Northwestern: What did we learn?

I'm looking at the schedule on the right side of the page and I think we look good against Red, North Dakota, and Georgia Southern.

 
What did we learn?

  • Offense:
  • Continued lack of a running game, still too heavily reliant on the QB.
  • Lack of an ability to adjust during the game.
  • Can't make catches/throws/blocks when it is on the line.
  • Lack of an alpha "Dog" to lead when needed.
  • Questionable playcalling, leading to the defense on the field for most of the game.
  • Defense:
  • Still missing tackles.
  • No push from the front four.
  • Back seven struggles in zone.
  • On the field way too much, and when they are, can't get off the field on third down.
  • Missing some guy named Jojo....GREATLY.
  • Special Teams:
  • No killer instinct on punt or kick returns.
  • Coaching:
  • Brutal.  Calls don't put players in the best position to succeed.
  • Head coach has his hands in stuff way too much, and it shows when he does.
  • New OC doesn't seem to be dedicated to the run.
  • DC was lucky to have an eraser last year named Jojo....now his ineptness is showing.

Also learned that Northwestern is a much improved football team from last year. A win over them would have done wonders.

 
I learned that I'm okay with running the QB as long as both Thompson and Smothers are on the field at the same time. Smothers would play Assistant QB/Running Back/Flanker.

 
Hagg said:
Yeah.  And this is how you lose to a lousy or mediocre team:

Nebraska’s possessions after the onside kick nonsense that will live in infamy: punt, punt, interception, punt, punt, interception. Total plays: 23. Total yards: 85. Points: zero.

Northwestern possessions after being gifted a comeback opportunity: touchdown, punt, missed field goal, touchdown, punt, punt, ran out the clock. Total plays: 40. Total yards: 214. Points: 14.
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I didn't realize it was that bad.  And why in the 4th, we are losing we bring in all the walk ons.  I guess Omar Manning is injured or done playing football at NU.  Same with Rahmir.  All the pre-season hype and he was no where.

Didn't realize Mathis got 10 tackles.  Sad when the Edge rusher has that many with no sacks or TFL...IIRC

 
It's now the strategy of opposing coaches, and it's being spoken out loud: just hang in, play it safe and wait for Nebraska to self-destruct.

Don't point at any single player or play:  in the fourth quarter the Nebraska players and coaches stopped doing whatever they did well and lost as a team. 

New player from the portal? Coming from a more successful team? We're going to teach you how to lose. 

Do you know who might have tried that onside kick? Scott Frost's mentor, Chip Kelly. Except his would have been executed with speed and cunning and probably would have been successful, and had it failed Oregon would still have won by 17.

 
Guy Chamberlin said:
It's now the strategy of opposing coaches, and it's being spoken out loud: just hang in, play it safe and wait for Nebraska to self-destruct.

Don't point at any single player or play:  in the fourth quarter the Nebraska players and coaches stopped doing whatever they did well and lost as a team. 

New player from the portal? Coming from a more successful team? We're going to teach you how to lose. 

Do you know who might have tried that onside kick? Scott Frost's mentor, Chip Kelly. Except his would have been executed with speed and cunning and probably would have been successful, and had it failed Oregon would still have won by 17.
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Kelly would have done some film study as well, and known not to kick it right at a 5th year senior running back, too.

That was the dumbest call I've seen from a Husker staff since Callahan kept calling chuck and duck passes for Beau Davis down 56-10 in Lubbock.

 
I learned that Frost cannot win at Nebraska and this season will be the same as last one. We might win one or two more games and that is a best case scenario. 

 
Frost's onside kick call was so ill-timed, poorly executed and bound to reflect badly on the coach it almost makes you wonder........

Is he just in f-it mode? 

I"m of the opinion that had Frost not made that call, Northwestern would still have found a way to win, and Nebraska a way to lose.

Scott may have thought the same thing. 

 
Jeremy said:
Kelly would have done some film study as well, and known not to kick it right at a 5th year senior running back, too.

That was the dumbest call I've seen from a Husker staff since Callahan kept calling chuck and duck passes for Beau Davis down 56-10 in Lubbock.
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Speaking of film study, NW was 100% ready for the onside.  I am continually impressed by teams that look like they study and listen to their coaches.

That just tells you how bad Lincoln has been for so long.  

 
Guy Chamberlin said:
Frost's onside kick call was so ill-timed, poorly executed and bound to reflect badly on the coach it almost makes you wonder........

Is he just in f-it mode? 

I"m of the opinion that had Frost not made that call, Northwestern would still have found a way to win, and Nebraska a way to lose.

Scott may have thought the same thing. 
Click to expand...


Maybe all the "let it rip" has been a subconscious acronym message for his tenure.

Rest In Peace.  

 
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