The Hunt for Red October

tmfr15 said:
It really doesn't have anything to do with the players or the culture. It's about being able to make the decisions that result in ugly wins instead of head scratching losses. 

Against Minnesota, if you kick the FG at the end of the first half, it's tied. And you're leading 13-3 in the second half. If you put in the running back who is less likely to fumble and play field position, you win 13-3. Not exciting, but a win.

We threw a pick at the end of the first half. Fine. Still up 10-3. And would probably win by that count.

Play the RB that fumbles a lot and then the game is tied.

OK ... run the ball and play field position and you go to OT and maybe pull it out. Our physical play was getting to them. Heck, we might have got an FG and won in regulation with physical play on our last drive.

Instead, we throw a pick. And they walk it off.

Until we make decisions that result in ugly wins, we are going to suffer head scratching losses. 

FACTS
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It's pretty easy to figure out the correct decision after the fact though. I was nervous about Sims throwing into the end zone before the half, but to that point he had one turnover on a slightly overthrown ball. Nothing had screamed bad decision maker to that point, and with the amount of time left calling a "safe" pass play and settling for a field goal if it didn't work was the right call.

Agreed on Grant, that one I did question at the time. Not sure why it was him and not Ervin. It still took a facemask penalty caused by Lenhardt being held, dropped INT by Gifford in the end zone on third down, a missed false start, the best throw of Kaliakmanis's life, a serious misstep in coverage by Hartzog, and an incredible catch to lose the lead. Some of those were controllable by the players, some weren't. But it's not like the series of events went Grant fumble > game-tying TD - there were many opportunities for players to step up and stop it.

And I also don't have a problem playing to win. You can question whether Sims should have still been in there, or whether we should have been throwing it, but I don't think it was the wrong decision at the time. Overtime would have been in Minnesota's favor - both defense were playing well, and you start in position to kick a 42 yard field goal. Their kicker gets to kick at home, and isn't a true freshman playing in his first college game. And again, all decisions aside we had them 3rd and 13 with what would have been a 57 yard attempt, and let a draw go for 11 yards. Sure, with the benefit of hindsight you can put players in a better position to win. But they still had a lot of opportunities that the guys just didn't seize. 

 
Enhance said:
......... confidence to find a way to win October and go 3-1.
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October and go 3-1. October and go 2-1.  October 14 .... bye week.

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Yes, I get it lol. Thank you. There are only three games that actually happen on October dates.

If anybody else would like to point that out for me, may as well let it rip.

 
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tmfr15 said:
three, four, five....... all seven.

There is not a game left on the schedule that strikes fear in the hearts of anyone. Nebraska could win them all. Nebraska could lose them all since we get in our own way. I am seeing a run here that could take us all the way to 9-3 and a pretty decent bowl. Got to agree with  ...  TonyStalloni ... Now is the time to strike and get this done. With the additions to the BIG, it's going to be harder, and we need momentum.
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Just one nitpicky thing here I take a little issue with. We’re used to blaming bad results on the Huskers getting in their own way. For sure that is the way it has been in prior seasons but I have yet to see that being the issue this year….maybe the stupid play call of a QB sneak from the shotgun, with no push from behind against Michigan could be labeled getting in our own  way but that’s about it. The games we have lost this season is almost entirely attributable to not having any of the needed pieces on the O side of the ball. Not getting in our own way with stupid and ill timed penalties and overly poor coaching choices hasn’t been the issue. Somehow, for me anyway, losing because we just don’t have good enough QB, WRs and OL seems to be more palatable than pissing away games on stupid things. Like I said, nitpicky….

TBF, I can see how the turnovers in our first two losses could be considered getting in our own way. But I look at it as hey, we had a turnover machine playing QB, of course there were going to be turnovers. Not really unexpected or fringe occurrences.

 
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TGHusker said:
Yes, Rhule may have to pull a Deion in this era of NIL and transfers.  I hope the NIL money people have a lot of cash bags ready. 
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He does have a recruiting class that might reach 30 with only 9 scholarship seniors. Between last year and this upcoming season, Rhule is essentially going to do the same thing as coach Prime, just in two years instead of one. Presumably, they genuinely thought the team had a chance at making a bowl game, mostly because the schedule and the entirety of the B1G West is an embarrassment to P5 football.

If Nebraska is able to go 3-1 in the next 4 games to beat last seasons win total, it will go a long way in helping Rhule build the culture he wants. If they go lose Friday night, especially if it's a blowout, things will get ugly fast. 

 
Hooked on Huskers said:
And Terps .... more powerful than I initially thought.  Probably Mike Locksley will award Coach of the Year
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Maryland is a big case of 'look at who they've played'. Virginia is winless, Michigan State fired their HC, and Indiana just fired their OC, and might fire their HC at the end of the season. They play Ohio State next, and, well...

 
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