What Did We Learn - Wisconsin Edition

I learned that while DC White has had two years of really solid defenses, he will still call some real head scratchers. Wisconsin’s last TD came on a long pass in an obvious passing situation with no over the top safety help against a speedy WR. Our DBs have struggled this year and he continues to put them in situations that limit their opportunities to be successful and not get beat deep 

 
And maybe we’re over excited about that elusive 6th win, but I feel like this is getting over that proverbial hump. And we’re all still here. Good job you’s 




If they beat Iowa it would be a huge confidence boost for the players. It'd tell them they can win. I have to keep reminding myself they've never had a winning season in college.

 
I feel like Holgorsen had Raiola getting the ball out fast on quick outs. So we were attacking the outside edge of the flat to the wideouts in ways we haven't really done that often this season.

Those plays were often just getting 3 yards as they were little curls or come backs. But we either got the three yards or we dropped the pass, as opposed to the little dinks to the inside/middle of the flat where we'd often get tackled for no gain because the play needed blocking or was on a bit of a delay.


God yes, in the middle of the 'screen for no gain' madness, I kept wondering "Do we not have any quick passes in the playbook that aren't screens?" Like if you throw it a little past the line, even if the receiver gets tackled right away you at least get a little positive yardage out of it.

 
Football, basketball, and volleyball all having huge wins this weekend. Has to feel good for the players with the excitement and culture developing around the athletic department. I bet it’s fun to be an athlete at Nebraska right now. That should pay some dividends. 

 
But this was the biggest change from my point of view.  We got DR to get the ball out of his hands, take the yards that were there and keep the chains moving.  He's had receivers open, he just wouldn't throw to them.  He was today.

That and we finally figured out that EJ was the best option and should get a lot of touches.


I don't think this can be overstated.  The quick passing game Undone touched on has been missing from this offense.  It helps get the passing game in a rhythm and it's taxing to a pass rush.  Taking the check downs and showing poise in the pocket is what we saw from DR early.  There's definitely been some paralysis through analysis.  It's too easy to excuse that on him being a Fre QB, you have to break him out of that with confidence throws.  Development may not be linear, but he had regressed.  

I noticed Jeudy in the SR video, I hope he's back.  W/o scrutinizing his play too hard, he's looked pretty solid to me this season, and I thought he was listed as a JR.  

I thought Mazzccua would have a bigger impact this year, but I never imagined he could play LT in any capacity, and he's been respectable there.  Kudos to him.  

 
Rhule is a horrible game manager but to his credit he did something that I never thought he would do mid season. His move to replace a coach mid season is something that Frost never had the stones to do. It is amazing what a competent coach with experience can do in three weeks. He can unleash talent that has been there all along but never taken advantage off. The offense today was the best I have seen in a long while. The fact that Rhule is willing to make some tough decisions to win games is promising. If he can learn how to manage the clock, use timeouts correctly, and learn when to challenge, he might still have a chance to turn things around. If anything, bringing in Dana might be the reason why Raiola and some other guys stay and do not turn to the transfer portal. Sometimes it takes a fresh start to examine what talent we have and how to use it. Satt never understood the talent he has and how to utilize it. The way Dana used Dowdell and EJ today was there all season yet Satt kept doing the same exact crap and expecting different results. 
 

Now, if we can get Tony White a “consultant”, we might have a good season next year. 
 

And we must acknowledge the slight but evident improvement in special teams. At least we have a kicker now.

 
I learned that while DC White has had two years of really solid defenses, he will still call some real head scratchers. Wisconsin’s last TD came on a long pass in an obvious passing situation with no over the top safety help against a speedy WR. Our DBs have struggled this year and he continues to put them in situations that limit their opportunities to be successful and not get beat deep 
There was a safety at the snap (looks like Gifford? hard to tell - I would need to see the all 22). It looks like he gets caught with his eyes in the backfield, either that or he and/or one of the other defensive backs didn't pick up the right reads. But there was definitely a defensive back deep in the middle. He just doesn't drop into coverage.

IMO it's unfair to definitively put that on White without knowing the play call and each defender's assignment.

 
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There was a safety at the snap (looks like Gifford? hard to tell - I would need to see the all 22). It looks like he gets caught with his eyes in the backfield, either that or he and/or one of the other defensive backs didn't pick up the right reads. But there was definitely a defensive back deep in the middle. He just doesn't drop into coverage.

IMO it's unfair to definitively put that on White without knowing the play call and each defender's assignment.
The game against Iowa will tell us a lot about Tony white’s defense. If defense plays well next two games, he is worth another chance next year. If not, I would like us to open the check book and get an excellent defensive coordinator for next year. 

 
Haven’t read this thread yet. I will tomorrow but my take away is:

get plays in, snap the f’ing ball, have a sense of urgency, just play f’ing football, go where they ain’t, fly around, have fun, run the ball, throw to open people…wtf like really wtf have we been doing for 6 weeks?  
or 8 yrs.  Play f’ing football, finally. 
 

finally finally a sense of urgency and just lining up and playing ball. WISC might be a bad team but that’s what we should do to bad teams. We have sat on our hands for near a decade. Let’s play some f’ing urgent football.

 
There was a safety at the snap (looks like Gifford? hard to tell - I would need to see the all 22). It looks like he gets caught with his eyes in the backfield, either that or he and/or one of the other defensive backs didn't pick up the right reads. But there was definitely a defensive back deep in the middle. He just doesn't drop into coverage.

IMO it's unfair to definitively put that on White without knowing the play call and each defender's assignment.
Our safeties our limited athletically. 8 and 2 hit hard when they get there. But neither are fleet of foot and both take bad angles. There is no reason for 2 to look at the in route/post (can’t remember exactly the route) in that game/score situation. Him letting someone behind him there is inexcusable. 

 
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