Oklahoma Post-Mortem
8 comments so far
November 9, 2009 by
The standard equation to win games was definitely in play on Saturday night. Win the turnover battle + run the ball + stop their run + stout defense = win. OK, so we got too many penalties, and didn't get more than one third down conversion, and we didn't take advantage of Roy Helu Jr's biggest run of the night, and countless other offensive woes crept in the whole game. This game's pace was controlled by Nebraska and our defense had one of the best efforts I have seen from the Blackshirts all year. It's like they've been getting better and better every game.
Could this game have been any more opposite of the debacle against the Sooners last year? Bob Stoops has never had an Oklahoma team score this few points. And it's been eleven years since the Sooners haven't scored a touchdown in a game. In the biggest crowd ever to watch an OU-NU match, the defense stood as tall as I have seen them yet.
This was epic defense, and it reminds me of Bo Pelini's season as our defensive coordinator, where he coached some of his players into prospective NFL talents. I have a feeling that there is going to be an influx of Husker players into the NFL draft over the next couple of years. OU's longest rush of the game was 14 yards, and they only had four runs of longer than 10 yards. In Big 12 play, the NU defense hasn't allowed anything longer than a 23 yard rush. They did this all on top of holding the Sooners to less than 50% passing.
So I've pointed out all the great things that we were able to accomplish, so I'm hesitant to go in and ruin the vibe by harping on the offense. Do the readers of this site really want me to tell you stuff like this every week:
- 11 penalties for 104 yards
- 7 first downs
- 7 of 14 passing for 39 yards
- 1 lost fumble in the red zone
- 1 for 14 on third down conversions
With stats like that, is it stating the obvious when I say that the Huskers had zero offensive tempo? Do you want me to keep saying things like:
- If it wasn't for Helu's ability to find the edge, make a cut, or bust through a seam, every run play would be a stuff in the middle
- Our receivers can't seem to get open, or hold onto the ball when it hits them in the hands
- The offensive line can't hold the pocket long enough for a pass play to develop
- Coach Shawn Watson's play calling sucks
It's pretty clear that nothing is going to change this year. We have a great defense and a sub-par offense. No real adjustments or changes have been made so far (other than personnel), so why should anything change now? Let's just keep winning games this way and see what has to happen during the off season.
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WyHuskerFan Nov 09 09
It does sound like a broken record from players, coaches, reporters, and fans alike. Everyone knows the probems, problem is no one can seem to get them fixed. Are the players that uncoachable? One would certainly think so given that the problems never improve. Double digit penalties after nine games is unfathomable. It's not like they're platooning linemen every other play.
I believe the play calling has been a major factor in the lack of offensive production. Wats is not calling plays to the strength of the players, he's calling plays that should work given the defensive set. Problem is the players can't make those plays. You don't ask Lee to option inside the redzone when he's no threat to run, and you don't ask Green to zone read when he's no threat to pass. Neither of these guys looked comfortable against OU. Perhaps KU won't cause them the same angst and one or perhaps both will have a breakout game.
With Roy playing at or near 100% I believe our chances of winning out are greatly improved. However, should he go down again I'm not sure what this offense hangs its hat on. As much as it drives me and other fans near insanity over the offensive woes, Pelini and Wats must privately be almost apoplectic with the talent they know they have. When that talent will put it all together remains a mystery for at least another week.
xman Nov 09 09
We hear words like holding the players accountable. Now its time for Bo to hold the offensive coaches accountable.
#1 - Cotton, why can't we run the ball?
#2 - Cotton, why can't we hold the blocks long enough for a pass play to develop.
We are quick to bench a player now lets bench the coach.
Bill in Iowa Nov 10 09
Great post Wy! I totally agree! Asking Lee to run zone read and option really shows the problem. Wats needs to design and call plays that utilize the strengths of his players and puts them in the best position for success. No wonder Lee looks like a man who lost confidence in himself. Wats is asking him to do some things he simply is not good at doing. It reminds me of watching Michigan's pro-style QB try to run Rich Rod's zone read last year...it was ugly.
Lee also looks uncomfortable in the collapsing pocket and seems to be 2nd guessing himself. Why not roll him out more? Utilize play action waggles and bootlegs to give him more time. Simplify his progressions.
In the running game, I would like to see more full backs and h backs lead blocking. Especially for our younger backs that don't have the vision that Helu has. But even Helu, one of the plays he busted was because he got a GREAT block from Legate who blocked two Okie LB's. Let us not forget, Tom Rathman was a key player as a full back in San Fran's high powered West Coast Offense.
This video will pump up an Husker fan:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY726D982B8
Our line may not be playing at their best, but they are very athletic big guys. I would like to see those big mashers pulling and running downhill smashing corners and safeties. Create mis-matches and put those big men in position to do some damage. That wears out a defense and takes a toll on smaller corners and safeties. Run just outside the tackles and force the corners to come up in run support. This should also open up play action passes.
Wats has to give the offense an advantage by keeping the opposing defenses guessing. Passing on first down, counters, play action, bootlegs, screens, draw plays. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't, but they will keep a defense off balance. He seemed to have this magic last year, I don't know where it went to this year?
I think there are answers. It just appears that there aren't because we are not getting creative enough with our play calling. We seem to still be trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Moving personnel around seems to have just added to the conundrum. It's time to go to the chalk board.
Bill Kerr Nov 10 09
Who do you think wishes Blaine Gabbert had kept his commitment to NU right now?
Gabbert or Shawn Watson?
Bill Kerr Nov 10 09
Who do you think wishes Blaine Gabbert had kept his commitment to NU more right now?
Gabbert or Shawn Watson?
Dwayne Nov 10 09
Bill,
I couldn't agree more with everything you said. Lee is better when designed to move from the pocket. Here's a suggestion against a team with speed like OU, trap play between the tackles.
kw Nov 10 09
When Watson was at CU in 2001 and they crushed us, he did it with simple counter plays. Do we even have a counter or trap play in our 300 page playbook. When we've ran out of the I, we've had some success. Simplify it!
Bill in Iowa Nov 10 09
KW...I remember that well. Our LB's kept over pursuing to the ball and got crushed by those counter plays. He also heavily employed the FB at CU and promised to do the same here at NU. I thought the play calling last year was creative and brilliant, so I am very perplexed as to why it's so bland this year???
Just look at youtube highlights from last year's team and you will see counters, Suh lead blocking and even catching a pass for a TD, a jump pass for a TD ala Tebo style, lots of play action that would end up for a big pass plays to McNeil. Ganz rolling out, extending the play, and connecting or running for a 1st down.
Dwayne, I have always liked the trap play. The Osborne Huskers ran traps and pulled lineman to give them an edge. Tommie Frazier had two big runs in the 95 Championship game against Florida. One was a designed QB draw that featured and inside trap by pulling the tackle. The other was the famous 75 yard scamper that was ran out of the eye formation and led by a pulling guard and full back.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LNIWaYNJZI
I am not saying we have to have the exact same offense as the 90s Huskers. I would just like to see the line's athleticism utilized. And I think simple run plays where there is a designed hole to run through and a FB lead blocker, would be easier on our younger backs. At the same time, it's physically imposing on defenses to have to deal with that kind of blocking play after play. Especially on the lb's and secondary.
Missed tackles and missed assignments are usually caused from fatigue and simply losing the will to hit. This is what I really think our offense lacks that I want to see re-born. That physical aggressive nature that all our teams used to have. That element that truly made other teams dread playing us. They knew, win or lose, they were going to really get beat up!