southernoregonhusker
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Well see how that plays out when the Big Ten season awards come out. I wonder if we'll get anybody in the first or second team.
Two years in....no growth
- Thread starter HuskerNation1
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It'sNotAFakeID
New member
To be fair, this wasn't the first time in the past few years we've been throttled by Iowa. Iowa beat Nebraska 38-17 in Lincoln in 2013.
You must not have watched those 2 games. The score alone is not indicative of how those games played out.
So you're telling me that a player or two on the all league team is a reflection on overall team talent?
I hope that you're not one of those who claims that recruiting rankings are trending upward, because the recruiting rankings show that we out recruited everyone but OSU and Oregon the past few years.
It'sNotAFakeID
New member
Here's what I saw in today's game:
1) No creativity in the run game early on. Defensively, Iowa is very good. I don't think they're in the Top 10, but they're definitely Top 25. If you looked at just the last three weeks, Iowa's defense is without doubt Top 15. So it wasn't surprising that Nebraska wasn't able to get anything going between the guards early on. It was, however, surprising that Nebraska didn't mix up the running game, especially with how well it worked on the 3rd quarter drive. Langsdorf opted for the NFL method of opening up the run game...
2) A matter of inches in the passing game. Iowa was--wisely--stacking the box and forcing Tommy to beat them with his arm, which he didn't. However, there were several passes that were just slightly overthrown or under run that, had that not happened, would have probably lead to a much different outcome. One play that comes to mind is the pass that just missed Reilly right before the half that would've made it 20-10 going into the break with Nebraska receiving the ball to start the second half. Tommy was consistently overthrowing the ball today. Part of me wonders if that was rust from not playing and/or overcompensating for not being able to fully step into his passes.
3) The defensive line got mauled, and the second-level guys didn't do their jobs. Now, for the most part, the defense did okay. Not their best performance to-date, but certainly not their worst performance. The problem was that, for 4 to 6 plays the defensive line was dominated and there was nobody in the second level to cover up their mistake. Those led to a couple 60+ yard runs and a 60+ yard pass that accounted for 50% of Iowa's total offense.
4) Please, can we let go of Bruce Read already? I know he's had to deal with adjusting to the loss of Sam Foltz, but that should've only made a difference in one area of special teams: punting. I'm giving Lightborne a pass on this year because he wasn't supposed to be out there this year, and I hope he comes back next year much improved. That said, special teams has been abysmal this season and all the blame lies squarely on Read's shoulders. 12 men on the field against Minnesota, 10 men on the field twice against Maryland, and now today. Our only hope for a DPE return was the punter out-kicking his coverage, otherwise we completely neutralized one of our biggest weapons. The rugby-style punt worked well today, and yet we didn't do it when we were backed up and needing a long punt. Iowa had a long punt return that led to a TD. Special teams did the team no favors this year, and that should cost Bruce Read his job.
All year, Sagarin had Nebraska between #20-25, and I think that's where we'll ultimately end up, and where we deserve to be all things considered. Also, the door is still wide open for a NYD bowl in Florida, thanks in part to the politics involved in bowl selection. It's unfortunate that they couldn't get the job done in Madison, which was probably our most complete game we played all season. The losses to Iowa or Ohio State wouldn't have mattered had they just found a way into the end zone.
Not a bad season, but definitely not the season that was shaping up after a 7-0 start. Still, it's a 4-win improvement from 2015 against a slightly more difficult schedule. Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Iowa all come to Lincoln next year, we'll see what happens in 2017.
1) No creativity in the run game early on. Defensively, Iowa is very good. I don't think they're in the Top 10, but they're definitely Top 25. If you looked at just the last three weeks, Iowa's defense is without doubt Top 15. So it wasn't surprising that Nebraska wasn't able to get anything going between the guards early on. It was, however, surprising that Nebraska didn't mix up the running game, especially with how well it worked on the 3rd quarter drive. Langsdorf opted for the NFL method of opening up the run game...
2) A matter of inches in the passing game. Iowa was--wisely--stacking the box and forcing Tommy to beat them with his arm, which he didn't. However, there were several passes that were just slightly overthrown or under run that, had that not happened, would have probably lead to a much different outcome. One play that comes to mind is the pass that just missed Reilly right before the half that would've made it 20-10 going into the break with Nebraska receiving the ball to start the second half. Tommy was consistently overthrowing the ball today. Part of me wonders if that was rust from not playing and/or overcompensating for not being able to fully step into his passes.
3) The defensive line got mauled, and the second-level guys didn't do their jobs. Now, for the most part, the defense did okay. Not their best performance to-date, but certainly not their worst performance. The problem was that, for 4 to 6 plays the defensive line was dominated and there was nobody in the second level to cover up their mistake. Those led to a couple 60+ yard runs and a 60+ yard pass that accounted for 50% of Iowa's total offense.
4) Please, can we let go of Bruce Read already? I know he's had to deal with adjusting to the loss of Sam Foltz, but that should've only made a difference in one area of special teams: punting. I'm giving Lightborne a pass on this year because he wasn't supposed to be out there this year, and I hope he comes back next year much improved. That said, special teams has been abysmal this season and all the blame lies squarely on Read's shoulders. 12 men on the field against Minnesota, 10 men on the field twice against Maryland, and now today. Our only hope for a DPE return was the punter out-kicking his coverage, otherwise we completely neutralized one of our biggest weapons. The rugby-style punt worked well today, and yet we didn't do it when we were backed up and needing a long punt. Iowa had a long punt return that led to a TD. Special teams did the team no favors this year, and that should cost Bruce Read his job.
All year, Sagarin had Nebraska between #20-25, and I think that's where we'll ultimately end up, and where we deserve to be all things considered. Also, the door is still wide open for a NYD bowl in Florida, thanks in part to the politics involved in bowl selection. It's unfortunate that they couldn't get the job done in Madison, which was probably our most complete game we played all season. The losses to Iowa or Ohio State wouldn't have mattered had they just found a way into the end zone.
Not a bad season, but definitely not the season that was shaping up after a 7-0 start. Still, it's a 4-win improvement from 2015 against a slightly more difficult schedule. Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Iowa all come to Lincoln next year, we'll see what happens in 2017.
It'sNotAFakeID
New member
Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you're wrong. I was in Memorial Stadium that day. It was my last game as a student. Though Iowa had fewer yards that day, Nebraska's 3 turnovers and lack of offense led to their demise that day. Which would you have: 3 careless turnovers or 4 explosive plays that led to 4 TDs? To me they're equally bad.
Let's also not forget that, barring a miraculous 4th quarter comeback in 2014, Iowa would have won 4 straight against us. They were kicking our a$$ in 2014 before the comeback happened.
2ndNnine
New member
Twist this then cm. We already have TWO big money HCs on the payroll.
Saban already coached in the Big 10. He was a bottom feeder. Not coming.
Meyer - lost to Penn St. Not coming.
Harbrah - lost to Iowa. Not coming.
Who else you got? They ain't coming. Especially if we fire Riley after 2 years.
This program is a shell of its former self due in large part to the last 3 bad hires. We have a massive geographical disadvantage.
At least Riley has some guys looking at us.
He's going to finish his contract no matter what, so STFU and get behind him or go be a Youngstown St. fan. Simple as that.
Saban already coached in the Big 10. He was a bottom feeder. Not coming.
Meyer - lost to Penn St. Not coming.
Harbrah - lost to Iowa. Not coming.
Who else you got? They ain't coming. Especially if we fire Riley after 2 years.
This program is a shell of its former self due in large part to the last 3 bad hires. We have a massive geographical disadvantage.
At least Riley has some guys looking at us.
He's going to finish his contract no matter what, so STFU and get behind him or go be a Youngstown St. fan. Simple as that.
TITANIC VS LUSITANIA
New member
I think the prosperity of Wisconsin will get worse over time, just saying...I'm not blown away by Christ.
marko polo
New member
lose the 9-3 deal that is not a marker of sucess if the teams you beat weren't very good. It is how you do against decent teams that let you measure where you stand.right now and unless something really changes we are the 3-4th best team in the west and that is a fact!
marko polo
New member
No we are screwed now, that is the part that really sucks. but how do you get behind this sh#t!!!!! and it ain't got nothin to do with the asswipe in youngstown, it is about this staff "their" failure.
marko polo
New member
Saunders
Administrator
Lets see, I have actual data, you have.... opinion.
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gorp512
New member
The offensive line is being held together by duct tape and spit, there is no way TA was functionally healthy yesterday (in typical TA fashion, he likely left everything he had on the field this year), the loss of Sam Foltz, and the lack of depth at every position script except wideout.... All things considered, it's really not as doom and gloom as it looks. It sucks losing to Iowa. It sucks getting annihilated by Ohio State, it sucks losing the Big Ten West to Wisconsin.
I'm proud of this team, the direction of the program. Tanner Lee, come in and do your thing, if not, POB time. When was the last time they had two capable QBs? Tommy and TA? I truly believe they will get one of these 5 star guys and a few more 4 stars. They don't have Urban or Harbaugh and depending on how you view Fitzgerald, they have the 4th or 5th best coach in the conference. It would be of great benefit to the program if MR made some assistant changes this off-season, but even if he doesn't, they will be better next year. They aren't or weren't going to hire PJ Fleck, Matt Rhule, or some other rising star coach. I'm proud of this squad and looking forward to big things. GBR!!!
I'm proud of this team, the direction of the program. Tanner Lee, come in and do your thing, if not, POB time. When was the last time they had two capable QBs? Tommy and TA? I truly believe they will get one of these 5 star guys and a few more 4 stars. They don't have Urban or Harbaugh and depending on how you view Fitzgerald, they have the 4th or 5th best coach in the conference. It would be of great benefit to the program if MR made some assistant changes this off-season, but even if he doesn't, they will be better next year. They aren't or weren't going to hire PJ Fleck, Matt Rhule, or some other rising star coach. I'm proud of this squad and looking forward to big things. GBR!!!