Glenn Baker Oct 21 09

Steve,
I remember the game in the 90's we lost to ISU to ruin our hopes for a championship and that NU team was better than this one this year so ISU has been a spoiler but not this time. I believe NU is going to come out and crush ISU and wish they were playing anyone else. I have complete faith in Bo and his crew to right the ship. I get upset at all the talk about firing this coordinator, changing things around. People have such a short memory. Bo is a still a new head coach and is still learning. I believe he has already talked to Dr. Tom about this very situation. CU and OSU gave a gift to NU by beating our other Big 12 North foes and Bo will take full advantage of it. Keep the faith Husker fans and GBR!!

James Moore Oct 21 09

Gosh if anyone says to fire Coach Pelini it might be one of the most disappointing moments in my memory as a Husker fan. It's been a challenge intellectually for me this week, football-wise. I've flipped flopped and I think I'm a PIG now. I remember Zac Taylor a few years write during the middle of the 2007 debacle that if someone could ever come into Coach Callahan's (de facto Coach Watson's) offensive system and go all 4/5 years there that this QB would be in control of, and at the helm of a formidable offensive system. Maybe it's Mr. Green's time. The defense can carry him for the next two games (I think they're up for it and in some ways looking forward to the challenge), and I'm not so sure that Mr. Lee would do any better against Oklahoma (vis-a-vis Virginia Tech or Missouri) or Mr. Green would play any worse than Mr. Lee. I don't think that our WR's will be able to separate off the line consistently against Oklahoma (or Texas) so making plays out of the pocket and buying time become even more critical. Get him game time now, so that he goes into next year with some sharper teeth and a little less time to travel on the learning curve. . .

Iowa State is a better team this year than last. Of that there's no doubt. Having said that a loss or another repeat of the 105 snap performance of 2007 would be catistrophic. We need to put Texas Tech behind us and put away Iowa State. It's business time (not in the spirit of The Flight of The Conchordes) and we have to put on the hard hats and get back to work. A clean, reduced penalty, non-mental error game is required. A steady ground game with efficiency from the offense is in order. These guys have to get a conference game under their belt with clean assignments from the offense this week. . .

P.S. Somebody needs to break into the training table and pee into our O-Line's Cheerios. Maybe that'll fire them up. . .

bnahusker Oct 21 09

I'm beginning to wonder about the "Multiple" offense. Concerned might be a better word.

I won't pretend to have Coach Watson's skill or knowledge but I must ask..........

Are we trying to be good at too many things at the cost of being great at one and, at minimum, accpetable at others?

I'm just wondering.

GBR Forever!

Bob

James Moore Oct 21 09

And one last thing that's REALLY bugged me is (assuming that the call from the sideline, signaled to the offense, and called out inside the huddle was a designated lateral) that when a lateral is called and you drop it how is it that you just STOP on the play? THAT worries me the most, more than any one play I've seen this year. I don't know how a lateral is called and when it's dropped everyone doesn't have the awareness to know that it's a LIVE ball. . .

Bill in Iowa Oct 21 09

There is no way we are losing to Iowa State. Zach Lee will have plenty of time in the pocket and bounce back with good numbers. The problem is teams that match up well w/ our o-line and apply pressure. We have got to have a better game plan than zone read every other play with a QB that isn't run threat. If I remember right, we would occasionally have Ganz run a bootleg to avoid pressure and throw downfield. Those plays are still in the playbook among the 300 other plays. I also have read articles that we are bringing back the heavy tightend sets. I think thats good news. I look for solid offensive production this weekend.

kw Oct 21 09

I always get a little peeved at some of the idiotic comments that get posted after a loss. Like the one's calling for Pelini's head. I still think he is the right guy. Just look at what our defense has done. What really gets me is all the talk about Pelini's temper. It's football! It's a violent sport. As far as I'm concerned, a head coach should be like a drill sargent. Osborne was the exception. A true rarety. So stop trying to make him as the mold for every coach we have. Devaney was an emotional guy and it worked for him. Why do we hold our coaches to a standard we can't uphold ourselves? You don't want a coach to show emotion but we can boo players/coaches/refs at games? Does that make any sense? I'd be lying if I said I wasn't concerned about Watson and his play calling. And that's not just coming from this year. But give Pelini a chance. We gave Callahan more than two years. If we keep calling for coaches heads every two years, no one is going to want to come to Nebraksa. Personally, I like the guys fire.

kw Oct 21 09

My post wasnt' directed at anyone, or in reference to anything in the article or other's comments. I was just ranting from different articles and posts I've read this week.

PSW Oct 21 09

I think we can take ISU to the woodshed. Problem is that if Zac starts and has a good game he will start at Baylor and probably do well against the Big XII's lower tier. Then OU comes to town and if this offense is as ineffective as it has been against other top notch defenses then we will be back having the same discussion about the offense and Lee in particular. If Wats is set on running the zone read then Green should be running it. Even in heavy sets we should have Green hand the ball off. He is a far more gifted athlete and runner than Lee and will give defenses a different set of problems. With Helu clearly being limited defenses are sending 8-9 players into the box and daring Lee to beat them. He hasn't done it. I was not a PIG before last week but I am a PIG now...

Scott Oct 21 09

Did anyone ever stop to think that maybe NU is just an average team this year? This team is missing a lot more than consistency at QB. Poor blocking, balls dropped, penalties, stupid penalties I might add, injuries, lack of depth at RB.

We're not there yet. We're not back. Not even close. A record of 8-4 and even 7-5 are serious possibilities at this point of the season. I don't see this team as a Big 12 North championship caliber team, not yet anyway.

PSW Oct 21 09

Scott,
With a defense that good all it would take is to get a serviceable offense and we could do some damage this year. If the offense doesn't get its act together against top tier teams then we may end up just an average team but this defense is not average...

caveman99 Oct 21 09

Offensive woes or not, it won't take more than 17 points to beat ISU. I feel pretty confident that the offense will get at least 24 in this one if they have another bad day.

caveman99 Oct 21 09

Offensive woes or not, it won't take more than 17 points to beat ISU. I feel pretty confident that the offense will get at least 24 in this one if they have another bad day.

Greg Morrow Oct 21 09

Offensively, the T-Tech game was like the Mizzou game- just without the 4th quarter "explosion." Both teams have had similiar success, the last 6 or 7, so that makes them fairly equal talent wise, including coaching performance. Though logically, the Red Raiders and their "Pirate" have been constistently better.

The 'Clones though, can't fall into that category, defensively. If Nebraska can't run their offense, the whole schmolie repertoire and defense provided field position and Henery's toe have to win it...
I'm not even going to imagine that scenario. I'll leave imagery like that to the professionals, like J.K. Rowling and Steven Spielberg.

I don't like to watch players having to answer for losses, but I do read something into Lee's press video. He indicated things were working- the process was working, but, no breakout plays. Which means, the offense is again being read and defenders aren't being caught out of position. At least not enough for things to start clickin'.
It's only happened every year, in this offense.

Welp, maybe the offense will hit stride by the Kansas game and Nebraska can hold it down against the Clones and the Bears, until then.
Then again, will the Corn have a front line I-Back who can run, catch AND pass protect, by Kansas? Or even the same Quarterback?

Hey, I'm patient. Then entire program still has to grow. Real growth comes incrementally.

Craig Betz Oct 21 09

I dont think it is Zach lees falt. We dont know how to run our offense yet. When you have a defense this good your offense does not have to score 50 pts a game. We need to slow it down offensivly, creep the ball down the field score and let the defense come back and get us the ball back. We have the best defense in the big 12 and probably one of the best in the nation. Our offense has got to give them a breather and run some time off that clock. We are not a rythm type of offense, never were and we still aren't. Need to take our time. If we win by 1 or 100 it doesnt matter. A win is a win. Thats my arm chair (or bar stool in my case) quarterback thoughts.

Huskerinindia Oct 21 09

I feel we need the better qb to start (green). However, one thing bothers me. Zac is NOT a bad QB. He is a really good one. A really good pocket passer. But that is not good enough in college. When we protect him he is golden. Remember the sun-belt games? The problem is that our O-line is like dengue fever in the middle of a cholera epidemic against equal competition.
So yes, we need Green to run and/ or make plays. But that is partially unfair to Lee. Watson KNEW of Lee's capabilities. So taking him out is throwing him under the bus.
Fire up the Jones'. I am sure if they made the grades to UNL, they can count-down to the play.

Evaluate Lee controlling for O-line performance. But if u compromize QB running plays because of Lee, then let the better QB start.

Huskerinindia Oct 21 09

I feel we need the better qb to start (green). However, one thing bothers me. Zac is NOT a bad QB. He is a really good one. A really good pocket passer. But that is not good enough in college. When we protect him he is golden. Remember the sun-belt games? The problem is that our O-line is like dengue fever in the middle of a cholera epidemic against equal competition.
So yes, we need Green to run and/ or make plays. But that is partially unfair to Lee. Watson KNEW of Lee's capabilities. So taking him out is throwing him under the bus.
Fire up the Jones'. I am sure if they made the grades to UNL, they can count-down to the play.

Evaluate Lee controlling for O-line performance. But if u compromize QB running plays because of Lee, then let the better QB start.

Bill Kerr Oct 22 09

I personally think the struggles against TT were very different than the struggles against Mizzou.

Mizzou
Bad Weather, Bad Offense for 3 quarters... OK weather and good offense in 4th.

Tech
Watson got out-coached and out-called, and Lee completely lost his testicles.

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
Work from power sets and COMMIT to running the ball. Impose your will... or AT LEAST make your consistent intent known... and run play-action when the safeties start coming up or get replaced with linebackers.

Run the ball, and keep trying it. The Blackshirts are good enough to keep us in the game in the meantime... as long as we do not spot them points like we have been doing.

Think McNeil and Young can get open against a linebacker?

Yeah, me too.

Enough of the "take what they give us" mentality. Take what you want... and then take it from them again.

Rick Oct 23 09

I do like Nebraska, I always have since I was young. On the other hand I am more of a ISU fan for the biggest reason I graduated from there. To my point I would like to say Nebraska should not take ISU lightly because many of the Nebraska fans and critics are treating this weeks game as an easy win for Nebraska. Got to remember the Cyclones are one the most improved teams in the Big 12 and college division 1 football this year. They have one the strongest offenses in the Big 12 epecially in rushing. They also only allowed their QB to sacked 3 times this year which is low for any team. Even with Austen Arnaud is having problems with his passing hand he can still be pretty effective on the running game. Our defense has greatly improved this year from last years averages for points they allowed scored by the opposing team in a game. ISU has played effectively against every team they have played except against the Iowa disaster. They where one point from winning against KS and 5 points away from KU. We did great good over all Baylor last week in all areas except kicking. I think ISU is due up for a win, narrow win, this Saturday in Lincoln. You cant over look the small things that ISU has acomplished or continuing doing that have been effective for this team this year. ISU is going to come into this game swinging and playing like a team with nothing to loose. This is not your regular ISU football team this year were you can suspect an easy win. Win or loose ISU will give Nebraska a run for their money tomorrow in Lincoln.

Mark Oct 23 09

I do like Nebraska, I always have since I was young. On the other hand I am more of a ISU fan for the biggest reason I graduated from there. To my point I would like to say Nebraska should not take ISU lightly because many of the Nebraska fans and critics are treating this weeks game as an easy win for Nebraska. Got to remember the Cyclones are one the most improved teams in the Big 12 and college division 1 football this year. They have one the strongest offenses in the Big 12 epecially in rushing. They also only allowed their QB to sacked 3 times this year which is low for any team. Even with Austen Arnaud is having problems with his passing hand he can still be pretty effective on the running game. Our defense has greatly improved this year from last years averages for points they allowed scored by the opposing team in a game. ISU has played effectively against every team they have played except against the Iowa disaster. They where one point from winning against KS and 5 points away from KU. We did great good over all Baylor last week in all areas except kicking. I think ISU is due up for a win, narrow win, this Saturday in Lincoln. You cant over look the small things that ISU has acomplished or continuing doing that have been effective for this team this year. ISU is going to come into this game swinging and playing like a team with nothing to loose. This is not your regular ISU football team this year were you can suspect an easy win. Win or loose ISU will give Nebraska a run for their money tomorrow in Lincoln.