The “Mo Effect” on Saturday
Based on Wake Forest's statistics versus Boston College, it is fair to assume that Nebraska will have to take to the passing game much more than they did versus Nevada in order to win the game. Some may look at quarterback Sam Keller's line from last week (14-of-25 for 193 yards and a touchdown) and see an outing in need of improvement. I look at that line (and the game tape) and see a quarterback in need of some more help from his much ballyhooed receiving corps. Have no fear, big Mo Purify is likely to make his return to the lineup against Wake, and it will have an effect.
Coach Callahan contends that this is the offense that can "do what it wants". They could get 500 yards in any ratio of run to pass. Well against Wake, I have to imagine they want to pass for those yards. Wake is much stingier on the ground than via the air. That means the Huskers also must catch the ball.
There were at least four dropped passes in NU's win over Nevada - two by Terrence Nunn, one by Franz Hardy and one by fullback Thomas Lawson that should have been a touchdown. There were also a few "contested" balls that a great receiver might have come down with (though, most ended in pass interference penalties). Frankly, this kind of showing makes our pass catchers look pedestrian at best.
Maurice Purify getting back on the field changes things significantly. First, you add his production. He's going to make grabs. He has made a trend out of catching balls that convert in to first downs and touchdowns. The just guy makes plays.
Next, his return creates a roster shuffle. Everybody else at that spot moves down a step. As such, it is less likely for Hardy to even see the field, let alone be called on for clutch catches.
Finally, and maybe most importantly, Purify creates match up problems. He's the only player on NU's roster who strikes legit fear in the minds of opposing defensive backs. His drawing the attention and double teams of opponents makes things better for all other pass catchers. When the safety is occupied, it gives Nate Swift more room to operate out of the slot receiver position. It gives the tight end more space to work down the seam. And, it makes teams less likely to notice the back slipping out of the backfield.
Make no mistake; NU's offense is much tougher with Purify on the field. Consider Keller's line from last week. Wouldn't 18-of-25 for 230 yards and 2 touchdowns raise a few more eyebrows? I think so. That is the quantifiable "Mo Effect".
9/6/2007
What I liked most about the last game was that Callahan realized that Nevada had a huge weakness in run defense. He didn’t hesitate to exploit it no matter how much the people wanted to see the aerial attack. I have no doubt that if the ratio of passing and running were switched around, we would have had almost as many passing yards (like 300-350). No matter how many dropped passes they had, throw to them enough, and they’re bound to catch some once in the groove.
9/6/2007
The receivers should realize (or somebody needs to tell them) that they are at the pinnacle of their athletic careers, (except, maybe Purify) and they have this one chance play with a ligit pro caliber quarterback.
He served the short and intermediate routes right into their laps. The have to TAKE the ball. Not easy, no question. Everyone would be doing it otherwise. I like Holt for the future, at least he drew 2 penalties.
I’m not going to overly criticise our players, I care about them in a similiar way I did when I was 11. I’m hoping they see this situation with Keller as a golden opportunity to dramatically influence the game. Like how they amazed us the last two games of the ‘05 season against Colorado and Michigan. Same guys except Purify, it’s here for them.