Eight Turnovers Leave Huskers Out in the Cold

Bring back Callahan…......that was the worst offensive performance I have seen from the Cornhuskers since I started worshipping them in 1959.  That was a total lack of efforts, total not caring, head up the ass, lack of concentration…....you name it and it was evident!  TERRIBLE!

I don’t think you can say ONLY one of those turnovers can be blamed on him. If you’re going to be generous, you can blame two (the last pick and the fumble). But the fumble was clearly his fault unless you blame Watson for the dumb playcall in the first place. But the second pick was thrown high (his fault). And the third pick was right into the other guy’s hands. The only one you can say wasn’t really his fault was the first pick, and even that was a poor throw into traffic.

I still love you Huskers, through thick and thin.  They played with amazing toughness against Mizzou, so they can do that again.  They had a very rough game, but I know that they can conquer the mental game this could cause.  They will have a good season still.  I know it. 

I’ve been a Husker fan my entire life, and even during the Callahan era I can’t remember being this pissed off at a huskers team. Just a total lack of effort on the part of the entire offense. When you have a special defense like this team does it kills me to see their season ruined by a horrible offensive unit. I’ve said this every week since the start of the season, but Shawn Watson has to go. His play calling is a total joke, and he’s lost his team completely.

I’m just dumbfounded to understand what is going on with this group.  At some point it will affect the defense to watch another great effort go unsupported by their teammates.  The game plan looked sound and well executed until the turnovers.  What is the Husker record for turnovers lost in one game?

You DO give Iowa State credit.  They came in here without their starting QB & the Big 12’s leading rusher.  A walk-on played a fantastic game at linebacker and they didn’t shoot themselves in the foot with mental errors.  Coach Rhoads had his guys ready to execute a game plan, kept the mistakes few and far between, and frankly outcoached our staff in the 1st half, hands down. . .

I’ve watched Cincinnati lose 4 QB’s in a year and have guys ready to play, and this year they lose an NFL caliber QB and no worries.  A guy behind him prepared to execute his assignments. Oklahoma has won a Big 12 title with a converted WR.  Michigan is making plays on offense with a true freshman.  Today Iowa State had backups ready to play, and many programs have to step up and replace personnel.  This offensive coaching staff cannot get this group ready to execute, anything.  I’ve never seen anything like this.  Combined (at 4:36 EST) the Alabama/Tennessee, Penn State/Michigan games do not have 8 turnovers!!!  And that’s four teams.  Receivers dropping balls, not emphasizing ball security (Paul), penalties, and the same thing week after week.  Either they’ve got too many of the 8-lb playbook dancing around in their heads or they’re not smart.  Probably both.  This is starting to become like tuning in to watch a horrific car wreck every week.  Even more upsetting is the mental errors are getting worse and more numerous.  Last week is NOTHING compared to what happened today.  I’ve never seen anything like it. . .

What a shame.  What a shame because this magnificent defense is being abused.  The offense should be banned from talking to the media and not allowed to wear anything that says Nebraska football on them until they take themselves serious.  From a mental error approach they’ve been getting significantly worse week by week.  That’s the offensive coaches not getting their guys ready to play and players just not ready to play.  Both are unforgiveable during Conference play.  You should have these problems ironed out by now. . .

They should bench Crap Lee, Niles Paul and holt. Do not play Hellu until he has healed. They should put an add out that we are looking 4 WRs. Paul is a disgrace to Omaha and the state. The worst player of all time.

Everybody is being really quick to call out the players you people do know football is a team effort. Yes the offense is having a rough time right now but I remember when the Blackshirts couldn’t stop anything under Callahan. Bo has turned alot of things around in his 1 and 1/2 years of being Head Coach just give him some time. So huskers fans just let the players play and the coaches coach. Also wanting to bring back Callahan in my mind would just be dumb.

Rick,

I’ll forget you even posted that garbage. 1959? Really. Makes me want to puke.

Brandon Oct 24 09

WyHuskerFan,

I thought that there was two other games that we lost the ball 8 times?

Bad performance today.  But to ask for coaches to go I don’t think is right.  A player has been taught since a young age to hang on to the ball at all costs!  Plus, I don’t believe that it is coaching as we haven’t seen it all season.

I would prefer to see us start building to next season.  I think that we will have a great defense again, but if we don’t get snaps to Cody, we will be here all over again.

Rugger, I agree.  I haven’t clamored for Green to start and have trusted the coaches to make the right choice.  However, with the season slipping into mediocrity and facing an uphill battle for the right to play in the “It don’t matter bowl,” I think they would be wise to consider building for next year now.  Games I considered a lock now give me pause with the lack of focus the offense is displaying.

Normally, when a ‘plane’ crashes you have an investigation to find out why it crashed before blame is placed.

Be patient.

OU7,

8 turnovers is why the plane went down. Not too many teams can overcome that, and this NU team definately isn’t that good to do it. Who’s to blame? That’s a good question. It’s tough to see a team come into Lincoln with two new players in the backfield and go home with a win. One reason why it’s so difficult to stomach why Green isn’t “ready”. The offense needs a spark and I would’ve loved to see Green get some action. I don’t place it on Lee, but something has to change. That’s the other thing that is frustrating. Green’s redshirt is gone and he isn’t getting any action in the game. That doesn’t make sense to me.

It’s not a matter of blame.  This offense needs a major shake-up. If you’re going to burn redshirts, put them in and let them play.  It might be painful for a few games, however they might respond well to the challenge.  There is no obvious leader in the huddle, no fire from anyone.  I don’t see any passion coming from the offense.

I watched this one with my friend who happened to go to Iowa State, so I was trying to take this comedy of errors with good humor as my friend laughed and laughed at each mistake - that’s tough.  So, now that I have had time to collect myself I have a few thoughts.

The defense played a near perfect game. And the offense…I really liked seeing the heavy sets, the eye formation, play action pass, and a few option plays to boot.  The offensive line dominated. I thought Robinson ran hard and looked solid. I thought Watson called a good game.  The only thing I think I would point the finger at with the coaching is with perfect 20/20 hindsight, it was obvious that Helu was very much troubled by his shoulder—-he alone cost us two fumbles—not to blame him—but if he is healthy he simply NEVER fumbles the ball.

I also agree with the last few posts.  I was not one calling for Lee to lose his starting job and I am not blaming these past two losses on him.  However, this offense needs a spark, confidence, and leadership.  Maybe Green will be the catalyst to get these young men to play with mental intensity—-maybe not?  But why not give him a shot against Baylor?

One more thing?  The Tunnel walk?  Have any of you ever seen them come out WALKING arm in arm before?  Ok, I like the obvious statement of team unity, but call me superstitious, don’t change pre-game rituals!  That’s not something to mess with.  Furthermore, instead of speaking to team unity it seemed more like a downer and a pre-cursor to the lack of fire and passion we would see from the offense.  I like to see them come running out spitting fire!  Maybe we will next time?

I put up with a lot of crap during the nameless ones debacles.  However this is the most embarrassed i have ever been for the team.  There are some serious issues.

Yep! There season is over. They will win the road games and lose the home games.  As Mel Kiper said earlier this week, Nebraska is not a good football TEAM.  The offense needs to take some luxury away from them for awhile. This is the first time I can say you can’t really blame the LINEMAN for this.

This reminds me of 1999 with all these fumbles and giveaways.  One too many is what prevented the Huskers from winning it all that year.

My question is, why we abandon the power set after Sean Fisher return that blocked punt to Nebraska territory.  All we had to do what pick up a few yards, maybe a first down.  And get well in Henery FG range.

Helu, needs to sit until he is 100%, something that should have learned with Lucky last year.  Dumb coaches?

There’s no way in the world, I am giving that team Cyclone…maybe except the drive where they scored the touchdown. 

Maybe some kind of (curse) or weight is lifted off somebody’s shoulders.  We don’t have these winning streaks any more.  Now, we can start making new one, and bring back the intimidation factor.

Bo Pelini post game presser:

-“Zac’s ahead of Cody right now…” (Yikes…if that’s actually the case, Cody Green must be abysmal!)

-“Zac Lee’s the least of our problems…I thought Zac Lee played pretty well…” (yeah…it’s great when the critical play of the potential game-winning drive gets thrown so high that the receiver has to leap four feet in the air just to get his hands on it and be able to tip in in the air for an interception!  Then, by the grace of God [and our awesome defense] we get another chance…only to perform just as pitifully as we have for the entirety of three games prior…this time throwing the game away, into the hands of the other team, for the second time in as many offensive series…)

-“We didn’t play well around Zac.” (Yeah, that kind of sums up the whole point of why Green should be given a chance to lead this team.)

I said this earlier over at Corn Nation, but I will try to rephrase for the benefit of the fine folks here at the BRN…

To those noting their comparisons to the Callahan era, I say this:

What we have now is a stunningly similar end result…an extremely one-dimensional team, solid on one side of the ball, but a continued laughingstock of historical proportions on the other—all being helmed by a head coach who appears to pay little more than lip service to the unit which falls outside of his particular area of personal genius…a head coach who seems content to place his continued assurances in a coordinator and a staff who, by practically any other account, appear to be in way over their heads.  (Bonus: a middle-of-the-pack W/L record to show for their efforts being another constant between the two scenarios.) 

We hear a lot of talk all week about “every position” being “wide open” and how we’re gonna “shake things up”!  But on Saturday, we get more of the same boneheadedness by the same boneheads who’ve proven themselves to do boneheaded stuff in the past.  I know…that might be overly cruel…so I’ll ask in advance to please spare me any “don’t badmouth the players” self-righteousness.  But the fact remains that the players are making a monumental number of mental and physical mistakes…yet we are averse to personnel change, to the point of ridiculousness (another hallmark of the previous regime and their downfall.)  I mean, seriously…how many awkward looking designed-QB-run plays did we have to suffer through from Lee today?  But, with the game on the line, why not just put Cody in there and zone-read them to death…if nothing other than in the slim hope that we might get out of there with an ugly win?  Nah…we just get more of the same instead.  “He’s not ready”...I don’t get it.  Consider that in 11 of the last 12 quarters, the only visible spark this fan has witnessed from this offense came when Cody was on the field.  But what do I know…I’m just another idiot fan who’s just fixated on what happens on Saturday…I’m sure Zac Lee lights it up when he runs those zone reads against the scout team in practice!  All I know is that it’s a pretty sad day in Huskerville when NU’s best opportunity to score a touchdown and beat Iowa State fades as a linebacker is tackled after returning a blocked kick!

But, ultimately, it seems the greatest shame is knowing that we actually had to lose to Iowa State at home, just so our stubborn coaches can prove who calls the shots around here…

Worst loss I’ve ever seen by Nebraska…absolutely no excuses.  The roller coaster ride continues with a new rock bottom achieved.  I guess having any carryover from Callahan has proven disasterous.  Time to remove the cancer once and for all…

You sow what you reap.  On the bright side, Baylor next week, we might squeak out a win there I predict 6-3 Huskers in 2OT.

You sow what you reap.  On the bright side, Baylor next week, we might squeak out a win there I predict 6-3 Huskers in 2OT.

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Wow I am a bit surprised with what I read.  I knew people would be upset, I was traveling and didn’t get to see it live but come on. 

I am not sure everyone has their head screwed on straight.  8 turnovers and we we loose by 2.  Let me think about it, if this would have happened with BC we would have lost by 80, remember TT 70-10.  I am as sick as anyone loosing to ISU is sickening but we lost by 2 points with 8 TOs. 

No excuses but anyone that wants BC back needs their head examined.  We are on the right path people.  Remember BC, it isn’t my team, these guys aren’t doing what I put in place I am great the players suck.  Bo is the real deal, we are headed in the right direction, we are in nearly every game, get a grip.

I remember calling for Dr Toms head after OU handed us our head for the 5th, 6th, 7th, time, but Bo is a great coach.  No one is more disappointed in the way we played than he is. 

Is there anyone out there that doesn’t think we have a chance to win every game still on our schedule.  Could you day that 4 years ago.  We might not win them all but we have a chance.  PIG might be the answer but when you put it on the ground 8 times, please, Lee is the least of our worries, Bo is right. 

I will be at Baylor next week hoping the Huskers turn it around but be careful what you ask for people.

GO BIG RED.

Did this loss cost us the North? 

A quick look at the standings and games remaining:

1) Kansas St has 4 games left: OU, KU, Mizzou, and NU.  They could easily lose all 4. Right now they’re 3-1 in the conference. 

Projected: 4-4 (beat Mizzou)

2) Iowa St. has 4 games left against A&M, OSU, CU, and Mizzou.  They’re at 2-2 in the conf.

Projected: 4-4 (beat A&M and CU)

3) Kansas has 5 games left. TxTech, KSU, NU, Texas, Mizzou. 1-2 in conf.

Projected: 4-4 (beat Tech, KSU, Mizzou)

4) Nebraska has 5 games left. BU, OU, KU, KSU, CU. 1-2 in conf.

Projected: 5-3 (beat BU, KU, KSU, CU)

5) Colorado has 5 games left: Mizzou, A&M, ISU, OkSt., NU.  1-2 in conf.

Projected: 2-6(beat A&M)

6) Mizzou has 5 games: @CU, BU, @KSU, ISU, KU. 0-3 in conf.

Projected: 3-5 (beat CU, BU, ISU)

Ending projection:

1) NU 5-3

2) KU 4-4

3) KSU 4-4

4) ISU 4-4

5) Mizzou 3-5

6) CU 2-6

Basically, it’s an open race… if any team runs the table, they will win the North.  KSU will probably drop as they have a difficult schedule, as does KU. ISU has a good chance of winning provided they get Arnuad and Robinson back. 

Bottom line: We can still win the North. Huskers can lose to OU, but that’s it!  We can have only 1 more loss.  Right now it looks like we lose against OU.  KSU and Kansas will be close games.  CU looks bad. 

The North championship is a race to a 5-3 record.  Whoever gets to 5-3 will win the North.

I agree that this is all Shawn Watson’s fault. A weak team physically is a weak team mentally. Bo needs to step in and toughen the offense up first, hire somebody who can call some plays, and get these guys back to attacking defenses instead of running around them.

I am just troubled by the lack of any identity on offense and 7 games into the season. I was at the game yesterday and it made me sick. It seemed going to the power sets out of the I formation was starting to work. Robinson had an untimely fumble and was no longer used to run downhill at Iowa State when it was cleary working. He made a freshmen mistake and never given a chance to redeem himself. I remember a team a year ago that scrapped the things that did not work at the 6 game mark and focused on what they are good at. This year the same coaching staff has not made any adjustments, changes, or even personnel shake ups. As long as this team tries to do a lot of everything and not be good at any one thing on offense we will continue to see much more of the same the remainder of the season. What I fear most is the locker room will begin to divide with a defense playing lights out and an offense doing nothing to help the team win. I don’t think it will happen, but if this keeps up I am not so sure.

BV: LOL on the “FIX IT” reference.  I’ve heard mention of that a time or two recently…Good one.  As to the debate over D-‘07 vs. O-‘09…I’ve gotta come down squarely on your side there.  At least now, a glimmer of hope always exists that we might somehow catch fleeting moments of Missouri-ish lightning in a bottle.  Regardless of how good your offense is, it’s always a lot easier to score two touchdowns than it is to score ten…so I’m totally with you on that one. 

Ah, those halcyon days of the mid-2007 season…I can scarcely recall the time that directly preceded such a needless slaughter of so many thousands of innocent brain cells!  But in spite of my fog, I just couldn’t resist to note the irony of how similar our current circumstances actually are (to that which would otherwise be commonly considered their diametric opposite).  “The more things change, the more they stay the same,” I guess.  Whether that’s really the case, we find ourselves currently at a tipping point, similar to that we’ve faced in the past (where the “strong” half of the team has been pushed to the brink of not being able to overcome the ineptitude of the “weak” half) and I just found the dichotomy of the role-reversal to be so curious.  As for my take on your question of where we go from here…it’s anybody’s guess.  I’ll take up, I suppose…call me a sucker, or a glutton for punishment.  If there was any justice in the world…we’d be mathematically eliminated from the division race after today.  But thanks to the incredible incompetence on the part of our entire half-conference, I don’t see any reason to believe that Bo can’t pull things together enough to slog through that mess and come out on top of it. 

But I don’t think any sort of dose of ole-fashioned Jack Stark feelgoodery is gonna cure what psychologically ails our impotent offense.  At this point, I don’t see how that particular North-division goal can possibly be reached without the benching of key personnel.  I mean, for the love of God, bench Zac Lee…if for nothing else than the sake of Zac Lee.  Bo says Lee feels the weight of the state upon him…so therefore in an absolutely WORST-CASE scenario as a head coach: bringing in Green does nothing less than relieve some of that pressure from the young man’s burden.  If Green were to struggle, Lee could be given a chance to regroup and hopefully get a grip on whatever it is that he’s apparently lacking right now (not to mention regain some of the confidence and composure he’s lost in his last few outings.)  Should Green perform well enough to earn the starting job for good…well, let’s just say it’s a win-win that way.  Seems like a no-brainer to me.  But then again, I’m sure Pelini will soon be appearing at a bully pulpit near you to remind you how schmucks like me don’t have the perspective necessary to formulate an opinion on such matters. 

And although you opted for a less hyper-critical approach toward Lee in your earlier comments, I sense we’re going the same general direction there.  If Cody Green isn’t ready to go in there and stutter-step around as he double-clutches it and throws to his check-down guy (usually in a panic to well beyond arm’s reach) for a two-yard pickup on third down…why the hell was his redshirt burned then?  I think this is something that’s really incongruent with Bo’s whole “he’s not ready” spiel.  Surely, there’s been no instance of mop-up duty that LaTravis Washington couldn’t have fulfilled to this point in the season…so why burn Green’s redshirt if he’s not “ready” yet?  (Don’t be holding your breath on any of the local market reporters taking Bo to task on this…it’s just gonna have to exist in this fanciful, alternative reality of us idiot fans on the blogs!)

As far as the point of my continued guilt in offering up uber-specific criticism of individual amateur members of university student-athlete teams (a separate rant for another day) I can only counter with this:

Ndamukong Suh…man that guy.  What can you say about that guy that hasn’t been said other than: “Without that guy, we’d probably be languishing in Colorado territory right now!”  And I’m that even that’s been said in some form by somebody by now…But you get my point.

The one sliver of good news this week (for those like myself who will make no haste in getting their AG Packers jerseys out from the mothballs: http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20091021/PKR01/91021202/1058

I couldn’t agree more with Adam & Chris.  Why did Watson abandon the power “I” after the funble?  It seemed to working better than any other running formations.  Totally better than the passing game. I watched 7 games yesterday, and receivers from every conference in the country were making all kinds of clutch catches - except NU.  Bo needs to get someone new who can call better plays and coach WR better.

Daryl,

Interesting last sentence…and where do those two coaches come from…?  I think we need to complete the purge.  We need to put together a group of coaches who are all on the same page about putting a team on the field that doesn’t want take what the other team gives them, but plays hard enough to take over the game.

Watson should consider coming down from the booth to be on the field with his young offense.  He came down for the first few starts with Jo Ganz and should do it again.  Lee isn’t getting the boost of confidence or “the plan” over the phone.  I’m sure it is more comfortable in the booth especially when you can mute the line when Bo goes off on you.  Poor coaches on the sideline have to stand there and take it.

We have talented players and coaches, I don’t think that talent is the issue.  A smaller play book would reduce the risk of error (penalty, turnover, sack…).  One great way to get every player on the field to execute correctly is repetition in practice.  Something I doubt they have time for when you have 300 plays that might be used come game day.  Pick 15 plays that are bread and butter and practice them until the players can do it blindfolded.  Remember these plays especially in the red zone.

There is only one team that has beaten Nebraska this year, and they have done it 3 times.  I hope that beating ourselves is easier to fix than getting beat by others.