With Burkhead down Watson's load gets heavier
13 comments so far
October 13, 2009 by
It's never fun to write about injuries. Out of necessity and self-preservation you're forced to take a "who's next" approach and move on. It's much like reading Cormac McCarthy novels: Life is a steady vacillation between periods of triumph and periods of mourning but in the end the only constant is that life keeps happening.
But Rex Burkhead, the person, makes this latest news particularly difficult to swallow. He came to Nebraska with all the hype and statistics of a schoolboy legend and he made good on that promise by being impossible to redshirt following the departure of Quentin Castille.
That was enough to whet our appetites for his future as a Husker, but once he stepped on the field he immediately became one, the latest incarnation of the values so many associate with the football program at Nebraska. More than the four-star flashes of brilliance Husker fans saw, it was the way he always seemed to fall forward for an extra yard, the way he never went down on first contact, the way he took a huge hit at Missouri and popped right up that earned him the ultimate praise: Rex Burkhead is tough.
And now he's gone..."for a while." Who's next?
I love Burkhead as much as the next guy but forget the name for a moment and let's look at what exactly Nebraska lost with this latest injury: 4.6 carries/game, 1.8 catches/game, 23.6 rushing yards/game, and 13.2 receiving yards/game.
The point here is not minimize Burkhead's contribution. When he got the ball he was good--his 5.13 yards per carry will be very hard to replace--but he didn't get it much. That's the point. Losing Rex didn't create a weakness for Nebraska, it only highlighted one.
You didn't really think the Huskers would get through the season using only two running backs did you? Of course not. Too much wear, too much tear. Depth was really what Nebraska lost when Castille was dismissed and, as pointless as it is to even mention it, his ghost continues to haunt the Huskers. Could he have made a difference at Virginia Tech? Would Nebraska have been more likely to run against Missouri with a healthy big back? Would he make it easier to employ a similar time of possession attack against Texas Tech this week? Yes, I assume, and yes.
None of that, however, has any relevance for the Huskers here and now. More than the lineup of guys waiting to replace Burkhead, this injury probably effects Shawn Watson the most. You could argue that the offense was walking a pretty thin line with the load Helu was being asked to carry and there's some evidence that we've seen that influence already. Against Virginia Tech it was like Nebraska didn't even have a backup running back and, with Helu reportedly ailing to at least some extent, Nebraska basically played without one last week at Missouri.
So now that Nebraska actually is without a backup running back and one unlucky tackle or turned ankle away from losing their workhorse, what will Watson's offense look like? Roy Helu's been the best back in the Big 12 and he'll still get his carries, but did Nebraska just become a pass-first outfit?
That's a scary proposition. Not because of Lee's struggles or some shaky receiver play but because Missouri provided the blueprint last Thursday for beating Nebraska and that blueprint reads: "Make Nebraska use the vertical passing game."
I don't pretend to know why Nebraska threw so much last week when everything screamed run, but from what we've seen early this season Watson was already operating like Helu was the only person authorized to run the football.
Burkhead provided at least some insurance in case of emergency but his injury only brings the existing question into clearer focus: How long can they keep it up?
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Huskerdeck Oct 13 09
I am so sick of hearing about Castille. Other than the Clemson game he did not show me much. Last night on FSN they had last year's TT-Husker game on and when we needed a big 1st down with about a yard to go he got stuffed and I saw a lot of that last year and also the fumbles. Here are his stats at Northwestern St. this year and they sure don't blow me away, take away the Grambling game and you don't have much.
Castille, Q. RB..... 63-218/1 Houston 8-12/0 Grambling State 18-114/1 North Dakota 15-36/0 Baylor 8-7/0 Central Arkansas 14-49/0
I think our backs can do it, if Wats just gives them a chance.
nebrascal Oct 13 09
I gotta think that Watson doesn't call run more 'cause he doesn't believe it'll succeed more.
Brandon Oct 13 09
Huskerdeck,
I agree with you regarding Castille, but his dismissal changed the look of this season. Even if he wasn't great he would've ate up some carries being competent.
Nebrascal,
You may be right. It might be as simple as that, but Helu's numbers don't necessarily bear that out. He HAS been successful which makes me believe that they're keenly aware that, without a proven backup option they trust enough to carry it 15 times, they can't just ride Helu for 30 totes.
WyHuskerFan Oct 13 09
It is perplexing that Watson sticks with "I'll take what the defense gives," mode instead of dictating what the defense must defend. Maybe that's the path of least resistance, but I recall a legendary coach saying basically you go with what your good at regardless of what your opponent is good at defending. While this worked for NU in the rushing heydays, it also pointed out a weakness of the system, which was the inability to pass when forced to pass. I suppose I like the run game because its physical and wears the defense out. It also demoralizes a defense to have the ball crammed down their throat when it works consistently, and that's what's missing from the current scheme. This offense has no identity and probably by design. Multiple? What does that mean? With the next two games at home the Huskers can settle the issue on the field with solid wins however they get them done.
GBR!
Brandon Oct 13 09
WyHuskerFan,
Darren and I were just discussing this earlier today. The bit that gets lost in translation from college to the pros with the WCO IS playing to your strengths. In the NFL, where the talent is great across the board and relatively constant it makes sense to find a weakness and attack it while being as unpredictable as possible.
But talent at the college level is wildly disparate and changing every single year as one class leaves and another arrives. It makes more sense, to me, to play to your strengths in that scenario.
Nebraska doesn't have an offensive identity, by design, and the evidence that that sort of approach works in college is pretty scarce. Eventually, you're simply going to have to line up and beat someone.
Denny Kerwin Oct 14 09
Put the fullback in! Worked before & would probably work again! Big Suh could be used for short yardage situations. Go with what you've got!
tom Oct 14 09
This year has probably raised Helu's future draft stock for the NFL quite a bit. It was thought that he didn't have the durability to get the majority of touches in a game. But even with his bumps and bruises, he's still going to be on the field this week, and probably make a major impact.
PSW Oct 14 09
I have been perplexed that we haven't seen a third back late in games more often. With Helu's history and with the toll the tailback position takes every week I would like to have seen this addressed earlier. Who steps up? I guess were going to find out.
Dave Oct 14 09
Yea lets get rid of that watson guy. I dont coach, but like most posters (and a few of the writers here) Im sure i know more than he does and can do a better job.
If only he would listen to all of us. We bring so much to the table. We dont coach, we hide behind anonymous names, or if we sign something its only on a web page.
Maybe watson is just dumb. he didnt call enough rushing plays when we won that game. His pathetic offensive play calling led to a measly 450 yards of offense last year. Jeeze that was only 12th in the nation. Im sure Tom, Brandon & WyHuskerFan could have done that, or won a few big 12 titles
We are SOOOOOOOOOO qualified to do a better job than some guy who has been coaching CFB for a measly 27 years.
Why dont they just fire this looser already?
http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=224510
Dave Oct 15 09
Any site that sensors comments (aside from cursing, etc) is LAME!
Dave Oct 15 09
If you censor or dont post messages critical of your writing, your pathetic.
Your writers bash on whatever they want, but you dont accept the same standard when people point out your flaws.
Ever heard of hypocrisy?
Dave Oct 15 09
What a joke. You refuse to post my actual message then add these follow up posts so you look like your the good guys. What a bunch of hypocritical cowards!
Brandon Oct 15 09
Dave,
Nobody censored your comments. When you include a URL the Spam filter puts it on hold and I didn't see the comment to approve it until just now. It's up, now I'll address it.
Nowhere did I say we should get rid of Watson. I wouldn't even call the post "critical" of him. The loss of Burkhead takes away his, as assessed by the coaches, second best option to run the football and that makes his job more difficult until Nebraska can find a proven back up.
I'll admit to be being confused by some of the play calling just like a lot of people--from former players to armchair quarterbacks--were, but I would never assert that I understand offensive football better than the offensive coordinator. That said, I can, and will, have a take and be willing to express my confusion.