someone in his face, was getting sacked, or at least was going to get hit. Bellomy struggled running the ball on zone reads as well. There was always someone there.

Coming into this game Denard already had throwing issues with 11 picks on the season. That is because his elbow was a previous injury. He re-aggravated it last night. He was 6 of 11 passing for 55 yds before he went out. He had 10 rushes for 46yds. 101 yds of total offense. Denard had no rush coming at him, and all the time in the world to either wait for a receiver to get open or pull it down and go. It's what every mobile QB has had against Bo's D.

Why doesn't Bo play a more attacking defense against mobile QB's?

 

[Tomhusker]

I thought the scheme was working pretty good up to the Robinson injury. He did nothing to hurt them, other than one long pass. The line played their responsibility and pretty much kept him from killing us with his running. Bellomy may be a dual threat, but he is no BR.
Blitzing would have created running lanes for him. That is how he creates the big plays. Give him a window and he's gone.

 

[oaknightshockey1]

i actually liked our containment on the d line. i think we should have used someone like santos to spy robinson and then he wouldn't be able to scramble out of the pocket.

 

[Red_Alert]

I thought the scheme was working pretty good up to the Robinson injury. He did nothing to hurt them, other than one long pass. The line played their responsibility and pretty much kept him from killing us with his running. Bellomy may be a dual threat, but he is no BR.
Blitzing would have created running lanes for him. That is how he creates the big plays. Give him a window and he's gone.

OK

NU contained Miller early in the game and played containment no rush, no blitz as well. ie...Don't give him a lane!!! How well did that serve them? 49 points
They got ripped to pieces anyway as I recall. How did it serve NU playing UCLA's freshman mobile QB? 36 points.

Michigan may have only had 3 points at the time Denard got hurt. But they were averaging about 4.4 yds per play. He was gashing NU's (containment) defense running and throwing the ball. Michigan had the ball at the NU 16 and were in the process of a 60 yd drive (that began at the Mich 25) when he got hurt. They were not "containing" anything.
The 60 yd drive consisted of a 33yd pass for a first down, a 10 yd screen for a first down, a dropped pass in the endzone, and an 8 yd scramble for 1st down by Denard to the NU 9 (the play he got hurt on).
All this while NU defenders were hanging back on their heels watching him go about his business. Go get the Mo-fo.

Once Denard went out of the game and Bellomy came in, NU pinned their ears back (the very next play) and had great success disrupting the identical offense (with a fast mobile QB) on a zone read. Michigan did not move the ball again from the NU 9 yd line and settled for a FG. (6-7) as opposed to potentially (10-7). Mobile QB Bellomy was 0 for 11 at one point. Michigan did not move the ball effectively for the rest of the game, with their lone 3 points coming after about 40 yds of penalties tacked onto NU'd defense.

I just figure if you're gonna get gashed anyway, why not play attacking D all the time?

 

[Red_Alert]

i actually liked our containment on the d line. i think we should have used someone like santos to spy robinson and then he wouldn't be able to scramble out of the pocket.

That.

You gotta let someone play aggressive.

 

[Tomhusker]

I need to double check my TV guide. You were obviously watching a different game than I was.

The facts are this: Michigan had 3 points on the board when he went out. 3 whole Points. Robinson had less than 100 total yards. I didn't say they stopped him. He was under control. He did not gash anything. AND the running game was under control.
Denard is an elite athlete. As such, he was effectively "contained."

Miller, on the other hand, was not. The defense did not play well enough in their assignments to contain him.

 

[Red_Alert]

I need to double check my TV guide. You were obviously watching a different game than I was.

The facts are this: Michigan had 3 points on the board when he went out. 3 whole Points. Robinson had less than 100 total yards. I didn't say they stopped him. He was under control. He did not gash anything. AND the running game was under control.
Denard is an elite athlete. As such, he was effectively "contained."

Miller, on the other hand, was not. The defense did not play well enough in their assignments to contain him.

That is not at all a fact. It is false.

Robinson had 101 total yds when he went out.

46 rushing
55 passing
__________
101 total

He had a few dropped passes.

Denard also had zero turnovers where he'd previously thrown 11 this season.

The 3 INT's came when NU started attacking and no longer containing.

 

[Tomhusker]

That is not at all a fact. It is false.

Robinson had 101 total yds when he went out.

46 rushing
55 passing
__________
101 total

He had a few dropped passes.

Denard also had zero turnovers where he'd previously thrown 11 this season.

The 3 INT's came when NU started attacking and no longer containing.

Well, your math skills are obviously better than mine. I figured 99 yds. :P

Still, 3 points. Only. 3. Points.

 

[Red_Alert]

Yes, Only 3 points.

But, 1st and goal at the NU 9, following a 60 yd drive, down (3-7) when he got hurt.

The lead was absolutely 'on the line' there. Either (10-7) Mich, or (7-6) NU.

I see your point and we'll never know. It was just an observation of mine is all.

What brought me to the observation was when I was watching the highlights, Bellomy chased P.J. Smith down from behind. P.J. Smith (DB). Not a lineman or a linebacker.

It made me look into exactly what kind of athlete he really was. They also kept pointing out he was a freshman. He was a redshirt freshman so it's not like he just walked into Hoke's system last August.

 

[Tomhusker]

Yes, Only 3 points.

But, 1st and goal at the NU 9, following a 60 yd drive, down (3-7) when he got hurt.

The lead was absolutely 'on the line' there. Either (10-7) Mich, or (7-6) NU.

I see your point and we'll never know. It was just an observation of mine is all.

What brought me to the observation was when I was watching the highlights, Bellomy chased P.J. Smith down from behind. P.J. Smith (DB). Not a lineman or a linebacker.

It made me look into exactly what kind of athlete he really was. They also kept pointing out he was a freshman. He was a redshirt freshman so it's not like he just walked into Hoke's system last August.

I'm sure he'll hear about that all week.....

 

[Driaz]

I see both of your points.

To RA's point, it is interesting (errrr a tidbit of information) that you pointed out that Bellomy is also a dual threat qb. Makes you wonder if Bo's staff was aware of that or just assumed him to be a pocket passer so they changed their schemes based off of a failed assumption?

To Tom's point of the containment philosophy working, it's a little hard to tell since it was only most of one half against Denard, but the "great" defenses with Suh were known for giving up yardage, but very stingy on the scoreboard.

I would like then to try and be a little more aggressive though against mobile qb's to see if they are giving them too much credit and playing more passive defensive schemes is inadvertently making the mobile qb's more dangerous they they already are.

 

[Red_Alert]

My point is not to belittle P.J.

Martinez could probably chase him down from behind.

That's my point.

 

[Tomhusker]

My point is not to belittle P.J.

Martinez could probably chase him down from behind.

That's my point.

Tito could chase a lot of people down from behind.

 

[HawkeyeHater]

Michigan was moving thee ball pretty well before robinson got hurt....

 

[Tomhusker]

Not well enough to win.

 

[Brasky]

Michigan was moving thee ball pretty well before robinson got hurt....

Nebraska was moving the ball pretty well before Rex got hu.. Oh wait.....

 

[HawkeyeHater]

Really??? I completely disagree...


It was 7-3 with 4 minutes left, they were moving the ball really well and he got a first and goal on the play he got hurt on from approx the 7....

They likely go up 10-7....

I have no doubt in my mind that had robinson not got hurt it would have been a much different game, not saying we couldn't have outscored them, but I doubt we hold them to less than 24.

 

[Brasky]

So in other words who fuckin cares. Scoreboard.

 

[HawkeyeHater]

I jest didn't see anything from thee defense last night that makes me feel comfortable the next time we face a mobile qb.....


that's all..

 

[Brasky]

Injuries are a part of football. If you don't have the depth at all positions to be able to say "next man up" then you have no right to say "we should have won"

That's a total bullshit argument.

Nebraska has had injuries and attrition across the board. As Bo would say, I don't buy in to that crap.