Underdog against Purdue
- Thread starter timmytbro
- Start date
Dansker
New member
You definitely can't disrupt their routes being 10 yards off the LOS but if we get aggressive and move our DB's we can (legally) do that within 5 yards. Whether or not our defensive staff is willing to do that remains to be seen. I'd love to see it happen and I think their QB would struggle to get the ball off. That extra second or two of overthinking it might free up the pass rush, IMO.
Xmas32
New member
This line is utterly bizarre. I would think it's going to end up around 4 or so. As long as Purdue rolls out Sindelar @ QB Nebraska should be ok. David Blough has looked like crap this year but has rolled up huge stats in his last couple starts v. Nebraska. I don't need Brohm rolling Blough out there for a 'get right' game. I do expect Purdue to be up for Nebraska, they have an outside shot at bowl eligibility this year and stubbed their toe last week. That being said, it's the old hunter v. hunted mentality. Purdue is expected to win this game. How that translates into game performance will be interesting. I would think Nebraska will have a spirited week of practice and come out ready to play. I mean, their a underdog versus Purdue!! If there is any pride left on this team we'll see it. This is going to set the barometer for the last 5 games of the season and ultimately Riley's career at Nebraska. If the kids want Riley around, they'll win and win handily this Saturday. If not...well...let's just say hide yo wife and hide yo kids when Nebraska goes to Penn State.
No. It's all data modeling, and not much of a secret at this point. Fact is, while the record is the same, they've out scored their opponents and we haven't, and scoring margin is key in many models.
Dansker
New member
I just don't agree with leaving the DB's on an island 10-15 yards from the LOS playing man. You're asking to get beat underneath which I guess is what Diaco's strategy is. The problem I have with that strategy is we haven't been tackling all that great in open space. This was evident against Ohio State.
If Purdue comes out dinking and dunking it underneath, and our secondary is getting beat then we have a serious systemic problem. Then it becomes the same issue of Mike Riley getting out coached again. My biggest concern in our coverage is we leave the middle of the field open more often than I'd like to see.
A good passing QB will tear us apart over the middle where we're vulnerable. Fortunately, Purdue's struggling there but how many times have we made opposing QBs look like Heisman candidates with unbelievable stats?
We're both sitting here, on a public message board, saying "this is what they do, this is how you stop it".....this is not an opponent that presents a complex problem that can't be solved with 2 weeks preparation. They run what they do because that's what their personnel allows them to. They'll have some trick plays, throwback passes and such but it's mostly shallow crosses, short hooks, screens...lots of underneath routes that can be disrupted at the LOS...and that's what Wisconsin and Michigan did.
You won't find an opponent that more clearly says, do this and win the game. But the Riley era hasn't been one of adapting to the opponent and conditions, has it?
ladyhawke
Donor
If you go over to one of the Purdue message boards you would think they had already lost their next game! It's a mirror image of the hand wringing, 'sky is falling' sentiments you read in this thread. For example:
"It seems whenever Purdue is favored, line was 8, they fail miserably! If this game was a preview of things to come, the remainder of the season will not be good!"
They have a mobile quarterback, Blough, who they think is going to start. However, he's interception prone so who knows.
The facts are before us: We. Can. Win. This. Game. but reading this thread you would think we've already lost it!
"It seems whenever Purdue is favored, line was 8, they fail miserably! If this game was a preview of things to come, the remainder of the season will not be good!"
They have a mobile quarterback, Blough, who they think is going to start. However, he's interception prone so who knows.
The facts are before us: We. Can. Win. This. Game. but reading this thread you would think we've already lost it!
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They actually had one of their best games against Rutgers, they just didn't score much off of it. You won't find many games that is further apart between what happened and the final score. Rutgers had 2 plays that accounted for half their yardage, Purdue marched up and down the field all day. It's a strange game sometimes.
You know VV I agree that the big difference between Purdue and Nebraska us the coaching and instruction. Purdue is well coached and the players know their roles. This is a problem with this Nebraska team they are not well coached and they don't know their roles. But, this is not a recent problem. I think this goes back to basically 2004 up to present.
Warrior
Donor
Hayseed
New member
Sounds like it’s gonna be ‘Charlie blew the bridge’ on this one-(referring to Major Payne story)
Please tell me what the ordinary pro linebacker coach Mean Bo Pelini did that was so unusual and disqualified him from coaching Nebraska?
I get the feeling some of us would not be okay with Mike Ditka coaching.
Undone
New member
I do think that Bo left the cupboards bare with talent on defense from his last two recruiting classes. That has hampered Riley in big ways that our fan base either isn't really aware of or doesn't want to admit. You see it on the field and it seems glaringly obvious.
The problem seems to be Diaco. The move to fire Banker was exactly the right move. But Diaco's scheme isn't working in this conference, just as Bo's defense never transitioned to being really good against the run after we entered into a new conference that largely plays a different style of offense by most teams. Scheme-wise and philosophy-wise, I am extremely concerned about Diaco.
I do see the potential on offense if our line could improve and if Bryant were to make a recovery with his knee issues. Both of those things don't seem super likely to happen next year, but it could happen.