Game Planning...For Now and Later
9 comments so far
September 14, 2009 by
Today, much of the buzz about NU revolves around Niles Paul and Mike McNeill. This is for good reason, considering the "breakout" performances both had Saturday against Arkansas State. No doubt, the talent of each player was a major factor. Winning means you get your best players the ball. But it also comes down to match ups. The Husker coaches put those players in situations to exploit ASU's perceived weakness. The coaches might just have been showing this week's opponent - Virginia Tech - a few things on film to help with the game plan for this coming Saturday.
For Now: Exploit
To put it simply, great football game planning comes down to exploitation. You can put it a lot of ways - taking what they give you, going for the right match up, whatever - but it still boils down to finding a weakness and then exploiting it for victory. If they have a weak nose guard, then jam it down their throats, an undisciplined free safety means here comes the play action. A soft corner back? Throw at him all day.
Against Arkansas State, there was a reason that Niles Paul got more involved. The corner assigned to him was a weakness. Put that against Paul's overall ability, and out comes the 69-yard bomb. Too bad it got called back. That's also a reason why you saw McNeill, a tight end, lined up out wide to take advantage of the same mismatch. A 5'11'' guy against a 6'4'' guy usually ends up in 6 points.
This isn't chess. It's checkers. Shawn Watson double jumped where he could...through the air. So, "King" him.
For Later: Send a Message or Two
Don't think for a second that Nebraska hasn't been getting ready for Virginia Tech for a while, too. Coaches preach one game at a time. But, they know not all opponents are created equally. I think Pelini and company might have been getting ready for the Hokies some on Saturday, too.
McNeill presents a match up problem for the Hokies, and both sides know it. I doubt very much that first year starter Jake Johnson can handle one of the Big 12's best tight ends all day long. The film from the Husker side says loud and clear: "hey, look at this fella we've got." Virginia Tech must adjust how they handle the tight end, or suffer the consequences.
Then, NU must be coming up with a counter to that counter. If they commit a safety to helping keep McNeill from dominating between the hash marks, then it opens up options along the outside. (Helu on a wheel route, anyone?)That is where the "chess" part comes in.
The other bit of future game planning came when the Husker called that counter play for Niles Paul. No doubt, it was an attempt to get a great player a chance to make a play right then. Paul did as planned, and scored a great touchdown.
The play also sent a message to the Hokies' fast flowing defense. It says, your linebackers had better slow their flow, read their keys, and check back side. It said - don't let your ends crash too hard. Do any of that, and we have a speedy guy to gut you.
The play wasn't complicated, it's really just an old wing-back counter with better window dressing. But, putting it on film puts Bud Foster's defense on notice. Doing so will slow that flow and make it just a tad easier for the Huskers to run their regular offense with quarterback runs off the option and zone read.
Come Saturday, I don't expect Nebraska to leave too many tricks in the bag. But, they need to consider future conference foes, too. There is always some new game to plan and message to send.
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James Moore Sep 14 09
Fantastic article, and very well put. I could not agree more with the premise of this post, well done Mr. Carlson, job well done. . .
Well they WILL have to throw the ball to beat us, and we're going to have to prove that we can run the ball effectively to beat them. As a resident of Virginia, I can tell you that Virginia Tech has a problem developing QB's. Simply put they did not prepare Mr. Taylor to make plays against Alabama, or had no confidence in his ability to do so (he did throw 2 TD's for ALL of last year). For that matter they did not develop his predecessor either in Sean Glennon. Say what you will but both teams QB's are going to have to make plays for either side to win. The question ultimately becomes two folded. . .
(1) Which QB is bretter prepared to make plays
in his system?
(2) How do you think that Nebraska would do in
the ACC this year? If you believe that we
would have a good shot at winning it this
year, then you can expect us to play
pretty well this weekend in Blacksburg. . .
D Sep 14 09
I think the Huskers are like 3.5 pt underdog.
cvldfg Sep 14 09
Once again, not even one highlight on espn about NEBRASKA.
NEBRASKA is flying under the radar.
cvldfg Sep 14 09
Oh ya,
colorado with hawk and son....SUUUUUCCCKKKK!!!
Go any team playing cu.
Bill in Iowa Sep 14 09
I don't know if V Tech is going to have to throw the ball to beat us. From what I saw last Saturday, I am afraid our front seven isn't going to be effective against the run. I realize Compton and Fisher are the future at LB, they are fast and smart. However, I would have liked to see our 2 senior LB's get some reps in the past 2 games, namely Koehler and Dillard. Those two guys will fill a whole and stop a running back. I just am not impressed enough with Compton and Fisher to think they have earned the position over these two seniors. I don't want to start a debate, but if the front seven fail to stop the run on Saturday, people are going to be asking where in the heck are Dillard and Koehler?
spaceman spiff Sep 15 09
these past two games are perfect for new starters to cut teeth, learn, and get confidence. the seniors will get time i think, but this was needed experience in a position that needs depth.
tom Sep 15 09
Allowing Arkansas State to rush that much may not have been part of the game plan, but it was expected. We played both safties pretty high and I think Bo was expecting our linebackers to make the tackle on first contact. He didn't change the game plan because he wanted those young guys to learn that they need to bring someone down. There were very few gains 20 yards are more, but there were plenty in the 8-20 range. It's all part of the learning experience.
caveman99 Sep 15 09
Tom, I agree with about the Safeties being deep. I think Asante will be crashing the box hard vs. VT, that will help against the run.
Darren, good article! I was thinking the same thing watching highlights of the games. The other thing I think is that the coaches showed that NU can beat you running OR throwing. They let Zac show off a bit and hopefully that gives pause to VT stuffing the box. Man I am geeked!!
Grant Sep 15 09
I do believe the NU staff has held their cards close to the vest up to this point. The running attack has been very simple zone schemes, passing attack has been fundamental. Yes, they threw some wrinkles in last week, and I agree w/ Darren as to the benefits, but I also believe of their 320 plays or whatever, only 30 have been used up to this point.
I truly expect (or maybe I am just really hoping for) NU to get Kyler Reed more involved on Saturday. Not much of him on film to this point (which is good for NU), but if McNeil is a match up nightmare defenses, try doing it against a guy w/ more speed and burst like Reed! He has been and weapon not yet taken advantage of up to this point.
Another thing I expect...dink and dunk. Yeah, we don't like it, as Taylor and Keller made a living off of it and it's not as exciting as throwing one for 70 yds, but Va Tech is so fundamentally sound on defense, that I think the backs will get more touches catching this week. Helu and Burkhead in open space is a good thing for NU.
Front seven need to bring their "A" game on Saturday. Suh will have a big day, but the other 6 need to have equally big days. Blackshirts have also been very basic up to this point. Pelini showed a small amount of blitz schemes Sat., but not much. I think they might open the playbook just a bit more against Va Tech. Don't need to be too fancy, as Va Tech's offense is good b/c it's fundamental, but I think a few more plays w/ 5-6 guys rushing vs 4 will be in order.