Husker Coordinators
- Thread starter Mavric
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Mavric
Yoda
Stumpy1
New member
They weren't that different. All the throws that TA was making in some games, he was missing in others. He WAS that inconsistent.
Mav is making it sound like we completely went away from the throws that TA was making earlier in the year and that is just plain false. Those same throws were there but TA wasn't hitting them.
Mav is making it sound like we completely went away from the throws that TA was making earlier in the year and that is just plain false. Those same throws were there but TA wasn't hitting them.
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Mavric
Yoda
No. They really weren't.
How many times did we throw 20+ yards downfield against Ohio State? Against Iowa?
How many times did we throw 20+ yards downfield against Oregon, Northwestern, Illinois, Minnesota and Maryland?
It was not the same pass plays being called. Langsdorf even said that was the plan against Ohio State - to try to beat them deep. Just because you don't want to believe it doesn't mean it's incorrect.
How many times did we throw 20+ yards downfield against Ohio State? Against Iowa?
How many times did we throw 20+ yards downfield against Oregon, Northwestern, Illinois, Minnesota and Maryland?
It was not the same pass plays being called. Langsdorf even said that was the plan against Ohio State - to try to beat them deep. Just because you don't want to believe it doesn't mean it's incorrect.
ColoradoHusk
Donor
One of the things I first heard about Langsdorf's and Riley's offense is that they like the QB to read from deep to shallow. So, if Armstrong's first read is the deep pass and he sees one on one coverage, he is more likely to throw that deep pass. Yes, it is on Armstrong to hit that deep pass, but he may be following Langsdorf's/Riley's offense.
Another thing about the Iowa game is that Armstrong was very injured with his hamstring. When he first injured his hamstring, the word is that he would probably be out for the remainder of the year. He probably wouldn't have played against Iowa if Fyfe hadn't broke his hand. Armstrong may not play the bowl game, his hamstring is that bad. If Armstrong can't get his legs into his throws, it's no wonder that he was more inaccurate against Iowa than he usually is.
Another thing about the Iowa game is that Armstrong was very injured with his hamstring. When he first injured his hamstring, the word is that he would probably be out for the remainder of the year. He probably wouldn't have played against Iowa if Fyfe hadn't broke his hand. Armstrong may not play the bowl game, his hamstring is that bad. If Armstrong can't get his legs into his throws, it's no wonder that he was more inaccurate against Iowa than he usually is.
Mavric
Yoda
Here are screen grabs of our first 10 pass plays against Minnesota - that's over a third of the passes we threw for the game. Sorry the quality isn't great but I just grabbed a shot of the intended receiver and as many other receivers as I could get in the frame. TA completed over 70% of his passes this game.
As you can see, non of them is a bomb down the field. They are all outs, curls and screens. It's not that TA choose to throw short. It's that there wasn't an option to throw the deep ball so he HAD to throw it short. This is in stark contrast to games like Ohio State where Langsdorf said specifically that the game plan was to throw deep because they thought they could beat Ohio State over the top. I never heard him say that but my suspicion is that the Iowa game plan was much the same thinking.
If someone would like to do the research and find in those high-completion-percentage games that there were a bunch of options to throw deep but TA was choosing instead to throw short, I'd be interested to see it. But I don't think you'll find it.
As you can see, non of them is a bomb down the field. They are all outs, curls and screens. It's not that TA choose to throw short. It's that there wasn't an option to throw the deep ball so he HAD to throw it short. This is in stark contrast to games like Ohio State where Langsdorf said specifically that the game plan was to throw deep because they thought they could beat Ohio State over the top. I never heard him say that but my suspicion is that the Iowa game plan was much the same thinking.
If someone would like to do the research and find in those high-completion-percentage games that there were a bunch of options to throw deep but TA was choosing instead to throw short, I'd be interested to see it. But I don't think you'll find it.
TAKODA
New member
Mav, I appreciate the level of research you do when you are providing your view point and while I think TA is a baller, you only have to look to last years Illinois game to see that TA has problems making the right decisions. I am not saying that Langs is the second coming, but I truely believe, when he gets a QB behind center that recognizes his philosophy and has the accuracy to implement his philosophy, you will see a giant stride in our offensive production.
The majority of plays called by Langs or any OC for that matter, typically has a clause in it (reads done by the QB). Also, someone mentioned 'touch' herein, and that has been a weak spot for TA since he stepped on the field. His trajectory is low (knocked down passes by D linemen) and he rifles a majority of his pass attempts (even short ones, which are uncatchable by the human hand).
Again, not trying to bash on TA but he is what he appears to be. Yes, he is a great athelete who gives us 110%.
The majority of plays called by Langs or any OC for that matter, typically has a clause in it (reads done by the QB). Also, someone mentioned 'touch' herein, and that has been a weak spot for TA since he stepped on the field. His trajectory is low (knocked down passes by D linemen) and he rifles a majority of his pass attempts (even short ones, which are uncatchable by the human hand).
Again, not trying to bash on TA but he is what he appears to be. Yes, he is a great athelete who gives us 110%.
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Making Chimichangas
Banned
I do not doubt that was the game plan.
But why would the "game-plan" be so utterly stupid and basically give our offense, and team, almost no chance to win? (I guess I am asking rhetorically because only Langsdorf truly knows.)
Throwing the ball 40 or more yards down field is a very low percentage play as is.
But to repeatedly try that against one of the most talented teams, and defenses, in the country? Just made no sense whatsoever.
Stumpy1
New member
You do realize that it could be the same play called with a route adjusted here or there for a certain look. It happens all the time. Beck was notorious for doing it.
Mavric
Yoda
Is that what it looks like to you in the screen grabs I posted? Or should be just keep speculating?
NUance
New member
Mavric
Yoda
I generally agree with your points. I've said since TA became the starter that he was terrible at decision-making. That's why I have given Langs credit for calling several games that basically took that decision-making out of TA's hands and forced the short throws. I just don't know why we went away from that in other games.
I've also said I'll give Langs more time with an actual QB to work with. That's why he's not on my check-list in this thread. I don't dislike the general design of his offense. My worry is that he doesn't really put it to the best use. He really wants to throw the ball. And I'm not necessarily opposed to that, especially if we're completing mid-60%. But I don't think he has much feel for how to call the run game. And I think he'll be more prone to abandon the running game when he has a passing game that is more effective. Which will work in a lot of games because we have more talent than most teams we play. But I don't know if that will deliver championship-level football in the B1G in November.
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husker98
New member
because we wanted to win that's why. Against those other teams we needed to open it up and hope for something good to happen. Because those secondary's would have shut that short simple stuff down easy. Langs wanted to call a more complicated air attack but armstrongs inexperience and aggressive decision making made a bad situation worse.
Mavric
Yoda
That's a lot of speculation on your part. What are the better passing attacks that Iowa shut down this year? How many above average passing teams did Ohio State play?
And considering those choices led to the worst blowouts of the year - one of the worst in school history in one case - it would seem that they were misguided.